I'm sorry to tell anyone who actually reads this that I will be returning to America earlier than planned. It's a long, complicated story, but I have decided to go home and will be flying out within a matter of days.
The hardest part of this is walking away from my friends. A lot of them think I should be happy to be going home, but the thing they don't understand how hard it actually is. I don't know if I'll ever see any of them again. That's the hard part. Walking away from a second home. A second life. A second family made of some really great friends and some of the best people I have ever met. This past week has been harder than I could've ever imagined. Telling all my friends that suddenly I was flying home just broke my heart. I can already feel the pain of saying goodbye to them in person, of boarding that flight, of sitting on that plane for hours knowing that I might never again see any of the amazing people I'm flying away from, and of those first few days back when it all starts to set in that I'm no longer with some great friends. I keep asking myself why it hurts so much to say goodbye to people who were complete strangers to me less than a year ago. Now that I know these people, I just can't picture my life without them in it. It's hard to think about going to school and walking through the halls without them being there.
I do not regret a single moment of my time spent in Germany. I have grown so much in such a little time. I have experienced another culture in a way that most people never get the chance to. I became integrated with another culture. My German is definitely not perfect, but it improved so much throughout my time here and so much more that it ever could've in a year in a German class in America.
To any of my German friends: Ich wollte nur sagen...danke. Ihr habt dieses Jahr das beste Jahr meines Lebens gemacht. Ich kann euch NIE genug für alles danken. Ich wünschte, ich konnte die nächsten 10 Wochen bei euch bleiben, aber leider kann ich nicht. Deutschland ist jetzt meine zweite Heimat und ihr seid meine zweite Familie. Wörter können nicht beschreiben, wie viel ich euch vermissen werde :( Ich hab euch so viel lieb. ♥ Vergesst das nie.
P.S. If anyone who goes to Tallwood High School happens to be creeping on my blog and reads this, DO NOT TELL LIZ OR KATE!!!! I'm planning on surprising them. In fact, don't tell anyone. The more people I can surprise, the more fun it'll be. Thanks :)
Monday, April 8, 2013
Sunday, March 31, 2013
Next Year's CBYXers
I know some of the people coming to Germany next year through CBYX are reading my blog. I already know a few of you through facebook, but for any others who have any questions, want any advice, or just want to talk to someone who understands how EXCITING this is, feel free to contact me either through my blog or my facebook: http://www.facebook.com/rachel.tempesco
Good luck to everyone who will be able to enjoy this truly amazing, once in a lifetime experience next year! :)
-Rachel
Thursday, January 3, 2013
Frohes Neues!
Well, I think it's been about 3 months since I actually took the time to type up something, but Monday was New Years Eve, or Silvester as they call it in Germany. Definitely loads of fun! I went to a party with some friends, got a little drunk, smoked a little shisha, and shot of fireworks in the street at midnight.
The moment when 2013 hit and everyone was hugging everyone saying "frohes neues", was full of emotion. I have to admit that I did tear up a bit, not because I was sad or anything, but because when that moment hits, you think about everything that has happened in the past year. Last New Years, I had just submitted my application for CBYX and this time, I was in Germany with some of the most amazing people ever. This year has definitely been the fullest year of my life. I have done so much! I have fortunately made so many new life long friends, but I have unfortunately drifted from others. It is in that moment that you realize just how truly amazing your life is. How many other people have two lives? Well I do and I love them both.
I'm extremely excited to spend the next half year in Germany, but I am freaking out at the moment about how my year is half way over. I just want to go back to August, so I can have my whole year back. Time just goes by way to fast and I'm going to wake up tomorrow and be on the flight home. I am no where ready for that! I am no where ready to leave my new life here and the amazing people who were strangers to me in August, but mean so much to me now.
The moment when 2013 hit and everyone was hugging everyone saying "frohes neues", was full of emotion. I have to admit that I did tear up a bit, not because I was sad or anything, but because when that moment hits, you think about everything that has happened in the past year. Last New Years, I had just submitted my application for CBYX and this time, I was in Germany with some of the most amazing people ever. This year has definitely been the fullest year of my life. I have done so much! I have fortunately made so many new life long friends, but I have unfortunately drifted from others. It is in that moment that you realize just how truly amazing your life is. How many other people have two lives? Well I do and I love them both.
I'm extremely excited to spend the next half year in Germany, but I am freaking out at the moment about how my year is half way over. I just want to go back to August, so I can have my whole year back. Time just goes by way to fast and I'm going to wake up tomorrow and be on the flight home. I am no where ready for that! I am no where ready to leave my new life here and the amazing people who were strangers to me in August, but mean so much to me now.
Saturday, September 29, 2012
Mein leben...
Here are some things I've learned since my last post:
1) Germans will tell you, you don't drink enough at parties.
2) You might start to think you're a chocoholic.
3) You will never be so happy in your life to get 6/26 correct on your math test.
4) This is pretty accurate:
5) "Stop trying to look back, unless it's to be proud of how far you've come" (stolen from another CBYXer)
6) You will start to realize that you are going to have WAY too many inside jokes that people at home won't get.
7) You will be happy if your Chemistry teacher actually takes your doodled on test.
8) You will start to rely on autocorrect to correct your now bad Englisch spelling.
9) You might actually be taught Englisch by a German...
10) In art class, your picture may be called "Bert" (from the show "Bert and Ernie") by your art teacher and everyone (including you) will laugh. It might even be the highlight of your day.
11) You might start to love art class because of the amount of laughing you do with everyone around you as your art teacher does and says the strangest things.
12) You will LOVE knowing people who have been former exchange students.
13) Germans are fun people.
14) I love being an exchange student!
Hopefully more to come, if I'm not too lazy and can think of half the funny things that actually happen to me.
1) Germans will tell you, you don't drink enough at parties.
2) You might start to think you're a chocoholic.
3) You will never be so happy in your life to get 6/26 correct on your math test.
4) This is pretty accurate:
5) "Stop trying to look back, unless it's to be proud of how far you've come" (stolen from another CBYXer)
6) You will start to realize that you are going to have WAY too many inside jokes that people at home won't get.
7) You will be happy if your Chemistry teacher actually takes your doodled on test.
8) You will start to rely on autocorrect to correct your now bad Englisch spelling.
9) You might actually be taught Englisch by a German...
10) In art class, your picture may be called "Bert" (from the show "Bert and Ernie") by your art teacher and everyone (including you) will laugh. It might even be the highlight of your day.
11) You might start to love art class because of the amount of laughing you do with everyone around you as your art teacher does and says the strangest things.
12) You will LOVE knowing people who have been former exchange students.
13) Germans are fun people.
14) I love being an exchange student!
Hopefully more to come, if I'm not too lazy and can think of half the funny things that actually happen to me.
Wednesday, September 26, 2012
2 Months...
I am now exactly 2 months into my adventure! There have been SO MANY interesting moments! Both at camp and at my new school! Even though, most of the time I'm not quite sure what's going on, these past two months have been two of the best months of my life! 9 more amazing months ahead!
Tuesday, September 11, 2012
A Few Things
Here are a few things I've learned the last few weeks with my host family and in school:
1) If you ever come to Germany, expect to eat bread. Lots and lots of bread. And Nutella. Nutella is basically the German equivalent of peanut butter in the States. You can find it in any house.
2) Just because the chocolate is AMAZING doesn't mean it's a good idea to eat like 3 bars a week. Even if they are only .99 euros.
3) Expect EVERYONE to know who you are. I've had so many people pass by me in the hall and say "hi Rachel" so I always say hi back and then realize walking away that I have no idea who they are. A lot of times, I've never even seen them. Still don't know how they know who I am.
4) If your history teacher gives you a test on the French Revolution and the only words you understand are "Der Französischen Revolution," draw him a picture of two groups of people fighting with dead people in between and label it "Der Französischen Revolution." He won't want your doodle and you will then be exempt from the test.
5) Their windows are really cool.
6) Germans really like cake and coffee.
7) If you plan on coming to Germany, learn how to use Inliners (skates) as you're first experience in Sport (Gym) class may be going downhill on wheels. Also, learn how to use the brakes before attempting to go downhill.
8) If you are in a really good mood and telling everyone who sits next to you in your classes "Ich liebe Deutschland" expect a lot of "so süß" comments.
9) You will be fluent in Deutlish (a mixture of Deutsch and Englisch)
10) Even though at language camp they tell you to say "yes" to everything does not mean everything, especially if you don't know exactly what they're saying, as this may result in you sitting in a bar with beer after a crazy German party that also contained beer. You may be happy just to make it down the stairs and to the car. And never ever ever, let the "Ich liebe Deutschland" that you were going to say, come out right as you are being handed alcohol, as that will be the running joke with the German kids for the rest of the night.
11) They think your American accent is cute and they will tell you that.
12) Bring a lot of things to do to school in case your teacher decides not to show up and you have more free time.
13) A love for Batman is international
14) If you think sparkling water is the worst thing you've ever tasted, about 2 months later, it won't be half bad.
15) If you've never been a tutor before, you now are...to the entire school population.
16) My German teacher was right, everyone here uses fountain pens. Also, everyone here uses a triangular ruler thing called a "Geodreieck." EVERYONE. And everyone likes to use graph paper in any class, not just math.
17) Your Englisch teacher will probably at some point during the year refer to you as "The Dictionary."
18) Because you're from America, you're expected to know EVERYTHING about America.
19) Your Facebook using will go through the roof, as you're still trying to find things to do and it's the only thing to do. Email too.
20) German TV shows are really bad, hence the reason there are so many American shows made into German.
That's just a start of my adventure here! Still 9 months to go!
1) If you ever come to Germany, expect to eat bread. Lots and lots of bread. And Nutella. Nutella is basically the German equivalent of peanut butter in the States. You can find it in any house.
2) Just because the chocolate is AMAZING doesn't mean it's a good idea to eat like 3 bars a week. Even if they are only .99 euros.
3) Expect EVERYONE to know who you are. I've had so many people pass by me in the hall and say "hi Rachel" so I always say hi back and then realize walking away that I have no idea who they are. A lot of times, I've never even seen them. Still don't know how they know who I am.
4) If your history teacher gives you a test on the French Revolution and the only words you understand are "Der Französischen Revolution," draw him a picture of two groups of people fighting with dead people in between and label it "Der Französischen Revolution." He won't want your doodle and you will then be exempt from the test.
5) Their windows are really cool.
6) Germans really like cake and coffee.
7) If you plan on coming to Germany, learn how to use Inliners (skates) as you're first experience in Sport (Gym) class may be going downhill on wheels. Also, learn how to use the brakes before attempting to go downhill.
8) If you are in a really good mood and telling everyone who sits next to you in your classes "Ich liebe Deutschland" expect a lot of "so süß" comments.
9) You will be fluent in Deutlish (a mixture of Deutsch and Englisch)
10) Even though at language camp they tell you to say "yes" to everything does not mean everything, especially if you don't know exactly what they're saying, as this may result in you sitting in a bar with beer after a crazy German party that also contained beer. You may be happy just to make it down the stairs and to the car. And never ever ever, let the "Ich liebe Deutschland" that you were going to say, come out right as you are being handed alcohol, as that will be the running joke with the German kids for the rest of the night.
11) They think your American accent is cute and they will tell you that.
12) Bring a lot of things to do to school in case your teacher decides not to show up and you have more free time.
13) A love for Batman is international
14) If you think sparkling water is the worst thing you've ever tasted, about 2 months later, it won't be half bad.
15) If you've never been a tutor before, you now are...to the entire school population.
16) My German teacher was right, everyone here uses fountain pens. Also, everyone here uses a triangular ruler thing called a "Geodreieck." EVERYONE. And everyone likes to use graph paper in any class, not just math.
17) Your Englisch teacher will probably at some point during the year refer to you as "The Dictionary."
18) Because you're from America, you're expected to know EVERYTHING about America.
19) Your Facebook using will go through the roof, as you're still trying to find things to do and it's the only thing to do. Email too.
20) German TV shows are really bad, hence the reason there are so many American shows made into German.
That's just a start of my adventure here! Still 9 months to go!
Sunday, September 9, 2012
My CBYX Family
Here is a picture of everyone in my CBYX/CIEE/Experiment group this year. (Sorry I didn't upload this earlier.) These people are truly amazing! Right now, we are scattered all around Germany, but we have all made great friendships while at camp that will carry us through this year and through many years to come. They are some of the greatest people I know and I can't wait to see them at Mid-Year and End-Year and to hear about all their great adventures! They truly are my CBYX family. Love them all! <3
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