(Time Frame: Sep. 18-Oct. 2) Unfortunately, this past week didn't have a great start. What promised to be a good day, exploring the town going stand to stand during the flea market, ended up with me asleep for most of the day. I'd gotten sick. I had a viral infection, and proceeded to do nothing but sleep for three-ish days. My waking time was spent reading, drinking tea, and listening to the calm playlist I always update during exams. Thankfully, by Friday I was up and moving again.
My return to health brought about a trip to Oktoberfest in Hannover. In all honesty, it reminded me of the State Fair. Rides, food, and games, although I didn't see any that offered fish as a prize. We arrived relatively late in the evening, about eight forty five, and made it back home around eleven thirty. We spent the time wait for fireworks eating, and in my case, playing shooting games. I'm not a great shot, but I'm not a bad one either. With stationary targets about four feet away at most, the shooting games at the festival weren't much of a challenge. I came home with five stuffed animals and a large blow-up cudgel. At the first booth, I didn't miss a single shot. I'm still really proud of that. After the fireworks, we went on the ferris wheel. It provided a beautiful view of the fair, which was lit up with a myriad of colorful lights. We went home, and that was that. Saturday was a lot of fun. I helped get things ready for an event on Sunday, and then we went home and relaxed for a bit. At one point in the afternoon, Rainer and I went for a motorbike ride. We visited some really awesome caves that inspired one of the Grimm Brother's fairy tales. The area was a park, with trails and picnic tables. Being me, I scrambled up the hill and onto several rock formations very quickly. I spent about fifteen minutes exploring and climbing various sections of the formation before we had to leave. We met with some friends for dinner, grilling out. I had my first conversation with no english whatsoever! None! I'm incredibly proud of that, even if it was a simple conversation. Sunday I helped out with the Haxenessen, where I stirred the Kraut and then dished it out. I really enjoyed talking with people, in somewhat halting and probably not correct German. After that we cleaned up and wound down at home. Monday went as normal, but Tuesday and Wednesday I got out of school early! My teachers were (unfortunately) sick, so class was cancelled and we went home early. Today, which marks my last day at Gronau Gesamtschule, brought mixed emotions. I've had a wonderful time getting to know people here, and I'm incredibly saddened to not be joining them in the classroom again. Whether it's helping me with my German (which often results in laughter), or sharing stories in a mix of English and German, I've come to really like Brüggen. I'm going to miss the friends I've made here, but I doubt this is going to be the last time I see them. If there's only one thing leaving the U.S. has taught me, it's that those who really care will respond when you reach out. I think I might be closer with some of my friends now that I'm distanced from them. I realized how much I took for granted the roots my parents and friends had given me, and the history that came with it. Being in a new place, not being able to tell someone "Hey, remember when we were 9 and wrecked your kitchen making cookies?", it's a startling difference to the history of my hometown. Edit: I've belatedly realized I didn't post this when originally intended. As such, I've included a frame of reference for the time this talks about and was written in.
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McKennaI'm originally from Virginia, I'm going to Germany via CBYX. The blog title is a reference to a beloved nickname from my mother. Archives
October 2016
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