Hallo Du!

Soo,

After celebrating Heike and Andreas' Anniversary for a few days with different friends and neighbors, they (we) celebrated the Saturday afterward with the family.  All in all it was a good week (but somehow whenever something needed to be done Markus and Johannes seem to have disappeared, leaving James to take care of things :D) and the celebration on Saturday was a great way to end it.   

On October 1st, after about four weeks, I left the comfort of my second home and made my way back to Regensburg.  In Regensburg I quickly met a few people who have been nice enough to show me around and introduce me to a few folk.  I've also been around the city a bit and have been able to see a lot of the cool sights in the city.  

After a few days in Regensburg I left again, this time to Göttingen, a city in northern Germany near Hannover, with YFU.  There I was a "Teamer" at an orientation for German students who just came back from the US.  The weekend was really a lot of fun (and for the most part without incident), it was great to hear the stories of all of the students and to see and hear what they want to do in the future, and how their time abroad changed their views of some things.  The rest of team was also really cool, I'm glad that I was able to meet some experienced people, and hope that I might get the chance to "work" with some of them again in the future. 

After I came back, I had one more day off before the semester started (On Oct. 15th).  And the semester started.  While I wasn't able to take all of the classes that I wanted to this semester, I'm taking some classes that will hopefully help me to be able to take more chemistry classes next semester, but I will definitely still be able to continue on pace at UND (the last few semesters might just be a little more hectic).  So, the courses that I am taking this semester are (Translated) German for Scientists, Analytical Chemistry, Analytical Chemistry Lab, Foreign Policy of the United States, German Film, Dutch (for beginners), and Swedish (for beginners) (which comes out to be a total of 14 credits).   My schedule is also pretty nice I have class: Tuesdays from 8:30 a.m. - 8:00 p.m. (08.30-20.00), Wednesdays from 8:00 a.m. - 3/4:00 p.m.(08.00-15-16.00), and Friday from 8:45 am - 12:00 p.m. (noon).  So life is pretty good.  The first couple days of class were a little stressful, but now everything is great.  Today, for example was a lot less stressful and (actually) a lot of fun, so I'm excited to see how the rest of the semester will be.  I am especially excited for Dutch and Swedish, as they seem cool.  

And yeah, life is good.  A few of us have started a weekly cooking group, which is always a lot of fun.  Tomorrow the University is having a "Bavarian Welcome" dinner for all of the exchange students, which should be fun, and in the next few weeks (Nov. 9th) we're going to the Neuschwanstein (think Disney) Castle which should be fun.  

Last week I booked my flight home for July 28th, which is a day after my parents leave for home, which means, yes, my parents are coming!  Flights are booked and I'm (as are they) pumped!  I also booked my train ticket from Regensburg to Bremen for Christmas and yeah, everything is going well.  

On Sunday I also skyped with my parents, grandma, the Z, my brother, my nephew, and my sister-in-law, which was great, it feel like it's been forever since I've talked to all of them. 

So that's my life at the moment.  Now I'm headed back to the university for my last two classes of the day. 

Ankunft

Hello!

So, I've been in Germany for about 15 days now and have nothing better to do, so I thought I would write a short blog post and update everybody on my current status. 

After arriving in Munich, I finally made my way to Regensburg where, after putting my bags in a storage locker, I eventually made it to the University.  I was happy to see a familiar face upon arriving and after a few minutes I had my keys and new address and was on my way to what would be my new home. 

My "shared apartment" (DEU: Wohngemeinschaft) is on the top (US: 5th, DE:4th) floor of a building that was originally built during the first half of the 13th century (before 1250), which means that the building is over 760 years old! Cool stuff!  It has, of course, been remolded and updated a few times since then but we/I am pretty sure that the wood that is exposed in my room is still original.  My room is good sized and has features such as a bed, a desk, some windows, and a few shelves.  The rest of the apartment consists of a few bathrooms, 5 other bedrooms, and a shared kitchen.  It seems like a pretty cool place, but I was only there for two nights before I made my way back to northern Germany.

 During my 46 hours in Regensburg I was able to accomplish quite a bit!  I officially enrolled/matriculated at the University, got my health insurance, signed my lease, opened a bank account, registered with the city, applied for my residence permit and still somehow found the time to do a little bit of relaxing, check out some of the city and, of course, drink a few beers.

Originally I had planed on leaving on Friday the 6th to go and visit my host family,  but after I finished everything that I needed to get done on Thursday I decided I might as well hop on a train.  I was supposed to arrive in Bremen at 20:48, but due to delays and my boarding the wrong train it was closer to 23.15 before I arrived.  Exhausted, I was picked up from the train station by my all to nice of Host brother who had school the next day.  

Since being back in the all to beautiful Ostereis-Paradise  I've been lucky enough to see a number of friends whom I haven't seen in at least a year if not two.  Last week I went and visited Christoph in Oldenburg for a few minutes before we made our way to Heike's mothers house for the night.  I also spent last Friday with Johannes in Köln, or rather in the car driving to and from Köln where we was looking at an apartment. We did, however, still get a chance to check out the Kölner Dom and to drink a few Kölsch. 

Ostereis-Paradise

I, along with Heike, will be "repping" (Area Representative)  a student from the US who I happen to know from my time in Chicago, which should be pretty fun.  I'm glad that I'm able to do a little bit here with YFU.  I have also been invited to work an orientation in Göttingen for a few days in October and am hoping to be able to work a few more throughout the year. 

So, Heike and Andreas have their Silver Anniversary on Monday, and on the 1st I'll be on my way back to Regensburg for a few days before heading to Göttingen and then back to Regensburg just in time for the semester to begin. 

Life is hectic, but exactly that is what keeps in interesting.


Bis demnächst! 

188

So slowly buy surely we are coming down to the last few days before I head off to Germany and the beautiful city of Regensburg.

I'd like to start off by letting you know that to the right of this post there are links to some awesome blogs of other people currently living abroad.  Check them out!

I feel like going abroad for this second time is a lot more work and a lot more having to worry on my part than it was the first time.  Before I didn't have to worry about things like: Where am I going? How am I getting there? How will I pay for things?  These are just a few of the things that I seem to having going through my mind all day everyday, but for now my two main concerns are making sure that my suitcase can handle all of my junk while still somehow remaining under 50 pounds, and having to run through the airport in Reykjavik so that I don't miss my flight to Germany.  But I'm hoping and thinking that everything will end up working out just fine.

In the last few weeks I've been finishing up everything else that needed finishing, I bought some new plug converters as mine have somehow gone missing, I got some Euros so that I can at least get to Regensburg, bought a new cell phone since mine has taken a turn for the worst, finally got all of my financial aid stuff figured out, and went and got some new clothes. 

Today I filled my full sized suitcase, which means the rest of my belongings will have to somehow fit into my carry-on bag.  Luckily I still have a week to make some final decisions as to what needs to be brought with, what can be bought in Germany, and what things I might just have to live without for a while.  The one thing that did make it into my bag was my Fighting Sioux hat, as I couldn't go a year without repping my beloved University of North Dakota.

Next post will come once I'm in Germany, but it'll probably won't be until after I've been there for a few weeks.

It's crazy to think that in just 188 short hours, I'll by on a plane and gone again.

Neuanfang - New Beginnings

It's been almost two years since I've posted anything on this blog, but I've decided that it's time that I get back into the swing of it.

A quick update for everybody:
My name is James, I'm 19, and come from a small city outside of Minneapolis (go Minnesota!).  I spent the 2010-2011 academic year, my junior year, living abroad in Germany as a part of the Congress-Bundestag Youth Exchange program (CBYX) through Youth For Understanding USA (YFU USA).

I am currently double majoring in Chemistry (emphasis Biochem) and German at the University of North Dakota.  I am lucky enough to say that I will be leaving in September for yet another year abroad in Germany, this time at the Universität Regensburg.  I plan on using this blog as a way to keep friends and family up to date with what I am doing, as well as a way for me to record some my memories. 

I have been volunteering with YFU in Minnesota for the last two years on a kind of "as needed" basis, but was lucky enough to spend a few days last week (July 11-14) in 'Chicago' with YFU volunteering at an orientation for all American students spending at least a semester abroad.  I had a great time working with my group (Shout out to the green group) of 11 kids who are all leaving for Germany at the beginning of August here.  If you guys (or anybody else going abroad) read this, I wish you all the best of luck!

So as I said I leave for Munich on September 2nd.   I'm super excited to leave and get there, but at the same time a little apprehensive as I'll be living 'alone' in a new city, not really knowing anybody (shout out to Wyatt, Edith, and Marlene).  But overall I'm really excited.

I've got pretty much all of my ducks in a row now, I'm just finishing up the last few details with my money and whatnot, but otherwise I've got green lights all around.  Once I get to Regensburg I'll be moving in to my 'apartment' and will spend the first few days in Regensburg getting stuff like bank accounts set up before leaving to visit my host family in Niedersachsen for a few weeks.

I hope that everybody appreciates this update post.  If you have any questions please feel free to let me know.  I hope to write here every 4-6 weeks while I'm abroad so make sure to check back regularly!

Until next time,
 - Der James 

Für eine kleine Ewigkeit

This text is also written in German and is located under the video!  Both text say pretty much the same thing but if you can, I would recommend reading both of them.
Diese Text gibt's auch auf Deutsch und kann unter der Video gefunden werden.  Die Texten sind mehr oder weniger gleich, aber wenn du kannst, würde ich es empfehlen die Beide zu lesen.

So during my last months and weeks in Germany I had a lot of things happening and not a whole lot of time to write a blog post.  As much as I do enjoy writing them, they do tend to take a long time to write.

So just to recap; I spent most of my time with my friends and family.  During the last months everything seemed so perfect.  Going to movies, shopping, playing soccer, biking, going to soccer games, playing games, bonfires, parties, concerts, and the list goes on and on.  Those are the days that I'll never forget.  The trips that I was able to take were also fantastic: London with Christoph, Munich with Johannes, Berlin with YFU, North See with my family, and countless trips to Bremen and Hamburg.  Not everyday was perfect, but just about.  I did all kinds of things that I never would have imagined doing before my time in Germany.

The last months were really the best time in my year.  The feeling of fitting in and belonging was there, plus I understood the language and culture better.  

Now as much as I'd love to give a detailed day by day rundown of the end of my year.....I don't actually have any desire to write that much, or to think that much for that matter.  So I'm just going to tell you about my last two days or so in Germany.

On Wednesday, July 6th, I went to school for the last time in Germany.  During the last hour of school we got together with our (homeroom-ish) teacher and got our report cards.  Afterwards my class gave me some gifts that they had made for me including a book in which everybody had written a page, and a t-shirt with a somewhat notorious foto of me and all of their signatures on it.  Then came the time for me to say goodbye to my friends and classmates.  Which wasn't the easiest thing I've ever done. I knew that it'd be at least a year before I saw any of them again, and I had to face the harsh reality that I would probably never see some of them ever again. After about 30 minutes of hugs and goodbyes we all headed out.  I went upstairs with a few friends and got a copy of my transcript and afterwards spend another half hour or so saying goodbye to the two of them.  It was on this day that I started to regret some things.  I started to regret not doing more with some of the people that I was closest with, and just small things like that, but it's those small regrets that still get to me today.  After school we went to the grocery store and got a few things before heading home.  After lunch I finished up with all of my packing, having to decide which things I was going to bring with me and what was going to have to stay behind and wait for me to get some other time....which is no easy task.  Somehow I seem to have accumulated many books, which are great, the only problem is that they take up a good amount of space in a suitcase and they are considerably heavy for what they are.  So books in German were the first ones in the suitcase, but even some of those had to stay behind.  Then came clothes....well age and condition were the big parts there.  Everything that I bought in Germany came first and then clothes that I had had before that were still in good condition.  The clothes that were a little more beat up were but in a storage bag to be used for music festivals and concerts next year.  I had thought that I would spend the evening doing something with Markus and the others, but somehow it just didn't work out/they were all tired and didn't want to.  That's kind of when the sad feelings hit me.  After half an hour of being sad I put my happy face back on and went with Johannes and Markus to a friend, Simon's, house.  We played a little bit of PS3 ate some chips drank a little bit and just chilled and talked.  Which was actually an awesome last night at home.

Waiting for my train

On Thursday, my last day, I got up early around 8.30 got ready and jumped on my bike.  The others were all gone.  They had to work at an exhibition so I didn't have anything else to do.  I jumped on my bike and rode to Rockstedt where I stopped by a few friends houses and said goodbye to them all for the last time.  It was weird, I still didn't really have that feeling that I was leaving, but I knew that I was.  After biking home I'd eaten lunch, jumped in the shower and by that time the others were back.  I packed my suitcases in the van, then went upstairs to give my family a goodbye gift that I'd gotten for them.  We then all went outside where we took a few family pictures before jumping in the van towards Bremen.  We then walked along the river to an Italian restaurant where we ate our last meal together as a family.  After dinner we walked through the city taking some pictures and reminiscing on all of the good times we'd had together.  We stopped and got some ice cream before stopping to see the Bremer Stadtmusikanten (The Town Musicians of Bremen).  Legend has it that by rubbing the front hoof of the donkey on the bottom, is lucky, and can even grant wishes.  I took a few pictures with them, while Markus complained the whole time (and for the rest of the night) about how he hated his new camera.  We then slowly made our way toward the train station.  After grabbing my suitcases we headed to the platform where I would say goodbye to my family for the last time. Saying goodbye to my Parents and Johannes was the hardest, since I knew that I wouldn't see them for the longest.  Christoph was coming a few weeks later, and Markus.....we had planned on meeting up at some point during his exchange.  So there I stood as the train approached.  I gave everybody one last hug before boarding a surprisingly full midnight train to Frankfurt.  As we pulled a way from the station and I waved from the window, it'd finally hit me.  I was leaving.    Not long after finding my seat I found a card in my backpack that my parents had written me.  I think I needed about an half hour to read it between all of the tears.  After about 45 minutes I was surprised when a friend of mine from Minnesota got on the train.  After the train had emptied out a little bit we sat next to each other and chatted for a while.  At 06.40 we arrived in Frankfurt where we waited for about an hour before checking our bags and going through security and everything.  11.00 am we took off, and with that my year was officially over.  Arriving in the US some of us had had some trouble with our bags, mine showed up at my house about four days later. 

So that's a quick wrap to the end of my year.   Back at home: Christoph arrived on July 19th, and will be staying until September 20th.  My brother got married not long after my arrival.  Christoph and I took a road trip to Florida hitting up St. Louis, Nashville, Atlanta, St. Petersburg, Tampa, Key Largo, Miami, Orlando, Daytona Beach, and St. Augustine.  We did also see many smaller towns in between as well as Disney World and Universal studios.  We did also take a trip to the east coast.  Arriving first in D.C. our plans we disrupted due to an Earthquake that closed all museums leaving us with nothing to do.   After D.C. we headed to Philadelphia, making a short stop in Baltimore along the way, which was good.  On our second day we went to surprise Markus with a visit.  We hung out with him and his host family for the day. It was nice to see the little one.  Christoph and I had a good time, and think that they did too.  Then came the hurricane, due to which we decided to cut the trip short, and fly back 4 days early.  Effectively cutting the New York portion completely out of our trip.  That's about it.  School starts in  a week, and I'm trying to find a job.

With Markus in Philadelphia

I thank everybody who followed my blog throughout the year, and apologize for not writing for so long.  I hope you enjoyed reading this blog.  It's basically a closing, but feel free to check back every once in a while.  I might throw some unplanned updates in throughout the year.


Until next time,
- Der James

Entschuldigung erst mal für das schlechte Grammatik.  Ich hoffe das ihr alles verstehen könnt.

Also...Während mein letzten Wochen und Monaten in Deutschland, hatte ich viel zu tun gehabt und nicht so viel zeit ein Blog zu schreiben.  Obwohl es mir spaß macht die zu schreiben, es dauert auch ziemlich lange.

Nur zu Zusammenfassen:  Ich habe viele meine Zeit mit meine Freunde und meine Famile verbracht.  Während mein letzten Monaten schien alles perfekt zu sein.  Ins Kino gehen, einkaufen, Fußball spielen, Fahrrad farhen, ins Fußballstadion fahren, Spiele spielen, Lagerfeuern, Parties, Konzerte und so weiter und sofort.  Die Tage sind die, die ich nie vergessen werde.  Die Reisen die ich machen dürfte waren auch super: Nach London mit Christoph, Nach München mit Johannes, nach Berlin mit YFU und am Nordsee mit meine Familie.  Die Riesen waren echt spitze.  Aber nicht jeden Tag war perfekt.  Die Meisten schon, aber es gab immer noch welche da zwichen die irgendwie auf irgendein grund nicht sooo Schön waren.  Ich habe in die Zeit viele sachen gemacht, worauf ich wäre nie gekommen, hätte ich kein Austauschjahr in Deutschland gemacht.

Also...die letzten Monaten waren echt die Besten meines Jahres.  Dann da habe ich jeden Tag das gefühl gehabt das ich dazugehörte, und endlich könnte ich alles, die Sprache und Kultur, Verstehen.

Ich würde gern ausführlich erzählen was ich in mein letzten Monaten gemacht habe, aber lust so viel zu schreiben habe ich eigentlich nicht.  Und außerdem musste ich viel zu viel nach denken müssen.  Stattdessen erzähle ich von meine letzten beiden Tage.

Am Mittwoch, den 6., bin ich zum letzten mal in Deutschland zur Schule gegangen.  Während die letzte Stunde haben wir mit unser Klassenlehrerin getoffen und unser Zeugnisse und so bekommen.  Nachher habe ich von meine Klasse ein paar selbst gemachte Geschenke bekommen.  Ein Buch indem jede eine Seite geschrieben hat und auch ein T-shirt mit ein foto von mir und die ganze Unterschriften von den drauf.  Echt tolle geschenke.  Dann kam die Zeit Tschüß zu sagen.  Das fällte mir schwer, denn ich wusste das ich werde die alle mindestens ein Jahr nicht sehen.  Nach ungefähr eine halbe Stunde von Umarmungen und Verabschiedungen sind wir alle los gegangen.  Also eigentlich bin ich zusammen mit zwei Freunden zum Secretäriat hin, denn ich ein paar Beglaubigungen brauchte.  Nachher brauchten wir wieder fast eine halbe Stunde uns von einander zu verabschieden.  An diesen Tag habe ich angefangen ein paar sachen zu bedaueren.  Ich bedauere das ich nicht mehr mit meine Kumpels aus meine Klasse gemacht habe.  Sowas kann man aber nicht ändern.  Nach der Schule sind wir einkaufen gefahren und haben ein paar Kleinigkeiten gekauft vor wir nach Hause gefahren sind.  Nachdem wir Mittags gegessen habe, habe ich mein Koffer mal fertig eingerichtet, was nicht soo einfach war.  Es gab viele sachen die ich leider zurück lassen musste, denn die zu schwer waren.  Ist aber nicht soo schlimm.  Es gibt eigentlich nicht was mir hier fehlt, von die sachen die ich hinterlassen musste. Eigentlich hatte ich es vor den abend, mein letzte abend, mit die Bruder zu verbringen, aber die mussten nachmittags arbeiten und waren abends müde also was machen wollten die nicht so richtig.  Was mir schwer fällte, denn dann habe ich zum ersten mal richtig gemerkt das meine Zeit fast zu ende war.  Nach eine halbe Stunde traurig gewesen zu sein, habe ich wieder mein 'happy face' aufgestezt und bin mit Johannes und Markus zu Simon (freund von uns) hin gegangen.  Bei Simon haben wir ein Bisschen was getrunken und PS3 gespielt und so.  Es war eigentlich ein gute letzte Abend.

Am Donnerstag, mein letzter Tag, bin ich um halb 9 oder so aufgestanden.  Habe geduscht und gegessen und bin mit mein Fahrrad los gefahren.  Zu Hause war ich fast alleine, denn die Andern wieder arbeiten mussten.  Ich in also los richtung Rockstedt gefahren um mich von ein paar Freunen ein letztes mal zu verabschieden.  Ich hatte aber irgendwie immer noch nicht das gefühl das alles echt war.  Wieder zu Hause habe ich Mittags gegessen und schnell geduscht.  Als ich fertig geworden bin, waren die Anderen wieder da.  Ich habe meine Koffer nach unten gebracht und ins auto gestellt.  Wieder oben habe ich meine Familie ein geschenk gegeben zur Verabschiedung.  Etwas womit die immer an mich denken können bzw. müssen.  :D :D  Dann haben wir vor's Haus ein paar Familien fotos gemacht, sind im Auto eingestiegen und sind zum letzten mal los gefahren nach Bremen.  In Bremen sind wir am Wasser gelaufen zu eine Italianisches Restaurant wo wir abends gegessen haben.  Nach's essen sind wir ein Bisschen durch die Stadt gelaufen, fotos gemacht und ein Bisschen an die gute Zeiten reminisziert, Eis gab's natürlich auch.  Bei die Bremer Standmusikanten habe ich auch ein paar Fotos macht.  Und ein Bisschen was gewünscht.  Markus hat die ganze Zeit nur gemeckert das seine neuen Kamera doof war.  Wir sind dann langsam richtung Bahnhof hingelaufen.  Am Gleis habe ich von meine Familie verabschiedet.  Das was das Schwerste.  Ich wusste aber das ich im Sommer wieder kommen wollte, was alles ein Bisschen einfacher gemacht hat.  Von Johannes und mein Eltern mich zu verabschieden war's am Schwersten, denn ich Christoph und Markus bald wiedersehen würdet.  Dann kam der Zug.  Eine letzte umarmung von jeder, und dann ging's rein.  Vom Fenster habe ich gewonken als ich weg gefahren bin, in den Moment habe ich endlich realisiert das alles vorbei war.  In mein Rücksack habe ich eine karte von mein Eltern gefunden, was ich wegen die ganze Tränen und so, eine halbe Stunde gebraucht habe um es zu lesen.  Nach eine drei-viertel stunde habe ich eine überraschung bekommen als ein Freund von mir im Zug eingestiegen ist.  Denn alles ziemlich voll war könnten wir nicht sofort neben einander sitzen aber als alles Leer wurde haben wir uns zusammen gesetzt.  Um 06.40 sind wir in Frankfurt angekommen.  Um 11.00 uhr sind wir los geflogen, und damit war mein Austauschjahr offizell zu ende.  Wieder in den USA haben ein paar von uns probleme mit unser Gepäck gehabt.  Nach 4 Tage ist mein Koffer bei mir zu Hause geliefert worden.

In Florida with Christoph

 Das war also eine kleine Zusammenfassung.  Wieder in den USA.....Christoph ist angekommen am 19. Juli und bleibt bis den 20. September.  Am 23.Juli hat mein Bruder sein hochzeit gehabt.  Ich in mit Christoph nach Florida gefahren....ja gefahren.  Wir sind u.a. über St. Louis, Atlanta, Miami und Orlando gefahren.  Disney world war natürlich auch dabei.  Wir sind auch ans Ostküste geflogen.  Wir haben 2,5 Tage in D.C. verbracht, ein sogar mit Erdbeben.  Dann ging's los über Baltimore nach Philadelphia wo wir ein Tag als überraschung zu Markus hingefahren sind.  Dort haben wir ein Bisschen mit ihn und seine Familie gechillt.  New York mussten wir wegen eine vorhergesagtes Hurricane absagen.  Joa also eigentlich mehr gibt's nicht.  Ich suche gerade ein Job, und die Schule fängt näschte Woche für mich wieder an.

Ich würde auch gern die Leute bedanken die, das ganze Jahr mein Blog verfolgt habe.  Ich hoffe dass es euch gefallen hat.  Entschuldigung auch das ich seit so lange nicht geschrieben habe.  Guck ob und zu wieder mal auf die Seite denn es sein kann, dass ich ob und zu was neues darauf schreibe.

bis zum nächsten mal,
- Der James