#11 2/24/15

After  the holidays everything started to slow down and I didn't do much but the first 2 weeks of Febraury I had Praktikum.The best way I can think of to explain what Praktikum is by comparing it to job shadowing somebody for 2 weeks. The whole 10th grade all went to different places to job shadow for two weeks, for example my host sister Lisa was at a bank for 2 weeks. I made my Praktikum at an elementary school and spent my time helping the kids in a classroom, and I would stay after school with the kids who had parents that were at work and would help them with their homework, play games with them, and help to prepare food for them. Even though I never have had an interest in being a teacher, I really enjoyed my time at the school. I really think the US should start implementing something like this into the schools, I think it would help a lot of people figure out what they want to do instead of going to college for 4 years and getting a job only to realize they actually don't enjoy it. It would save a lot of hassle and money, in my opinion.

The next big thing that happened was Karneval. The best way I can descirbe it is by comparing it to Mardi Gras, only bigger and more citites celebrate it although the whole county doesn't. Everybody dresses up in costumes (think Halloween) and goes to watch a parade and drinks. The drinking culture in Germany is very different in the US, probably due to the drinking age, 16 in Germany vs 21 in the US.  In conclusion, Halloween + Mardi Gras+ Alcohol = Karneval

Somewhere in the last 2 months I went to another meeting with other exchange students which was really fun! I can't remember exactly when I was there, but I remember that it snowed and that some of the other exchange students have never seen snow. Coming from North East America that thought had never occured to me. While I am on the topic of weather, most people think that in Germany is a lot colder than Pennsylvania, but that is a myth (especially with the winter that's going on right now)! Where I am in Germany it is still cold but not as cold as it gets in PA.

The next few months are going to be relativley busy and time will sure be going fast. Next week I will be going to Hamburg for a week with other CBYX AFS exchange students, which I am sure will be fun. In the next few months I will also be traveling a little more and have alot planned up until I leave. Yesterday I received my departure information and will be flying home on July 5th, it is really crazy how fast time is going here!..