Tuesday, August 30, 2005
Hi everyone!
How are you all? I am great, the last week has been such an amazing one!
Well, I guess I should pick up where I left off.
The girl who was going to leave, Katie I called her, decided to stay. I am really happy she is staying, at least for now, because I personally think it would have been a massive mistake for her to leave. From what I gather one of the guys in the class called her the day we found out she was leaving, then he read her a letter or something that his father wrote. Then she called up Petra and told her to put everything on hold. Then the next morning when I got on the bus she was there and looking great, and she told me that she was staying. I was so relieved, and a gave her a big high five and sat down.
THE PARTY
Thursday night we had a leaving party at the castle. It was pretty cool, and there was some good food and good fun to be had. After everyone ate the group was fooling around taking heaps of pictures for about an hour, then we played soccer in the ever-fading light. I got a great picture of the boys being dorks, and Aeisha with her Zoolander face. When we were playing soccer David and Hilary were holding a bottle of beer each. It was really funnny, David fell over Aeisha and on top of each other, and neither of them spilt a single drop of beer. It was the funniest thing I have ever seen.
After the light disappeared, the exchange students all disappeared into the dpeths of the castle to play dodgebal. We had to find a way to the gym, so we went through the basement. Now, everytime we have gone throught that basement someone has scared the scheiße out of us, because that place in one big scary horror movie. So this time, it was night, no lights on, we ran through the basement screaming our heads off. That will be one of my lasting memories.
We played dodgeball for about half an hour, then, unfortunatly, the host families cam elooking for us, because they wanted to go home. So, we said goodbye. That night was great.
THE LAST DAY AT SCHOOL
My last day at school in Bavaria was an eventful one. I was so upset that day, I liked all the people in Passau, it was a very fun atmosphere, and it would have been cool to stay there. I walked up the hill to Freudenhain for the last time. We have now called it “Freudenhain hell”. It was so horrible walking up there every day, but it was worth it. Our last lanuage class was pretty normal. We did some exercises and Andrea handed out some sheets that she meant to give us but didn’t get the chance to. We played a game to see what we could remember, and it showed how bad of a memory for some things I actually have.
Lunch was OK for the last two days of school. We had pizza one day, it wasn’t the best, but it was better than most of the meals, and on the last day we had rice with some kind of meat on it. It was good, I have been waiting for rice for so long!
The group of us went into the gym and played the incredibly competitive, boys-verses-girls, see-who-is-the-superior-gender game of dodgeball. The girls wre actually doing quite well too! Then we played a new game that Ashley told us about. I was the only girl left in and I went forward to get a ball, not realising that David had a ball in his hand. When I bent down he pegged the ball at me, hitting my face and knocking my retainer to the floor. I was hit pretty hard, so I grabbed my face. David was really worried, and came over shaking. He told me later that he thought that my retainer was my eye. He thought that he had hit my eye out of its socket! After a few minutes of panic, over me and my great retainer, and my teeth I picked it up and went to the toilets near ur classroom to wash it. I was really worried that my teeth had ben knocked out, because everyone was swearing and yelling “Oh my gosh!”
When I walked out I thought that soemthing was wrong, because everything was quiet. You know when you do a double take, well that’s what I did, but I turned around again and ran through the basement towards our toilets. I washed my retainer, washed my face and went to the classroom. We were told not to be late, but it was already 1:25, and we were supposed ot be back at 1pm! No one else was there, and when they came there was a few people missing. I asked where they were and someone told me that they were still in the gym because David was almost in tears in there. I got up and walked out. I walked through the basement again, for the first time not even scared, then I saw David, He turned away, he was really worried about me and was quite embarreased. I told him that I was fine and all the rest, but he still felt really bad. The rest of the day he kept on apologising and asking me if I was sure that I am alright.
THE SCAVENGER HUNT
When we all got back to the classroom, Petra told us the rules of the “scavenger hunt” that we went on around Passau. Basically it was a list of questions that we had to answer, so we set off on our merry way. I walked out of the classroom and out of the gates of Freudenhain for the last time. We walked down the hill together and chatted the whole way.
We were supposed to do the questions in smaller groups, but none of us wanted to do that, none of us were in the competitive mood. We considered just not doing it and going to a coffee shop or something, but I thought that would have been mean to Petra, because she put a lot of effort into it.
Upon closer inspection, and by that I mean actually reading the paper, we discovered it was incredibly easy and that we already knew that answers to most questions anyway. (The Cathedral has over 17,000 pipes!)
When 2:45pm came, we met up at the front of the train station and Petra was very impressed that we managed to do all of it in such a short time! It was easy, but hardly anyone helped, only about 4 of us were actually doing it, me included. She handed out some chocolate for prizes, which was cool.
GOODBYE
We took some pictures, the whole group, then the tears and hugs started. I hugged everyone and nearly cried. I can’t believe how close I have grown to the group of people in 4 weeks! Like Chelsea said, It has been the best 4 consecutive weeks of my life! I was sad to leave everyone, but I had the next part of my year to get on with.
With that, having siad goodbye and having nealry cried for the first time in Germany, David and I walked away. We walked away from the last 4 weeks, but like David said, “This is one little tiny circle closing compared to the massive circle that is opening now.” How very very true.
We got on the bus and I took some pictures. We didn’t talk much, and when my stop came I said goodbye, shook his hand and got off the bus.
When the bus pulled away I saw David waving, I waved back and watched the bus leave, around the corner.
THE REST
The rest of the afternoon was spent packing and eating pizza. My family ordered pizza and we ate that, then I played cards all night. I even taught them a new game…remember good ol’ Queen of Spades????
The next morning I left. I had to heave my luggage, it was soo heavy!
THE TRAIN
When we got to the train station I hopped out of the car and went to the platform. It was pretty sad, saying goodbye again, but it wasn’t too bad. I got on the train and did the thing that I have always wanted to do, wave out the window when the train leaves the platform. I did it, it was great, even though I was crying at the time. I had other people to talk to on the train, Camy, Aeisha, Ceciley, Chelsea and Hilary. That was cool.
We had to find a place for all our luggage, which proved a rather difficult task. You see, there was quite a lot of it! When we finally found a spot Camy, Ceciley Hilary and I went and found Chelsea and Aeisha, who were 7 caraiges down the train. Walking through smoking cariages is not very fun.
We basically hung out for the next two hours, until Aeisha had to gte off the train. We walked back to where her stuff was and got her ready to get off the train.
When the train stopped we got all her stuff off the train and hugged her goodbye. Then we got in the train, found a window and stuck our heads out of it. By that time she had already found her family and we got a look at them. Then the train started and I started…crying that is. For the second time in the day. We waved goodbye then went and sat down.
We talked again for ages, then some mean lady came and told us that we were sitting in her seat. She made us move instead of taking the seat we told her was empty that was Hilary’s.
So, we moved…up the train…and into first class. It was great. We had so much fun in the carriage. We talked about so much and it was soo much fun! Before we knew it it was Chelsea’s turn to get off the train. We had already been on there for 5 hours, and had no idea where it all went! Once again we visited the old people carriage, for the last time though, got all of Chelsea’s stuff and went to the door. When the train stopped we got off the train with her stuff, gave her great big hugs then got on the train again. Her host family was standing right next to where she got off, and we got to meet them, but only very breifly before the train left. For the third time that day we opened the window and said goodbye to her as the train moved on. And then there were four.
I was to be the next one to get off the train, and I was to get off at 4:59pm. Once again we pissed off to first class and hung around there, but our numbers were dwindling. I had a great day with those people, and I wish I had more time on that train, because I miss those people already. Like I said many times, being in Passau wasn’t actually what being an exchange student is like, it is so different.
LEAVING
When it finally came to my turn getting off I was soo nervous. I really was nearly peeing myself. I got off the train in Hannover, which is a little way north-west of Magdeburg.
When I had to get off Camy helped me get my stuff off, they all got off the train and gave me hugs and then they got back on the train and went to our window.
I was literally bawling by this time. I was crying, because I was soo sad to be leaving these people. I miss them heaps, and I had a great time with them. I hope I see them again.
They told me to have a great time, not to cry and to be strong. I got a beautiful picture of them out the window, which I will put on once I get them on the computer. Then the train rolled away...with my hand luggage on it...just kidding!
Nah, but it went away, and I was left standing on the platform crying and alone.
I had to find platform 10, I was on 8, then I got on the train to Magdeburg station, tried to find my seat but failed. I ended up sitting in some random seat, but the ticket lady didn't seem to mind. I spent the time on the train listenign to music and writing in my diary.
When the train was 10 minutes away from Magdeburg I was shitting myself again, but this time with nerves of meeting my new family. I heaved my luggage out of the compartment that I was sitting in (like in Harry Potter!), got it near the door and started trying to calm myself down. I guess it worked, because when I got off the train I saw a sign that said Vera on it and I started walking towards it. It was my family.
MY FAMILY
I met my new family, and I liked them instantly. They are very cool, and I like having a sister my age. Nina forgot to give me these flowers that they had gotten for me, she gave themm to me and we walked to the car.
We drove for about 25 minutes fromm Magdeburg station to Schönebeck, and then I got to see their house and city.
I can tell you, their house is so beautiful, and really high tech. They showed me around the house, then they showed me my room. It has its own computer! But it only just got the net.
Anyway, we went for a walk that night, but I think I will tell you later, coz this has been really long!
Vera
Vera was here at 12:53 AM
