Tuesday, July 11, 2006
Goodbye Germany!!The bags are packed, my room is empty and clean. The flights are confirmed and the insurance is valid. I have taken all the pictures I an possibly take, and I have taken the snapshots in my mind. The last bus I ever rid on is gone, and now I am only going to be here, in a car, in the airport or away from Germany. I have said goodbye to all my friends and soon I will be saying goodbye to all my family.
I guess now is the time...
To be honest, I am really excited to be leaving. I think it is time that I move on, although this year was a dream come true. My dream is finished and I have to get on with the real world, but somehow a little part of my dream has slipped into my new life. How could it not?
My life has changed in so many ways, how could I ever stay the same as what I was a year ago? I can't ever imagine living the way I lived a year ago. I couldn't ever be the same person I was a year ago, not after everything.
I guess the end of a year like this is the right time to say thankyou to all the people who have helped me get so far:
First, my host family. My second family.
Ursula, my mother and Christoph my father. They didn't only open up their own home to me, they opened up their lives and hearts for me.
Johannes, who I barely know, Robert, who always helped me whenever I needed some crazy thing, Florian, who has just been there for me the whole time and Carolina, who has turned into a second sister, but also a best friend!
Danke an euch alle!!
My first host family, Nina, Dagmar and Oliver. Without them I wouldn't be here right now either. Thankyou.
My wonderful friends at school.
Annika, with whom I always did some crazy thing in the break, I think I will never forget everything you have done for me- You were always there for me, even if I didn't think so. You were the first person in that class that I talked to, and you were the last person in that class who I talked to.
Klaudia and Karolina, who accepted me for who I am and what I am. You guys are really special, I could only find such friends like you once in a lifetime. You are both rare and amazing, thankyou.
Caroline P, with whom I didn't get on with very well until a few weeks ago, the time was too short when we got on well with each other, and I wish it could have been longer, so I could have got to know you better.
Katrin, you talked to me and were the person on the bus who always came up, smiley and happy chappy, although you were probably dead tired.
Carola, although we haven't known each other for very long, I am so glad that I got to meet you.
Caroline G and Rabea, I will miss you guys alot, and thankyou for all the help and advice over the past few months.
And the other friends who aren't in my class.
Katharina, you are my rock. I didn't get to see oyu very often, but when I did it was a great time. When you go to New Zealand, ring me up, maybe I'll come visit you! I will really miss just blabbering with you all the time.
Eva, thanks for everything. You really are a good clarinet player, and I really hope we will stay in contact. I can't wait until we see each other again.
Anne, where I lived for one week in Braunschweig. I miss you already, and I am thankful that we met each other. I got to know alot of people, things and places in Braunschweig because of you, thankyou for taking the risk of letting me live there for a week.
Wiebke, you are the nicest girl I have ever met, and I am so happy I got to know you. You are really funny and I am going to miss your company at hockey.
Thankyou to all the other people not mentioned here as well. People in my class, in the Jazz Combo, at hockey and the other people who I just got to know from around the place.
To all the wonderful people I met through YFU meetings and things, I am thankful that I ever got to meet you, and I hope we will stay in contact. I can't wait to see you again, if you are ever in the region, give me a buzz. You all mean alot to me. Thankyou, from the bottom of my heart. A big thankyou goes out to Janina as well, the best Betreuerin there ever was!!
To my family at home, I couldn't have done this without you. Mum and Dad, you supported me the whole time. You helped me when there was a problem and you have...just supported me throughout this whole thing, even letting me go.
Alec, Peter and Nina, who have had to put up with a Mum who isn't the normal Mum and who is stressed when she doesn't hear from me. You put up with my crap before the year and now you're going to have to put up with my crap again. Thankyou.
And my wonderful friends at home. I can't name you all, you guys know exactly who you are. You have supported me, listened to me rant and rave about various things. Read my blog and you have all cared about what I have been doing in the past year. You have done numerous amounts of things for me. Like my siblings, you put up with my endless theories and things beofre I left, and you will have to put up with the same stuff again...
You have commented on my blog, sent me emails and been generaly interested what I have been doing. I miss you all and can't wait to see you again, it is only 10 days until I come home. I love all of you and can't wait till we see each other again.
Last but not least, Emily. You have been my absolute rock here in Germany, in Australia and I hope we will continue to be so close, although we haven't actually been "close" in distance this past year. You have always listened to me complain, I h ave listened to you complain. We know what we mean, and I think we will be able to understand each other very well when we get home. You have probably put up with alot on my behalf, and I am thankful that you were always there to help me. I can't wait till we see each other...in less than 20 hours!!
Thankyou everyone who isn't mentioned. Thankyou everyone who is mentioned...I am so grateful for what you have all done for me. I love you all with all of my heart, and I will never forget any of you. Nothing I say will tell you all how thankful I am. Thankyou.
Lots of love, and till we see each other again,
Vera the German. =D
Vera was here at 3:00 AM
