tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8438200038206749752024-03-05T23:28:55.381+01:00There and Back AgainLiselottehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16874725589152039700noreply@blogger.comBlogger22125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-843820003820674975.post-57748003969880268782011-09-19T10:21:00.000+02:002011-09-19T10:22:25.881+02:00Choice<meta name="Title" content=""> <meta name="Keywords" content=""> <meta equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"> <meta name="ProgId" content="Word.Document"> <meta name="Generator" content="Microsoft Word 2008"> <meta name="Originator" content="Microsoft Word 2008"> <link rel="File-List" href="file://localhost/Users/liseross/Library/Caches/TemporaryItems/msoclip/0/clip_filelist.xml"> <!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:documentproperties> <o:template>Normal.dotm</o:Template> <o:revision>0</o:Revision> <o:totaltime>0</o:TotalTime> <o:pages>1</o:Pages> <o:words>85</o:Words> <o:characters>487</o:Characters> <o:company>Clearscapes</o:Company> <o:lines>4</o:Lines> <o:paragraphs>1</o:Paragraphs> <o:characterswithspaces>598</o:CharactersWithSpaces> <o:version>12.0</o:Version> </o:DocumentProperties> <o:officedocumentsettings> <o:allowpng/> </o:OfficeDocumentSettings> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:trackmoves>false</w:TrackMoves> <w:trackformatting/> <w:punctuationkerning/> <w:drawinggridhorizontalspacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing> <w:drawinggridverticalspacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing> <w:displayhorizontaldrawinggridevery>0</w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery> <w:displayverticaldrawinggridevery>0</w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery> <w:validateagainstschemas/> <w:saveifxmlinvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:ignoremixedcontent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:alwaysshowplaceholdertext>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:compatibility> <w:breakwrappedtables/> <w:dontgrowautofit/> <w:dontautofitconstrainedtables/> <w:dontvertalignintxbx/> </w:Compatibility> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:latentstyles deflockedstate="false" latentstylecount="276"> </w:LatentStyles> </xml><![endif]--> <style> <!-- /* Font Definitions */ @font-face {font-family:Cambria; panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:auto; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:3 0 0 0 1 0;} /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-parent:""; margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:Cambria; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} @page Section1 {size:8.5in 11.0in; margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in; mso-header-margin:.5in; mso-footer-margin:.5in; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} --> </style> <!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;} </style> <![endif]--> <!--StartFragment--> <p class="MsoNormal">I chose this.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">It wasn’t like I didn’t have the grades or the extracurricular or the brains to go to college. Three even wanted me in fact.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">But I turned them down. I said it was because of scholarships, but in the end I chose that too.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">I chose to go to Wake Tech, I chose to work, and I chose this life. No regrets.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">But it hurts.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">And when you post on your facebook about how wonderful college is or how great all your free time or how it’s so hard to find time for your four classes and a social life…</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">I might just hate you a little bit. But I hate myself more.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Because I chose this.</p> <!--EndFragment-->Liselottehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16874725589152039700noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-843820003820674975.post-19485980980197768992011-05-25T07:22:00.000+02:002011-05-25T07:26:53.631+02:00To Remember.<div class="mbl notesBlogText clearfix"><div><p>It’s hard really. Remembering I mean. It’s been one year and it feels like yesterday. Looking back my exchange seemed to never end and yet it ended too soon. Weird how time does that right?</p><p>The year back has been probably the fastest ever. Most likely cause I threw myself into my school and work and buried my head under ground and once in a while came up for air. I also went to Germany three times.</p><p><em>Yes, three.</em></p><p>I wish they told us before we left that this year would never leave us, that it would change us and shape us and become so entrenched in our being that we can no longer be that old person that we were.</p><p><em>Wait, they told us that?</em></p><p>I guess it’s hard to believe at first. You know, starting out, heading across the ocean to this grand adventure, six months seems like an eternity and a year a lifetime. It’s not that they didn’t tell me of I didn’t listen, it’s that my tiny, Americanized, teenage brain couldn’t comprehend the fact that once you <em>live</em> somewhere, once you allow yourself to fall in love with that country…</p><p><em>It’ll never be the same again.</em></p><p>Sorry kids. The secret is out. Germany follows me around like a shadow, sometimes comforting, sometimes not. I can’t let go and I can’t forget (<em>Was I supposed to?</em>). And I know I’ve become that obnoxious person that just <em>won’t freaking shut up</em> about that one subject, but sometimes it kills.</p><p>It’s sitting at a stoplight talking to your friend and she says something to which you reply “<em>genau</em>” and then you sit there laughing cause if you don’t laugh you’ll cry and then they’ll never understand. They’ll never understand what it’s like to know a language you never thought that in a million years you’d learn and yet there are days you can’t even think in your native tongue let alone hold a decent conversation. And how happy you are and yet how sad you are because of it. What’s that they say?</p><p><em>Don’t cry because it’s over; smile because it happened.</em></p><p>Oh yeah. Working on it.</p><p>But being that it has been one-year and all I can’t help but remember.</p><p>Remember my last party in Germany.</p><p>Saying goodbye to friends.</p><p>Saying goodbye to host siblings.</p><p>Then the final goodbye, standing at the airport, before going through security and passport control.</p><p>I won’t describe it, because I can’t. But I will say I cried my way through security, passport control, the terminal, and somehow made it on my plane. And then cried some more. I must’ve been an interesting row mate that day.</p><p>I honestly don’t remember that day too clearly, but I do remember the take offs and landings. That’s when the reality hit. That’s when I wanted to scream: “stop!” “rewind!” “play again”. Silly Lise, right? This is the real world kid.</p><p><em>You don’t get second chances.</em></p><p>But I didn’t want a second chance; I wanted to continue my first one… forever? No go. The real world is waiting- or so everyone said.</p><p>But don’t they understand that my year in Germany was every bit as real as the life I’m living now. The bonds I made in Germany with my friends and family will last a lifetime and then some. So don’t you dare pat me on the head and say:</p><p><em>So you were gone for a year. How was your trip?</em></p><p>It wasn’t a trip. It can’t have been. A trip doesn’t break you down and build you up. A trip doesn’t give you friends that stuck by your side and helped you with calculus in German, a trip doesn’t give you deep friendships with people from across the globe and a trip sure as heck doesn’t give you a three year old girl who tells people that her <em>sister</em> lives in America.</p><p>No, it wasn’t a trip. It was a journey. A life. A not too shabby one at that.</p><p>But I’m back now. A year in and the clock keeps ticking and I keep remembering.</p><p><em>Everyday.</em></p><p>But believe it or not, I smile more than I cry.</p><p><em>Promise.</em></p></div></div><i style=""><o:p></o:p></i> <!--EndFragment-->Liselottehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16874725589152039700noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-843820003820674975.post-45824263099484189882010-11-15T08:07:00.001+01:002010-11-15T08:08:21.743+01:00Why I Threw It All AwayAs I approach the end of my first semester at Wake Technical Community College, I feel the urge to slightly explain myself.<br /><br />Many people expected "better" things for me upon completion of high school; ie scholarships, good universities, etc and what not. However upon actually receiving my diploma I trotted off contently to Wake Tech leaving many scratching their heads.<br /><br />Why, you may (or may not) ask?<br /><br />Two reasons.<br /><br />A) I received no scholarships and although I could turn this into a long story, I'll just leave it at that. No money for Lise. Nada, zilch.<br /><br />B) I was done.<br /><br />Background: I was the good student, the nice kid, played sports, active community service, yadayada. As of my junior year, it was clear in my head that I was going to graduate school and head off to a four-year college, upon arrival would work my butt off, graduate and then join my peers as a good, working-class citizen of America. And up until about November 2009, gosh darn it I was supposed to do all that. No doubt.<br /><br />What happened? Well most of you know the answer.<br /><br />Germany.<br /><br />And although I could write pages and pages upon my experience I shall let that one word speak for itself.<br /><br />Because as of November 2009, I realized that I did not, no could not leave. And I fought for it. For about a month I fought with my school in the U.S. to let me stay in Germany and still graduate on time. And in doing so I found a backbone I never knew even existed in me.<br /><br />So why did I want to stay so bad?<br /><br />As in exchange student you are sent to live to a country you've never been to before (well most), you get a new family (who has only meet you through emails and a dorky letter you write), a new town, new school, new language, new culture, the list goes on. You can no longer rely on who you've come to identify yourself as. No longer does JROTC, baseball, NHS, or all these things apply to you, you are simply you. What you chose to be and who are you truly are. So what do you do, with nothing to define you except "American" and "Exchange student"?<br /><br />You live.<br /><br />Your world is thrown off its axis, your head is spinning, and the moments in which you do not try to cling to your old thoughts and ideas, the world explodes in a freshness that takes your breath away and makes you realize you can never, ever go back to your old life. And those random people that picked you to live with them? They become your family. That random school you got sent to? The people there become your friends. And that random<br />town of 20,000 people you get shipped off to? It becomes your home. <br /><br />So I chose not to return in January. I chose to stay in Germany. Doing so probably cost me those scholarships, those prestigious awards had fought so hard for.<br /><br />But don't ever think I regretted it.<br /><br />And why did I chose Wake Tech instead of taking out student loans?<br /><br />So that two years from now, I can walk away debt free ready to begin my life. Not one graduating from a four year school who must immediately enter the work force in a 9-5 job to pay off their student loans. That did not sound appealing to me.<br /><br />So I admit it. I'm done playing the game and following the "rules". I work to please God and find the best path for my life. That's it plain and simple.<br /><br />And I guess when it comes down to it, I just want to know that 50 years from now I took every opportunity that was given to me and never looked back.<br /><br />I want to see the world.<br /><br />And that's why I threw it all away.Liselottehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16874725589152039700noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-843820003820674975.post-71047850783184747142009-10-27T20:49:00.005+01:002009-10-28T20:05:10.491+01:00To tide you overI'm backed up again. I promise I'll update with everything- lots has happened! But that will take too long and I have college apps due. Hopefully by the end of the week I'll be back on track with this blog. For now I went around my room taking pictures of stuff that I am doing/loving/just feel like sharing. Enjoy!<br /><br />Why yes they DO indeed have trader joe's in deutschland. not the store. you can find this at aldi. what is this? fruity iced tea. amazingly good iced tea for that matter! bojangles watch out! and it's only 45 cents to boot. well 66.6 cents when you are talking exchange rate. and with 21% zucker (that's sugar for all you ignorant non germans) you can literally feel your teeth rotting while drinking it! and have I mentioned I've drunk almost 3 liters of the stuff in two days? I do have will power I promise...<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ8Z52zDEeD1Z1S_mh5RIWzkUEnmcBFOu2QZ4cLdtSisFgu0Km-UpdFPxzuMsyyGm1p6bKZzFryI0biH8mKMQx0HXF5f3f6Z2eqZv3_HQeADp3hgS-1q99c7QUkhBWz3dw7I3j7w_fLg9d/s1600-h/IMG_2252.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ8Z52zDEeD1Z1S_mh5RIWzkUEnmcBFOu2QZ4cLdtSisFgu0Km-UpdFPxzuMsyyGm1p6bKZzFryI0biH8mKMQx0HXF5f3f6Z2eqZv3_HQeADp3hgS-1q99c7QUkhBWz3dw7I3j7w_fLg9d/s320/IMG_2252.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5397727509965813938" border="0" /></a><br /><br />This is what I do in math class when bored. Perhaps that is why I got a 9/60 equaling epic failure on my math test. we shall never know. anywhoo I tried. and at least it was in german!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxNU40AfenMwnrKzZC5HPA88MEgsrzXklG2X2ksY9Yrvanvm1EGc46HU5L1WHinJa8lJR-LUNsO9fQUs0FBY3OLMlMfZGxYwqvLbBCdwSQjRduxR8VyEDEdsjC9KOEwm6JOyGmy3AT-Zdf/s1600-h/IMG_2256.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxNU40AfenMwnrKzZC5HPA88MEgsrzXklG2X2ksY9Yrvanvm1EGc46HU5L1WHinJa8lJR-LUNsO9fQUs0FBY3OLMlMfZGxYwqvLbBCdwSQjRduxR8VyEDEdsjC9KOEwm6JOyGmy3AT-Zdf/s320/IMG_2256.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5397727515277703074" border="0" /></a><br /><br />this falls under stuff I like. I have four trash cans in my room and my host mom labeled all of them. the sad part? I'm still confused. immer.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv_91Lno6QdE2RA14x4jC_qjFL2yic4Q2QysiVecRnqf5vMH6ETwHXua3qh5kojRnLIqsCrBekqcFt8PSTiM15pEdTqMwM7Kuf_DbctAQq94xqztytqPrr8gtzIHoLyh1xctqXhiQP3xgS/s1600-h/IMG_2257.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv_91Lno6QdE2RA14x4jC_qjFL2yic4Q2QysiVecRnqf5vMH6ETwHXua3qh5kojRnLIqsCrBekqcFt8PSTiM15pEdTqMwM7Kuf_DbctAQq94xqztytqPrr8gtzIHoLyh1xctqXhiQP3xgS/s320/IMG_2257.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5397727519641479698" border="0" /></a><br /><br />no I did not take a picture of my shadow. it's of the radiator which supposedly heats rooms in germany. I'm not convinced yet. I think that I might petition to sleep on the floor next to the fire downstairs once it gets REALLY cold here. what? negative two degrees C isn't cold?!?! It's "fresh" as my host mom puts it.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJVGJ3FsDMpi0MIZ_nD-CAmwbsdHVQw_8AnD_ejR6r1fvSt-HHCafT0QMPGcX5xMKU9g12IBrp-Yi62DlmRgeCmW0KYW4zUNykfQ4xcz-XX17XFjyp2lwGD-wSzPHZ4AGONuXp5HIzkOsu/s1600-h/IMG_2258.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJVGJ3FsDMpi0MIZ_nD-CAmwbsdHVQw_8AnD_ejR6r1fvSt-HHCafT0QMPGcX5xMKU9g12IBrp-Yi62DlmRgeCmW0KYW4zUNykfQ4xcz-XX17XFjyp2lwGD-wSzPHZ4AGONuXp5HIzkOsu/s320/IMG_2258.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5397727525557216178" border="0" /></a><br /><br />this also falls under stuff I like. mmm radler. yes it is beer. not it is not crazy alcoholic. and yes it is yummy. but I'll be honest I only really like beer that doesn't taste like beer. :)<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSfKBU9RIex-nLRTzjkVht5BkQTNBpwxMJnvdg1m7Trhop5py9h4Gg3bDextyIy2kd1NqTsgWqthlg7YmiSW6kkVVt-wu9G_BoX1yd5FNyoQsKUTFahaHXsj483zLVoAD6dInQ2EJ05xSS/s1600-h/IMG_2259.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSfKBU9RIex-nLRTzjkVht5BkQTNBpwxMJnvdg1m7Trhop5py9h4Gg3bDextyIy2kd1NqTsgWqthlg7YmiSW6kkVVt-wu9G_BoX1yd5FNyoQsKUTFahaHXsj483zLVoAD6dInQ2EJ05xSS/s320/IMG_2259.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5397728468502157106" border="0" /></a><br />this book. rocks. love it. it's what I did on a four hour train ride home. (that's another story though)<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8US0tRYtgoaVnslskQ-UsEmL9puVSiUByaRUGJ_ZdSwzeDCVhEMnlow-teUyHh3RhZIjDgltu9SmoVloEX9aorvA3hrsbmAT8mJ1VgSTi2u1xKC9gBlilzclMk0dotTGmT6CHz9TGiPct/s1600-h/IMG_2261.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8US0tRYtgoaVnslskQ-UsEmL9puVSiUByaRUGJ_ZdSwzeDCVhEMnlow-teUyHh3RhZIjDgltu9SmoVloEX9aorvA3hrsbmAT8mJ1VgSTi2u1xKC9gBlilzclMk0dotTGmT6CHz9TGiPct/s320/IMG_2261.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5397727531168756402" border="0" /></a><br />alright signing off now-my hands are kinda twitchy- I really think I need to detox from that eis tee. seriously. I do have SOME self control. maybe.<br /><br />love,<br />lise<br /><br />ps. comments are nice. really nice in fact. they make me smile. wouldn't you like to make me smile today? :)Liselottehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16874725589152039700noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-843820003820674975.post-49685951465690442062009-09-26T23:22:00.000+02:002009-09-26T23:40:20.314+02:00The HarzburgLater in the day after we went to the border we went to the mountains, specifically to the on with the Harzburg (kinda a castle) and we rode the Burgbahn up and walked down... it was a long walk! And we took a wrong turn... oops! I got some amazing pictures and a great story to tell...<br /><br />Sooo when I was back in the US I would day dream about Germany. Not expectations really, just wishing and wondering what life would be like. And my mind always drifted back to this one little specific dream. I would be standing on a mountain overlooking villages and seeing just rolling hills and other mountains and behind me would be an old castle and it would just be so Germany and perfect. Cute dream huh? IT HAPPENED.<br /><div style="text-align: center;">Perfection. Wilkommen zu Deutschland.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijDl9PDmvbasBs6iQIxZM5KEY24l25PN7jS5SuDO9N29tPAnDjAfca0vAPU5XhVxIURdfMyn-v1KCasNgP4Ubanxerl5s3Thtob4YE5q2IR2SgH5pO-vkhQ4gExUb9jsQLMho2VgWWfkbb/s1600-h/IMG_1912.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijDl9PDmvbasBs6iQIxZM5KEY24l25PN7jS5SuDO9N29tPAnDjAfca0vAPU5XhVxIURdfMyn-v1KCasNgP4Ubanxerl5s3Thtob4YE5q2IR2SgH5pO-vkhQ4gExUb9jsQLMho2VgWWfkbb/s320/IMG_1912.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5385894060554592738" border="0" /></a><br />Me living the dream.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDnlKKBxF-pEjsDXhWcroh5Y7IVO_gE8OFFat1g3vpFf5vpa9YsT0w_qVeUPIFBmfKuTS6YWuu-oaI3hL52p5NO7y3dmvnMnQDW7TYOIliafMn-lXiVO0xbMIiYNHLfWV7gMHeyx6EHejR/s1600-h/IMG_1914.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDnlKKBxF-pEjsDXhWcroh5Y7IVO_gE8OFFat1g3vpFf5vpa9YsT0w_qVeUPIFBmfKuTS6YWuu-oaI3hL52p5NO7y3dmvnMnQDW7TYOIliafMn-lXiVO0xbMIiYNHLfWV7gMHeyx6EHejR/s320/IMG_1914.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5385893050578925666" border="0" /></a><br />The wall of the burg... crazy huge!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPeEZoAT05y8FrVrdu1hH-wfpL_rb9Zh_JqdcBTHmt0Kr5AsBCdPsqj2z-c0oxxtm6Hml3gb-OhVXFaRlLRRc86_KmlaUZX7OBX1G1HVVhgtjgJR84tUN3z-lgoe4soPSZ96vkjzZ7vwvS/s1600-h/IMG_1921.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPeEZoAT05y8FrVrdu1hH-wfpL_rb9Zh_JqdcBTHmt0Kr5AsBCdPsqj2z-c0oxxtm6Hml3gb-OhVXFaRlLRRc86_KmlaUZX7OBX1G1HVVhgtjgJR84tUN3z-lgoe4soPSZ96vkjzZ7vwvS/s320/IMG_1921.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5385893058466368242" border="0" /></a><br />Again... with everyone!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtQYlGWaHa9liS4K0qMNcKJqQQF2QGMRBbtxfQu1Sdhyk7J4fPxMmeVJ4yy-5UxytKOBqF2gFuLOJZGT-CZlfkWgHkrbGOesTmpgVPrk_o9vX_lme5wD30bxLGkmKqxFgtfkLUhBLwZYoZ/s1600-h/IMG_1922.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtQYlGWaHa9liS4K0qMNcKJqQQF2QGMRBbtxfQu1Sdhyk7J4fPxMmeVJ4yy-5UxytKOBqF2gFuLOJZGT-CZlfkWgHkrbGOesTmpgVPrk_o9vX_lme5wD30bxLGkmKqxFgtfkLUhBLwZYoZ/s320/IMG_1922.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5385893068089090610" border="0" /></a><br />Some monument to some guy... not really sure who. :)<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg30e4JmRLTn9N-FNRDL5LUP6CQR2uuv2EJJwDAJLCSxl2d6M0Blzjy3_eINH4IaOSLCy4Jp6j1VSv_nBEQMXONLIkqNVgQfavK7Gp02g_I2bQkQFThQ8eXp6nxqBeKJclUo7qodeVfCrM4/s1600-h/IMG_1908.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg30e4JmRLTn9N-FNRDL5LUP6CQR2uuv2EJJwDAJLCSxl2d6M0Blzjy3_eINH4IaOSLCy4Jp6j1VSv_nBEQMXONLIkqNVgQfavK7Gp02g_I2bQkQFThQ8eXp6nxqBeKJclUo7qodeVfCrM4/s320/IMG_1908.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5385893045826628642" border="0" /></a><br />On the way up... it was high!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvBETD3Q1zzcLsergbuFbDfmHAgGswg2uKd6iOdhjPVWaFJfnJAeT6OP0l4PfTS6-PbUGvJIAonCReyI19E6nT3U4Cx58m-qw3ZSxhLN6FbKXPnCbHJTe8msdSjlyzfwod_SFnyA1tYukc/s1600-h/IMG_1892.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvBETD3Q1zzcLsergbuFbDfmHAgGswg2uKd6iOdhjPVWaFJfnJAeT6OP0l4PfTS6-PbUGvJIAonCReyI19E6nT3U4Cx58m-qw3ZSxhLN6FbKXPnCbHJTe8msdSjlyzfwod_SFnyA1tYukc/s320/IMG_1892.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5385893033191309314" border="0" /></a><br />Oh and Katherine if your reading this be jealous! No I didn't get to do it but I want too!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinVZNmiOyCRb5yOAH30bVJIoYonDPormKPhxr_oFA6L72877sH7rEC6SC2qYW6khXxKN0L3rUa3qHmKTbPnpvrJvB95ngnRGAVOLRoAmhM64o-Pa4U9DaQRkZwFdI0T2GeOHHmP6URZ18o/s1600-h/IMG_1924.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinVZNmiOyCRb5yOAH30bVJIoYonDPormKPhxr_oFA6L72877sH7rEC6SC2qYW6khXxKN0L3rUa3qHmKTbPnpvrJvB95ngnRGAVOLRoAmhM64o-Pa4U9DaQRkZwFdI0T2GeOHHmP6URZ18o/s320/IMG_1924.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5385894056008504706" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;">ps. I love my life.<br />love,<br />Lise<br /></div></div>Liselottehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16874725589152039700noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-843820003820674975.post-48154711960351784462009-09-26T23:12:00.000+02:002009-09-26T23:33:55.760+02:00die GrenzeLast weekend my host family and I went to the border (I live about five minutes away) and to a special museum talking about East Germany and the restrictions stuff. For example, you couldn't come with a 500 m radius without a blue stamp and a 5km radius without a red stamp or something like that. There were mines leading up to the border but the guards turned them off when it rained. Really interesting stuff. But I think pictures are worth more so here you go!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Entry to dugout beneath a former watch tower<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuS_S2kDPEoNyZLKmNPOuKundsA92JGg8MMGmIjsRXHY-TNnJmHuppRZVB8RWqxQTsAhDFH6MLkippFGv-2dGJkQi_shNWI3xsUS0TVTGbAAY7JGYs1XXhme_T4sgeNC97WLFsWdtj5TYZ/s1600-h/IMG_1879.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuS_S2kDPEoNyZLKmNPOuKundsA92JGg8MMGmIjsRXHY-TNnJmHuppRZVB8RWqxQTsAhDFH6MLkippFGv-2dGJkQi_shNWI3xsUS0TVTGbAAY7JGYs1XXhme_T4sgeNC97WLFsWdtj5TYZ/s320/IMG_1879.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5385890160269482546" border="0" /></a><br />Inside<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikJX9taVtb2Z2jSJ4mmU4bq52tZ0LCF_f_sKV9TJ5aKPz-4lcfSYH8WJezLdpizbXQKiH1KayVbk84GWXzXmIAusRNz8-lEVg4UMjmB9ExQhOumULVks9KVgsGpjxom3lMzLJs5yplmYLZ/s1600-h/IMG_1878.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikJX9taVtb2Z2jSJ4mmU4bq52tZ0LCF_f_sKV9TJ5aKPz-4lcfSYH8WJezLdpizbXQKiH1KayVbk84GWXzXmIAusRNz8-lEVg4UMjmB9ExQhOumULVks9KVgsGpjxom3lMzLJs5yplmYLZ/s320/IMG_1878.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5385890150106631762" border="0" /></a><br />Part of the border wall<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD6FhK3J_ME39tayHwye53vg-2jlGITS2G6DzNsjh9oFw5RyVHzfpQ7gRal9RU6EyYC9h3D1lebWS2cN_Xkqc0eChaH_FOZyuxRCy3zk2qM_XFTrOflsV92owD9uODjtoEVvbf22WJsxWY/s1600-h/IMG_1880.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD6FhK3J_ME39tayHwye53vg-2jlGITS2G6DzNsjh9oFw5RyVHzfpQ7gRal9RU6EyYC9h3D1lebWS2cN_Xkqc0eChaH_FOZyuxRCy3zk2qM_XFTrOflsV92owD9uODjtoEVvbf22WJsxWY/s320/IMG_1880.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5385890166061043954" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;">It was all very interesting and kinda scary in a way. This isn't 100 years ago or something, up until very recently a country was <span style="font-style: italic;">divided </span>within itself. It's very sobering and I'm glad I got to go see it.<br />ps. I also got a cool post card I'll take a picture of it before I send it and post it<br />love,<br />Lise<br /></div></div>Liselottehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16874725589152039700noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-843820003820674975.post-13579042678062590632009-09-26T23:04:00.000+02:002009-09-26T23:20:55.578+02:00AltstadtfestSo two? weeks ago I went to the Altstadtfest in Goslar. It was a lot of fun and we heard some really good bands and I ate Chinese food and ice cream. Yum yum. I also got told I look very German. WoHoo! Now I just need to sound it... On a side note the singer of this really good band was incredibly cute... oh my German boys... :D Okay picture time!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Yum. Eis! Lecker!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilkv7CRSEk8NasMJzYai__PhZUptpD_ITVhPUlp9XIJm_Q-RweDzIhhvBxy6FZkyVvhc4QWrjMVze3xzGIr0lLzcDteYJvOLx6dBrWkzmu_ffv8Q1ch5JZDY789ZL05rP30jTEXfyc4jFa/s1600-h/IMG_1786.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilkv7CRSEk8NasMJzYai__PhZUptpD_ITVhPUlp9XIJm_Q-RweDzIhhvBxy6FZkyVvhc4QWrjMVze3xzGIr0lLzcDteYJvOLx6dBrWkzmu_ffv8Q1ch5JZDY789ZL05rP30jTEXfyc4jFa/s320/IMG_1786.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5385887971141569986" border="0" /></a><br />Well Rachel got cut out...<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAloR1zlymPM-TcWfY73rw7OMpi4pDWkj-noUrs_BhNUwkneMhU64K_19P30u_dKrjuwyYwZUKH0Zj37LSY_jdRVw-c9xAK1b3-7qMt053Jn2IiObwZjxVn7Org41XFLxRmtYkRwXpNjtO/s1600-h/IMG_1791.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAloR1zlymPM-TcWfY73rw7OMpi4pDWkj-noUrs_BhNUwkneMhU64K_19P30u_dKrjuwyYwZUKH0Zj37LSY_jdRVw-c9xAK1b3-7qMt053Jn2IiObwZjxVn7Org41XFLxRmtYkRwXpNjtO/s320/IMG_1791.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5385887974028019090" border="0" /></a><br />Marita and I!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSAd0OBhPXR9WMJlj3dHxVXsQUuy10esn4fZzlWRo_9Tim8lMjo4c_ZIQRH1R9SoLgPieUYRFJG_1G8jyC_wNg5qpjWHRZOKXT7uyvRxv0o02F5kppIZiMSpTYNWkjOrWi9nAcdC1rvw9D/s1600-h/IMG_1806.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSAd0OBhPXR9WMJlj3dHxVXsQUuy10esn4fZzlWRo_9Tim8lMjo4c_ZIQRH1R9SoLgPieUYRFJG_1G8jyC_wNg5qpjWHRZOKXT7uyvRxv0o02F5kppIZiMSpTYNWkjOrWi9nAcdC1rvw9D/s320/IMG_1806.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5385887987254806498" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;">It was really awesome because Goslar is such an old looking town. Very German-y. I had a lot of fun in particular dancing to... COTTEN EYED JOE! With Marita! haha great night. One of those perfect whyicameonexchange moments. Gotta love 'em.<br /><br />ps-I think I like American Chinese food better than German Chinese food. :P<br />love,<br />Lise<br /></div></div>Liselottehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16874725589152039700noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-843820003820674975.post-89427700041565466802009-09-26T22:57:00.001+02:002009-09-26T23:20:07.778+02:00Stuff I do with my host familySo just for random things I've done with my host family... as a family have included going to soccer games and going to their Oma and Opa's house. I write those two thing in particular cause we seem to do both those a lot. Fine by me I have fun and get great pictures and videos! And Jonas is a pretty dang good soccer player!<br /><br />This past weekend in particular we went to their Oma's birthday party, that was a lot of fun and let me tell you this family is crazy! Need proof?<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Jens, Jonas, and Julius<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLTM8S64ghWdr0BCURp4I4J0LPU4Qjk68tqEk2PL6C0FlB9ZCnYPUaGFF6MECSO339B7kAE1_qJhdwQWCjSAsIBci2xyFBxqzVGqGnzgkp5VYjPSBWPad3xEABi1uVtvykZv41TxGvaQJa/s1600-h/IMG_1834.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLTM8S64ghWdr0BCURp4I4J0LPU4Qjk68tqEk2PL6C0FlB9ZCnYPUaGFF6MECSO339B7kAE1_qJhdwQWCjSAsIBci2xyFBxqzVGqGnzgkp5VYjPSBWPad3xEABi1uVtvykZv41TxGvaQJa/s320/IMG_1834.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5385885336780456722" border="0" /></a><br />Oh Lotte... that can't taste good (would you look at that face!)<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPuO6NoiywoZ860MFKxnt2OmqPEcAyppwBcXStJOHh4U-lHRKBBDGwm5IHvsewCUZoo9DUwHl55FfGQti8qOkUpbbc4_dKY5Zl3Zay55K7r28dDVmSCouNF-97QfB2ajE_owL1tKNqmcnT/s1600-h/IMG_1844.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPuO6NoiywoZ860MFKxnt2OmqPEcAyppwBcXStJOHh4U-lHRKBBDGwm5IHvsewCUZoo9DUwHl55FfGQti8qOkUpbbc4_dKY5Zl3Zay55K7r28dDVmSCouNF-97QfB2ajE_owL1tKNqmcnT/s320/IMG_1844.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5385885342329428786" border="0" /></a><br />Julius at a soccer game<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKrFinOQ0XISc2Cs5BudqHp1yfpWPt1R9InsTQH4HY0xEQZIxkfv6hD5bgowg-LpHDzuOQZb2Sv4BmwwiHPf03ezuKpwGtadO_bnYSB-tWPopfQ0eyoDPYAmpUSNa_LZHROEqeg0tqoIVL/s1600-h/IMG_1702.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKrFinOQ0XISc2Cs5BudqHp1yfpWPt1R9InsTQH4HY0xEQZIxkfv6hD5bgowg-LpHDzuOQZb2Sv4BmwwiHPf03ezuKpwGtadO_bnYSB-tWPopfQ0eyoDPYAmpUSNa_LZHROEqeg0tqoIVL/s320/IMG_1702.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5385885308597699874" border="0" /></a><br />Yeah mom this tastes awesome!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9asrK7D6HJzfstsJ5Fu5Rfrp4bn86sjdtGNiNRbpKFRnWTH2FL2y8ZzD5xGbLSI1lCCXpsEM7UW4dtCvk1TBCUH52pdGBN3jDVpDN8kLcNTGF5AF7dychaBYc3w0fUILGDAAQ6J8RzGAE/s1600-h/IMG_1858.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9asrK7D6HJzfstsJ5Fu5Rfrp4bn86sjdtGNiNRbpKFRnWTH2FL2y8ZzD5xGbLSI1lCCXpsEM7UW4dtCvk1TBCUH52pdGBN3jDVpDN8kLcNTGF5AF7dychaBYc3w0fUILGDAAQ6J8RzGAE/s320/IMG_1858.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5385887240810883378" border="0" /></a><br />Silke with all the kids and Jens is just sitting there... haha<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhytUDdSXjx8npCG5ssDZFf3GFsS3-5zN_eECzaptS3wh8LlQfDW02VDkIqY7A_Q9pvXfz74RJiHdhIxv0bo9Kl1nXPWB0fLO0-12FROPyJD11p75I7rT9Qq_SYXPNYl6oPtRgIj6tsHV9m/s1600-h/IMG_1718.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhytUDdSXjx8npCG5ssDZFf3GFsS3-5zN_eECzaptS3wh8LlQfDW02VDkIqY7A_Q9pvXfz74RJiHdhIxv0bo9Kl1nXPWB0fLO0-12FROPyJD11p75I7rT9Qq_SYXPNYl6oPtRgIj6tsHV9m/s320/IMG_1718.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5385885317371992882" border="0" /></a><br />Julius and I!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbI1mAFNx-ZwyIrsl7xx88UgkkNkXcGMswbzKC_cJksvJAjJxSj9EUsaCgmm-pkU8JPAHbGJYhlw2SQOvcLgPpaaMrm2qBnOBtQN1AAT8aqG8ozEc3ygSqrXsqJMKREjxlgVjo4qwx_Nco/s1600-h/IMG_1740.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbI1mAFNx-ZwyIrsl7xx88UgkkNkXcGMswbzKC_cJksvJAjJxSj9EUsaCgmm-pkU8JPAHbGJYhlw2SQOvcLgPpaaMrm2qBnOBtQN1AAT8aqG8ozEc3ygSqrXsqJMKREjxlgVjo4qwx_Nco/s320/IMG_1740.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5385885325636849314" border="0" /></a><br />Future goalie?<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnvgz_SWGmgj-vsloQO4e29zoOrQjwPDCvSvZUtvGJgSyBvMjioi7puBVaVcEhVW_7aLDSEjKFZxojPxFnwNwOd-CiWzUzAJpVRgY7dWc-TXjHVXWXSv6PlqujEJx1dm36V5DEnIPtt8MX/s1600-h/IMG_1856.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnvgz_SWGmgj-vsloQO4e29zoOrQjwPDCvSvZUtvGJgSyBvMjioi7puBVaVcEhVW_7aLDSEjKFZxojPxFnwNwOd-CiWzUzAJpVRgY7dWc-TXjHVXWXSv6PlqujEJx1dm36V5DEnIPtt8MX/s320/IMG_1856.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5385887231285117394" border="0" /></a><br />Hmmm you look a bit young for that!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi0ttWJ13UKRNGKqFCx6u04PlGwj4HRHfCYgL1lzCMiFVycgpzirJesoSXZctZNGgVSXM0XN7El60oL9GmgFxxZwcI_FzkBgYLO6krMotdgVNKNztyd54jOE55CMMiqXj0nVNum_znLzsH/s1600-h/IMG_1867.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi0ttWJ13UKRNGKqFCx6u04PlGwj4HRHfCYgL1lzCMiFVycgpzirJesoSXZctZNGgVSXM0XN7El60oL9GmgFxxZwcI_FzkBgYLO6krMotdgVNKNztyd54jOE55CMMiqXj0nVNum_znLzsH/s320/IMG_1867.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5385887246961889202" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;">And about two weeks ago I went shoe shopping with Marita. Seven euro shoes and a five euro wallet. I LOVE GERMANY!<br /><div style="text-align: center;">My awesome new shoes. :)<br /><div style="text-align: left;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwSFH7xIFBjzFeGpGClhwNI4julNgeJV98d9Zs3tbH8nF8rqQ63xaO_e3NvPQq6m9uGRnbHCKqzerIW8iIiU-2EqGVME4FwegvwuKvsgf9PXwc3MVnVzf-kTzaGIGR76S3JWIaIX92eWhN/s1600-h/IMG_1927.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwSFH7xIFBjzFeGpGClhwNI4julNgeJV98d9Zs3tbH8nF8rqQ63xaO_e3NvPQq6m9uGRnbHCKqzerIW8iIiU-2EqGVME4FwegvwuKvsgf9PXwc3MVnVzf-kTzaGIGR76S3JWIaIX92eWhN/s320/IMG_1927.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5385888516362939074" border="0" /></a><br />ps-maybe germany is turning me more girly? :)<br />love,<br />Lise<br /></div></div></div></div>Liselottehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16874725589152039700noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-843820003820674975.post-6536663369613012622009-09-26T22:51:00.000+02:002009-09-26T23:04:16.491+02:00Swin GolfingIs it golf? No.<br />Is it putt putt? No.<br />It's Swin Golfing! the best of both worlds!<br /><br />So a couple of weeks ago my host dad took me swin golfing with Dave (American from Oregon) and another football player. It was a lot of fun but the highlight was when my host dad wacked the ball really good and everyone though it went so far that they couldn't see it... until I bursted their bubble by falling on the ground laughing because I had seen it go straight to the side into the river bank. yeah we couldn't find that ball. Then he hit another and couldn't find it. Guess who found it? ME! haha, I'm so awesome. It was just really funny.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Dave swin golfing...yep that's my purse he has on.<br /><div style="text-align: left;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt6tFnN1ahOsk5n0TN1mrYaFcdLkAmNjt7vTgXRwnJA5sM_0QqXaS_-Q07uZYGqtKHDX_3VYeNNcSO_Laru0R1rdAa0yeSMoPDaw1YMRIu3aqjwlnACvUTowrK6r-BDW2LTL-WaRyHIvjF/s1600-h/IMG_1768.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt6tFnN1ahOsk5n0TN1mrYaFcdLkAmNjt7vTgXRwnJA5sM_0QqXaS_-Q07uZYGqtKHDX_3VYeNNcSO_Laru0R1rdAa0yeSMoPDaw1YMRIu3aqjwlnACvUTowrK6r-BDW2LTL-WaRyHIvjF/s320/IMG_1768.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5385883081281314194" border="0" /></a><br />Ps. the club is super weird.<br />love,<br />Lise<br /></div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>Liselottehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16874725589152039700noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-843820003820674975.post-87479471980938236072009-09-26T22:44:00.000+02:002009-09-26T22:55:52.037+02:00American FootballNope I'm not talking about NCSU or the Packers. I'm talking about the Wernigerode Mountain Tigers.<br /><br />For all the information you can go here: www.mountaintigers.de (auf deutsch natürlich)<br /><br />My host dad is one of the coaches and likes American football a lot. My host brother plays flag football (ages seven to FOURTEEN!) and is kinda small compared to the others.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">It was really funny! Jonas is number 86 and his finger is in his mouth (immer!)<br /><div style="text-align: left;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbbTEg6yOpfSczO8tfT8Hzn4fWOj4WdlxunT0WpztP_sO1PT25uKo7VMgUlGi6N-bEVa8psZicq8cAiskQU-2dFKGzHApzVXMmWHfu-vb7sneMOGiqWpsAWpyNLu3Fi4mcRVXSoTNoYo1x/s1600-h/IMG_1583.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbbTEg6yOpfSczO8tfT8Hzn4fWOj4WdlxunT0WpztP_sO1PT25uKo7VMgUlGi6N-bEVa8psZicq8cAiskQU-2dFKGzHApzVXMmWHfu-vb7sneMOGiqWpsAWpyNLu3Fi4mcRVXSoTNoYo1x/s320/IMG_1583.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5385881956185500482" border="0" /></a><br />It was an all day event starting with the flag football game and then leading to the Men's game. I was beat by the end of the day and I didn't even play! So here are some pictures from that day. :)<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Jens being all coachey with a two players, the one with the black "hat" on is an American from California.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFP3inYAB80LJVNgbtuoCl8IARaq9yOxiAWLaS6gqpvkz3gq3tX8XTZlux2gvZzF-TFuQOj7oLj04tRqmlmCGRt5w0dQosPxoPaIIstqm4OoSoabud8SUc0HSEBhoxi6hHVABe-T71GzS9/s1600-h/IMG_1626.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFP3inYAB80LJVNgbtuoCl8IARaq9yOxiAWLaS6gqpvkz3gq3tX8XTZlux2gvZzF-TFuQOj7oLj04tRqmlmCGRt5w0dQosPxoPaIIstqm4OoSoabud8SUc0HSEBhoxi6hHVABe-T71GzS9/s320/IMG_1626.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5385881964867447746" border="0" /></a><br />He get's a lil' bit into it...<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiliVtla73qtu9VO8Mkezmc0N3LDXUL3Qio9C4ujDbQxYF4lYfneLPkYNRVSZ2S3E4y8Yyz9Id_sVUpcr8HiZWQErh2lvWdWewpdNluNWpBmivplpW2MgSokxUAa0wpMSUrtW10N4-XvYto/s1600-h/IMG_1645.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiliVtla73qtu9VO8Mkezmc0N3LDXUL3Qio9C4ujDbQxYF4lYfneLPkYNRVSZ2S3E4y8Yyz9Id_sVUpcr8HiZWQErh2lvWdWewpdNluNWpBmivplpW2MgSokxUAa0wpMSUrtW10N4-XvYto/s320/IMG_1645.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5385881967370023602" border="0" /></a><br />They almost dumped the water on him... but didn't. Click on the picture for a close up!<br /></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh01tUbtPwr9Kw3CA0X7qMxyr5vM6SMnGH9Q7mzjFFnJnYXmTK3Y4CEY2g50E7cNoSmMRc6UY16qZxMVEqzQ4T5gxLE8T4pAGdpcIjjhDzIKiNws_0Lj7U7S4xjz7A-RsX6BxxPy-UD3yNk/s1600-h/IMG_1682.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh01tUbtPwr9Kw3CA0X7qMxyr5vM6SMnGH9Q7mzjFFnJnYXmTK3Y4CEY2g50E7cNoSmMRc6UY16qZxMVEqzQ4T5gxLE8T4pAGdpcIjjhDzIKiNws_0Lj7U7S4xjz7A-RsX6BxxPy-UD3yNk/s320/IMG_1682.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5385881977847613938" border="0" /></a><br />Ps. they won! :)<br />love,<br />Lise<br /></div><br /></div>Liselottehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16874725589152039700noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-843820003820674975.post-60761977295372986682009-09-22T21:54:00.000+02:002009-09-22T22:27:14.147+02:00Why hello there!I'm the stranger invading your house for the next half year. And you are?<br /><br />Let's just start off by putting out in the the open that I have the best host family ever. Hands down don't try to compete with me don't try to tell me different. Best. Ever. End of story.<br /><br />Okay now that's out of the way here are some things we've done:<br /><br />First day here I went to the Salz und Lichtfest (Salt and light festival) suprisingly enough... there were some pretty lights! And some pretty cute kids too!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Trippy<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglUxWhwk_hIPMgWYpZW-Tnye1lyycyq0wL2Dx-Rn8d51sCZ-twf-WZY4zkpG5-xcYK-Nnmm_e244PxG1HsHiGJWE9ayrUi_Q8NNyXUcyGjaqhFIC-7sGbtI5coHesAaOD0uzfoCgRkAJ6p/s1600-h/IMG_1425.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglUxWhwk_hIPMgWYpZW-Tnye1lyycyq0wL2Dx-Rn8d51sCZ-twf-WZY4zkpG5-xcYK-Nnmm_e244PxG1HsHiGJWE9ayrUi_Q8NNyXUcyGjaqhFIC-7sGbtI5coHesAaOD0uzfoCgRkAJ6p/s320/IMG_1425.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5384387476920776866" border="0" /></a><br />Jonas!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLifupgRvbSl55fnx9K0xDBpYmF4EJNrEREwY8tTizmFXQwoS8Qkgd4Rljazqdl2PyNrAgK42akU5MkPFBbfQufpYiDtUiKmqRutBota_Lk8_bjz5SmwOLzUrQ9_L734PTGeUMVHm3aSaL/s1600-h/IMG_1429.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLifupgRvbSl55fnx9K0xDBpYmF4EJNrEREwY8tTizmFXQwoS8Qkgd4Rljazqdl2PyNrAgK42akU5MkPFBbfQufpYiDtUiKmqRutBota_Lk8_bjz5SmwOLzUrQ9_L734PTGeUMVHm3aSaL/s320/IMG_1429.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5384387484244505522" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;">The next day we went hiking in the mountains, less than a 10 min drive from my house.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Breathtaking<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2mMUPTnZrR-00RNntlw0kRVkdThP3Ye6odcmfFPSSLK5OrVyOKLUSTWdgriMBTXrG0k-OJqICpv-Jg-L-p-j6NTyNZKLjnMs-P_QnVecbzog-XEFslWTidnQh6RxUpZLaEkaZ1ZEHEOJG/s1600-h/IMG_1434.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2mMUPTnZrR-00RNntlw0kRVkdThP3Ye6odcmfFPSSLK5OrVyOKLUSTWdgriMBTXrG0k-OJqICpv-Jg-L-p-j6NTyNZKLjnMs-P_QnVecbzog-XEFslWTidnQh6RxUpZLaEkaZ1ZEHEOJG/s320/IMG_1434.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5384387499285269778" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;">And there were some fun rocks to play on.<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br />I see you Jonas!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijmMaMoUFDj87GVC64xOmzuyQtn8AkzxR9M5DSd3uUUh0pd-7Oeap_kJV02cqh3x7Z86YNt40qUK_247PG_9Hx6rBHyv0IoC4ijOsTrGZ5Kux-POgJYTECjiz63NXhneuoqvkCkPXN90xC/s1600-h/IMG_1437.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijmMaMoUFDj87GVC64xOmzuyQtn8AkzxR9M5DSd3uUUh0pd-7Oeap_kJV02cqh3x7Z86YNt40qUK_247PG_9Hx6rBHyv0IoC4ijOsTrGZ5Kux-POgJYTECjiz63NXhneuoqvkCkPXN90xC/s320/IMG_1437.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5384387508956301042" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;">It was very nice day for a hike and on the way back I got a very cute photo.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Mama und ihre kinder<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivJ6b1h3HJYGSrK-TPPUYaJO46Sy0BB7nsU-NQSIQgpyjNfCqspX2WE5m4Hoesn9VZp0xsSFgdTBJsNHLDoDq53hWwumD5B-3l9T__OMLTsjEzdtCrMlhpcdBSmPHqkFfj2aYxi7zcHAZ5/s1600-h/IMG_1457.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivJ6b1h3HJYGSrK-TPPUYaJO46Sy0BB7nsU-NQSIQgpyjNfCqspX2WE5m4Hoesn9VZp0xsSFgdTBJsNHLDoDq53hWwumD5B-3l9T__OMLTsjEzdtCrMlhpcdBSmPHqkFfj2aYxi7zcHAZ5/s320/IMG_1457.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5384389026774007458" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Then we ate at a Bavarian Restaurant... in the Harz mountains. No I'm not quite sure. But here are the kiddos.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Julius-ohhh can I poke it?<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2Pm8nKIhzTjHVbTZOupq2_5yerMY6z4HRSFiGcQL8eLwMSzho62alZQGsa2dL7Tv8FFkOHmCpRQ_OFF_8ilKyBBZNoRQxtcCTK0V7DmfGpALbWLwWur_vCwdAkqHzIh6okypRi1a1VtLw/s1600-h/IMG_1474.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2Pm8nKIhzTjHVbTZOupq2_5yerMY6z4HRSFiGcQL8eLwMSzho62alZQGsa2dL7Tv8FFkOHmCpRQ_OFF_8ilKyBBZNoRQxtcCTK0V7DmfGpALbWLwWur_vCwdAkqHzIh6okypRi1a1VtLw/s320/IMG_1474.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5384389033099016674" border="0" /></a><br />Okay now that's just silly.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhphs1x0XuOf-nQhfPZWjp4PvotaiUs1vhdYF2t6kSDVKvmGXH9J2OxfikjJXHw3coFXNkEMrHuKauUOW9GqUysmyILKigxynJ4YzNWSN17GYjJO3Axf8F-HkU7E9YpXQX8HhmFqvYquOcb/s1600-h/IMG_1477.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhphs1x0XuOf-nQhfPZWjp4PvotaiUs1vhdYF2t6kSDVKvmGXH9J2OxfikjJXHw3coFXNkEMrHuKauUOW9GqUysmyILKigxynJ4YzNWSN17GYjJO3Axf8F-HkU7E9YpXQX8HhmFqvYquOcb/s320/IMG_1477.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5384389040966176258" border="0" /></a><br />I just couldn't resist. :)<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihdxA3RcGMaLVWnePPPglao26Qhgx10cnJ6l_wkCBvyvJmqrbKUVNLbg5GLXtKraXlxV2mF59HNmDpu3QsBhoJeu_ADD4p5ltuS7atrv571zM0IgddzIMwNXtOfnZPk-joGxgU7QI9fBqj/s1600-h/IMG_1485.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihdxA3RcGMaLVWnePPPglao26Qhgx10cnJ6l_wkCBvyvJmqrbKUVNLbg5GLXtKraXlxV2mF59HNmDpu3QsBhoJeu_ADD4p5ltuS7atrv571zM0IgddzIMwNXtOfnZPk-joGxgU7QI9fBqj/s320/IMG_1485.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5384389050536568274" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Over the next few weeks I've gotten to know the fam and had tons of photo opps. More specific things in later posts. For now enjoy the cuteness!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Foto machen!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVIjiqlOd2JV6tQAYdZm6sP-goTAcNbjZJULJk9icZ3rlKpeRaTjUdyJ8tT254y9NG6HjIBBk_0B9e5iga94wxcREHKdS1rsj885Mreb_m4Bz3rJYHZsZj48FE-G3yctGyGQMJyTCpZE0M/s1600-h/IMG_1433.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVIjiqlOd2JV6tQAYdZm6sP-goTAcNbjZJULJk9icZ3rlKpeRaTjUdyJ8tT254y9NG6HjIBBk_0B9e5iga94wxcREHKdS1rsj885Mreb_m4Bz3rJYHZsZj48FE-G3yctGyGQMJyTCpZE0M/s320/IMG_1433.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5384387493658731266" border="0" /></a><br />Melt your heart.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgow6EQlmwa6g6q5wXQp56idfRdp5AYSv3K1t8lmcfZdgXZVgIj8LXSwPX9wClZn_OszRXcH9cAZFwqk1rfgy5wtXBQxSebs2N0CODv_VWab7a9rxK0FjmEvqvxMrFmqJ9hXT6SXiDJhda5/s1600-h/IMG_1550.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgow6EQlmwa6g6q5wXQp56idfRdp5AYSv3K1t8lmcfZdgXZVgIj8LXSwPX9wClZn_OszRXcH9cAZFwqk1rfgy5wtXBQxSebs2N0CODv_VWab7a9rxK0FjmEvqvxMrFmqJ9hXT6SXiDJhda5/s320/IMG_1550.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5384389875637017362" border="0" /></a><br />Laughter is the same in all languages.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-mxykeRle6l1QhPdubOILGsmm5ZMKO9nZNptBox4uFSBrjbOb1fqAXRoBReUh74e3vmnVi29r5YjFxTGsMJW28cXaEoERx-EykF08sqE-H8cqFx1wZME7ZwTurwuGJda4kq22kfIiqlBm/s1600-h/IMG_1526.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-mxykeRle6l1QhPdubOILGsmm5ZMKO9nZNptBox4uFSBrjbOb1fqAXRoBReUh74e3vmnVi29r5YjFxTGsMJW28cXaEoERx-EykF08sqE-H8cqFx1wZME7ZwTurwuGJda4kq22kfIiqlBm/s320/IMG_1526.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5384389881833981010" border="0" /></a><br />Huh?<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-FdycvouesHpYB5OI0fltQDX7smUs48Z-q2hNQgRIf8qEXaDNdF-ob-0EjOBf9fie2FraypseziYlkj5-1ooxFO93gXUig_NtRbvfHQfqnyoZKS46ZuUdv6g-F53nHzQQKgeXjPzu4msZ/s1600-h/IMG_1525.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-FdycvouesHpYB5OI0fltQDX7smUs48Z-q2hNQgRIf8qEXaDNdF-ob-0EjOBf9fie2FraypseziYlkj5-1ooxFO93gXUig_NtRbvfHQfqnyoZKS46ZuUdv6g-F53nHzQQKgeXjPzu4msZ/s320/IMG_1525.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5384389887190118290" border="0" /></a><br />Lotte und ich. Sehr süß!<br /></div></div></div></div></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyfwh9knMbd3s-JJAEQ9LFIK_KzN-tOWIINf2tVvF7yXA6SCphe-VLYtT2-YeZeBF4LnWKbTXdYc_SWcayBFu8GoHtwNTVsWdpC68jQ76PX7uToUzaTiQKCAuyKcmmLCwc6g-uSdYoeua7/s1600-h/IMG_1567.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyfwh9knMbd3s-JJAEQ9LFIK_KzN-tOWIINf2tVvF7yXA6SCphe-VLYtT2-YeZeBF4LnWKbTXdYc_SWcayBFu8GoHtwNTVsWdpC68jQ76PX7uToUzaTiQKCAuyKcmmLCwc6g-uSdYoeua7/s320/IMG_1567.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5384389862277679682" border="0" /></a><br />I don't know if I can handle any more cuteness! Moving on to next update.<br />love,<br />Lise<br /></div></div></div></div></div></div>Liselottehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16874725589152039700noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-843820003820674975.post-46901840080501132462009-09-22T21:10:00.000+02:002009-09-22T21:52:49.601+02:00All good things must come to an endYes I do realize that this is over a month late.<br />I'll be spastically posting tonight to make up for my laziness.<br />Enjoy!<br /><br />Sooooo.<br />Monday 5 weeks ago. Not sure the date we had our going away party. Then on that Saturday we all left to truly begin our grand adventure. But I'm getting ahead of myself.<br /><br />Here we go.<br /><br />The evening started off with an awesome mix of German/American food. (Rice Krispies brought by yours truly :)) And Paul got to grill with a beer. He was fairly pleased. I stuck to Cola.<br /><br /><br />And then us Americans decided to teach the Germans one of the best/most disgusting/terrible get to know you games.<br />Chubby Bunny.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Errr... you want me to do what???<br />Yes. Exactly.<br />I'm not sure about this...<br /><div style="text-align: left;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_yPbway8tuOiOI3v1iMtQXCOvJ_frY6kUiq2oyFzF8nKwv__R5j3-L-4PUfHQI-1aHj1gG4peezhcL73iBKNN5efLT8t8w252BhOl7moGX_p3JIQl3m8HL4vfFX0UH7MS1LYiv3TGdRch/s1600-h/IMG_1237.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_yPbway8tuOiOI3v1iMtQXCOvJ_frY6kUiq2oyFzF8nKwv__R5j3-L-4PUfHQI-1aHj1gG4peezhcL73iBKNN5efLT8t8w252BhOl7moGX_p3JIQl3m8HL4vfFX0UH7MS1LYiv3TGdRch/s320/IMG_1237.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5384377200664272530" border="0" /></a><br />A photo opp of course happened. With all the families and students getting together. Where's mine? I'm not sure, I'm pretty sure they had a good reason not to be there though...<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Niederzier OSK 2009<br /><div style="text-align: left;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVd11PloZ8GZ0yChVBxEPhS3l67FSt_pC8XXitMzOVJJgmW5Hy_LjzfJwSjGhrbqx7-oaz5rhv56_1lpxhP5DURuQzzBKXyz8KZERS20PEUL8SY5-x_L3JxJaRPebLBCcphGkjEi_n2Y2c/s1600-h/6328_123336618870_605573870_2482756_5738849_n.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVd11PloZ8GZ0yChVBxEPhS3l67FSt_pC8XXitMzOVJJgmW5Hy_LjzfJwSjGhrbqx7-oaz5rhv56_1lpxhP5DURuQzzBKXyz8KZERS20PEUL8SY5-x_L3JxJaRPebLBCcphGkjEi_n2Y2c/s320/6328_123336618870_605573870_2482756_5738849_n.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5384378007165067026" border="0" /></a><div style="text-align: left;">And so we spent the rest of the week saying goodbye. First to Paul, then to Mathias, then to Ciara. And then Friday came. The big goodbye-I-hope-to-see-you-again-probably-never-will. My life is forever changed by these 11 amazing individuals. To think that I might have never came, might have never gone on exchange scares me. Because that month in Niederzier was one of my best ever. Full of confusion, laughs, jokes, and more. CHB and chubby bunnies. Because life is not about the moments you breathe... but <span style="font-style: italic;">the moments that take your breath away.</span><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br />Best Teachers Ever<br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYlJDcMelciwwJUW5TTStvXU5ATb-3bRsItcV5YXAbpK3jik_a_rcHZ-9sguctGtwBybveOf3K91AF0_9goA9LYsh7N2KE2h77ksSc9He003I_ZTm8IittE-NwCsaQceo0lAr30l3Q2LcA/s1600-h/IMG_1251.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYlJDcMelciwwJUW5TTStvXU5ATb-3bRsItcV5YXAbpK3jik_a_rcHZ-9sguctGtwBybveOf3K91AF0_9goA9LYsh7N2KE2h77ksSc9He003I_ZTm8IittE-NwCsaQceo0lAr30l3Q2LcA/s320/IMG_1251.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5384380419738342770" border="0" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Markus, Carla, and me<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDRLtpTaaEYGNkixQEATzMW4GWZlANpdODjNYw60nfRYC_xkN7BS7oE8a5UiO77JIkWmNpUUyCPD6qmVx17evGRHLxgHbBuBxjlAjuQtmgsqNcEcrqcZ0ocP43a7dOCaEKunW4yU3K66MT/s1600-h/IMG_1381.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDRLtpTaaEYGNkixQEATzMW4GWZlANpdODjNYw60nfRYC_xkN7BS7oE8a5UiO77JIkWmNpUUyCPD6qmVx17evGRHLxgHbBuBxjlAjuQtmgsqNcEcrqcZ0ocP43a7dOCaEKunW4yU3K66MT/s320/IMG_1381.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5384377214087343730" border="0" /></a><br />The gang<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjETkXjqC8cbRTJDl886Xd2dGNp8u_9JTMWcL-5Ob9jCroMt-4U1dY-CGvAQ9ydvCvwpd-5OR90-1weWnhkru7tnPFgcQdGvdJTFDtST0UiXZRiiJi9SiRZJqTqI-ZYpnc5cF-HTbZbb9KD/s1600-h/IMG_1366.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjETkXjqC8cbRTJDl886Xd2dGNp8u_9JTMWcL-5Ob9jCroMt-4U1dY-CGvAQ9ydvCvwpd-5OR90-1weWnhkru7tnPFgcQdGvdJTFDtST0UiXZRiiJi9SiRZJqTqI-ZYpnc5cF-HTbZbb9KD/s320/IMG_1366.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5384377207391831074" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;">So Saturday morning came and went and I was the lucky one who was able to travel with someone else. Casey and I traveled to Köln together before parting ways in the train station.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Me, Casey, Host Dad, and Casey's lil host bro<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJxZSr1WrVDi9LKgDDgU11KNBQn18YjFBgm4gzs88n0fZ5f4gTlUDwFj90Z20EjF5nlqVQd5vQjvKlD-yPm-xX71KiAnAyb0XjW4lXl15yNo1RNZeC8VZNK1eBhLGKsMle3SqNxqyAG7tW/s1600-h/IMG_1392.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJxZSr1WrVDi9LKgDDgU11KNBQn18YjFBgm4gzs88n0fZ5f4gTlUDwFj90Z20EjF5nlqVQd5vQjvKlD-yPm-xX71KiAnAyb0XjW4lXl15yNo1RNZeC8VZNK1eBhLGKsMle3SqNxqyAG7tW/s320/IMG_1392.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5384377228445590082" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Picture of luggage while waiting for the train to Braunschweig<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0W2zlszb6BQmZuKAgQ0ZpzI5HKc3vX6Qm2acLjZ6tMC32YmuPxzyFmmbP2rS49bYVYjzIkObISA4LDSPwJtsm5HdIN8TxbHyx7nE7Vo2XmDSR9_5h1j_E6reW3rpnT9oxNa6j90Bdw0dM/s1600-h/IMG_1400.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0W2zlszb6BQmZuKAgQ0ZpzI5HKc3vX6Qm2acLjZ6tMC32YmuPxzyFmmbP2rS49bYVYjzIkObISA4LDSPwJtsm5HdIN8TxbHyx7nE7Vo2XmDSR9_5h1j_E6reW3rpnT9oxNa6j90Bdw0dM/s320/IMG_1400.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5384380426690449858" border="0" /></a><br />Deutsche Bahn. :)<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcRLaXmlRYTB08NRphkNbW5dfCoCIm95kp9bybNUdzpae7muiMLQlwOOos4ewS8URjIVdRraDhux-Jmok2OXb9WVlwdMEZ5mDcJAGGDR-0RywhDyIJ34zGCjC7F6Z_ZLyRMy-HZB-lwT22/s1600-h/IMG_1396.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcRLaXmlRYTB08NRphkNbW5dfCoCIm95kp9bybNUdzpae7muiMLQlwOOos4ewS8URjIVdRraDhux-Jmok2OXb9WVlwdMEZ5mDcJAGGDR-0RywhDyIJ34zGCjC7F6Z_ZLyRMy-HZB-lwT22/s320/IMG_1396.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5384377237633301810" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Being able to travel by myself. Being able to speak German to the conductor. Connecting trains twice. If you had asked me before coming on exchange if I could've done that... I would've laughed at you. But one month in and I made it all the way to Braunschweig to my waiting host family. And I met a really nice guy on the train who helped me with my luggage. And I walked right past the sign my host brother was holding up for me. Oops...<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Because with every end there is a new beginning.<br /></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXspGHe9NaQJTVohGJ2vmNKh0fT-fQJslGNfhyphenhyphenQoJT7cNUy6XC-il8y4J5aFo-3KpqrD1GfVhKMomUk5VgvMVe8XuUEGsfxpSPTdFsX4KVNpyIe1Nbnpca7nGGBfkIivxBkEAzXB4pLtDq/s1600-h/IMG_1498.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXspGHe9NaQJTVohGJ2vmNKh0fT-fQJslGNfhyphenhyphenQoJT7cNUy6XC-il8y4J5aFo-3KpqrD1GfVhKMomUk5VgvMVe8XuUEGsfxpSPTdFsX4KVNpyIe1Nbnpca7nGGBfkIivxBkEAzXB4pLtDq/s320/IMG_1498.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5384377850216846418" border="0" /></a><br />love,<br />LiseLiselottehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16874725589152039700noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-843820003820674975.post-36505052995175563912009-09-11T21:44:00.000+02:002009-09-11T22:05:24.242+02:00Bonn and KölnSo on the Tuesday of our last week of language camp our group ventured to the German History Museum in Bonn and then from there to Köln to walk around shopping and such.<br /><br />The history museum was great but we didn't get to take pictures so I don't have any. But later on we ate lunch next to the Rhein River.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Gorgeous is a good word for it I would think!<br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1R3sC8JMluP5AhWvMIaedQxwRcC6BaG2NPMalSGp-DjW7xd1-ntQ1UEPsdoGxWJeJXwchkMQqHfVicaLKfn6PWn79YIXeP6XqjVJfp8aaGg2FT4oJXJp4VEbyJAp99GommEkqTvin3_7a/s1600-h/IMG_1266.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1R3sC8JMluP5AhWvMIaedQxwRcC6BaG2NPMalSGp-DjW7xd1-ntQ1UEPsdoGxWJeJXwchkMQqHfVicaLKfn6PWn79YIXeP6XqjVJfp8aaGg2FT4oJXJp4VEbyJAp99GommEkqTvin3_7a/s320/IMG_1266.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5380302209638476338" border="0" /></a><br /><br />And then from there we went to Köln. I had a great discussion with Mathias about spritual abuse in the Church and what the Bible says about it.<br /><br />Once we got to Köln we were greeted with a breathtaking view of the Cathedral.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">WARNING: Object in person is bigger than it appears!<br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi42pVYBAsYEXBmj8q9RR_uRLtNU2nh12xvoRCJdsDcoGy6RmlCAYQggFGz93SP1TBnZ8_sq-2VNAd8dqEgjTU-hGLiCco8cXj5Tpx0dVmKhAUBwkHtue1HTjW19y3EOCP94koWwS0vW5S4/s1600-h/IMG_1281.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi42pVYBAsYEXBmj8q9RR_uRLtNU2nh12xvoRCJdsDcoGy6RmlCAYQggFGz93SP1TBnZ8_sq-2VNAd8dqEgjTU-hGLiCco8cXj5Tpx0dVmKhAUBwkHtue1HTjW19y3EOCP94koWwS0vW5S4/s320/IMG_1281.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5380302216691213810" border="0" /></a><br /><br />After we toured the Dome we went to a bookshop next to it and Mathias showed me a Bible that most theologians in Germany use, and since mine is pretty much ruined from the bag soaking, I now own a German Bible! Now I just have to learn how to read it! :)<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Die Bibel<br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYFgUsq-aGJ9S9-ugnJ6tVjtoFeOCrIfmeQg23GeSibN3cINWrCCHOrYCuck0nnmh-4d5D6ykPZIkwj7BvhLVOWm0O8KW9rdMpEBItdPA6Uf3H9hwFKG-GL9ASPXluuQXkhBPGra6w1ajZ/s1600-h/IMG_1327.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYFgUsq-aGJ9S9-ugnJ6tVjtoFeOCrIfmeQg23GeSibN3cINWrCCHOrYCuck0nnmh-4d5D6ykPZIkwj7BvhLVOWm0O8KW9rdMpEBItdPA6Uf3H9hwFKG-GL9ASPXluuQXkhBPGra6w1ajZ/s320/IMG_1327.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5380303306683763186" border="0" /></a><br /><br />We went to a English shop in Köln. Lucky Charms for TEN euro!!!! OUCH. But I did manage to secure some Dr.Pepper. Four Euro. But it was my comfort drink on the ride to Bad Harzburg so it was well worth it.<br /><div style="text-align: center;">Lecker!<br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNZLVdlvysnvgIIGgoCucNF6Sa6QeBL8I-TyRGb6f1yxRQw6ceuEKMPmDdpxyzSfrcvPwcCsD5g3nBk9ez86QyO6lSrzZlwMRwRTPQWsinaQf6QGtimXToBv0rxCU26-rIKvF8-ECIOJPR/s1600-h/IMG_1328.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNZLVdlvysnvgIIGgoCucNF6Sa6QeBL8I-TyRGb6f1yxRQw6ceuEKMPmDdpxyzSfrcvPwcCsD5g3nBk9ez86QyO6lSrzZlwMRwRTPQWsinaQf6QGtimXToBv0rxCU26-rIKvF8-ECIOJPR/s320/IMG_1328.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5380302235132358674" border="0" /></a><br />After that we all split up and I walked around with Sarah for two hours. No we weren't lost at all. Promise! :D But we did find that shop she wanted to and it was pretty cool! It was a shop were things from all over the world but normal everyday things... cups, plates, stuff like that.<br /><br />And we met back up in front of the Cathedral to take the train back home. While Sarah and I were waiting we played with gummibären and I people stalked. :)<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">People Stalking is FUN!<br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimcEnuDbEI3eqEhCw70R__d1kF4_1cHqQ2jLBiItV-8CtYtGJh7h6CEVo1jCfWJZ8IETggkVLhed1i_mogrNOVfc37lVF6f5imySwZgErASmwSej7IE69SI1_73uXzZkhKxa5ykKwcbpYN/s1600-h/IMG_1322.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimcEnuDbEI3eqEhCw70R__d1kF4_1cHqQ2jLBiItV-8CtYtGJh7h6CEVo1jCfWJZ8IETggkVLhed1i_mogrNOVfc37lVF6f5imySwZgErASmwSej7IE69SI1_73uXzZkhKxa5ykKwcbpYN/s320/IMG_1322.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5380302230529830562" border="0" /></a><br />And our journey ended back in Düren with saying Goodbye to Paul and the realization that our time was almost to an end. More on this in another post!<br /><br />love,<br />LiseLiselottehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16874725589152039700noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-843820003820674975.post-30189226852050596612009-08-16T22:49:00.000+02:002009-08-16T23:18:20.865+02:00Uhm. So. Can I stay forever?So.<br /><br />It's funny because every time I sit down to blog I can't think of what to type. Because it's just typical everyday stuff and yet at the same time so amazingly awesome that I love it so so so much.<br /><br />I know already that I will sob when I have to leave. And I know already that I'm coming back. I've waited my entire life to come here and now that I am here I am so completly madly in love with this place. And it's been 3 weeks already.<br /><br />"Dear God, It's Lise here. Just a simple request. For the next five months could you please just make time go slower? Not enough to mess up the world or anything but enough to give me just that much more of this amazing country. Amen"<br /><br />Every weekday I get up, eat bread with nutella (chocolate crack really) ride my bike to school, chill at school, eat lunch, do orientation, go home, do whatever, sleep.<br /><br />Basically, it's life.<br /><br />But a wonderful, wonderful life.<br /><br />Some highlights:<br /><br />We went on Wednesday to Tagebau Hambach with my host dad (he's the mayor). A tagebau is a huge coal pit, pretty neat stuff. I went to a birthday party, Catholic thingy celebrating Maria (not really sure what was going on, there was lots of crossing themselves!), a soccer tourny (two one I played in, one I handed tshirts to the winner-got in the paper because of that!), Annakirmes, Jülich, FYA, biking, eis, Indeman, motocross and not necessarily in that order! Tomorrow is our farewell party, Tuesday we go to Bonn and Köln, and Saturday I head off to Bad Harzburg.<br /><br />The more I'm here the more I know God put me here for a reason, being here has made me rethink a lot of things and come to realize that the world is so much bigger. I am seriously considering going to University in Germany and perusing a degree in Theology. Just so many things going through my head right now. Got to get them straight!<br /><br />And now for some pictures!<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBprl_T3cjcQbuH5Tt_-jA9WN58SSh2j56a9mvtrtEuIq2pYWErISXs0c6OUYOb3QierWaA9geivvyieYcua6NAS03IS3EqUWxOJQSrk7AuWDNxx4j88tvp7gjoQYeV705wI0yDKSEPFQo/s1600-h/IMG_0725.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBprl_T3cjcQbuH5Tt_-jA9WN58SSh2j56a9mvtrtEuIq2pYWErISXs0c6OUYOb3QierWaA9geivvyieYcua6NAS03IS3EqUWxOJQSrk7AuWDNxx4j88tvp7gjoQYeV705wI0yDKSEPFQo/s320/IMG_0725.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5370672723243639266" border="0" /></a>Crazy times at Annakirmes!<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtaoIwwEhiQodCu-KUPwfr1Jwy3yG21dTxh1GU3ozEqZHlOieq3eWmCRLj9lopcwa3nMm3KIfdiFaoC6uEq8bYMk3nnbtfQtcMZtaiU9SXerOujYXlbcKOEsDfhtYrCN8KZ2vUhvdA5N40/s1600-h/IMG_0905.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtaoIwwEhiQodCu-KUPwfr1Jwy3yG21dTxh1GU3ozEqZHlOieq3eWmCRLj9lopcwa3nMm3KIfdiFaoC6uEq8bYMk3nnbtfQtcMZtaiU9SXerOujYXlbcKOEsDfhtYrCN8KZ2vUhvdA5N40/s320/IMG_0905.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5370672720615192386" border="0" /></a>My Host Dad got to wave the finish line flag!<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5JhdtLGmJPcjrK5eV5PN2S-jEtcJAH3fIw5kvWl1-DCVYTxvX0PPGtOHiaid4TMZDNkyS6yLv-z8b-6TPzZunL_Tzl8HpYArVMr8oFergjnoe6mZwB-w4usD5yiRW5pb_tKa5fqds2e2B/s1600-h/IMG_1097.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5JhdtLGmJPcjrK5eV5PN2S-jEtcJAH3fIw5kvWl1-DCVYTxvX0PPGtOHiaid4TMZDNkyS6yLv-z8b-6TPzZunL_Tzl8HpYArVMr8oFergjnoe6mZwB-w4usD5yiRW5pb_tKa5fqds2e2B/s320/IMG_1097.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5370672035330334370" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnILIXVJddGny1eJPDlWrUVxQP1DW50GBWyOcWg2QbEVgegX9bumi5Hm6xhwMGcheiJHHkUql9EqfV1a33PRGV13Pu9GSYy1cwOhxi6AxwtxivDysJAXdy0oVC3xmkuN6uFkXC-iUeXGL_/s1600-h/IMG_1134.JPG">I never understood the point of this...<img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnILIXVJddGny1eJPDlWrUVxQP1DW50GBWyOcWg2QbEVgegX9bumi5Hm6xhwMGcheiJHHkUql9EqfV1a33PRGV13Pu9GSYy1cwOhxi6AxwtxivDysJAXdy0oVC3xmkuN6uFkXC-iUeXGL_/s320/IMG_1134.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5370672024869237554" border="0" /></a>Fearless Leader number 1- Sarah (Language Teacher)<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieBKoOwGYKMJ_j8JaHhNNe-Y4C5M8xMgsXd3AJO9FsI_tYs-vvNpkj97NAoB727sIjebl6na2dGWN-Kk2TfQjWGjKJkkjsNGYO0jWGERxtg4-T2x8c09IfDGNcF57Ol54QIOVNWqFMxgQd/s1600-h/IMG_1142.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieBKoOwGYKMJ_j8JaHhNNe-Y4C5M8xMgsXd3AJO9FsI_tYs-vvNpkj97NAoB727sIjebl6na2dGWN-Kk2TfQjWGjKJkkjsNGYO0jWGERxtg4-T2x8c09IfDGNcF57Ol54QIOVNWqFMxgQd/s320/IMG_1142.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5370672015196002770" border="0" /></a>Fearless leader number 2- Mathias (Orientation Teacher)<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDMXHs0hmFs-7SM7Nr4d1E_qUSTIa46idqhwiUvKgrk74D7mgQ2038kap5tQRkeNsQtorDBnrwQm9k7S0HmNMfJ5-0RDatCv85xmQxfBwU8hiesMOpuUpE7gMFWAHH5tllmoZvQIvmvICC/s1600-h/IMG_1146.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDMXHs0hmFs-7SM7Nr4d1E_qUSTIa46idqhwiUvKgrk74D7mgQ2038kap5tQRkeNsQtorDBnrwQm9k7S0HmNMfJ5-0RDatCv85xmQxfBwU8hiesMOpuUpE7gMFWAHH5tllmoZvQIvmvICC/s320/IMG_1146.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5370672011593861042" border="0" /></a>We are pretty dang cool if I do say so myself!<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIESA2LDF4RngJXqPNeVEZTYwVF0e03PvVFD6KZAp4iRWVAppp8zU9GoiIhTbyQ02x1oqlRRWeh9vs0lHZdna71pDiuJGgtmsEpS5hRRYmjUVNJrn0eECcWYLKXB2EXx7BF3LcdDWRD0K5/s1600-h/IMG_1185.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIESA2LDF4RngJXqPNeVEZTYwVF0e03PvVFD6KZAp4iRWVAppp8zU9GoiIhTbyQ02x1oqlRRWeh9vs0lHZdna71pDiuJGgtmsEpS5hRRYmjUVNJrn0eECcWYLKXB2EXx7BF3LcdDWRD0K5/s320/IMG_1185.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5370672004013050994" border="0" /></a>Those crazy Americans...<br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Bis dann!<br /></div></div>Liselottehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16874725589152039700noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-843820003820674975.post-45706015587852225042009-07-28T21:22:00.000+02:002009-07-28T21:46:38.640+02:00FInally Here!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiDIWtGEkiLfTT22samUv0vXvR4SAaGCn_dBEDPcy8T0yH3RNcUjYFG458SHp8Ls-g6w2b3eNJcTBlNovQR_YxTlZg_7uMQySyzcINgM6l5zB8VCLArfGlzx_MeMvXX0MsK6ZQjIiX8lgh/s1600-h/IMG_0634.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiDIWtGEkiLfTT22samUv0vXvR4SAaGCn_dBEDPcy8T0yH3RNcUjYFG458SHp8Ls-g6w2b3eNJcTBlNovQR_YxTlZg_7uMQySyzcINgM6l5zB8VCLArfGlzx_MeMvXX0MsK6ZQjIiX8lgh/s320/IMG_0634.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5363597038288280258" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoCzR38L5i79hU7kuDd-8m1QZW6c1s9Hj2DS6BAfbzbRio08CTf6xYzuxpZp0ANe8W7LuWbCsTn0L6_dfHmeUJ-0LQyVjGFcF-71rHL3_yG3KNB54DDEKG1oHaBUwuFMHveOeqSTe3nT8p/s1600-h/IMG_0638.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoCzR38L5i79hU7kuDd-8m1QZW6c1s9Hj2DS6BAfbzbRio08CTf6xYzuxpZp0ANe8W7LuWbCsTn0L6_dfHmeUJ-0LQyVjGFcF-71rHL3_yG3KNB54DDEKG1oHaBUwuFMHveOeqSTe3nT8p/s320/IMG_0638.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5363597046805400626" border="0" /></a><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7idmJJv11YghNH_uSaMOf-nzcjOm91f6Q-KCceZ42JmSOF9_tdh8k7uoSbFfth_Us3UqboAkLjk4D548T8X99Sdhd_pdSyejVVEV4IKDjphUo4ZHKMk0mbLJFIaLNFnp62vY7bE-TL9kD/s1600-h/IMG_0577.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7idmJJv11YghNH_uSaMOf-nzcjOm91f6Q-KCceZ42JmSOF9_tdh8k7uoSbFfth_Us3UqboAkLjk4D548T8X99Sdhd_pdSyejVVEV4IKDjphUo4ZHKMk0mbLJFIaLNFnp62vY7bE-TL9kD/s320/IMG_0577.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5363597034937243522" border="0" /></a><br />So I suppose I'm a terrible blogger but that's okay because the internet here is really flakey. Here is a copy of the email I sent my parents that describes my journey. Beware it's long!<br /><br />Traveling 24 hours on 2 and a half hours of sleep is not fun, I would advise against it. At the same time I would never take back those 8 hours on a plane laughing and chatting with 59… yes 59 other exchange students to Germany and 2 flight attendants from Belgium. ☺ The flight to Dulles was one of the smoothest I’ve ever taken, scared me a little bit it was so smooth. The flight to Frankfurt started out a bit shaky and settled down once we were over the ocean.<br /><br />Once we landed in Germany the first German word I saw was Technik on the side of the building. Good grief. As we landed and had to haul our carrying up a huge flight of stairs (good grief Dad, did I HAVE to pack all that? Checking luggage works just fine! Or so I thought at the time!) We deplaned and split up in to CBYXers and non CBYXers and went on our merry way to passport control. To which, while waiting in line, a student in our group experienced German culture first hand. He could not find a trashcan. After ten minutes of search we discovered that there was indeed a place to put his trash only if we could find out which of the 4 containers it was allowed in. Considering we were allowed to cross the checkpoint, I should say we succeeded. Then we went through customs and then into Germany! After everyone split off only Matthew Berry and I were left. The lone train riders.<br /><br />Thus begins possibly the most amusing and slightly frightening thing that has ever happened to me while traveling. Our YFU person told us that we would go get our luggage and then head to the train station. Simple right? As Matthew was about to head off into the deep unknown I decided to question my directions. “uhmm, In Germany I assume you need a ticket to ride the train?” To which we found out that there were no tickets for us and that our YFU person was very confused. After a few calls we were told to go get our luggage and someone would meet us. “who?” “Someone” “Fan. Tas. Tic.” So we went to go get our luggage… which wasn’t there. After about 10 mins I was beginning to wonder if God hadn’t decided to play a cruel joke on us and ditch us in Frankfurt Airport with no luggage and no one to meet us. But God is merciful and help came in the form of an 18 year old named Marcus. He talked to the baggage agent and apparently they had already put our bags in holding. And yes mom I had my luggage ticket. So we went and met a group of other exchangers and waited. And waited. For two girls who showed up about 2 hours later. And off we were to the train station. Dragging to fifty pound bags onto a train with angry Germans trying to get on and off is not fun. Standing to close to a walkway will get you pushed, someone needs to tell that lady that Americans (if not loaded down with luggage and completely confused) will push back! Soooo. Two train rides later, about 24 hours since my trip to RDU and there I was at my final destination and got to meet my waiting host family. Did you know it’s hard to hug people when you are about to fall over??? They were kind and helped me with my luggage. So then we went to the market and bought some odds ‘n ends. Laura (my host sister) wanted beer in particular. ☺ And we also got some pastries… oh gotta love Germany.<br /><br />We went from there to our house and it’s all so German! I live in a small village called Hambach and will travel about 15 mins on bike to my school in Jülich. The house is very pretty and the surrounding area is so pretty and German-y that one of the things I thought to myself was “Do I really have to go home?” How could anyone leave??<br /><br />Once I got to the house I discovered that my red bag was completely soaked. I knew the bottom had been wet but thought that it was just little damp from rain or something. Oh no, I am starting to wonder if they did not dump a bucket of water it was so bad. But, luckily, and thanks to my dear father I suppose everything of value and electronic was in my dead weight carryon. A book and my bible were water damaged and possibly ruined and while sad, not irreplaceable. The boxes will have to be trashed though, and I had to dry all my clothes. But in the end I came out of it perfectly fine, albeit annoyed.<br /><br />I did a few more things with my family, at a true German dinner; there was steak and pork, bread, and salad. Yes mom, be jealous! My family is really nice, I’ve gotten really good at speaking Germlish. I speak German until I don’t know the word and then I just put in the English word. It works fairly well.<br /><br />Fast forward to today:<br /><br />Last night I went to Aachen with my host sister and we hung out with friends of hers who go to the university there. It wasn't exciting or anything but definetly fun. I enjoyed myself a lot. I've been in language school 2 days and in Germany for 5, Hambach is a really small nice village and my host family is wonderful. My host dad is the mayor. :) I've had a lot of fun so far and am loving Germany!Liselottehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16874725589152039700noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-843820003820674975.post-76435815167582277172009-07-23T11:08:00.000+02:002009-07-23T11:12:36.107+02:00T minus 5 hoursSO.<br /><br />I step on a plane in FIVE hours.<br />I've pretty much finished packing.<br />Still some odds 'n ends with a laptop but I'm feelin' good!<br /><br />I'll post here once I get settled in Germany or perhaps during my layover in Dulles. We shall see!<br /><br />Here is where I will be:<br /><br />United - Flight # 197 / 07/23/09<br />10:08 AM Depart Raleigh-Durham (RDU) - 11:08 AM Arrive Wash-Dulles (IAD)<br /><br />United - Flight # 916 / 07/23/09<br />05:15 PM Depart Wash-Dulles (IAD) - 07:10 AM (Jul 24) Arrive Frankfurt (FRA)<br /><br />Now here is the word to describe my feelings right about now.<br /><br />Utterly and completely...<br /><br />STOKED.<br /><br />Auf Wiedersehen America! Halloooo Deutschland!!!Liselottehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16874725589152039700noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-843820003820674975.post-65462925685600838302009-07-22T06:59:00.000+02:002009-07-22T07:06:01.230+02:00One day left... Ready?It's funny how I haven't been on exchange yet and it's already changing me.<br /><br />Like how for the past 3 months all I've felt is how ready I am for it and now with one day to go I realize just how not ready I might be. Don't get me wrong, it's nothing big, but it's in the sense once I get there I'm on my own. Yes I'll have a host family, but it won't be my parents who have always supported me and been there. But I am ready, just the thought of being in a foreign country by myself (kinda) for five months has started to freak me out a little. Just a little! :)<br /><br />This past Friday I flew home from Dallas. Now THAT was an ordeal. I left at 7 am and got home at 9 pm. Yeahhh. But it made me realize just how much I've grown up. I was by myself, trying to get on planes, get connections, all that shinanagins. And I didn't freak, break down, or anything. I sucked it up and did what I had to do to get home. I only broke down crying when I actually got home but that's another story.<br /><br />So what am I trying to say here?<br /><br />One day to go. I leave Thursday morning. July 23rd 2009. Return January 9th 2010.<br /><br />And yes, I'm ready.Liselottehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16874725589152039700noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-843820003820674975.post-59671738974366819922009-06-23T09:26:00.000+02:002009-06-23T09:58:26.378+02:00No Turning Back<h3 class="UIIntentionalStory_Message" ft="{"type":"msg"}">“How do you pick up the threads of an old life? How do you go on, when in your heart you begin to understand there is no going back. There are some things that time can not mend. Some hurts that go too deep... that have taken hold.” -LOTR</h3>Have you ever found a quote that calls to you? Every time you look at it, you think 'that's my life'. Well the one above pretty much describes mine. And I haven't even left yet!<br /><br />In a way though, my exchange has come at the perfect time. My life right now has been changed by this past year in ways I can't even begin to describe. I'm still me, yet, I'm a completely different person than this time last year. For the good I would like to think.<br /><br />Perhaps this quote calls to me more loudly than ever when I think of church, and my religion. It has come about in these past few months, well more than a few, that I can't return to my church of my <span style="font-style: italic;">entire </span>life. To a building that I have <span style="font-style: italic;">always </span>known. I want to be glad, and in a way I am. But in a much deeper, more sincere, niave way, I want to close my eyes, travel back in time 4 years and be in that moment. The moment where good was good, bad was bad, black was black, and white was white, no gray. But in the midst of these past few years, I have come to the painful realization that<br /><br />"<span style="font-style: italic;">We all have fallen short of the glory of God."</span><br /><br />No, I didn't just learn that verse. But for the first time in my life, I've learned what it truly means. And yet, through it all, I've also for the first time truly experienced what it means that<br /><br />"<span style="font-style: italic;">Through His grace, we are saved."</span><br /><br />I am a Christian. I am not a Baptist, not a Methodist, not a non-denominational, not a unspecified. I am a Christian. I believe in the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost. I believe that Jesus died on the cross for our sins, <span style="font-style: italic;">my </span>sins, and that <span style="font-style: italic;">no man</span> has the right to judge <span style="font-style: italic;">my </span>salvation. Only the Lord God Almighty. I am the most un-religious person you will ever come across. I haven't been to a youth group/Sunday school class in 8 months. And in those 8 long months, I have become stronger in my faith than I have ever been. I can't return to my old church, can't look people in the eye that I have come to love an know, because to look them in the eye, and <span style="font-style: italic;">know </span>would be the most painful thing to do. So I have left. I have not found a stopping place yet, and do not know when I will. So when I say my exchange has come at a perfect time, I mean it in the way, that in this transistion, in this breaking away from an old life, I have begun anew. And once I leave for five months, I feel that there will be no going back, no returning. This is it. End of the line.<br /><br />This is a journey that began my 8th grade year. One that I have shyed away from, backed down, covered my ears and screamed 'lalalala' trying against all odds to believe that the world is still in black and white. But once I opened my eyes I could only see gray. Perhaps I am wrong, perhaps when I stand before God on my judgement day he will look me dead in the face and tell me just how wrong I am. So why bother? Because on my judgement day, when I stand before the Lord himself I will be able to say this<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Lord, I know I failed, but I <span style="font-weight: bold;">tried. </span>With every once of my being, with every breath I took, I sought your will, and not the will of a church, or a pastor, but the will of You. For Your glory, not man's.<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-style: italic;"></span></span></span></span>In exactly one month I will step on a plane and not return for five more. I will leave my old life behind and come back to a new one. A better one, one upon which the realization is that the world is <span style="font-weight: bold;">not </span>black and white. Merely shades of gray, with tints of morality at the edges. I hope against hope that this exchange will better me, make me more open, more accepting, more willing to understand, and to grow.<br /><br />This is it. My last hurrah. My senior year in high school. If you had asked me my freshman year in high school to paint a picture of my senior year, it would be completely different. It would be a nicer, simpler picture. One in which I spent this week at my last year of church camp, my senior breakfest and parade. My senior year at Meta, two parades for JROTC. Perhaps even Corps Commander. But none of these things will happen. I have chosen the road less traveled.<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">May it make all the difference.</span>Liselottehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16874725589152039700noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-843820003820674975.post-77327817723518890382009-06-03T02:55:00.000+02:002009-06-03T02:56:02.318+02:00Host Families!I got both my host families! More to come when I have an hour or so to post all about them!<br /><br />First city though is... Jülich in a small village called Hambach.<br /><br />Second city is... Bad Harzburg.<br /><br />Alright be back soon!Liselottehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16874725589152039700noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-843820003820674975.post-48868504786579453372009-05-19T06:19:00.000+02:002009-05-26T00:39:03.910+02:00PDO- amongst other thingsSo this past Saturday I skipped sports day for my jrotc unit and went to a Pre-Departure orientation with YFU. There were about 10 students there from the Carolinas. It's a small world however and I met someone who is currently taking an online class with me. :-) Cool huh?<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBF9QbNuGNttLdZx1GzWbonMuciECzNnOyYaAKBDkb6Wy4HHclMFwMXl4bcUSKcF5ppxmCMRDkWdIeFMzm-xh9DCBo_ztO5NHou3-tiCje4Yh0i67Sv8RVqBCY3A9ys65O5V-gkbOo7PtT/s1600-h/IMG_3099.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBF9QbNuGNttLdZx1GzWbonMuciECzNnOyYaAKBDkb6Wy4HHclMFwMXl4bcUSKcF5ppxmCMRDkWdIeFMzm-xh9DCBo_ztO5NHou3-tiCje4Yh0i67Sv8RVqBCY3A9ys65O5V-gkbOo7PtT/s320/IMG_3099.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5339894633439890162" border="0" /></a><br />soooo... we had fun and chatted and got excited for our trips. I'm almost jealous of those summer exchangers, they leave soooo soon! buttt I leave...<br /><br />July 24, 2009 or 2 months and 6 days.<br />breathe in, breathe out, scream and shout!<br /><br />It also hit me that once I leave school in two weeks I will not return until the end of January in 2010. That's a long time from now. But not. I used to think 3 years in middle school was forever and 4 in high school an eternity. Now I find that in the process of blinking, I am about to embark on my senior year in high school, for-going the senior parade and festivities to live in a foriegn country for 5 months. And I'm excited about it. 2 months until my exchange seems like a lifetime, but looking at the grand scheme of things it's a second. 5 months is nothing, half a year, it's a bump on your life story. Just like those 4 years in high school? Really, they mean nothing. And in that regard is a reason I wanted so badly to go on exchange. For the past 12 years of my life, I've gotten up, gone to school, and my life revolved around school. But for what? I mean what have I really done in the past 12 years that's been something. But an exchange trip? Now that's something. Learning German? Even better. Put them together and I've found my solution. I know that my two months will go by fast, and that the 5 after that will be gone before I know it. But for what it's worth, for everything I've done, it will mean something. And I am completely stoked about it. This time next year I will be preparing for to leave high school forever. And that scares me more than my exchange trip ever will.<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">- Mark Twain </span>Liselottehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16874725589152039700noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-843820003820674975.post-74988353413873005002009-05-12T00:09:00.000+02:002009-05-12T00:12:30.632+02:00Official.Soooo, we are going to make this work.<br /><br />Soooo, I am going to Germany.<br /><br />*blink* *blink*<br /><br />I AM GOING TO GERMANY!!!!!!!<br /><br />Doesn't mean it's gonna be easy though. Still trying to figure out the payment for it. If you have any spare change hit me up ;)<br /><br />Oh and can anyone give me advice on how to put a picture in the heading or create a cool background... just leave me a comment or something. :)<br /><br />And now I really really really want a host family. I just hope I don't scare them away with my excitement! Hehe.Liselottehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16874725589152039700noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-843820003820674975.post-5026848683417094252009-04-28T03:20:00.000+02:002009-04-29T00:30:07.581+02:00So close. Yet so far.hallo.<br /><br />mein name ist liselotte ross. aber du kannst mich lise (lisa) heißen. und ich will nach deutschland im der herbst gehen.<br /><br />oh. Hi! Didn't see you there! You see I was just practicing my German because I might, may, really wanna, gonna figure out a way to, go to Germany for the Fall semester of 2009. Crazy huh? Well that might just be my middle name. I guess I <span style="font-style: italic;">could </span>bore with you all the little details of how I got to this point but I'll make it short and bittersweet.<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span>We had two exchange students from Germany at my school this year and I was thinking... 'hey. Germany! Exchange?! might be fun... So I talked to my teacher and he told me about CBYX and I was super excited but long story short I decided I couldn't give up my senior. Well... not all of it at least. Thus began the long search for exchange programs. WHICH ARE SUPER EXPENSIVE. Thus began the long and <span style="font-style: italic;">grueling </span>search for scholarships, at which I stumbled upon a humble, kindly organization, called Youth For Understanding. aka YFU. I began my app, lost my teacher recomendation, fought with my school, wrote insanely hard essays, filled out forms, wrote a check, and low and behold my app went out postmarked on the last day possible. Praise the Lord. And so I had my interview:<br /><br />Interviewer: Hi! So nice to meet you. Now tell me why you want to be an exchange student.<br /><br />Me: Hi! Erm uhm, I really like Germany, I'm studying German, I'm part German, er uhm did I mention that I really really want to go to Germany???<br /><br />Interviewer: Tell me in one sentence why we should pick you out of anyone else to win the scholarship.<br /><br />Me: Errrrrr, uhmmmmmm, Well I... no wait don't count that!... I mean I've worked so hard in school and in my life in general, and I've never wanted anything more in my life, and yeah, I guess I want whatever I've done to mean something, and this defenitly would.<br /><br />and so on and so on.<br /><br />And so I waited impaitently for weeks, months, and laid awake at night praying so hard for God to give me this chance, this one little good thing. and he did.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Congratulations!</span> is the best word ever created.<br /><br />But it was just that, a chance. I won the Key club $2,000 scholarship. My Oma will give me $2,000. I have $2,000. That's $2,000 more. But God's gotten me this far, so I'm gonna trust him to get me the rest of the way.<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Where there</span> <span style="font-style: italic;">is</span> <span style="font-style: italic;">will, there is a way. All I have to do is find it. :)</span><br /><br />Guten Tag, Guten Abend, und Guten Nacht. Dass ist alles für jetzt.<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"></span>Liselottehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16874725589152039700noreply@blogger.com1