Frohe Ostern!

School is on break for Easter, so I took the opportunity to do a little travelling in Europe.  My friend Shauni (another GAP from New Zealand) and I traveled to 7 cities in 10 days.  There was little sleep, lots of walking, and a ton of fun.

The highlight of my trip was our 2 days spent in Leipzig with Laura (the German GAP).  Laura asked months ago if I would like to spend Easter with her and her family, and I happily accepted the invitation.  I was really excited to spend time with Laura and her family and was also extremely nervous because her Mom, Oma, & Opa don't speak English.

Laura has been giving me German lessons since January - just for fun.  These lessons became very important very quickly when I decided to join her family for Easter.  My knowledge is very basic and I definitely don't know many verbs or vocab in general.  I was prepared with some basic phrases:

Danke - thank you
Bitte - please
Entschuldigung - excuse me (sorry)
Ja - yes

My adorable Kinder egg

I used these phrases over and over in Germany before we arrived in Leipzig, but for some reason I was so nervous to speak in front of Karola (mom).  The car ride from the bus stop to their house was silent in the back seat, but full of conversation between Laura and her mom.  Laura was wonderful and translated everything for us.  Then, Karola looked backward at me and asked me a question in German. I stared at Laura waiting for a translation, and then I realized that I knew exactly what she asked!  So I answered.  Laura's eyes lit up like a proud teacher.  It was that moment where I realized, I would be okay for the weekend and that I would be able to communicate.

Saturday was spent with Laura's Oma & Opa (grandparents).  We had a wonderful meal and some one-sided conversation (I understood very little without translation on this day).  Her grandparents were incredibly sweet and welcoming. We ate a wonderful meal, and had our Kinder eggs.  Then, I learned we would get to search for Easter baskets!  I wasn't expecting it at all, I mean I had my Kinder egg already!  My bag was labeled "Amerika" and Shauni's was labeled "New Zealand".  It was full of German chocolate and a pretty mug.  It was so thoughtful and sweet!

The next day we had another Easter with Laura's mom.  Again, we discovered that we would need to search for our basket as well as another gift.  I searched and searched. On the bookshelf. Behind the couch (I saw something but didn't think it was mine).  Behind the pictures. FOUND IT!  A pink basket full of chocolatey wonderfulness.  Shauni and I struggled with our second gift so we played hot and cold.  Went behind the couch and there it was!  I clearly didn't read very well the first time.

I am now the proud owner of a copy of Goethe's "Faust"!  I have the German on one side of the page and English on the other.  My work is cut out for me.

I am completely floored by the love and hospitality I was shown in Leipzig.  It was a wonderful holiday even through the misunderstandings and language barrier.

My Easter Love