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

Holidays - pt. 2

With the fairly long list of things that I miss, you need to know that there are just as many things that I love about being in England for the Holidays.  Here are the ones I remember at this moment:


1. Sharing Thanksgiving meal with 40 other people

2. Hearing Brits compliment all of the American food we ate for Thanksgiving.

3. 2 new "brothers"

Iain, Shadow, Me, and Jonah

4. A UK family that loves board games as much as I do

5. Gluten-free & Dairy-free peanut butter cookies (for real, they are SO GOOD)

6. Staying up really late playing games

7. A doggy who likes to play right away when I come downstairs

8. Mince Pie is growing on me.

9. Movie education - watching lots of good British movies with my UK family

MMM!

10. A 3-tiered chocolate birthday cake of wonderfulness.

Birthday Sparklers

Birthday Banner on the stairs

11. Helping the doggles open his presents. (Shadow has many nicknames)

Me and Shadow

12. The amount of wit and sarcasm that oozes from this house

13. An amazing family at home that makes time to Skype me for my Birthday/Christmas.

14. Three amazing friends, Laura (Germany), Juliana (Ecuador), and Marine (France)

15. Colleagues at school who genuinely care about my well being


This list could have countless more, but I don't want to waste my holiday writing this blog.  As I finish typing this music plays in the background, Iain is reading rules for a game called "Fresh Fish" that we are about to play on my last afternoon at the Dykes house.  As difficult as I thought it would be to spend the holidays away from family, I will treasure the time I have had here in this house.  I wouldn't trade this Christmas experience for anything in the world.

I have learned that home can be many places, as long as you love the people around you.  Winchester is becoming more and more like home.

I wanted doggie kisses, but he turned away :(

"Where we love is home - home that our feet may leave, but not our hearts. " 

 -- Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr. 

Holidays - Pt. 1

I won't lie, the holidays are hard when you are far away from home.

It hit me today, as I participated in some new holiday traditions, just how much I am missing the traditions from home.  Here are some things I miss.

Ebony

1. Making turkey cookies with Mom.
2. Frosting the turkey cookies - each feather a different color of course!
3. Thanksgiving with the Greve family
4. American stuffing (British stuffing has sausage and other meat in it)
5. Pumpkin Pie
6. Pumpkin cookies
7. really just all pumpkiny desserts!
8. Christmas Cantata at church
9. Visiting my Grammy (I LOVE YOU GRAMMY! *muah*)
10. Christmas Road trip with the family
11. My kitty Ebony
12. My bed
13. Being able to text silly things to my friends
14. Megan's wedding in January
15. Being able to get in my car and drive wherever, and whenever I want to

Pumpkin Pie

I don't really miss the snow, like at all.  It's been around 50F most days here, sometimes rainy, usually grey skies.  But I love it!  While everyone around me wishes for snow, I'm hoping it never comes.

Now, before you think I'm having a little pity party, there are plenty of things that I love about this new place I call home.  Stay tuned for part 2 to find out :)

Merry Christmas everyone!

~Lina