I´m on TV!

July 19 - Monday



First I went to Anja´s school for the first time! Her school is a class lower than Svenja´s, as Anja is in 9th grade and Svenja is going into 12th. At least that is how it would work in our system. The schools are also right next to each other. Anja´s school is also much more colorful I think. There are oranges and bright greens and it is really bright and lovely. I would enjoy learning there, in fact, I did! We went into Math class, then Biology, then Geography. It was interesting because I found out that she has the same people in every class! That could always have positives and negatives.



An assembly was next. It was sort of like a celebration or send off for the graduating class, which was in grade 10. I think it means that they go on to the next school but I also heard that they might have a choice to be finished with school completely after that. It was the same as any other : silly games, screaming and loud talking, strange music, candy being thrown that hits me in the face, all the normal things. There was jumping through obstacles, and it was different in some ways because the teachers did not just participate in the games, they were "imprisoned" as they were bound between two goal-nets for the game of soccer, so that was a little strange. The music seemed abnormal also because everyone was speaking in German yet still listening to English music. A lot of music in the USA is also popular here in Germany. Its amazing how culture can spread through music. We were home at around 11:15 (really nice because it is like we are never at school) because school let out after the assembly.



Later on we went to a TV STATION. I had never been to one of these before, and it was ever more exciting because it was in Germany! München Tv it was called. Florian´s brother is a weather expert, at least that was his description when he was on air, and so we were allowed access. I was able to go into the control room, see all the tech stuff and watch these people in action! It was really interesting because of all the television screens showing what was happening in the studio and the different cameras and angles and such. It was really neat and I enjoyed the experience.



I asked if next I could go onto TV, but unfortunately they said no. Hey, it could have been interesting to interview an American visiting! Hehe. I met the lady who was doing the news, and then we walked around and there were all these collages full of pictures of people who had come and some fun times on set and such. There was a newer one I saw of Oktoberfest which is a famous celebration in Germany. It looked like very much fun and they told me that the news station is especially busy during that time of the year because every night during it (about a week long I think) they needed to be on the scene and reporting on this event.

Oktoberfest!



Next we went to a different market, got ourselves some pretzels! I really love them. I have been eating them just about the entire time I have been here, and I just can never get tired of them!



Next we went swimming at another lake, it was lovely. I went into the restroom to change into my bathing suit because I am not that great at changing in a towel, as is European general custom. It was so fun to see a family playing and laughing and having a good time and it was really especially nice to be included. I feel very attatched to my host family here, and it is like they are my family. The sisters I never had, the father that i´ve always wanted. When we were getting ready to leave (the water was chilly because it was not as hot on this evening) I changed into my regular clothes inside a towel! I am getting better at this and I am noticing that really everyone here is just comfortable with themselves and their sexuality and because of this they can just change inside a towel and it isn´t a big deal. I mean, since I have tried it, it is really not bad at all, in fact, it is nice, more convenient, and a little bit fun! =)