So everything I've been up to, right? Of course! Let's begin shall we.
During the first week of break, I spent a lot of time helping out with the group from Tanzania. We get up in the moring, eat breakfast in the Hayhotel and then pack ourselves in cars to go to the little workshops. At the workshops, we had 16 other kids who came to participate in addition to us volunteers and the group from Tanzania. We had three stations, Basteln (arts & crafts), Kochen (cooking) and Kultur und Ferienspiele (culture and games). I helped out in the cultur and games group. We looked at pictures from Tanzania and talked about the differences between Germany and Tanzania. I learned a fair amount about the typical day in rural Tanzania. But the best part of the whole experience was getting to drum, sing and dance with them. When they play music and sing, they all light up. They become so happy and they just go crazy! Hey have so much fun and they want all us to participate and have fun with them. Even when you're shy, watching them and participating in their music, you have fun and you open up. It's incredible. Definitely the highlight, if you ask me.
That Friday, my boyfriend and I got together to go to the Blues Brother's night at a local movie theater. Basically, everyone dresses up as the Blue's Brothers and goes to a viewing. And before the actually movie, they play "Der Hahn ist tot" (The rooster's dead). Yes, Kell High School German, that's where that song you learn in German 1 is from! So everyone in the audience sings along and laughs. Man it's a great time! Plus! The movie theater is was in is going to be in a documentary about the three most interesting movie theaters in the world. One in Czech Republic, one in Palistine and this movie theater right around the corner from me! I let you know when that comes out!
Easter was definitely an experience. Back home, in Kennesaw, we simply do an Easter egg hunt, eat lots of food and hang out with the family. Here in Stemewede, Germany, we had a whole ordeal. We got up in the morning, looked for eggs (outside!) and then came inside for a really nice breakfast. Brötchen, lots of toppings (including smoked salmon! Like still raw, mmmmmm) all sorts of drinks imaginable, and lots of eggs. Then I went to church to play with the Posaunenchor. The church service was pretty normal in comparison to how different the Easter services back home were. I'm not really religious. But I enjoy church services just because I find the whole idea of religion interesting. So I can say I had a good time. I came home to get ready to go to my Grandmother's house around the corner. We all got together for cake, coffee and an egg feast. But before we were allowed to devour the eggs, we had to go outside and find them! So we managed to find all but one; that ALWAYS happens! And on top of that, there were chocolate rabbits and other chocolates and gummis hidden that we had to find. My favorite moment was when we hadn't found the one chocolate bunny left and my host Uncle started a timer to find it. In the last 30 seconds I found it! It was hidden between a car tire and the car body. Who would think to put a chocolate bunny there, right? But I found it! And the whole time my uncle was saying if we don't find it, it's his! So when I found it, he was like, booooo I wanted the chocolate! But I agreed to give him some because I don't need that much chocolate. So it was a fair trade. Then after that we just kind of sat around. But since it got a little boring, my host sister and I began to read some. I have a book that I'm reading completely in German (Die Elfen) that my boyfriend recommended to me. It's really really awesome and I can actually understand more than I thought I would be able to since it's fantasy. So we read a couple hours then moved to the TV room to watch a new episode of Tatort (yes, really German, I know). Then we got home and all just crashed since it was so late and we were tired.
The day after Easter is also a holiday here. And the biggest tradition here where I live is the Osterfeuer (Easter Fire). This is where all the outdoor trimmings and old Christmas trees are piled up on the crop acres and burned. These are huuuuuuge piles and they are simply burned. It's so awesome, it goes up in flames in a matter of seconds and burns a couple hours and it's gone! Before hand we all had a lovely grill out and ate ourselves full. We had Wurst, potato salads, all sorts of yumm! But my all time favorite part was getting to lay in the hammock with my boyfriend, looking at the stars with the fire burni in the background. The weather was nice, the sky was clear and we just just simply relax. It was overall such a good day.
Sooo, I've also had a birthday lately. I turned 18! With my host sister, who was born on the same day, in the same month, in the same year! We are basically long-lost twins! But since she had a long school day, I just went to my boyfriend's house after school. He had a lovely day planned out for me. First, he gave me one of my Favorite movies, Pans Labyrinth collectors edition (YEEEES!) and a Ray Charles CD because it represents him and it's something I can always have around me and something I can listen to and have him in mind. How perfect, right? It doesn't get much better than that! And that evening, he had plans to eat Greek with me! So, I can easily say, I had the best birthday ever! We even got time to Skype with my Mom and Dad back home. Really, I couldn't have asked for a better birthday. I like these relaxed, not-so-stressful days.
Besides that, the only other thing that I've really done since then is that I took out my dreads. I wasn't happy with how I did the tops so I think I'm going to redo them. So, I had to take them out before they sit really really tight. So now I have normal hair again and after a month of being in dreads, my hair isn't that broken. But, I think when I do them again, they'll dread a little easier. The journey to dreads is so crazy..
