Sometimes

I think one ought to always look at ansel adams photos while lying in bed in the most comfortable pyjamas they have ever stepped their bodies into, while listening to the sound of silence (and no.. that was not a Simon and Garfunkel referance in case you were wondering.) and while being covered in sock monkey blanket that their sister quilted for them.
In case you didn't get the hint, that is exactly what I am doing right now. And it feels heavenly. If you haven't tried it, I most definitely recommend it.

so where to start? ahja, the christmas season in Germany. Christmas is literally a 3 day ordeal here. In all honesty, I believe the Germans really know how to celebrate. The 24th was Heilige Abend or christmas eve, if you will. That included opening all our presents that the 'christkind' brought to us, singing 'o du fröliche', repeating prayers (which made me feel kind of weird) and then followed by a 2 course fish meal, following that we found ourselves celebrating later that evening with more family singing stille nacht (silent night) and repeating more prayers and then opening and giving more gifts.
The people drinking more alcahol. Of course.

Sunday, was Christmas (in the States) but the day where we ate another big 3 course lunch. I had wildeschwein, which after translating it I kind of had a weird feeling in my stomach Wildeschwein translates into a boar. Welll, cool, I had boar for christmas, guys. After that, I came home and skyped with my real family in Provo. It was lovely. Everyone was there, and everyone was opening their gifts in front of me. The best present by far, though, was recieving the news that I will be an aunt shortly after I arrive back in the States. I cannot wait.

Today, was the day following christmas which included another big meal. But this time in a pretty fancy resteraunt. What I ate was Kalbshaxe literally translating into Calf joint. Cool. But, it tasted wonderful.. especially the potatoe dumplings over here. I can't get over them.
And that probably proves why I have gained so much weight here.

I helped decorate a weihnachtsbaum. (christmastree) Which apparently are always set up shortly before heiligeabend or the day of and are left until 3 könige tag... 3 kings day and same goes with the manger... Which always seems to be set on the floor, right next to the Christmas tree. I also got to attend my school's christmas concert. Which I found funny they actually called a christmas concert because they hardly played any christmas music... and the singing, the singing. Let me just say, Timpview high school Acappella and Madrigals, you should be proud of yourselves. But, besides from that, the instrumentals were good. Plus, it was in a really pretty church and I got to go into a bar, restaurant afterwards.

Christmas was lovely. Not extremely different than in the U.S.. but definitley had it's differenciating factors.

2 weeks of christmas break. Yesssssssssss YeSSSSSSSSS.

Truth

I urge you to please notice when you are happy, and exclaim or murmor or think at some point, 'If this isn't nice, I don't know what is.' Kurt Vonnegut.

That Thanksgiving day when we celebrated my host mom's dad's 70th birthday. The family and friends sitting, talking, and just having a grand time with another. The little 3 year old niece playing mom/daughter/dentist around the house with the 24 year old nephew's girlfriend, including a baby doll given the name of Lala. Later, the family getting ready for a surprise brass band. And then to top it all off, sons and daughters dressing up as russians, ready to dance and sing like the russians do, just to announce the Moscow vacation present. And through that whole 7 hour ordeal, I thought to myself 'if this isn't nice, I don't know what is'.

The following day, accepting an invitation to dinner by some fellow English 12th graders. Laughing, eating, talking about one another.. and then later being taken home by a girl's dad (yeah, 17 year olds don't actually have their licenses here).. and that dad speaking all the english slang he knew. Afterwards, I told myself, If this isn't nice, I don't know what is.

That wednesday night, when Angi invited me to Mexican food with a few of her friends on behalf of my remark on saying I missed mexican food more than any other food that I was deprivied from. So eating enchiladas and then later sitting in someone's basement, eating cookies, raving over the cutest dog I ever did see and just talking about whatever (even if I didn't understand it all.)... I exclaimed to myself 'if this isn't nice, I don't know what is.'

That whole saturday.. beginning with my 6 mile run, cleaning my room, reading my national geographic in the train and then finally meeting with my Betreuerin (girl who keeps track of how I am doing.. in Germany) in Bamberg to walk around the Bamberg weihnachtsmarkt (christmas market) and then later to find us sitting in a cafe due to the pouring rain outside, drinking hot chocolate and coffee while discussing life being an exchange student, all the problems that come up as an exchange student and just life in general. As, the rain finally came to a stop, she showed me a bit of her university, and we continued just to have a pleasant conversation until it was time for me to take my train back to Forchheim. In Forchheim I found myself meeting up with 3 11th grade girls in an empty, where we were to be seperated by all the other guests and cares of the world as we began playing card games and eating schnitzel for 4 hours. As I came home, snuggled up in my bed while reading my german Brother Grimm fairytales, which I had previously bought a couple of days before... The inside of my head was whispering gently, 'if this isn't nice, I don't know what is.'

This past Sunday, making a day trip to the city of Rothenburg with my host family. Keeping out from the cold and observing all the handcrafted toys and christmas 'kitsch', buying myself a 'Räucherman', my host family buying me a horse candle, and a Schneeball (snowball, treat), Taking in all that the Kriminal Museum (mid evil.. Punishment, or torture, I guess you could say) museum. Which to be honest, was really interesting, but it kind of scared my sweet and innocent soul. Anyways, afterwards I found myself drinking a really good cup of hot chocolate in a cozy and sweet cafe while trying to get along with my host sister. And as I came home, watched the Holiday while getting all teary eyed, I wrote in my journal, 'if this isn't nice, I don't know what is'

and Today, begining with me getting completely over my sickness I had the past week, being able to wear my rainboots and rainjacket due to the Fritzwalter wetter.. on the way to school talking to a nice young girl who had read my article in the newspaper (yes, I was in the newspaper.. as in a whole page) who had previously been an exchange student in Iowa. Later recieving an A from my French teacher, and then giving a birthday present and recieving a most generous hug I have gotten in Germany.
Ending school at 11:25 because I always have 2 periods shorter on Friday. And so with my spare 20 minutes of time before my bus came, I found
myself walking to my own city's weihnachtmarkt. And let me tell you, I had the weirdest experience. As, I was walking down the Hauptstrasse.. Main street, I couldn't help but think I felt like I was in Disneyland.









Okay, maybe I am a bit too dreamy. But, I, being a yearly Disneyland vistor, knows what feelings Disneyland brings off, and these main streets decorated in Christmas lights and all these many weihnachtsmarkts in old German cities definitely bring of some sort of dreamy feelings, like those you would feel at Disneyland... If that's not only me feeling them..
Anyways, after that I met up with the Thomson family in Erlangen, to which we would then travel to the glorious city of Nürnberg to enjoy the World's most famous Weihnachtsmarkt. (which is a bit ironic, due to the fact many Americans, including my formal self, have no idea what a weihnachtsmarkt is).









and then I purchasing these deliciously good almonds, observing all the many booths and rides the market had to offer and doing all, while in the presence of such a sweet family.
Afterwards, eating in a Chinese restaurant in Erlangen to let me finally speak in my mother language, to those closest to my culture as it is going to get.
And as I now type you these words with full intention of truth. 'If this isn't nice, I don't know what is'.

Freedom.

Endlich, habe Ich freiheit.





Deactivated my facebook. I think it was about time.

I think I just want to simply talk about my week so far.
Let's start from the very beginning. A very good place to start.

Well, Monday began with french. Even though I am no good at the language.. french is surprisingly one of my favorite classes because I can actually follow along and participate. Atleast what I define as participating.
Learning french has actually made me realize how much harder the German language is formed. Things I am saying after 3 months in French is what I was learning in the beginning of my second year of German. German just makes everything so much more complicated than it needs to be. As Mark Twain put it: 'I never knew what eternity was made for, it's to give some of the chance to learn German.'
I couldn't say amen any louder.
Anyways, I had an ex (which is a surprise test... that seem to pop up quite often, just to see if students are studying or not) and I was pretty proud of myself, that was until Frau Haydenreich came up to me and told me that one of the words I put in my test was German. I replaced heure with uhr (which both literally translate into hour and sound almost the same.) I replied by saying: Ugh, learning 2 languages at once... it's complicated! she patted me on the shoulder, while giving a little chuckle under her breath and ended up telling the class afterwards that she was really impressed by the fact that I was learning 2 languages at once and especially learning French through German.
I wasn't sure if I was supposed to be embarassed or proud.. Well, let's just say I was glad she finally realized why my French was so bad.

Music was pretty interesting. The teacher began talking about black music and slavery in America. Which is actually quite interesting when hearing it from a German point of view. Of course I didn't quite catch all of what she said. But, I am pretty sure a lot of it was wrong. Like, Martin Luther King Jr. ending slavery.
We listened to some African music.. which included some really really strange noises which the average westerner would never listen to as an act of fun. In fact, I had to force myself to restrain the laughing. And then for some reason, the teacher asked me if Kennedy was the only president who got shot. I replied saying that Abraham Lincoln had also been shot, and she was so surprised. She kept asking me if it really was true.... It was quite fun.
The last period was Sozial Kunde,(German government) which is literally just a jumble of sounds to me, because I have absolutely no idea what is ever going on in that class. And wish me luck, because on Monday I have to give a presentation on the Republican and Democratic parties.... in German. Kill me now.
The evening was followed by my first volleyball practice! yeah! that was quite the experience. I haven't played volleyball in 1 and half years, but I was surprised at how much I could actually do.. As in, I could actually play better than the majority of the girls.
It was kind of a weird experience because no one was actually interested in the fact that I was new, and I was from America. I asked a few people what their names were and where they went to school... but, that is about all the social interaction I got. In fact, they didn't even talk all that much on the court (which, I always thought was necessary for the sport of volleyball). Man, I still don't quite understand this culture.

Tuesday,
Sport, Probably the most fun I have had in that class in ages. We played basketball. And if you know me, I can get really competitive when I want to be..... I am not the best at basketball. But, when you spend a lot of time playing with your brother in the driveway, you should pick up some kind of skill.
Well, afterwards, the teacher said: wow, one really notices where you come from.
What is that supposed to mean?
german, I recited my poem. I went through countless ammounts of sweating and forgetting, but I believe it went okay. The teacher ended up saying 'wow, McKenna, for 2 years of German, that is really good' and yet again.. Should I be proud, or embarassed?

Wednesday,
Art, I formed my own pen out of clay while getting the white outsiding of the clay all over my pants.
German in the 7th grade, the class that couldn't ever make me feel more welcome. Everytime I go to that class I constantly get said hello to, asked to sign my name on someone's binder, recieving a picture with some kind of english saying, or girls have an argument because one of them is not actually able to sit by me.
It's lovely.
Ethics is crap. Pholosophy+ everything in german+ only using chalk boards to learn+ me not understanding + this being 1 and a half hours of pure torture= me wanting to throw up. Good thing that class is only once a week... But, the pain of chalk boards will seem to always follow me, that is until June. Oh and overheads... the overheads. 6 and a half more months. 6 and a half more months.
Thursday, I didn't actually have english due to the teacher not being there. Which was also another culture difference to me, when a teacher isn't there, you just simply don't have class. Don't think I am complaining though, because I find it absolutely wonderful.
So in honor of the teacher not being there, I lugged my over heavy backpack into the upper wing of school and sat down and started studying more german (a task that seems like it will be never ending). Well, this wing just happens to be the music wing. While I sat there I heard the sounds of christmas music playing through the orchestra. The First Noel being one of them.
I adore Christmas, guys. Especially the Christmas markets here.
Which I am proudly going to attend more of.
I ended up recieving a 2 on my French test. Finally, a decent grade for my decent self.
The evening included me showing my host family Das Beer Boot. Apparantley Germans actually don't find it funny..... Which I find a bit strange because I and so many of my fellow Americans find it hilarious.
P.S you should probably watch it too.

1 goal out the many hundreds I have.

Before I went on this exchange, I and a lot of other people had this expectation that I was going to blog a lot. Well from what we can see.. I have not quite exceeded those expectations.
Perhaps it is due to the fact that I get really lazy sometimes and would actually rather do other things with my time. Or, atleast I think would rather do other things. As a matter of fact, blogging is quite easy. All you have to do is let your fingers follow the rythm of your brain. And it's a time to actually write in English (100x easier than me writing in a second language, when that second language is not even near fluency). The only hard part about blogging is to actually please your readers. I admit, my blog entries have not been as good as I wish they were, and they are not posted as often I had hoped.
So, readers!.. whoever that my be... I have a goal, and that goal is to give you atleast one blog post once a week. It may be simple, it may be deep, and it might just be a waste of your time... But, I think it will happen. And if it doesn't actually happen, just know that I had the thought in mind and if you feel obligated enough, you can actually send me some hate mail to go along with it, and I will try my hardest to not be offended.

The thoughts of November

I guess it really does take me to live in Germany to actually realize how beautiful the land is, where I am from. Not that I hate Germany, in fact, I love it here (for the most part... as in, when I am not acting like a pessimistic grinch. Which seems to be quite often anymore, unfortunately.)

We take things for granted, my friends. Yes we do.

Though I have never been a very good mormon and let's face it... I probably will never be. I still find joy in reading and listening to the prophets and apostles talks.
One in particular was a talk by David O. McKay on an experience of Helen Keller's. He said:

' Have you ever read Helen Keller's comment on a girl who had just taken a walk in the woods, who in answer to Helen's question 'what did you observe?' replied, 'Nothing in particular.'
' How is it possible,' Helen asked herself, 'to walk for an hour through the woods and see nothing worthy of note? I who, cannot see, find hundreds of things of interest to me through mere touch. I feel the delicate symmetry of a leaf. I pass my hands lovingly about the smooth skin of a silver birch, or the rough shaggy bark of a pine. In the spring, I touch the branches of trees hopefully in search of a bud, the first sign of awakening nature after her winter's sleep. Occasionally, if I am very fortunate, I place my hand gently on a small tree and feel the happy quiver of a bird in full song. ' At times my heart cries out with longing to see all these things with physical eyes, but if I can get so much pleasure from just mere touch, how much more beauty must be revealed by sight? And I have imagined what I should most likely see if I were granted the use of my eyes- even if it were just 3 days.'

End of talk. Not necessarilly a talk from David O. McKay, but it was a good story. You have to agree.

I think we ought to all be like this. Find beauty in everday life.. even if it does seem to be terrible.
Which actually seems to be a hypocritical point from me anymore.
Living in a foreign country at the age of 17 with a completely different family with different views, going to school with strangers that I don't completely understand, trying to do homework in a foreign language (that I still haven't seemed to get a firm grasp on) The struggles kind of get old anymore. But, even though there are plenty of things to complain about, there are plenty more to praise.

Last week was Thanksgiving, which I technically didn't celebrate. Unless you count the sweet generosity of my host mother's 'Thanksgiving' made for the fam on Sunday. Which included a Turkey, along with sauerkrout, potatoe dumplings, pumpkin soup, and something that was supposed to be stuffing. It did taste good though! I must admit.

But in honor of Thanksgiving I feel it is appropriate to share some of the things I am thankful for.
even though this exchange sucks sometimes, I am so thankful to have been able to come here. I am so thankful for the loving family and friends that supported me. I am so thankful for the struggles that make us stronger. I am thankful to be me and to have had the chance to have grown up in such a good family with good morals. I am thankful for the ability to travel. I am thankful for the beautiful earth. I am thankful for the ability to learn, our many resources to learn and the fact that we can always keep learning. I am thankful for beautiful human beings... inside and out. The list is endless, my friends. I am so blessed, and I take so many things for granted.

Herbst Ferien

1 week and a half ago, it was Herbst Ferien (Fall break)
The week started off with me going to my host mom's Marathon in Frankfurt for that first weekend. Which I think I may have mentioned before.... possibly.
Anyways, much to my advantage, it was very interesting. The finish line included the runners running into the fest halle while running on red carpet... Exaclty what a runner would want to do.


here is a blurry picture of european runners. Hopefully it meets your liking.


I love German architecture. Frankfurt.


and here is a picture of the Frankfurt marathon winner. You guessed it right, he is a Kenyan.

Anyways, my goal was to tell you about my adventure across the border.
So, where to begin?
It was Tuesday morning, I had just back from my run. When all of a sudden a woman from my ward (Erlangen ward, that I have attended 3 times).

Side note: This woman happens to be the mother of 6 kids and the wife of a BYU professor. And, they just happen to come from Springville. Springville, as in only 2 miles away from where my house is. Coincidence? I think not.

Anyways, she called me and asked me if I would like to travel along to Salzburg, Austria with them. As in, get ready in 1 hour. I gladly accepted.


Before I arrived to the train station though I didnt realize that they actually had 6 kids. And I didn't realize I would make the 7th.
See where I am getting at?
It was a complete Von Trapp family reenactment.
I was the oldest (16 and going on 17 in exactly 1 week), followed by all the rest. And the rest fit the exact description of the other children in the movie. Same age, same gender. All of it.

Pretty funny, aye?


Anyways, we took a Sound of Music tour. As nerdy as it may sound, it was actually pretty interesting, for the most part. We not only got to hear history of the movie, but we also got to hear some of the history of salzburg.

P.S, this is the lake in which Julie Andrews and all the von Trapp kids fall in while they are in the canoe. And also the lake which is behind the von Trapp family house.


I love the alllllps





The famous Gazebo. 16 going on 17.


Yeah...


Oh hey, Mr. Red Bull's house!


Nicole. The girl who held my hand the whole trip. She is an absolute doll.


Mond See.


Katee.


Where Julie Adrews gets married.


me from a Nicole point of view


Mirabell Gardens. Where a lot of the Do Re Mi was filmed.


Hi!





stairs in Do Re MI





Europe is so cool, guys.


I have confidence, road.





Do Re Mi


Another point of view from Nicole





I didn't quite capture the beauty I wanted to. But, the salzach river is one of prettiest I have ever seen.


Haha, european playgrounds are coolest/most dangerous playgrounds I have ever seen.








View from the actual Salzburg. Salzburg literally means Salt Castle














Scary Marionette puppets.


Nicole and her Souvenier from Salzburg.
Yes, a hello kitty from Claire's.


Scott and kate on his shoulders. Such a darling family.

The post with no title, because I am not feeling clever enough to create one.

I miss this place.



But, I am learning to love this one.

I am going to take you on a once- in-a- lifetime tour through photographic memories of mine. German ones. I dont have too many photos, but that is beside the point. I am going to try.. and you are going to try as hard as you can to enjoy it.




It all started with saying goodbye to this.



and this.




of course this... Meine mutter. Aww.
And all the 6 other related human beings in my family.


and this...


and then I welcomed myself to this family.





Do not ask me how. Because, I have absolutely no idea.



I went to a language camp and 'learned German'... not. But, I really did enjoy placing that turtle and whatever that other animal is, next to eachother.




I took a trip to Leipzig and met Bach



Not to mention, Quedlensburg.. and took a crappy photo.





Halberstadt. Where I saw St. Nikolas's finger. Yes, really.




and not to forget my favorite Thai roommate. Meaw.





We played games.



We cried.



This girl litteraly bled. Like, sliced her finger and then had to go to the emergancy room.




we laughed.


and we loved.









and I played ukulele


and we ate a pig. Literally.

and then, then it was time to leave. And I had to find myself a new family. A new family, to whom lived in Forchheim, Franconia





A view I wake up to every morning. Nothing special, but you know. Germany is Germany.


I have eaten some pretty different, but at the same time, really good food.


room.... in case you were at all interested.


I have tried to survive my school. The one older than my country.


house


Erlangen. Crappy camera skills, sorry. That was on my way to language course, by the way.


BAMBERG



Bamberg











Nürenburg. AGH


Bamberg view from Altenburg.





Bambergs Venice





This should explain itself. Host family's niece. She had a birthday, and she is absolutely darling.






I love my german children's bookshelf.


I love learning French auf Deutsch. Not really,


I love this park. I do not know why. Maybe because it has a ginormous wall, which keeps me comfort. I had my first and hopefully last mental breakdown there.








I find these random excercise machines extremely funny. Dont ask me why.





What I would define as heaven in my mouth.


Tree of wisdom


pretty

I hope enjoyed this photographic walkthrough to some extent.

Update on me:
Kind of in a unpleasant mood at the moment, and I have no idea as to why my mood chooses to behave like this... but, it seems as though it is just the way it is.

Favorite things in Germany: Bakeries and the lovely aromas they give off. spazieren (walking around.. which I seem to do a heck of a lot. Going to Erlangen. Which I actually did today, I thought I would explore some more and ended up finding a 4 story book store. I spent 2 hours just reading children books.
Brotzeit. Bread time. Where you get 2 15 minute breaks in school to eat food.
Another favorite thing, whenever I recieve a test, I look at it sincerely as though I could possibly conquer it.. and then I realize that it is quite impossible to write anything down, so I just begin drawing pictures.
oh and running, which I havent done a lot of.
oh and swimming. The swimming pool is sooo cool here.
and the transporation system.
The list is endless.

What I miss: Saying whatever I want, whenever I want. Having friends. My cross country team. Feeling smart. Contributing in class. Understanding class. Bonneville shoreline trail. BYU campus. Driving.

Going to Frankfurt tomorrow for my host mom's marathon. I promise I will take more pictures there, and I promise to change my mood around.