bucket list

I have been in the movement of creating a bucket list here in Germany.
And guess what? we can check one of them off the list.



I got a haircut... finally. Was about time.

These things of the following are going to have to happen in germany.. or europe for that matter.

Go backpacking
Sleep outside under the stars
order a glass of milk with a shot of honey in a bar.
go swimming in a natural resource.
bake an american apple pie.
do a triathalon

and I am still coming up with some other things. And have already completed plenty.

85 days. Let's do this thing.

M.c Kenna

If life were so, I would be one happy soul.

M.c Kenna

...

:)


She stood upon the top of the mountain. The wind rushing through her hair, through her veins she could feel the most powerful feeling of happiness and contentment. At that peak of the mountain, she could suddenly breath again.
"This is where I want to be for the rest of my life, no humans to verbally attack me with how they see me. No times to feel embarassed, hated. No one here to judge me."
She took that stand slowly into a sitting position, the thoughts still continued rushing through her mind. She soon realized that the thoughts flowing through her mind, were indeed no happy thoughts. She might feel better for a few a days, but she knew she couldn't run away from her troubles. In fact, she didn't even necessarily want to.

oh... exchange student problems, what would an exchange student do without them?

She sits on the front porch, the sun is shining brilliantly. Her legs dangle from the porch soaking in the rays of that brilliant sun. Winter is no more and she can trust that statement for the next 9 months. So American is playing in the background. A smile sweeps across her face.

Though some things seem like hell, there are moments that make it so much better.



such as a hike through the fraenkische schweiz and a dog named Nala. (like the lion in the lion king)






cool mirrors.



glowing globes.



America... and the leipziger buchmesse.



rad germans.



Witz



men with beards.



before the cutting of the hair.

downright sick

What absolutely embarrassing is, is that I cannot even count how many times I have gotten sick over in this land.

More than frustrating.... And what is more frustrating is that the constant stress that I put upon my shoulders is creating this madness.

So, I guess something has got to change. Irgendwie.





And this is what my soul feels like. "C'mon McKenna, you are in Germany!!!! get out there and enjoy it!!!!" yet, my body refuses to listen.
M.c Kenna

Love

If it's anything I want to say..

I love this country. I also love the really cool statues I tend to run into.

I couldn't feel anymore indier (compartitive suffix form of the word indie).
Sipping my warm cappucino despite the rainy weather of the German city outside.. in a Starbucks while wearing a scarf, cardigan, MJ tshirt and toms. And all while writing in a blog and listening to Regina Spektor and Feist.
And although you might not believe it, it's about to get even indier.

You may not recognize it. And no worries, if you don't. Because I sure didn't... that is before I saw the orginal masterpiece, almost a year ago.

And this "almost a year ago", in which I speak of refers to that time I was in the brilliant land of The Netherlands for a week with my pa. Although I was completely sick of museums by the end of that week, if you asked me which one I loved most.. I would, without hesitation, reply that the Vincent van Gogh museum in Amsterdam was my favorite. And painting, I would anwer "Almond Blossom".

You can probably see where this is getting too... This painting is a painting of Vincent van Gogh called "Almond blossom". He painted this for his Nephew that was to be born.. Representing "rebirth". Which is what blossoms exactly are. That is, if you thinkk about the the tree cylce. A tree begins with the sweet tiny blossoms, which will then blossom and blossom until they become luscious beautiful leaf.... Then coming to the time of departure, falling apart and then completely gone, where the snow will eventually take it's place.

Although this might sound a bit quaint. My life in Germany can be compared to a tree.

I started off as some sort of a leaf (atleast I think so), curious, naive waiting to see what would actually happen.Then there came the point in which I began falling apart, shriveling up until the snow storms completely beat me up. A point where I was completely gone and hidden beneath the snow.

And here is the moment where you can put a grin on your face. I am at that point of rebirth. The blossoming point. I have never felt more refreshed in my life. I am growing so much... My german is so much better (okay... not my accent), I love the people, I love my host family, I love it. And to be honest, I kind of don't want to go back to Provo.

M.c Kenna

A place we like to call Köln

Well, you are probably curious as to what I actually did in Cologne. Well. I guess it's time for me to tell you the tale
The main point of the journey was to have a lot seminars over almost everything that had to do with our exchange time. A lot of things were repeated. If you were to get my honest opinion, most of the seminars were a waste of time. But, i guess ilearned a few things...possibly.

But, it was the greatest feeling to be back with those who I love best. My fellow South-western Americans in a youth hostel, just a 5 minute subway ride into the center of köln.
It was suprising how much a lot of us had changed... For better and for worse. We have been through a lot. No joke. Everyone's german had improved vastly or hardly at all. And so many more people than I had imagined had a lot of host family problems. In fact, a good third had or are changing host family soon.

Highlights of the trip:
skipping rocks on the rhein in the moonlight, upon my request.

Going to Bonn and not knowing that the Haribo factory was there...

Eating Mexcian food in Bonn. Yes, sometimes I deserve food that is not German once in a while.


The most misleading restaurant I have ever been to. Hence the name 'Tacos' when they indeed, had no tacos whatsoever.


noticing the lovely architecture in Bonn. Beautiful city.


This is Rachel. She is from LA. And she is really cool and she just so happens to be standing in front of the Rathaus (cityhall) in Bonn.



Tyler and Sarah in front of thee gate into the city.




Bonn.
P.S Bonn is the city of Beethoven.

And we also took a tour through the history of Germany after the 2nd world war. And all being said, in German!

The nights werre filled with a lot of laughter.. Let me tell you.




Walking along the Rhein to the center of the city.




A bridge in Köln


Der Kölner Dom.



me... with glasses....


SOOO COoOL. You would not evenn believe how ginormous this cathedral was.


Stainglass window


Tyler and Emma


Inside the Kölner Dom








Decorated Juli's door... Language camp teacher, because it was her 22nd birthday and she was spending it with us. And we can all admit that mine was the best.


I love these kids.











Going out to send Brianna off on her departure.


..............

So much fun. So much bonding.


Trying to capture how beautiful it actually was at night.




a couple of postcards I bought. The one on the right being the aftermath of being bombed in the 2nd world war.

And there you have it. A blog post thrown together.

Location:Cologne