The List

For the last 2 months, many people have asked the question:  Are you excited to go back to the US?

This isn’t a simple yes or no question for me. 

I decided to make a list of things that I am looking forward to when I get back, and a list of things that I will be sad to leave behind.  And adjacently, I will make a list of things that I won’t miss in Germany, and the not so great things about the US.

The US:

Good:

1. I am excited to see some of my old friends again, the ones that stuck it out and kept with me during my exchange, my family obviously, and meeting all the new exchange students that will be experiencing Alaska for the first time.
   
   
2. Figure Skating.  It’s probably one of the only things that I am excited to do again.  Having quit due to my academic load, and my exchange, I really miss walking into an ice cold arena every morning at 6 am, sprinting the track, stretching, and tying up stiff skates to get out on the ice to continue my warm-up. I’ve actually been running at the track after school and stretching here (and then biking 5 miles back home),so I can start skating sooner as oppose to later. Obviously I won’t be able to skate as much as I want to because (read point 3)
   
   
3. I would like to take University classes, graduate high school, apply for scholarships, and look for a job so I have money.  I should stay up to date with my home Rotary club, get my drivers license, study for the SAT and ACT, find a piano to play, and get involved with acting at the community theatre (being forced to dance and sing IN GERMAN, in front of 50 or so people has really helped me get over stage fright.  My new motto: if it’s in English, it’s a piece of cake…. But that’s a story for later)
   
   And it’s not necessarily in that order.
    
4. Calling my German friends at odd hours of the night to see what they’re doing.
   
   
5. Really hoping to stay busy enough so I’m not dwelling on things that have passed.
   
   
6. Hiking with my friends. Hot dates with Miriam and Sarah over Christmas break, some more ‚chill’ activities that I can plan when I would like.
   
   
7. Sleeping until noon on a Monday.  Just once.
   
   I’ve been getting up at 5:30am every Monday, to catch a bus to school so I can do a full 8 hours Math, Chemistry, and Business & Ecconomy.  I mean really, why can’t I have Art first thing Monday morning?
   
   
8. Turning legal!  Whoo 18!

Not so good:

1. Wild animals, so biking and walking anywhere are out of the picture.
2. Being away from my friends.
   
   
3. 10 hour time diffrence.
   
   
4. Cold.  Like arsh kalt cold.
   
   
5. No real transportation system.
   
   
6. The People of Walmart (Deutscher leute: link hier)
   
   
7. The whole rebound-reverse-cultureshock stuff
   
   
   

Germany:

Things I will miss:

1. Legit transportation.  Taxis, Busses, Trains, Street rails, the underground, bikes, and walking.
   
   
2. Cheap clothing.
   
   
3. My host families and host siblings.
   
   
4. The ability to travel whenever, wherever.
   
   
5. Discos and Partys.
   
   
6. German.
   
   
7. 10D, my German hooligans( Mirja, Puta, Anna, Maggie, Moisi Doisi, 'Großalptraum', Sarah, and Ronnie), 'die gang', and all my other friends.
   
   
8. Gymnasium Oedeme.
   
   
9. Rotary and ROTEX weekends, exchange students, la banda latina, pililng 90 people into a bus, and being an exchange student.
   
   
10. Sleepover weekends with Los Carlitos.
    
    
11. Europatour.
12. The culture of my country.
13. Simple food.  There isn't much 'pre-packaged' food here in comparison to the states.  Dinner is Goat Cheese, Tomatos, oil, and herbs chopped up and thrown into the oven.  It's really that simple.
    
    
14. The European Food in general.  Döner Kebap anyone?
    
    
15. Sleeping on the floor of trains, camping out at a McDonalds, living off sandwiches, laying in sleeping bags at the trainstation, walking for hours because you don’t have taxi money, and being a moneyless hobo with my friends in general.
    
    
16. Frau S’s math class.  Oh the wounderful times, how will I go on? (Jakob und Puta, ich weiß irh leist das gerade, und irh lacht.  Ich werde Frau S. so sehr vermissen :D)
    
    
17. Football parties.
    
    
18. German windows.
    
    
19. German bread. 
    
    
20. Much more than I could ever put into words.

Things I wont miss:

1. Paying for toilets.
   
   
2. Paying for water at a restaurant.
   
   
3. Waiting for the bus.

4. Strange food.

5. Pulling staples out of teabags.

6. Everything being closed on Sunday.

Well, for you people who have been asking, here is my list.  :)

Like all lists, there is always more I could have added, and the list could go on forever.  But I’m just naming the main things.

ON a brighter note, European Meisterschaft continues, last two football parties were great! Germany vs Denmark on Sunday.  Going to go watch the game and celebrate at VAMOS with some freiends.

-Sarah