Arrived at Frankfurt Airport at 5:30am
I greeted as I came out of customs, by a group of people holding signs with my name and waving read, white and blue streamers (yes, they are the colours of the flag...but they did not realise that this is usually just associated with USA...oh well...it was fantastic!), calling out and laughing!!! I later found out that this was my host mum Sabine, host auntie Nati, and counsellor Jürgen. This was a good welcome into Germany!!
Over the next couple of days I got to meet many people!!
Jan 26th
On this day, Sabine and I went to Kassel for the language camp. I could not wait to meet all of the other exchange students and wondered what they would be like, etc. But I was also unsure about what to expect of my new host family for the 2 weeks of the camp. All of the exchange students were very nice and we all started talking straight away and getting to know each other...the first person I started talking to was Sarah-Jane...ahhh...I never knew I would be so glad to hear the New Zealand accent!!! So close to home!! It was at this meeting that all of sat, while the Rotarians were speaking to our future host parents in german about what was to happen in the next couple of weeks. Our names were read out, one by one, the exchange students got up to greet there new family (it felt a little bit like the price is right!!), and the others made jokes that I they forgot about me...because I was still waiting...but as I later found out...the left the BEST for last!!! My family the Straube's made me feel right at home!
Jan 27th
The first day of Language School, at the Europa College in Kassel. I got a lift to school...and who else would be in the car, Danielle...another aussie girl from Melbourne who I had met the day before. Then we went and picked up Livia, she was not at the meeting the day before...but it was great to hear that she was an Aussie!!! And, yes Livia, your first words probably were, 'Hello, my name is Livia, im from Perth...I am so cold!' I don't think we achieved much in the way of german on the first day...but it was great to get to know each other!
At night, I went to my first rotary meeting in Germany...the Rotary Club of Baunatal...for which Jörg is a member. One big difference that I noticed is that no one clapped after a speech or something...they all knocked on the table! Although I didn't really understand what was going on, it was okay as the other two Australian girls were there too (it is Livia's host club). When we stood up to introduce we were going to try german, but they all insisted that we do it in English. I don't know what the speech was about, but it must have been funny, as people laughed a bit...I was concentrating so hard on trying to understand, that I could have sworn he was throwing in words like: 'Crocodile Dundee' and 'James Bond' ...but then again, that could have been my mind playing tricks on me...I guess I will never know!
Jan 28th
My Big Fat Greek Wedding - my first movie experience in Germany...and in GERMAN (SBS doesn't count...it has subtitles)! Livia, Piet (+ his host brother & friend), Danielle (aus) and Tiago (brazil) were all there. All I can say is thank god I saw it in English before I left Australia (thanks Emma)!