New Years

After we got back from the Alps we hung out and then went to bed and slept for a long time. We spent the rest of the day lounging and waiting for the night. Domi, Isabelle, Annette and Domi's boyfriend David came over to Julia's and we had some more Raclette. It was really good. So we ate too much and then hung out for a while, played some games, and I talked to some friends from Prague. It was fun. Then at 11 we went to go see the fireworks show. It was great! It felt like I was at Disneyland, or a German version at least. The show was long and excellent and we had some Sekt to celebrate. After that we came back home and one the way we ran into Julian and Urs [two of my guy friends]. It was nice to see them! The ground was very icy so we "ice skated" home. It was pretty funny. It was a great New Years!

Friday night Julia, David, Pille and I went to get a Doner and then Julia and I went bowling after. It was pretty funny! I haven't been in a while but it seems that the wii bowling paid off because I won both games. After that we went into the city to meet up with Flo, another friend, to get some drinks and catch up. It was nice to see him! He came in the summer so it hadn't been that long but nice nonetheless.

Saturday, Julia and I went to Essliengen to walk around. We went up to the castle and got a great view of the city, but it was a little hazy. We got some lunch at a cafe. It was delicious. Then we decided to go to a little palace outside of Stuttgart. It proved to be harder than anticipated to get there but after the third of fourth try we made it and it was worth it. The area was pretty cool and the palace was neat but the weather was freezing! It felt like my face was getting frostbite. And because we had many attempts at finidng it we were too late to actually go inside but it was fun!

Last night Julia and I went over to Nudel's house [another girl from GAPP] and we had dinner with a bunch of the girls. It was delicious. We talked a lot, in German and English, ate a lot and laughed a lot. And the night ended the way any good "Girls night" should, with a viewing of the Sex and the City movie. It was really fun!

Tonight some of the boys [Spence, Julian and Zippi] are coming over and we're making some dinner before doing something else. Not sure what we're doing yet; we've had many invitations because its my last night. Possibly a birthday party, possibly going into the city for drinks first, possibly both, possibly neither. But whatever it is, I am sure it will be a great end.

So, tomorrow I am leaving at 6.55am from Stuttgart and that will conclude my absolutely amazing time I have had here. I can't believe its over but I am very happy to be going home! And as its snowing here, I am even more excited to see the sun and be able to wear shorts! It's been too long and I've realized I really am a California girl! Miss you all but see you soon!! Thanks for reading!! Love you all!!

The Alps

So on the 26th, we set off for the Austrian Alps with another family: Uli, Alenka and Thomas. They, all three, turned out to be real treats!

We arrived at the mountains in pretty good time to snow! It was great! They stay at this "guesthouse" every year, for many years now, and with many of the same people. I met many new families, all of which were very amiable. There was a Dutch family that I got on with very well because they spoke almost perfect English. Anyway, the house is a big house with lots of rooms and a common dining room. The food was amazing and you just went in and ordered any drinks you wanted. I think I had more schnapps on that trip than I will have again in my entire life. There was lots of hot chocolate and beer that was drank as well.

The slopes were much different than I was used to because the mountain was much smaller [in width] than Mammoth. We spent the first lunch talking about the differences. The first day was pretty silly. I don't think I have ever been waited for so much in my life. I felt bad but I realized how much I appreciate my own equipment and how much I rely on my knowledge of Mammoth. It was an experience. The second day was MUCH better. The weather was perfect, the snow was great and the company could hardly have been improved upon. But, all good things end and I, by my own fault, ended up falling and bruising my tailbone. It was awful. I couldn't even laugh. So, needless to say Julia and I, very slowly, made our way back to the house a little early. The third day I didn't want to risk it, so I stayed back and read while the rest of them skied and snowboarded. The fourth day, and our last, I decided to brave it again because my butt was feeling better. But this turned out to be fatal and ended with me and Julia climbing up the slope and taking the chairlift down to the mid-chalet-type restaurant. We had some lunch and then Eva walked down the long way with me.

Every night we hung out for many hours in the dining room. It was very fun. We played lots of card games and chatted. I had many good conversations and a great number of laughs. One night in particular was hilarious. We, being Uli, Alenka, Martin, Julia, Thomas and I played speed UNO. It was one of the funniest things I have seen. There were lots of rules and if you violated one you had to take a card so everyone was trying to give everyone else cards. I was dying laughing. And the best part was at the end of every game, when someone got UNO there was a resouding "Scheisse" every time, without fail.

So when the 30th finally rolled around Thomas, David, Julia and I left for Stuttgart. We stopped for dinner at a restaurant with delicious schnitzel and Julia reassured me that she now definitely knows the difference between a castle and a palace. After that I fell asleep and awoke much closer to our destination.

The trip was serious fun. I think it gave our family ski trips a run for their money in laughs had. Photos will be uploaded at a later time because they will not cooperate right now.

Celebrations

Christmas in Germany was great! I enjoyed every second, I just wish my family was here with me!

We went to church which was pretty cool. It was a little hard because it was all in Germany obviously. David thought it was pretty funny and laughed at me the whole time because I was trying to pay attention. Spence's family goes to the same church so we sat by them and when I started singing woe of the songs, he was laughing at me too. I guess it was pretty funny. It was also fun because a lot of Julia's friends from school go to her church too so I got to see them too. It was nice. I also met lots of new people and Julia and David were trying really hard to get me to say Frohe Weinachten but I was too embarassed. Haha.

After church we came back and had a delicious dinner of Racelette; so good! It was different than home but stsill so good. Its hard to beat melted cheese. After dinner we sat in the living room and they played recorders and the piano and sang. It was really great! I loved it! I also taught them the English words to Silent Night and we sang that too because I didn't get to sing that at church this year. Then we opened presents and had some desert which was also delicious. After presents we played some UNO and then another card game which was really fun. After that, I called my darling family and it made me sad I wasn't home for Christmas. But as I told them, if I'm not at home, I am really glad I am with my German family!!

This morning Evi's brother and his family came over and we had a delicious Champagne brunch. It was so good! We visited for a while and then Evi got out some slides from when they were kids and when their kids were younger. It was so funny. They were all cracking up! We visited for a while longer after that and then they left.

Tomorrow we are leaving for the Austrain Alps, lifes tough, I know. So I won't write again until after my return on the 30th. I miss you all and Merry Christmas!!

My Christmas PJs.

Evi and Martin

Julia and David

Our Christmas tree

Our delicious dinner

Frohe Weihnachten

What it looked like when I arrived.

Monday night was the last night of the Christmas markets so Julia and I went and met Sofia there. It was fun. We walked around and did some last minute Christmas shopping. We got some delicious food and some good treats too! It was very pleasant. I am going to miss the markets!

Yesterday, Martin brought home a tree but it was too big for the stand they have. Instead of doing it the Foley way, go get a different stand, we fixed it the Selje way: David and I sawed and chiseled down the trunk. It was freezing outside and I couldn't feel my fingers after a while but it was pretty hilarious. David was working on it for a while and we finally got it to fit. So today, after lunch Julia and I decorated it. Its funny, because its so much different than our tree. Its pretty uniform with just three different types of ornaments and its much smaller. I'm sad I missed decorating our tree at home, but my darling family sent me pictures so its kind of like I was there.

After lunch I just relaxed and hung out, did some more of the puzzle. Then Julia and I went to the mineral water "bath" downtown. It was really nice. There were a bunch of pools of different temperature. It was kind of crowded so we started outside first and then made our way to the warm mineral water. It was very relaxing, the guy sitting next to us fell asleep. Haha. We had a good adventure getting there too. Julia wasn't exactly sure how to get there by car so I had to navigate for her. It was pretty funny. And then we parked by a church and decided to walk the rest of the way but we weren't sure how to get there so we just guessed, and thankfully it was the right way.

After the baths we came back home and then Zippi and Julian picked me up and took me to get a doner before going over to Spence's house to meet him and Urs. We watched a movie and visited for a while. It was fun, they're really great.

Today is Christmas Eve but here they open presents tonight instead of tomorrow morning. Woho! Haha. And much to my surprise, they [being the Seljes] eat roclette on Christmas Eve too! It'll feel like I'm at home!

Merry Christmas to everyone!!!

The Ludwigsburger Christmas market.

Eva and Julia

Eating at the Stuttgart Christmas market.

Stuttgart Christmas market.

Life in Stuttgart

Here in Stuttgart, life is much more normal than it was in Prague, which is good I guess. I spend a lot of time hanging out with Julia and David watching movies and relaxing. The Selje's are too good to me. They make delicious food, play games with me, and speak lots of English. Today after lunch we played a guessing sort of game and it was all in German so they had me try and translate some. I was pretty good, even if I do say so myself.

Yesterday, David and I spent all day watching movies in his room and then when Julia came home we got a doner and then watched another movie. Its been really nice to relax. I also got fitted for ski wear. We are going skiing after Christmas and I can't wait since its been so long since I last went. Should be really fun.

All the snow melted and with it went my hopes for a white Christmas. It is supposed to rain if anything. Bummer. I could be in California. Haha.

Going out with Julia's friends the other night was really fun. They are so cute and they are embarrassed to speak English, I don't know why. They are all really good. They went to a club after the bar but Julia and I left cause we were tired.

I am having trouble convincing anyone here to go ice skating with me though I think if I ask enough David will go. I need Alex here to go with me. They have these really funny penguins on skis that help people learn. They make me laugh.

Tonight I think we are going to a Christmas market on the other side of town. The Selje's haven't been there so its new for everyone. I am excited. If its anything like the main one in Stuttgart it'll be great! And I really want to try the gluhwein; I haven't had it yet.

Sorry there's no pictures yet. I forgot my camera the one day we went into the city so I don't have any. But they will come. I promise.

döners

So, as anticipated, the last night in Prague was pretty rough. I had to say goodbye to all my apartment buddies on the tram. Horrible. Katie and I cried through most of it and into the next morning when we said bye to each other. I guess thats a sign of a good trip though, when you don't want it to end.

The next morning I woke up early and bid all the K building folk a fond farewell before boarding my bus to Stuttgart, Germany. I fell asleep and woke up to a wintery wonderland which was great until it meant that there was much traffic on the way into the city and the bus was delayed almost an extra hour. Luckily, Eva and David were still at the bus stop eagerly awaing my arrival. I forgot how much I missed them and how happy I was to be there. That night we took it pretty easy and I was in bed by ten, trying to make up for my lack of sleep the previous night.

Yesterday I got to sleep in while Julia was in class and then I woke up and read for a while before Julia got back. When she got home she whipped up some delicious Maultashen, one of my favorite German foods. It was delicious! After that we just hung out and at about 8 Spence came and picked up me and David and we went and got döners. Delicious!! We took them back to his house and watched the Vfb Soccer game (the won!!) and then David and I came home and watched The Dark Knight.

Today Julia and I went into the city and walked around the Christmas market. It is so much bigger and different than the one in Prague. It has a little mini train that takes little kids around, a great ice rink, lots of glühwein, and all the stalls are decorated so well! It was awesome. Tonight the plan is to meet up with some of her friends from school - my friends from GAPP. That should be a lot of fun!

Its been hard to think about other stuff than my friends I've left but I think its much easier here than it would be at home!

Conclusions

As the end of my study abroad is quickly coming to an end I thought I would write again about whats been going on and what I am going to miss when I leave.

Here at the Slav apartments we thought a classy, fun night was in store so we all got dressed up and went to a nice dinner and then a couple bars before ending at Retro night at NEBE, one of our favorite bars [is it our favorite or do we always just end up there?]. It was really fun. Everyone looked great and we danced the night away at NEBE. Best part of the night was when unbeknownst to both Alex and I, we had a dancing competition with Andrew and Katie. We didn't know it at the time but we obviously won. And Alex told me that he has been practicing in his dreams. Haha. It was a really fun night.

Dancing with Alex

Andy and Max at Mother-in-laws.

Alex, Andy, Andrew and Max at dinner.

With Katie and Orange at dinner.

We had our USAC farewell dinner also. It was at a really nice restaurant in Malastranska. For some reason we had to walk about 2 miles in the rain so that we could say goodbye to Prague. We went up Petrin Hill and then walked down by the castle. But no one could look around because the cobblestones were so wet. There were a couple casualties: while trying to catch up with the group I slipped on a step and slammed my knee which resulted in a huge bruise on my knee, a brusie on my other shin and a bruise on the top of my foot. Also hurt two fingers in the process. Heather also fell. It was pretty hilarious. She tripped and fell face first but caught herself so only her pride was hurt. After dinner, there was slide show of pictures that was fun to watch and then we all went out to hip-hop night at Radost FX. It was fun to go out with everyone.

In Old Town, kind of by the square, they set up an ice skating rink. I went with Alex and Orange. It was so fun! Alex had never been and Orange hadn't been in a long time. It was hilarious. Alex was giggling like a little kid and has since decided that he wants to take up ice skating when he goes home. Orange fell and we all laughed really hard. His was the only fall of the night. After ice skating we met up with everyone at the Christmas market, had some mulled wine and then headed over to "Cute Bartenders" [not its real name] to hang out and play some darts. We headed home at the usual late hour and decided to go up to Vysehrad. It was really fun.

Last night we went back to ice skate. Haha. The previous time we couldn't convince Max and Nick to join us but we got the better of them this time, probably because Alex wa so enthused. Alex, Max, Nick and I went and it was even funnier. Nick was hilarious. He was trying to do the hockey stop but he was too scared to try for real so he only did it while holding on to the railing. I was dying laughing. Alex and I were trying to slingshot each other, unsuccessfully, and Max was trying for about 20 seconds at a time before taking breaks. It was hysterical. After we finished skating we went to the Christmas market, got some mulled wine, and just hung out.
Then Katie, Alex, Max, Nick, Orange and I went to the bar down the street from Slav, played some pool, went to another bar down the street, played some darts and hung out. It was a nice low key night.


Things I am going to miss:

Having slumber parties all the time
Chef Hudy cooking breakfast on Sunday mornings
Andy speaking in weird voices
Nick saying "Oh my Gooooooood"
Girl talk with Katie
Riding the trams with everyone
Cheers
Hanging out in Hudy's room
Listening to boy bands with the boys
Hurrying to catch the last regular tram before we go out
Playing sports with the boys
Watching Andy work his Mac
Seeing the castle lit up at night
Dancing with Alex
Watching games at the Sports Bar

and..
All the Slavojovas to name a few.

I wont miss climbing the Metro stairs or spending lots of money. I think, though, if those are my only two complaints, life is magnificent.

From here I am going to Germany to spend time with the Seljes and my other friends. I can't wait to see them, but its been overshadowed with the fact that I am leaving all the people and Prague. Its been such a treat to get to spend the last four months with them. I am going to miss Slavojova terribly. They are all great and I hope that our plans of meeting up will indeed take place. But "We'll always have Prague" as we've been saying.

Next time I write, it'll probably be from Stuttgart. So.... Na shledanou Prague. Its been great!

[Black and white pictures courtesy of Max Ungers]