This will be my first post in English in order to make
it easier for my american friends to understand it ;) It will be
about everything that happened during 2014 and all these people that
were part of it, so it became pretty long.
My year started just perfect with a class trip to
Vallendar in February which really inspired me and made me
think of what I am and what I want to be. Meanwhile, one of the
biggest highlights during this year happened: I was chosen to receive
a scholarship from the german government to spend ten months in the
United States! I can clearly remember how I was sitting in our room,
two of my best friends holding my hands and my mom on the phone,
telling me the good news. I was so happy and I was sure that a really
good time was waiting for me but then in March, my grandma
died and this was something completely new for me. Losing a loved one
without being able to change anything. The biggest support I had
during that time was my boyfriend who was there for me from the night
when my parents told me to the day of the funeral. Rigth after this,
he graduatet from High School and we had a great time at the Dance
with all of his friends and family. I am so proud of him, just
because he is doing what makes him happy now. In April, we
went to Berlin together and had a wonderful three days where we saw a
lot of the city and met his cousin. In June was one of the
best weeks in my life, when I met all the exchange students, that are
my friends now and were preparing to travel to the US with me. We had
SO much fun and we learned so much.. I would have never imagined to
meet such great people! In July, my year in 10th
grade ended and I had to say goodbye to my friends and classmates at
the same time. Our “graduation party” was great and I guess we
were all ready to begin a new life in 11th grade, which
would be a lot harder and different than the previous one. Some of us
though, were facing another challenge: An exchange year in another
country! Mariella, Max, Eva and me were heading to all over the
world, to Australia, South Africa, Canada and the US to be exact. Two
weeks later it was time for me to pack my suitcase and I had a party
with all my friends and family that I would not see for a long time.
On August 14, my new american life began with two days in
Washington DC. I love this city and I loved the time I spent with
people, I really appreciate.
Then I met my first hostfamily, had my first day at
Presentation Academy and met new people, which was probably quite
intimidating and just overwhelming. I got pretty homesick and my life
really wasn't how I always imagined it to be. I had a lot of
schoolwork, could not do the sport I wanted to and did not go out
with friends very often. But I had a lot of highlights too, such as
seeing my first football game, going to a haunted house, going to a
fam in Indiana or the Fall Dance at my school. During Fall Break in
October, nothing really happened and I still hadn't really
arrived yet. But the turning point was the day, when I tried out for
Pres' Basketball team and finally got in. I met so many new girls and
my day got so different because of practice and games which was so
exciting but a huge problem at the same time. My hostmum was not able
to drive me to practice anymore and I had a hard time to organize
rides and to go out on the weekend. When a guy stole something from
me on the bus I had to take, it was probably the worst down in my
experience so far. My birthday in November was really nice and
I spent it with two exchange girls, who are really close to me and it
was one of the last events I would spent with my hostfamily. A week
later, I was just done with everything at that time when a friend
from my basketball team offered to switch to her family. It was a
hard decision because I was already settled in my life at the other
family and I was afraid to be completely new in a family again. But I
risked it and it was the best decision I've ever made. From now on my
life became better and I had so much fun! I went out with my
hostsister and I got to play my first basketball game, which made me
so proud (because everybody knows: I just suck at basketball :D) and
my new hostfamily was really everything I could have asked for.
Thanksgiving and Christmas in December made me so happy and I
really felt comfortable in this new family with all its traditions
and craziness.
But during all this time there were some people that
never dissapointed me, never lost faith in me and in what I was doing
and most important, always supported me. I am gone for almost five
months now, which is already half of my exchange year, and I can
probably not imagine how hard it is to let their child go but I know
how hard it is to miss my parents and how proud I am to have them.
They always tried to help me from almost the other end of the world,
encouraged me to act in situations where I was just hiding under a
blanket and put a smile on my face every single day with those little
things, that made me feel appreciated and loved.
I also realized how important my friends are and how
much I've always loved it to hangout with them or just to get a hug.
Especially my boyfriend makes it hard to be away from home, because
he's just not there anymore, every day. I can't call him whenever I
want to because there are six hours of time difference. And I can't
see him because he is not only five minutes away anymore. I THANK
EVERYONE OF YOU for being there, listening to my problems and showing
me, who my true friends and family are.
All these challenges and problems I had to deal with
during the second half of 2014 changed me so much. I know how to
handle it now, how to stay calm and not to call my parents right
away. I learned how to think of others first but sometimes to put
myself first. But most important, I got to know SO many new people
here in Louisville which are real friends by now and I appreciate
every single one of them. Because they know I will be gone in five
months but still, they are giving me all their heart they have. THANK
YOU so much for making me smile or helping me out every single day, I
don't take it for granted.
I am thrilled for 2015 and so excited for everything
that's waiting for me right now just because I know, and believe,
that it will be a good year!
I wish everybody reading this, a wonderful New Year
2015. May all your wishes come true! I have only some, that I already
know, will be realized soon.