My Year 2014

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 10^th 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 11^th 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.