If you cant change the world, let the world change you.

So I didnt come here to change. Really. I wanted a new perspective on the world but I, me, Ellie, didnt want to change. But Ive been told I have. Im not entirely sure how to feel about it. I mean no one says how.. just that I have. I dont think I have. But who am I to judge that? Soo I know its been awhile since I opened up this ole blogger thingy. So here I am so heres a little how my life went this past month. :) 

I was in Hamburg. 
I went there on the 4th of January. It was my first time on the ICE which is the second fastest train in the world. Second to China that is. So I got there all excited and all and I see Kendra Curry. Ya know the girl that picked me up at the D.C. airport, that is crazily awesome and all? Yes. Her. So I see her and literally we like do this epic Running reunion. Pretty sure there were people staring. Then we were in the Hamburg main station. Now its huge. HUGE. Kinda scary at first sight. Then to find Caroline who I can still not say correctly.. sorry bout that.. I just yelled and she came ha. We spent the next couple days shopping, (a wonderful sale at Urban Outfitters found a cute bag:) We also found matching sweaters in the little boys section in H&M. but for 6 euros you cant go wrong. Really. I also saw the Lion King boat. the actual boat that takes people to the play which is on an island!:) It was amazing. nough said. We walked on this little cute beach.. and saw the harbour at night.. and found Pussy Deluxe showcat purrrfume. no lie. google it. we literally died laughing in the store. So thats basically all that happened there. OK so there was a lot more but it was just basically nice to see those two! I really cant wait to see em again!

I came home to find Christmas Letters.
I cannot say how happy it made me. Like honestly they were amazing. So heres a shout out to those who wrote me: 
Elle. Kylie. Macy S. Jenna S. Sarah N. Cassy K. Meg. Mitchell V. Liz. Jessica B. Kenzie B. Tara Bartz. and Ruthie! And not to forget Mt. Brian Johnson, the Prantner Family, the lovely office ladies and Mr. Hoffman. It really meant a lot that you wrote to me!!:) Thanks a bunch! 

Ashvini went home.
:( So heres to Ashvini, from Malaysia, who was here for 10 months too only she came in feb last year. I had many great times with her. She definitely helped me whenever I needed it and somehow always managed to call when I was in the shower:) Im going to miss her tons! germany wont be the same without her. 


School. 
Yupp. I guess school was a given but I guess Ill mention it.. so its still going pretty good. Im understanding more each day which is good. There is always something to do. Always.

Neighborhood Fun.
Everyone came over for a little Flammkuchen and yes it was really great. I got to meet some new wonderful people in our neighborhood. I introduced a couple card games like poker or 21 or BS or spoons. and we played those for quite awhile. We are all going to meet up again this weekend.:)


Choir trip.
3 days. last week. So the whole choir goes on a little 3 day trip to a near by town where we focus on improving our vocal skills. Ha. Its basically just a time where people have fun and sing some songs. Stay up late. Go downtown and just chill. So yupp it was really fun!


Midstay camp.
this past weekend. 3 days. So lets just start by saying it was nice to see everyone that was at my first camp in september or october.. I dont exactly remember. Anyways it was nice catching up with everyone, and someone said there "no one understands me better than another exchange student" so true. well so heres the thing. I was supposed to do this workbook cd thing about how to adapt to Germany and make friends.. 30 little projects like.. draw your room, or draw you host families family tree.. well I didnt do it. Why? I have really been busy and when I do have free time I like to spend it with my host family because I feel I might be gone from home a little too much. And i have had no problem finding friends and all that. In fact I am quite well adapted :) That and I found them completely childish. Im spending a year abroad. I dont want to search the Internet for cool facts about germany. I want to go and actually see them. So yes. No im told I have to get 60 in in the next half year. I was told this right after they informed us we will have absolutely no free time in the last months. Ha. whatev. Ill be talking to some people to get it all sorted out. Then I wasnt supposed to speak english. and I did, to another american. Its almost like a reflex to talk english with them. They were gonna punish me by making me write BIMBO on my forehead. hell no. so that mad me even more aggravated. I ended up with it on my hand. But seriously? Its like preschool er somethin. We were also doing energizers. no thankyou. Not a huge fan of rolling around on the street screaming at the top of my lungs. Yes I realize im somewhat of a buzzkill, but in this case being a buzzkill was worth it. The others can go ahead and sing all they want. Im gonna step back and laugh. OK? ok.  so that was this past weekend. ENough of that. 


ALMOST HALFWAY THERE! 
So Feburary 11th is my offical 1/2 way point. 5 months. wow time really flyss. 
so thats all i gots for you now. :)

The Christmas Story of Ellie in Germany.:)

Imm Backkk!!! Ohh my ladies and gentleman. I gots lots to say. I´ll try to keep it short:) 
Sooo.. Christmas is already gone.. Wow.  So letss see where to begin... where i left off i guess is a good spot! 
 I cant remember if my last blog was before or after the Christmas concert.. eh ohh well. So. Christmas concert was very fun. my favorite was the O Christmas Tree which everyone sang a verse in a different language.. like 10? crazy. So that was all good. my beautiful voice was unfortunately drowned out by all the others. haha 

So I think i mentioned the advents calender before... guess what shape the chocolate was on the 16th? A LION!!!!!! I was soo happy. like you have noo idea how happy i was. A LION!! 


Dec 21. CHRISTMAS BREAK!!!! so on the last day of school heres my highlight: my politics class had an advents calender also that we had been doing for the last month. a partial face would come on the screen and you Had to guess the politician. Pshhh like i had a chance. so then i decided to just yell OBAMA everytime. He was bound to come on sometime. i mean seriously. Annd I was right! number 24. Obama. i was a champ.:) 

my first impression of the north sea...

the beach with sarah and annina!

on the 23 we left for Baltrum. A little island in the North Sea in Western Germany. Google it! Ohh myy It was so pretty there. with the beaches and all but it was cold and windy. Not gonna lie was rather afraid of the big waves. But really you cant just throw this land-locked iowa girl on a little boat on the north sea!!!! so the first days I kept a good distance away. I gradually got a little better. I even collected sea shells!! I also took more pics than you wish to see. We stayed in a guest house. A family lived in the basement and they rent out the top two floors. They were very nice!! the family took me to many places and showed me all around it was great. Christmas was nice. Just being with my host family ya know? I even ate fish! i think I ate more in that week alone than my whole life combined. literally. So then on the 31st we went home. Having spent the rest of the week exploring the island, walking on the beach, playing an endless amount of card games and Phase Ten. It was wonderful. 

I couldnt make a snow angel.. so I made a sand angel:)

The "sisters" :))

So we drove for about 6 hours or so. I got back to Germersheim at 11 at night. Just in time to make it to Julia's to celebrate New Years Eve or here Silvestor with Ollie, Eileen and Sophie. At midnight the sky here was completely full of fireworks. Everyone is allowed to set them off. It was great! I set off a couple small things. Bottle rockets and such. we went to bed at what 7? after watching the ball drop in New york! (i made them) :) it just wasnt new years without that!

Tomorrow I leave for Hamburg!!! to visit Kendra and Caroline!! Cant waitt!!! Hamburg!! The lion kind Broadway is there!! ahhhh!!! ok i should calm down.. 
I found out that I will be going to Halle for about 3 weeks from march to april! ok google it:) now. Im excited for that!!! 

So thats basically all I did. Now how do i exactly feel about it all... Well I came to a realization. "its just not the same." youre probably thinking.. well no shit Sherlock! but really. christmas was great, new years eve was a blast. but its just not the same as with your life-long friends and family. I wouldnt change this past holiday season for the world.:) it will just make the holidays to come just that much more special. Ok that was a bit sappy. deal with it. 

Soooooo nowwww... I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas season and I hope your new years is off to an excellent start:) Those reading this in school heres a shout out to the teachers! Oh and I saw some hampton- dumonts formal pics.. I LOVE THE SPARKLY DRESSES!!! and all the boys were lookin sharp! Cant wait to see all the prom pics:) but that isnt for a while. Ok thats all I got! Tschüss!! 
-ellie