Hello January... Goodbye?

Wow I just thought we said hello to the new year, and suddenly the time is gone with the wind. In a couple of days it is already February, and I am starting to recognize what people were saying about the time after New Year. Now you have settled completely, and the time flies away with your daily activities. Day after day. Almost week after week. The weird part is that I love doing the daily activities even though there isn't anything really exciting about it. I really love school (weird right?), I LOVE basketball (Even though I kind of stink at it), and best of all: I have found some really good friends. Yes I had some problems before Christmas, but that's a part of being on an exchange. You have to deal with stuff, that I personally would rather avoid. I know this might sound a little cheesy, but i really understand now what Kelly Clarkson meant with her song:" What doesn't kill you, makes you stronger". Well it is true. If somebody stamped on you, don't take revenge or cry about it. Learn how it can make you stronger. I have heard a lot of other people say this, and it haven't ever really sunk in. For a lot of people, they need to experience it for themselves. I have now. And if you are a really nice and forgiving person, you can almost thank the other person for making you stronger. I haven't reached that point in my development of my thoughts, but one day perhaps. 

So as I mentioned earlier, there hasn't really happened that much. Last Tuesday though, one of my american friends invited me to the movie theater to watch Frozen. Even though I have seen it before it is a great movie, and I thought why not. We went after basketball practice, and it was almost funnier the second time. And then after the basketball game Friday (WE WON a c-scuad game! 24-23. I made 2 baskets.) I then went to the same persons house and spent the night. Saturday was spent with Pretty Little Liars all day, and then I returned home. We had a great time, and it is nice to have such great friends. It is also worth mentioning that I am the only person in this house, except for my host-parents, that haven't gotten the really nasty flu. Friday I was the only one of the 6 kids going to school. It was very scary standing out in the dark and the cold, waiting for the bus alone. Well I survived, and I still haven't gotten sick. 

Yesterday and today the school was closed because of the cold... AGAIN! Not that I'm complaining, but as I stated earlier, I like school, and I get a little restless. Everybody says there is school tomorrow, and then the 2. semester is starting. I then exchange debate with anthropology and anatomy with sociology. So I should have a lot to do tomorrow. 

- Troldungen

Improvement and a little creativity

As I wrote last week, Monday and Tuesday were some cold days. It was in average between -40 celsius and -45 celsius given the chill factor. Because of the cold, we had snow days, and Monday night I was already going a little crazy because of staying inside and watching TV. Therefore I went down in the craft room and got to work. One pattern I found on the internet, the other I made myself. 2 bags came out of that day, and Wednesday we went back to school with a 2 hour late start. 

In basketball we have 2 girls teams in the school. Varsity and JV. Varsity is the one that have played a long time, and they are pretty good. JV are normally for the younger ones, like the freshmen's and some sophomores. Therefore they are not as good as the varsity. Because we are so many on the JV, sometimes our couch arrange extra games for those who don't play that much. This is called c-squad games. Thursday night we then had one of these games. Even though I play a lot JV, I was told that if I wanted to go, I could, because they needed post players (tall people). The c-squad game went better than the rest of our games and we only lost by one point. AND, I made my first points! Friday night we had a normal JV game, and then we only lost by 8, 27-19. We are making progress, and in this game I made 3 goals, 2 point each, and a 3-throw line one!

If you haven't noticed I have turned on the comment facilities, because I think I am ready now. Feel free to comment, ask questions or anything you want to contribute with. 

- Troldungen

New years! and a perfect definition of exchange students

A new year, a new start. Well that is anyway what everybody says. I, on the other hand, don't believe in a new start and in the new years resolutions. Why is it a new start just because you had a holiday break and it changed year? You are still in the same school/work, and you still have the same friends. The only time I believe in a new start is when something has changed. Like when you start in a new school, or in a new job. I don't believe in new years resolutions, because nobody ever achieves them. Everybody is like: This and this will I do better this year, but when February arrives, everybody has forgotten the things they promised themselves. The worse thing is then, they don't really care, so they let themselves down even without thinking it over. 

I had a nice quiet new years evening. We were celebrating it at home with some guys over from the church. It was nice, and a lot of board games was played. I love board games. Over here fireworks, jumping into the new year, and toasting the new year isn't a tradition. At midnight we saw the ball drop on Times Square, and I went to bed at about 2, so nice and quiet. 

Yesterday we had a basketball game. We lost again, not a big surprise. Even though the score was not something we had hoped for: 6 to 53! The worst so far. We can hardly be any worse, but it is still fun to play.

Over here January, the coldest month of the year, has started, and they have already cancelled school on Monday because it is apparently going to be the coldest day they have had for over 20 years! We are keeping warm, hope you guys are doing the same! Happy new year!!!

Found this amazing picture. It describes us exchange students quite well!

- Troldungen