I'm leaving!!!???:(:(:(
I got back this morning from Ireland (p.s. it was fantastic) and while I was there had time to write a "what I'll miss, what I won't" list. So here it goes! (by the way they're not in any particular order)
What I'll Miss
1) Germany!
2) Learning/speaking German
3) Traveling (taking a train for a few hours and enting up in a completely different land with a different language, set of customs, etc is such a cool experience)
4) Swapping stories with fellow travelers and having people be generally interested in why I'm traveling and how I got there
5) Conducting everyday interactions in German and actually having people know what I'm talking about
6) The international group of friends I've acquired
7) The surprise on people's faces when they learn that I -an American- am studying German (don't know how many times I've gotten the phrase "but, why German? It's so hard!")
8) The frisbee team
9) Debating everything from the best tv shows to politics with people who are of different opinions and from very different countries and backgrounds
10)My host family, because they just opened up their house to me and let me really see how Germans live
What I Won't
1) Stores never being open when you want them to be (like sundays, after 6pm, or lunch time)
2) People speaking back to me in English. I know they just want to practice their English and are trying to be nice, but I speak German and I came all the way over here to learn it, so could you please speak it to me!
3) The exchange rate
4) Expensive trains - they are almost always on time and very nice, but do they have to cost that much?
5) The closed door rule. Everyone keeps their doors closed here (even in my apartment) and I can't push through that it doesn't mean "do not come in".
6) People thinking they know exactly what is wrong with the US and telling me so (of course, most of them have never been there, but why would that be a reason to exhibit some resevations on the subject)
7) MOVIES! why do they have to dub all of them?
8) Being away from my 'echte' (real) friends and family. I've missed you all!
What I'll Miss
1) Germany!
2) Learning/speaking German
3) Traveling (taking a train for a few hours and enting up in a completely different land with a different language, set of customs, etc is such a cool experience)
4) Swapping stories with fellow travelers and having people be generally interested in why I'm traveling and how I got there
5) Conducting everyday interactions in German and actually having people know what I'm talking about
6) The international group of friends I've acquired
7) The surprise on people's faces when they learn that I -an American- am studying German (don't know how many times I've gotten the phrase "but, why German? It's so hard!")
8) The frisbee team
9) Debating everything from the best tv shows to politics with people who are of different opinions and from very different countries and backgrounds
10)My host family, because they just opened up their house to me and let me really see how Germans live
What I Won't
1) Stores never being open when you want them to be (like sundays, after 6pm, or lunch time)
2) People speaking back to me in English. I know they just want to practice their English and are trying to be nice, but I speak German and I came all the way over here to learn it, so could you please speak it to me!
3) The exchange rate
4) Expensive trains - they are almost always on time and very nice, but do they have to cost that much?
5) The closed door rule. Everyone keeps their doors closed here (even in my apartment) and I can't push through that it doesn't mean "do not come in".
6) People thinking they know exactly what is wrong with the US and telling me so (of course, most of them have never been there, but why would that be a reason to exhibit some resevations on the subject)
7) MOVIES! why do they have to dub all of them?
8) Being away from my 'echte' (real) friends and family. I've missed you all!