An Update

So life is fabulous, although not being in Germany feels like there is a huge chunk missing from my life. I've done alright adjusting and handling the reverse cultural shock. Thank goodness for the invention of Skype. I chat weekly with my lovely host family. I miss them so much. The hardest things in adjusting back to USA life were to remember to always speak English (since nobody understands German around here) and to get used to eating American food. I have adapted and kept so many German cultural things in my style of life...biggest one is eating the European style with the fork in left hand and knife in right hand. Also, I am constantly cooking German meals with recipes from Heidi's kitchen.

So, I'm currently in Provo, Utah attending Brigham Young University. As of now, I'm planning to major in Neuroscience and minor in Harp Performance... we'll see where that takes me. I started my new job this past Monday, and I start classes this coming Monday. I am very excited to begin the next adventurous chapter of my life.

Home, but different....

After 26 hours of traveling, I'm HOME! But it's different, or I'm different. So that just makes it hard.

A friend from my CBYX group wrote this, but it describes my exact feelings:

but on top of that ... my heart is still in germany. i'm trying so hard to just be brave and it'll all be ok. i'm trying to just take in all the good and leave out anything i now consider bad

it's soooo hard to get off the plane and hear english exclusively and be looked down upon for speaking something else, it's hard to throw all your trash away in one container, it's hard to see friends you've come to realize things about that you don't want to, it's hard to sleep in a bed that is not my own in a room without rolladas in a house that is huge and has air-conditioning but no heating. it's all so very hard .. and it's only the beginning

Also, adding something, it's hard for me to speak only English. I can no longer throw in those German words and still be understandable. It was really hard while I was traveling too. When saying thank you or asking a question to strangers, it naturally came out in German. That was followed by a weird/confused look from the stranger. Oops.

Well, time to start a new chapter in my life. I hope I'll get through this reverse cultural shock quickly. :D

Time is running out...

Can't believe this. I'm really going home. It can't possibly be true. Everything is so surreal. I don't even know what to do with myself. My emotions are unexplainable....just everything mixed together.

My host family, my life here in Germany was so perfect. Everything I had expected happened, and more. It really couldn't have been better. I'm so very grateful for how blessed I am.


My family:

Now I have to go through Reverse Cultural Shock. That'll be an interesting experience...

When I get home...

...it's PARTY time!

My list of things to do (no particular order)...
- Hug and catch up with the family and friends who I haven't seen for 11 months
- Hug my dog (Man, I really miss him...)
- Puppy sit for Guide Dogs for the Blind
- Play my harp (perhaps a few harp lessons?)
- Ride Bro. Adams' horses
- Jump/Swim in our swimming pool
- Go to Jamba Juice
- Enjoy my Papa's delicious Pizza
- Share my Germany Year Slideshow
- Play with legos with my little brother
- Have an adventure with my siblings
- Register for BYU classes and prepare for university
- Cook delicious German food for my family
- Watch Psych with Arianna
- Enjoy life in the USA (try to avoid all that reverse cultural shock stuff)....


Sometime in all this, I'll get around to sharing the goodies from Germany. :D

The count down is on!!! One week left!!!!!!! Ahhhh.... am I sad? happy? excited? scared? I just don't know. I'm everything all at once. :D