It has only been two weeks since we
arrived in Bonn but I feel like I have done so much! One of the greatest things
this past week was getting to know my host family more and spending time with
them. On Thursday we went to a sport center to play Badminton. It was great to
get to do something active since I have been eating so much delicious German
food! I had a lot of fun playing and joking around. It’s really nice that they
go out and do things like that together. I feel so lucky that I am becoming a
part of such a sweet and close family. I have also been impressed by how active
the people are here. My host family likes to jog and I see many people in the
area biking even when it’s extremely cold (by my Texas standards).
Saturday was my host dad’s birthday
and we had a huge party at the house with all the neighbors. In the morning
(well more like noon) we had an especially big breakfast with food covering the
whole table. We had a full house with Mirco and Linda (our host home brother
and sister) home from university, Mirco’s girlfriend Tina, and Karima’s
bestfriend staying over the weekend. The family seems to love having people
over and they are very welcoming to everyone. For the party, we wanted to make
something typical of where we are from, so we decided to make guacamole. We
went grocery shopping with our host brother, Mirco and his girlfriend Tina and
marveled at all the foods that we don’t have in the U.S. We also noticed that
you can’t buy big portions or bulk items… with one exception: beer. We went to
multiple warehouse type places that just sell alcohol to stock up for the
birthday party. I don’t think we have places like that in the US!
On Saturday my friend Alice came to
visit from Belgium, so I met up with her before the party. We walked around
Bonn and caught up. It was so nice to get to see her again, and this time on
her side of the pond! When I came back home it was clear that a lot of
preparation was going into this party. The house looked so nice and smelled
great from all the food! I met so many nice people at the party. I think people
here in Germany are less likely to say hello or strike up a conversation on the
street with a stranger like we might in Texas, but in my host family’s home and
similar settings everyone is very friendly.
Today (Sunday) Alice and Shannon
came over to my house and Linda took us on a walk through the small forest in
Sankt Augustin. My wonderful host family welcomed my friends over and gave them
dessert from the party. They told me that they were of course always welcome to
come over and that if Alice wanted to come back again she should stay at our
house. I am so lucky to get to be part of such a great family for the semester.
I already feel like part of the family and I am so excited for the plans we are
making together for the rest of my time here!
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