well, first things first. i decided that I'm going to start off every blog with an interesting fact. who doesn't love interesting facts, right? I'm kind of obsessed with them. (: so, anyway, every blog title from now on will be some random fact that you probably never needed to know, but now you will know.
and second point i have to make is i think i am the most indecisive person in the world. really. i am. and once i got close to submitting an application to go to Germany, i would think, oh heyyyy Brazil's kinda cool. or, Russia would be nice, i like snow. or, Thailand, that'd be so different, but so cool. so that went on with about every country possible. and although i did think quite seriously about Austria, i decided to stick with Germany, cause i love Germany already. but what it made me realize was that before i die, i want to spend time there. in all of those countries, and more. and not like, a week. like, enough time to learn so culture and language. ahhh life is not long enough! i will start brainstorming a list of good jobs that could send me to cool places. maybe ill join the military...not as long as id like, but still an option. or the peace corps... hmmm. if you know of any jobs, let me know! hahaha. okay, that's all for now. byeeee. (:
Wednesday, March 9, 2011
Monday, March 7, 2011
the germany i have come to love
I think I just realized the worst thing ever... there is like a 99.999999% chance that where I'm going next year won't have Laugenstangen OR Maultaschen!!
Let me explain... I have been to Germany before. Multiple times. Like, once every two years, since I was 18 months old. But always to the same place in Germany, always to visit relatives. And that has never bothered me. I love going there, and I never really wanted to do the typical touristy stuff there anyway. Haha, last time we were there, whenever me and my dad were out at a store or walking in the fussgangerzone I forced him to speak only German to me. My German is terrible, but he speaks it fluently. I hated when people looked at me like I was a tourist.
Anyway. Like everywhere, this particular region in Germany had things that were special, just in that region. And I have grown up with these two foods and when I think of Germany, I think of them. Laugenstangen. Okay, these are like, pretzel rolls. And they're just really good. When were there we always eat them for breakfast, with jelly and butter, and then the leftovers are left out in a bowl all day and you are expected to make sure they are all gone by the time dinner is ready. They're really good with butter and salami, in case anyone is ever in need of a good way to eat it, although I would find this hard to believe. And secondly. Maultaschen. These are by far the greatest things you will ever eat. Trust me. And they're ALWAYS better to get from a butcher than if you order them from a restaurant. Okay, so, they're kinda like ravioli, only the outer wrapping, though. and on the inside, its filled with pork and spinach. and its really hard to describe, but trust me, if you ever get the chance, you need to try some.
Okay, well i just randomly thought of this. That some people go on exchange barley knowing the language. The country is completely new to them. And i guess i always thought that Germany wouldn't be like that for me. Not in a bad way, just in a different way. Now I'm starting to realize that the northern coast and the southern boarder are polar opposites.(pun intended ha ha ha...(; )
hmmm. never thought of it this way. In some ways that makes this even more exciting. But in some ways, I'm hoping, PRAYING that i'll get placed in a town similar to the one i have already fallen in love with. (: (with that being said, i do NOT want to stay a year with family over there. i love them dearly, trust me, i do. but once every other year is enough. )
Let me explain... I have been to Germany before. Multiple times. Like, once every two years, since I was 18 months old. But always to the same place in Germany, always to visit relatives. And that has never bothered me. I love going there, and I never really wanted to do the typical touristy stuff there anyway. Haha, last time we were there, whenever me and my dad were out at a store or walking in the fussgangerzone I forced him to speak only German to me. My German is terrible, but he speaks it fluently. I hated when people looked at me like I was a tourist.
Anyway. Like everywhere, this particular region in Germany had things that were special, just in that region. And I have grown up with these two foods and when I think of Germany, I think of them. Laugenstangen. Okay, these are like, pretzel rolls. And they're just really good. When were there we always eat them for breakfast, with jelly and butter, and then the leftovers are left out in a bowl all day and you are expected to make sure they are all gone by the time dinner is ready. They're really good with butter and salami, in case anyone is ever in need of a good way to eat it, although I would find this hard to believe. And secondly. Maultaschen. These are by far the greatest things you will ever eat. Trust me. And they're ALWAYS better to get from a butcher than if you order them from a restaurant. Okay, so, they're kinda like ravioli, only the outer wrapping, though. and on the inside, its filled with pork and spinach. and its really hard to describe, but trust me, if you ever get the chance, you need to try some.
Okay, well i just randomly thought of this. That some people go on exchange barley knowing the language. The country is completely new to them. And i guess i always thought that Germany wouldn't be like that for me. Not in a bad way, just in a different way. Now I'm starting to realize that the northern coast and the southern boarder are polar opposites.(pun intended ha ha ha...(; )
hmmm. never thought of it this way. In some ways that makes this even more exciting. But in some ways, I'm hoping, PRAYING that i'll get placed in a town similar to the one i have already fallen in love with. (: (with that being said, i do NOT want to stay a year with family over there. i love them dearly, trust me, i do. but once every other year is enough. )
Sunday, February 27, 2011
Beginning the process.
So, this blog, like promised will be talking about everyyyythinggggggg i do related to exchange. And I don't know about some of you other exchangers, but when I read blogs, I'm really interested in what went on before the kids were actually in their exchange country. Plus, if anyone reading this runs into this problem I hope that this will help. So, the first time I brought up the idea of going on exchange with my parents....my dad laughed and my mom simply hadn't said anything at all. So, on my own, I searched for an organization. And I made them a power point. (: yeah, that's right. it was good too! Had facts, statistics, I even made a graphhhhh. It was probably the most impressive exchange slide show ever. So, with much convincing, they agreed, although not very willingly. And so I started. First step?: talk to guidance counselor. She gave me one organization name, but she didn't really know much about what she was talking about. I mean, she only told me about one organization. And she didn't tell me about their reputation, their records, but I listened to her and applied with them. They have been very supportive and helpful so far with all of this, but I do with I knew about other programs. Anyway, one word of advice for anyone applying. apply EARLY. And DO NOT, I repeat, DOOO NOTTTT get behind.
Well, that ramble was long enough. Next post? Sending in applications. Wooo, funn. Then you'll be all up to date! yaaaaaay. haha.
Well, that ramble was long enough. Next post? Sending in applications. Wooo, funn. Then you'll be all up to date! yaaaaaay. haha.
Saturday, February 26, 2011
And so, the journey begins...
Hi! My names Alison. I am currently a sophomore in New Jersey. Next year, I want to live in Germany, as an exchange student. I wanted a way to keep a nice record of everything exchange related, and I decided that a blog was a great way to do that- from filling out the very first paper, to stepping off the plane in America at the end of the year, this blog will be an up to date review of the exciting, boring, happy, sad, infuriating, insulting, traumatic, hilarious, exhilarating, , thrilling, life-changing, new, old, and of course, embarrassing experiences that are sure to take place in the next year and a half. So follow me, and I'll take you with me as I explore the crazy, unexplainable, unbelievable, unfathomable thing we call life. Its just my hopefully understandable and possibly entertaining ramblings of me, Alison. I promise to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth. Well, at least the way I see it. Let's get started. (:
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