4 weeks until I'm in Germany...

Well, I depart for Germany in exactly four weeks from today. I'm getting super excited! I'm also growing tired of hearing people talk about their experiences abroad; what to do and what not to do, what to pack, ect. I just want to be there already! I have to say though, I am thankful I have these four weeks to finish things up and prepare to say goodbye. It'll be hard to say goodbye to my boyfriend, Steve, my mom and dad, and my sisters along with my nephew. I know even in six months my nephew will have grown and developed so much (he's two years old). My parents have an old desktop computer, so I'm not too positive it can handle a skype session. Fingers crossed! None of my family members or boyfriend can come visit me abroad, unfortunately. Traveling ain't cheap!

I hope to have a little going away party when I come back to Woodstock at the end of the month. It'd be nice to see all my friends once more before leaving. Not quite sure yet where that's going to happen...

I was the only person to apply for the Overseas Program Assistant Position for my group studying abroad through UWSP, so I got it! I'm really looking forward to the extra responsibilities. Not only will it look great on my resume, but this is the perfect opportunity for me to improve my leadership skills along with my German.

I did some preparing this weekend and visited Christkindlemarket in Chicago with the UWSP German Club. Had some Gluehwein along with a brat with sauerkraut. SO FREAKIN GOOD. We all ate dinner at the Essenhaus in Madison (really good!), and of course I had to get a Franzoesischen Weiss to go with it.

Only one and a half weeks to go and I'm done with classes! Until then....

Your Highness

Yep, I'm going to see Your Highness tonight with Laura and Arina. The cast is sort of random, but I'm a James Franco fan... so I must go!

http://youtu.be/FplWxtPzWY8

The trailer.

My life in Germany: April, 2011

If Donald Trump wins the 2012 Presidential Elections, I think I will seriously stay in Germany. I've been thinking of looking at duel citizenship lately, though every time I get online it slips my mind. It's becoming very likely that I will stay in Germany through next summer, which I'm EXTREMELY excited about! I'll be studing Germany at the University of Marburg from December 29, 2011-May 2012. I still need to apply for the internship, but it would probably go from May-June, or something like that. Honestly, I don't really care. As long as I'm in Europe, I'm happy. I love the German language so much that when I think of not using it, and eventually forgetting it, it breaks my heart. My only options of retaining everything I've learned and to continue learning is to either 1. Live in Germany 2. Make regular, long visits to the country (which is expensive) 3. Teach German in the United States (though I'll only graduate with an ESL minor. I am not certified to teach German in American schools). There's so many benefits of living in Germany. First off, I'll have health insurance. I won't need to worry about what I'm going to do when I get sick anymore, how I'm going to pay for my medicatons, I won't skip eye exams because I can't afford them or feel bad for asking my dad to help me out. Not only will I have health insurance, but my family one day will do. Germans actually have maternity leave! Practically doesn't exist in the United States. Assuming I'll have children one day, that is. Crime rates are lower. Public transportation actually EXISTS. Their educational system is superb. The architechure is charming and quaint. The food (and beer) is good. Germany has been called "The China of Europe". What more could I want? Oh yeah, my family. Damn it. I'd hate to see them once a year, and to have my parents so far away from my kids one day. BUT why am I thinking so far ahead? I could just move there for a few years. It's not like it's set in stone for the rest of my life, right? I could always move back to the States. Especially if I had duel citizenship. Sigh. Who knows where the future will take me.