How to Navigate in a Foreign Country

How do you navigate in a foreign country with poor language skills? The answer is NOT ALONE.  And NOT AT NIGHT.
This past weekend,  I traveled to stay with my friend a few hours from my city.  The plan was on Friday afternoon I would hop on a train and meet her at a stop in her small city.  This didn't work out, at all. I got to the main station around 3:45 and bought a train ticket leaving around 4, and I was supposed to arrive at my friends stop by 5:30.  After I had my ticket, I realized I had no idea what Gleis(platform) to go to.  So I went back, printed out a timetable and went to basically every get until I found the right numbers.  I got on the train and started going.  I was talking to my friend during this, and I told her my train number and she said something along the lines of "That is the train going in the opposite direction" Oh. Ok.  So I got off at the next stop, and called my friend.  I spoke to her host mother, and she told me what train to get on.  My phone battery died just then, but I thought all was ok, I was on the train(which I had to sprint to to make) and I just had to wait.  So I waited and waited....and waited and finally at about 6, I turned my phone back on and with 3% battery left got a text message from my friends host family saying "Ok good you are on the train! Get off at the Koeln Hbf and get on this train."  I hadn't gotten off at Hbf.  I had been on the wrong train for 2 hours, going the complete wrong direction from where I was trying to go.  I had enough battery then to called my friend's hosts and explain what had happened.  They then agreed to pick me up in a city about an hour from their city.  I went to the service center and bought a new train ticket, this time for an ICE train, which is much nicer, but also much more expensive.  This train went directly to Andernach, the city where they would pick me up, but I was already so far, the train was not set to arrive in Andernach until 8:30.
I was able to get on the train and charge my phone battery to avoid any other problems.  The train was behind schedule though, so I got to Andernach around 9 o clock.  I felt so horrible because my friends host family had left their home to pick me up in Andernach at 5:45.  When I finally arrived however they were very nice and understanding about it, and the host father actually found it quite funny.
After the horrible trip there, the weekend ended up being very fun.  I got to see a lot of friends, the beautiful city of Koblenz, and learn a lot about the German train system.
It is very confusing when you don't really even know in what direction you are supposed to travel in. So my advice is don't travel alone without a map, and always charge your cellphone before traveling.

Electrocuted

After 2 weeks and one day into my exchange year in Germany,  I had what I HOPE will be the worst experience of my year.  It had been a very normal yet exciting day, when I finally got home from my language school and classes.  I had a meal with my host parents before they both went to a local gym for Sport.  I was then left home alone.  I went up to my room to check facebook, my email, the usual.  However, this would not just be a regular evening, in fact it was probably one of the most freakish horrifying nights I've ever had. 

As I was plugging in my laptop charger to an adapter which I had plugged into a power cord in my bedroom,  I was also texting, and not really paying attention.  I had to use both hands, because the outlet only works if you plug the adapter in just right.  When I put the laptop cord in however, I pushed it into the adapter quite hard, upside down, with both my fingers on a part of the metal.  Before I realized what had happened, I was lying on my back after hitting my head on the bottom of the desk.  I had electrocuted myself quite seriously.  The shocked had thrown my back very hard, and I had blacked out for a very short time.  At first I didn't feel much, however when I tried to get up this horrible feeling rushed over me.  I sat up and all of the muscles in my body went numb.  It was absolutely horrifying, I thought that I was paralyzed.  After about 5 minutes, I grabbed my phone and texted my second host brother and told him what happened.  I really thought I was fine, I didn't feel quite right, but I thought it was just because I was surprised about the whole thing.  When I sat up, I still felt extremely lightheaded, weak and dizzy.  Of course I was home alone, and I wasn't sure what to do.  After laying on the floor in my bedroom for a few minutes I started to regain stability, however my fingers were stinging, and felt very burnt.  It hurt VERY badly.  I had somehow managed to burn both thumbs and both pointer fingers.  I managed to go to the bathroom down the hall and run my hands under cold water.  It was one of the strangest feelings I'd ever felt.  My hands stung horribly, and my whole upper body felt tingly and numb.  I really did feel shocked, my mind wasn't quite in touch with the situation.  I called my host brother and asked him what to do, he just recommended ice and cold water.  By then my host family had been gone for about 30 minutes, and I thought they would be back soon.  I grabbed a bag of frozen corn from the freezer and lay down once again on the ground which for some reason seemed much more comfortable than my bed.
Then I waited and waited.  And waited.  My hands were very swollen, and on my fingers there were marks from directly where the metal had been touching me.  I moved downstairs, and finally my host father came home.  My host father really doesn't speak very much English, and I had absolutely no idea how to explain what happened in German, especially in my flustered state.  He could tell something was wrong, and he saw my hands as well.  Luckily after about 5 minutes, my host mother arrived home as well.  I was then able to explain what happened, and had them examine my hands and make sure I was ok.  By then I didn't feel bad exactly, but definitely not normal.  My host mother called a few of her neighbors and friends who were doctors.  They kept asking if I needed a doctor or a hospital and I said "Oh no I'm fine really I feel normal"  Even though I really did feel strange.  I was upstairs getting ready for bed, when my host parents called me down and said they were going to take me to the hospital, just to be safe.  They had both spoken to friends on the phone who recommended that I go into the hospital.  So, my host mother called a hospital, and we were to wait for word on when to go in, since it was not an emergency exactly.  By then it was about 9 pm, and I was exhausted.  Finally around 9:30, we drove there which fortunately is close to our home.  When we got into the first doctor, she examined me a bit, and asked some questions.  She didn't know very much English, but my host mother was there to help.  German hospitals are quite different from American hospitals, for example, one of the first things the doctor made me do was take off my shirt, right in front of her and my host mother.  It was awkward, but the worst was yet to come.  The doctor told me we were to go across the street to another doctor where they would take an "ECG" Test, which checked my heart, and then I would be able to go home.  The next doctor it was a similar process, he asked me some questions, typed some information down, oh and had me take my shirt off.  Then they hooked up the ECG machine.  This was about 10 stickers with metal clips that were stuck onto my chest and wired to a machine.  I was told to lay still, while it recorded my heart function. After they removed the machine, the doctor spoke to my host mother in German for a while which I couldn't understand.  I thought everything was fine, I felt ok, my arms were still tingly and I was very tired but nothing serious.

Then, my host mother turned to me and said "They want you to stay here for 24 hours, while they regulate your heart functions."  I was kinda shocked and it didn't seem like reality, so I just said "Ok".  Because I had used both hands, the electric current had made a full circuit through my body, which was extremely dangerous for my blood, my heart, and my muscles. The electric shock had also damaged my heart rate, making it slow, and somewhat irregular which was a bad sign.  The doctor then had a few more tests which included blood pressure, heart rate, and withdrawing A LOT of blood.  That was one of the worst parts.  However, my host mother was amazing throughout it.  She came over and sat next to me holding my hand.  At that point I was on the verge of tears, and I was very scared.  They had me gather my things, and move into a hallway.  They had me lay down on a bed and ROLLED me into the room I was to stay in.  I mean, I could walk perfectly fine, but they had me lay down on the bed anyways.  It was extremely scary.

In the room,  I had another woman with me, we were separated by a screen (and A LOT of machinery)  She was hooked up to a ton of other machines, and really did not look like she was in very good shape...they found a nurse for me who spoke english who helped the poor confused American exchange student understand what was being said to me.  I changed into a hospital gown and lay down on the bed.  Then once again I was plugged into a machine, which buttons all over my chest.  I also had a blood pressure arm thingy on, which checked my blood pressure every 30 minutes, through the entire night.  In the other arm, I had a thingy(I really don't know what it was) stuck into my arm where the blood had been extracted, and a clip on my finger connected to the machine as well.  I felt like a robot, with all kinds of complicated machinery attached to me.  It was around midnight by then, so my host mother had to get home and rest before her work the next day.  The nurse gave me some water, I hugged my host mother goodbye, and they left me alone to sleep.

Sleep, I could not.  I fell into a short nap, until about 2 when I woke up again.  There were hospital sounds all around me, groaning from the other patients, machine sounds, heart beat trackers, etc.  I then realized how absolutely horrifying it was there.  I started crying, in the hospital room in German beside my roommate who was completely out of consciousness.  This was the first time since arriving in Germany that I really wanted nothing else but to be home with my family in the US.  I didn't sleep at all for the rest of the night, and every once in a while a nurse would come in and always ask me (in German) how I felt and if I was ok.  That was scary, but one of the worst parts was the fact that by then I felt 100% fine, besides my exhaustion. 

Finally morning came.  They brought me a breakfast, let me put on a new gown and brush my teeth.  That was the only time in the night that I was allowed to get up and to move around.  I then lay back down and waited.  Around 12 my doctor came back in and updated me.  He said "Everything is completely fine with you.  We are going to test your blood and heart rate one more time and then you can go home." I only had to stay about 15 of the 24 hours. So for the last time, they put MORE stickers on my chest and stomach (I had a total of 15).  They then took out my IV's and arm thingys, and gave me my clothes.  I changed back into them, and called my host mother to let her know.  I still had to wait about 40 minutes for my host father, because I didn't have keys to get into my home.  FINALLY I got home and collapsed exhausted into my bed.  I had never been so tired and scared.  I had a phone conversation with my parents(for the first time since arriving here) and then went to sleep.

The entire night was absolutely horrifying.  It was so hard not to freak out, but I just kept thinking about school, and the city, and my friends.  I was trying not think deeply because I knew that when I did I got very emotional.  At one point I started to think I was being tested, like in V for Vendetta or something when Natalie Portman is locked in a fake jail(keeping in mind I was up for almost 24 hours straight:)).  I really can not explain how horrible horrible horrible it was.  I felt so stupid because the whole accident was entirely my fault, and I also felt bad for putting my host family and real family through all the trouble. 
After a few days, I finally felt normal.  I wasn't lightheaded anymore, and the burns on my fingers were healed almost completely. 

When I told my host brother what happened right after he laughed and said "This is going to be a cool story in a few weeks!"  At the time this comment didn't make me very happy, although I knew he was right.  Now, a week after the accident, it is a very interesting story.  Its not cool yet, because I am still scared about it all, but soon it will be, maybe?

So yeah, that's the story about my freak accident, two weeks into my exchange.  Hopefully that was the low of my trip, and from here things are better.  Aside from that night, my exchange is going very well I think.  I am almost in a way grateful I experienced that, and was not seriously injured, because it made me stronger.  Yes I know that is cliche, but it is true.  How many people can say they were electrocuted and stayed in a hospital on a heart monitor in Germany with 2 weeks worth of language skills at the age of 16?  Not many! (Mostly because it is really weird, but still).  It really made me realize how mature I can be when I need to, how lucky I am to have an incredible host family and rotary organization behind me, and how glad I am that American hospitals let you change with privacy!!!!!!!! :)

School

So, last Monday I began a German language course.  And the same Wednesday, I began my Gymnasium!  My language course is Monday through Thursday for the next four weeks.  In the classes, there are a lot of other exchange students, as well as some older people who are in Germany for work, to learn language, etc.  The first day I began in the most basic class of German.  Having never taken a class before coming here and only studying on my own in my free time, my Rotary counselor and host parents thought it would be the best class for me to take.  I quickly realized I was a bit ahead in the class :D.  The first two days were spent learning how to say "Hello, Good Day, My name is..."  Very VERY simple things.  On the 3rd day I spoke to the woman who runs the school and asked to be moved into a higher class.  In the next class it is only me and two other exchange students, along with a few other adults.  The class is very difficult for me, it is taught in all German, and we are learning very confusing Grammar! German grammar is impossible for me, I have a hard time with grammar in English, which is a piece of cake compared to Deutsch.  The classes is challenging for me, but I think it is better to spend 4 weeks struggling than spend 4 weeks reviewing.  I'm hoping also that hearing the language more will help me be able to understand.  The teacher is helpful, she speaks very slowly and animated which at first seems unrealistic, but anything less I can't understand :D.  I have a lot of vocabulary to catch up on in this class though, hopefully I can pick it up quickly!

Last Wednesday, I went to my first day of Gymnasium.  It was SO confusing.  The school did not really know where to put me on the first day, so they put me in a hallway with about 40 other students ( I think it was part of my grade but I still don't know).  They were all receiving schedules and going over school policy, none of which I could understand.  After it ended, I introduced myself to the teacher who spoke English and he explained a bit of what they covered.  I was not on the list for a schedule, so they escorted me to an area outside of an office.  There were 3 or 4 other students waiting with me, and they all got called in before me and one other girl.  Eventually, the teacher came out after an hour and a half, and explained there is a problem with the computers so we couldn't get our schedules today.  He said to come back tomorrow, at 7:45.  So the next morning I went back to the room and waited, but there was no one there.  The other girls name is Sarah, and she was also a new student, in the same situation as me.  Luckily she could explain a bit in English.  We went to the main office to ask where we should go, and they sent us to the teachers room, from there we were sent to a different room, and so on for the first two classes.  No one had any idea where we should actually go.  We ended up sitting through all of the first 3 classes when FINALLY a teacher came, and gave us not our schedules, but the classes we were enrolled in.  We then had to look at a time table to figure out when, where, and what time the classes were.  By then it was time for a break, so I went to the main area, and found a few of the friends I had already met.  They were able to help me out, and we talked to a teacher who was in charge of the exchange students in the school.  She told me that they would end up changing my schedule completely, and that I could just go to classes with my friends.  SO I spent the last 2 classes before I had to leave to language school in an English classroom with my friend Lina.  Lina was an exchange student to the United States this past year, so she spoke very good English and is VERY helpful to me.  The class was still taught in German and I didn't understand much, they were only going over course syllabus and such, things that weren't important to me since I'm not actually in the class :D.  I haven't been to school since then, but tomorrow, I meet with a teacher and the director to finally get a real schedule.  I am glad, because I will now be able to chose my classes, and hopefully pick ones I am interested in.  I probably won't be able to understand anything except English regardless, but in a few months when I am able to it will be nice. 

And another note, my school didn't really know my name when they enrolled me in classes, so they entered me in the system as "Miss America".  No joke. On all of my agenda and class lists, I am named Miss America.  So, yeah I'm hoping it doesn't stick :) I don't know how I'd feel if I were referred to as Miss America for the entire year.  I do think it is pretty hilarious though.

So far, I am having a wonderful time here.  Language class has helped me meet some other exchange students who I get along very well with, and I have a few friends in my other school, but when I begin classes I think I will meet more.  It is kind of hard to make friends with the Germans at school, mainly because I can't really speak to them...but I think as my language improves so will my social skills.  Or who knows maybe I'll just be awkward and weird the whole year( I hope not?).

These are a few pictures of the Dom Cathedral and my city, it is AMAZING. 

Language

German, is hard.  Everyone here says it, and they tell me I will not learn it unless I try very hard.  So these past few days I have been studying and trying to absorb as much as I can! I am so glad that my host mother's English is so good!  Today I met two girls my age and it was pretty hard to communicate.  They knew a lot more English than I did German, and it seems everyone here speaks a few languages, whether it be English, French, Russian, or another.  I guess it is just us Americans that only speak English, sometimes a little bit of another.  The other part about German that makes it hard is that while speaking, the words are all slurred together, and it is spoken very quickly.  I guess most languages are like this but it makes learning that much harder :).  When I listen to the Deutsch sometimes I can pick out words, but not very often! Often I don't even understand my name said, because it is said with a "z" instead of s, and sounds like a lot of german words. 

I think I am getting better though.  It has only been 3 days, and I think I know a lot more vocabulary and grammar than before.  I wish I had been able to study German in school however, I think it would have made things easier.  The next step is understanding conversation.  I have set some language goals for myself, in the long run, I want to be able to leave here speaking good German, being able to write and hold conversations with ease.  I am hoping that by October I can speak well, and that by Christmas time, I can understand what people say to me, and will be able to have conversations.
Bis Bald,
"Zofeee"
Sophie

Deutschland!

Ich habe angekommen!
So, here I am sitting in my host families home in my bedroom, which used to be where my host sister stayed.  She is currently on her own exchange year in Chile.  The past zwei tags have been stressful, but VERY exciting.  I will admit, yesterday being in the airport was an AWFUL experience.  I was supposed to land in Frankfurt, purchase a train ticket, call my host mother to tell her what time the train would be coming in, and then hop on.  However, it was silly to think it would be that easy!  So, I arrived in Frankfurt at 6:30, while in USA it was late night. I was exhausted from traveling, and hungry, and thirsty.  I didn't really want to stop and buy food, figuring it would be easier to eat at home, and I wouldn't be able to understand(which was true).  I got my bag, got through customs, and then started looking for the train station.  After walking in circles for 5 minutes, I decided to ask someone who spoke English and seemed kind.  This ended up being the woman whom I had exchanged my dollars for euros at.  However she turned out to not be so nice. (Keeping in mind this was my first impression of Germany)  I asked her where I could find the long distance train station.  She asked me "When are you going?" and I replied "I haven't bought a ticket yet."  She repeated the question with a more angry tone and I was very confused.  Then she yelled, "WHERE! where are you going?!" She had just messed up her English which would not have meant anything to me, however she was embarrassed and got very mad...She finally told me where to go. 

To get to the train station from the airport in Frankfurt is quite confusing.  It is outside across 2 VERY busy streets, and up a set of stairs.  I dropped my suitcase headed up the escalator which was pretty embarrassing because i got caught on it going up and had to jumped down 3 steps to get it.  Anyways, buying a ticket turned out to be pretty easy, there were English settings on the electronic teller.  However, coming from a small town I'd never really been on a train more than once, so I didn't understand many of the terms.  Next, I attempted to use a payphone to call my host family.  I had the numbers, including the country and city codes(which I didn't realize weren't needed) and I had a credit card.  I could not figure out the phones, and I needed to buy a phone card but I did not know where.  I asked the information counter and she spoke English, but didn't understand why I "Don't know how to use a telephone???"  I tried about 3 more times before deciding to call when I arrived in Cologne and wait.  I was also frustrated because I had bought a train ticket for 9:10 and it was only 7:15.  I thought I would need more time to find the correct Gate.  I was pretty scared and confused so I decided to find my gate and wait for the train, for 2 hours. Hah.  I didn't realize how stressful it would be, how heavy my bags were, and how EXHAUSTED I was.  I was on the verge of tears while looking for my Gate, thinking I would never find it.  I eventually did so I went and sat down. I was completely rethinking my exchange at that point, maybe I wasn't ready, wishing I were at home and thinking I should have never applied, thinking could not make it.

While waiting I looked to my left and a girl about my age was sitting next to me smiling.  She began speaking to me in very good English, explaining that she was also a Rotary Exchange student and had been to Columbia, two years prior.  She had seen my blazer and asked if I needed help, understanding my situation.  She turned out to be so helpful.  She told me that the type of train ticket I bought could go on any train in a 24 hour period to my stop.  She happened to be on the same train getting off one stop after me.  She sat next to me on the 7:30 train to Cologne, used her mobile phone to call my host mother, and we talked about exchange and my city.  She saved me, otherwise I would have been so lost.

After getting off the train, I met my host mother Edith, and saw Cologne for the first time.
I will update again soon, and add pictures. :)
Bis bald!
(One more thing, I don't understand ANYTHING, however my host mother is so helpful and speaks to me in English, translating when I ask!)

Pre-Exchange Preperations

So, tomorrow morning I begin my year as a Rotary Exchange Student. For the past 6 months, I have been preparing myself to spend a year abroad as a youth embassador representing my club(Cooperstown), my district(7170) and my country(USA).  I am going to be spending my year in Köln, Germany.  Köln is the 4th largest city in Germany, with over 1 million people.  This will be quite an adjustment for me, as the city I have lived in for the past 9 years is very small and rural with a population under 2,000.  To say I am excited is an understatment.  I can't put into words my emotions.  I am hoping that this year will bring me so much.  There are so many things I am excited to see and learn, people I am going to meet and places I am going to visit.  When embarking on an exchange year it is important not to hold any expactions because it is really very hard to know what you will experience beforehand.  Despite this, I hold expectations not in my country or my experience, but as how I will grow as a person.  

One of the reasons I wanted to become involved with the Rotary program was because I had heard from numerous people how life-changing it can be, and how much it can change you.  I am at the point in my life where I feel I am ready to grow and explore.  I am excited to learn about the world around me, and the people who I share it with.  I know this is very cliche, but in my case it is entirely true.  When I applied to be a Rotary Youth Exchange student I did not know what I was getting myself into.  However, over these past few months with the help of the amazing people in my community, I have only realized that this is exactly what I was looking for.  Where I am from, there are very few opportunities to branch out into this world.  I have known the people in my community for years, and a majority of the other people my age I have gone to school with since 1st grade.  I was not interested in exchange as an escape, but rather as an opportunity.  I would deem myself as an involved person.  I have always been very excited to learn, and as I've grown up, especially in the past year or two I have wanted to see more and more.  There is so much I am hoping to learn in the 10+ months that await me. I want to gain more independence, a more worldly perspective, and make friendships and memories that I can carry with me throughout my life.

These past few months, my preparation has been subtle to say the least.  It was very difficult to grasp onto the idea that I would actually be leaving my home and moving into a completely new lifestyle, with people and customs I have never experienced before.  I would occasionally think about it, attend district orientations, talk to my friends about it.  As it approached it became more and more of a reality.  I wouldn't say I really understood what I was about to experience until about a week ago, 7 days before leaving.  I know this is very last minute, however you could say I have had this area in my mind where I've been storing what I've read and been told.  I guess in the past few days I have accessed it, and been trying to learn more and more.  I know that I am not fully prepared, I don't think it is possible to be.  However I think I have done everything in my power to grow strong and keep my mind open for the mysteries and adventures that await me.

Tomorrow morning,  I will drive with my family and a few close friends to the airport.  From there I have a short flight to an international terminal from where I will leave the country.  This my first time leaving the country, which I am embarrassed to admit.  My family doesn't travel very often, mainly because there are 6 of us, and we are all very busy with our own lives.  In fact I haven't been on an airplane since I was 6, and I really do not remember much, aside from the excitement, getting told to "be quiet, and sit down"(being the bubbly, curious child I was) and then most likely sleeping for the rest of the flight. But tomorrow,  I'll experience this again, for a solid 8 hours!  It is hard to imagine that after stepping through the gate, I'll be on my own.  As alone as I'll be, there is a whole network of people watching out for me, and hoping for the best.  It is amazing how many people care about me, and I am very grateful.  
After arrival in the Frankfurt airport,  I will buy a train ticket for the ride to my city, about 2 hours.  Luckily this shouldn't be too difficult for me because the train station is connected to the airport, and in an international airport it is likely there will be some English speakers available to assist me if necessary. Oh, that's another thing.  I don't really know very much German!  In the past 6 months I have been studying on my own and through websites and books but it really is nothing like being in the country and hearing it around you 24/7.  Everyone has said how important language is to try to learn before arrival, and I've tried.  But come on, I'm a teenager, procrastination is practically a hobby!  I know that language will probably be one of my greatest challenges.  Im quite worried about it, however everyone tells me I'll pick it up quickly and that I'll be able to communicate in no time.  Still, it would be so helpful to know more before arrival. Luckily, my host sister and mother both know English.  My host sister Lara actually spent a year on exchange in a city only 2 hours from my home.  This was a very exciting coincidence, because a few weeks ago she was able to visit me.  This was amazing.  She is a wonderful person, and I only got more excited to live with her family.  I asked her a million questions, which she happily answered, and I was able to learn so much about my city and the things I will encounter in Germany.  Bonding with host families is a very important aspect of Rotary, and I feel like it will be a challenge, but one in which I am happy to face.  My first host family seems amazing.  For most of the time it will just be me and both parents.  My oldest sister is a college student, studying in the Netherlands, and my other sister who is my age is on Rotary Exchange in Chile.  This will be another adjustment, because here at home I have a sister and two brothers.
There is so much I am yet to learn, and I am very excited to share it with whomever decides to follow this blog. I will also upload pictures here and onto my Facebook account(for people I know at a personal level).  It is hard to say how often my posts will be, however I will probably be quite busy at the beginning.  I guess I'm going to turn into one of those night owls, typing away on a computer!  Well, Auf Wiedersehen, goodbye for now. Bis Bald!
(Also as time goes on and I learn more I will probably start adding in German here and there, perhaps include a translated summary?)