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?)