the end of an amazing year

I really don't know how I'm going to write this.. The first  struggle; german or english? Propably I'm going to write this last post in english so all of you can read it. To all my friends and family I've spent my exchange year with. This year was just amazing and unbelieveable, I've never thought I can go through this, but I did it and I survived! I'm super proud of my self that I used this chance to discover the other side of the world. If I had a second chance, I totally would do it again. It helps you so much, to discover yourself, to find out how strong you really are und  see how pretty it is out there.

So, I left my american home 2 months ago (23rd of June 2015) and it was really hard for me to say goodbye to all the people I've met and the family I stayed with. But it wasn't the hardest thing, u know you'll come back one day and see them again, not in the same situation/ frame u used to see it but you will be happy to see them again, sooner or later :)
I really would explain how I felt when I left the US but I can't explain it, I don't have the words for this and nobody could understand me, bc it was my adventure and I survived alone (I hope u know what I mean :D) but I can say IT WAS THE BEST THING IN MY LIFE, it was like a rollercoaster, you know how it is when you ride the rollercoaster :), other exchange students may understand me, they went trough the same stuff!

The last weeks in the US were crazy, you were excited to see éveryone again a´fter ONE YEAR!!!! my heart was pumping like crazy! on the other side I was so sad to leave everything behind, what I built in the one year!

On the flight back home to Germany I met some good old friends and it was so cool to talk with them about stuff and our experience, the same time we were talking about Germany and the best thing a friend 17 and me almost 18 we were trinking a german beer on the airplane! I think it was the best flight I've ever had. The beer wasn't even good but it was our first beer after one year break :D

Germany
In the morning of the 24th of June we were standing with our feet on german ground. It was so weird to know "oh man in a few minutes, I'm going to see my family after one year". I was sooooooo excited  when I came with my TWO SUITCASES and three backpacks out of the gate to see my family. I wasn't even crying like everybody else I was just happy and a overwhelmed. It was a super cool moment I will never forget! The strangest moment: listen to german radio - I was like wtf is this hahaha.
The other following days were amazing! I got to see everyone again and got my german life style back :D The result of my exchange year: Germany is the best country in my opinion! I just love it.

On some days, I miss the US, and I really wanna go back!

Prom

What is prom night? 

Prom is a former school dance for the seniors and the first dance for the juniors.

Prom night usually includes a dinner followed by a dance at a banquet hall. The entire event lasted no longer than one night.

ike always , most students are going with friends or a date. On prom night,girls are spending hours getting dressed, guys are just hanging around. In the evening we drove with a limousine to the banquet center. We have danced a lot, we ate and shot photos.

Chicago

Last week I went with my family to Chicago; finally because it is one of my favorite cities here in the US.

Day 1: Friday morning we left Armada at 5am. The bus ride was very funny. At 12 pm we finally arrived  in Chicago. So we had time to explore Navie Pier.
After Navie Pier we went to see the Blue Man Group; that was so awesome. They played music and worked with colors, which looked really cool!
Then we went to Lincoln Zoo. It was a zoo right in the middle of the city and we didn't needed to pay money for it.
After the long day we were hungry, so we went to a Pizza dinner. The Pizza I had there was probably one of the best Pizzas I ever had. The dough was soo soft and the top was so yummy. Right after dinner we went to Willis Tower, so we saw Chicgao at night. the city seemed sooooo big, everywhere lights. It was a stunning view.

Day 2: The trip was a music trip from our school, so band people, orchestra and choir people came with us. So in the morning we went to a college, a music college where our students performed in front of a judge. He told them what they need to work on.
Later that day we went downtown. We explored the city, and I finally got to see The Bean. I saw it in one of my favorite movies and it looked sooo cool because the bean is the mirror of the city.
In the evening we went to Medieval Times dinner, I really had no idea what this is. When we came there I saw a castle and I was wondering 'why so big'? So when we came in there I saw a riding arena and "chairs" for 1000 people. Then they had a Show Programm while we were eating. ( we got a chicken leg, corn and potatoes, and we ate with our hands).

Day 3: Shedd Aquarium. In the Aquarium we saw a dolphin Show and soooo many cute fishes.

East Coast Trip; Washigton D.C., Philly, New York

Finally I saw New York, the city that never sleeps, the city where Obama lives; his house, and Philadelphia where we ran the famous Rocky Steps.

The trip started on April 4th, early in the morning. My friend Angie and me were driven to Flint, to catch the bus. On the bus I saw many familiar faces and I talked to a lot of new people, we bacame very fast good friends. Ok the situation on the bus: we kinda had an old bus and the air condition wasn't working, so we were soo sweaty because it was so freaking warm (26°c outside; in the bus 30°c and above). But at least we survived. after 12 hours bus ride, we finally saw Washington D.C.

We ate dinner at a normal Foodcourt. I was so excited to go to the hotel to see the other 2 busses, because I knew that all my other friends were in the other 2 busses. Hotel: I got my key and I kinda was running to my room, you know why hhaha because one of my goooood friends Constance was there. I shared my room with her and I was so happy. We talked a lot during the night.

Day1: We went to the Arlington National Cemetery, which is a  place where soldiers are burried and J.F.Kennedy. It was pretty interesting, over 10000 people were burried there.

                     

                     

Later the day we went to a mall to eat lunch, to see the 9/11 Pentagon Memorial and went to Washington D.C downtown. We went to a lot of Museums, just to let you know, the Museums here are free, which is so great! Washington is famous for the Smithonian Museums. They have over 19 different museums. For one museum you need 1 day. They are so big and you learn a lot. I saw the museum for Aircraft and Art. 

Later the day we enjoyed our time together. We went out for dinner pretty late but we had soooo much fun.

                      

Day 2: It started with something special. We went to the YFU headquaters, the people who turned our dream into reality. We got to see the place where everything happens. How many people work for our Organisation to make this year Special for us. it was so amazing. I got to talk to the YFU US president Michael Hill, it was such a pleasure to talk to him. Thank you so much, that I actually can live here in the US for 10 months.

After our visit, we went to the White House, the house where president Obama lives. I really thought that the White House is big, but no, it  was kinda small.

 Later that day we went downtown to explore more museums, then we saw the capitol building, beautiful parks and we relaxed in the sun; I got sunburned. In the evening we had a dance party at the hotel.

Day 3: way to Philadelphia.

Arrived in Philly we ran the Rocky Steps, went to a food mall, we saw the liberty bell and went to a mall for shopping. 

Day 4: New York City: When we drove to NY and it looked so ugly in front of the city, so industrialized, however. When we arrived we first saw the skyscrapers. It was just amazing. Then we went to Central Park, it seemed so big from the ground, but from the Top of The Rock it seemed so small.

Central Park was a super nice place because everybody is walking there and you can listen to the street music. 

After Central Park we went to the famous MET (metropolian museum  of art) it was pretty nice, but kinda boring. I spent my time with my friends, so we went outside to enjoy NY and the street music.

With our group we went later to 5th Avenue to shop at Gucci and Chanel, 5th Avenue us the famous shopping street where the rich people go shopping. It was so much fun, but I was excited to see finally Times Square. Never; I never thought to see TS. It was amazing, soo many lights, so many people; I was overwhelmed. Later the day we had dinner at Times Square and we saw a Broadway show.

Day 5: the most amazing day I've ever had in NY! We started @Rockefeller Center. So we saw NY from the Top Of The Rock. I really can't describe how amazing it was. So probably I just show pictures.

After this, we had a walk through NY, to see Wall street, where rich and poor meet each other. 

Lunch was @Grand Central Station... so we hung out at GCS and went shopping at Times Square again.

Day 6: Lady Liberty: in the foggy morning we went with the boat to ellis island, so finally I got to see the Statue of Liberty, it is amazing how much history  behind the Statue is.

On the boat ride back we kinda saw NY skyline, but it was super foggy.

later: 9/11 memorial; it was a stunning view, to actually see how many people died. 

Chinatown & Little Italy: 

later: we had an BBQ-DINNER, yummy.

It was the last day, so everybody was sad to leave friends behind. So the chaperones had a fantastic surprise: New York skyline at night!!!!!