8 Juli 2016 - Meeting our Host Families

Hallo zusammen! 

The time is now 00:41 ... a pleasant 17:41 back home. And, no, it isn't necessarily insomnia that's keeping me up; my job here is to document our first day with our host families, and, lemme tell you guys, there wasn't a single dull moment. So much happened today, that I wanted to wait until the very end - to make sure that I covered everything! :) 

Waiting for us at Flughafen Zurich was Frau Fraser! After hugs were exchanged, off we went to our coach bus - taking a ~30min drive to Klettgau Gymnasium, the high school attended by our exchange students, in Waldshut-Tiengen. 

I gotta tell you, you guys, perhaps the German kids are indifferent to it - having been surrounded by it their entire lives - but it is absolutely breathtaking here. Everywhere you looked: green. The hills surrounding the villages: beautiful. WE FINALLY MADE IT OUT OF FLATLAND, ILLINOIS! 


As we pulled in to the school, we found that the students were already outside, ready to greet us. It was a very warm, excited welcome for everyone - despite our less-than-fresh states after travel. After having only spoken with our exchange partners virtually for, what, half a year?, it was so fun to finally see them in person. 

we arrived on a very bright, very hot day

After that, we all went inside a classroom, where the German teacher described all they have in store for us - in terms of field trips in the upcoming week; no stone is being left unturned with this group. They are so generously taking us on a lot of adventures (look forward to those upcoming blog posts!). Then we were left to talk amongst ourselves, and our German friends took us on a tour of the school...

...until it was finally time to go [to our new] home! Finally, the travelling academites parted ways - each to endure an entirely individual experience. The small talk with Paula (Brandmeier - my exchange partner) and her mother in the car was surprisingly survivable. Already I could sense an immense difference (for the better!) in my German speaking, merely from the beginning of the car ride until we reached the house! There really is a benefit to immersing yourself in a language's country.

Martina (Frau Brandmeier) prepared a fantastic lunch, and I already felt fully accepted into their home - as I'm sure the rest of my class also felt. Immediately I was shown where I could help myself to food and water, and was playfully scolded by the parents for using the formal version of 'you' when speaking with them - they are not my boss, they said, they're now family, informal will do. :) We then went to the local farm to pick up some fresh bread and meat for grilling. 

A little after we came home, some of Paula's friends, and also mine, came over to swim in her pool! The people who came over included Aidan + Sebastian, Heather + Caro, Charlie + Tobi, and Tony + Mario, plus some of Paula's friends not participating in the exchange. It was a good refresher on a hot day.

aidan must have fallen asleep at least three different times 

Despite the fun activities, it was also kind of hard for us academites to stay awake - especially having been up for 24+ hours (plane naps are never sufficient). As the day drew on, we were all slowly losing our battle against drowsiness. Heather and I went and took an hour-long nap, where then the two of us, and Tony (along with our new German friends) went to a birthday party. 

(this one is small for formatting reasons.)
outdoor parties allow for amazing ambience.

Heather's currently sleeping over, and the two of us are being taken to Switzerland to see the Rhine Falls, as the weekend is free for our host families to show the academites around. You'll see in Meghan's blog post tomorrow what her family had in store:) 

It was a beautiful first day, in a beautiful town. Ich vermisse euch alle! - Adna