Tuesday, 17 June 2008 with Lily in Germany

Dear Whoever!

     Wow! Today was amazing. The best yet for me. Last night was cold as it is normally. We tell the people in our class that the weather at night is as cold as it is in the Winter in Texas.  But today it got very warm which was refreshing, I even put on a skirt! Which is a big deal for me. At school we had chemistry in the morning, as usual, then...ummm...let me think. Ahh! We had a break and then we went to the seventh grade to tell them about Texas. To be fair, they asked us questions in English and we responded in German. Then we taught them "Deep in the Heart of Texas." which was imediatly (wow, bad spelling) stuck in all their heads. It was cute. They were curious and embarrassed and eager. I saw our class in them a lot. Then we had English class with our class. We stood up in the front of the class and told them about Texas. They of course wanted to know about the stereotypes and everything, which was fun. They tried to get us to talk like Texans and stuff. Then we had a break.

   And this...is when the fun began. Katrin told me to quickly get on my bike and we rode as fast as we could (which still royally freaks me out), to a Turkish restaraunt to get a dish called a Döner, I think. Basically, it is a piece of bread much like pita bread that looks like it has been through a panini press. Inside there is thinly sliced meat, lettuce, tomato, a lot of mayo, and some other goodies. It is extremely messy to eat. I sat on a grassy hill with the sandwhich thing in my hand, my legs sprawled out. Dripping all over the place. It was crazy. I just embraced the un-gracefulness of the moment. When I was done eating, Chase and a girl from the class walked over. Her name is Marie and is crazy sweet! She might do an exchange in Texas, and we are considering her staying with us! That would be awesome. We had music after the break, then Eurythmy, which was very fun in German, and very very similar to Austin class.

    After school, Katie and Chase and I got cleaned up a little and then walked around the little village. We stopped at the bakery and had a pastry and a coffee. Then we just got lost around the city until it was time to go back up to the school for...DANCE TIME! At home, we had prepared a bunch of Texan dances and songs (and one German dance) to show them. When we were practicing them it was so emabarrassing. I mean, here we are, a bunch of crazy, loud Texans who sometime speak Spanish, and we are about to dance and sing. But, it wasn't that bad. We performed our amazing gifts in the cafeteria, for two rows of a tightly packed audience. We sang first songs like Cotton-eyed Joe, Home on the Range, The Yellow Rose of Texas, and ending with The Eyes of Texas Are Upon You. Among many others. Then we danced a German dance, then a very southern one, then one where the ENTIRE audience joined in. Everyone was saying the steps aloud in German. It was so funny! We had a lot of fun. After our round of humiliation, we retired to the gardens for a potluck dinner. Chase and I weren't very hungry, so we split a plate. Overcome with gratitude for the tastiness of the food, I began to make up descriptions for them. Like a particularily ripe strawberry could be, "One small bite transforms the humble environment of the school into a blissfull world of ruby red juice, gushing from every corner, like sweet goodness..." and on and on. Zac chimed in too, and soon we were having Author-offs, as we call them. It was a very intense game.

    At the school they have this weird rotating flying saucer thing, so naturally we decided since we had just eaten it would be swell to go round on it. We spun around, and around, and around for quite a long time, singing Beatles songs, and other songs we know well. It was amazing. Finally, around 9:00, we left, and I am at home now, in dire need of a good long shower!

     Today was the first day I felt completly as though I was giving my undivided attention to enjoying my stay here. The other days I have so enjoyed being here, but I get preoccupied with being homesick or cold, or needing to write every detail of every moment down. Maybe it was because I was mostly with my friends, and so needing to speak German was not as necessary, or maybe it was because it was a little warmer, or that it has been now exactly a week, but it felt like home to me. And that feeling was beautiful. After we danced, as we laughed and sang with our German counterparts, I felt as though I was laughing and singing with my brothers and sisters. They were one part of my many-faceted soul, a part of me. They are so like us, it is amazing. Anyone for even a moment doubts Waldorf, should have seen the intense bond that has been created between us. It is so there it is nearly tangible. We love them for their humanity, and their appreciation of it. We see it, and in it we find our own.

     I miss everyone! And I can't wait to come home. But in a way, I am already there!

Much, much love!

Lily

Comments

[Mia - Spa-hotel Ukraine]

you know I love Germany too.I have lived here on and off for seven years now, can speak a passable version of German in which I totally ignore the grammatical ramifications of gender. I have many friendships that are conducted only in German, and can go to a dinner-party and have grown-up conversation all night long.

[Joe]

Such a nice description of the morning!I had the same sentiments when I was a child.I have learned German too. And to be fair it was so boring. So thanks for your post.It brought me such a delightful sentiment of nostalgia.

[Paul Cox]

So, the daughter of an Aggie is teaching her hosts the UT anthem...how'd that happen?

[Aunt Dreena]

Hey, Lil.

It sounds like you are having a blast and embracing each moment. I so LOVE reading your posts -- you are a gifted story teller!!!

Keep on having fun and take a lot of pictures -- you are remembering to videotape every moment of your life, aren't you? Just kidding.

Love you!

[Leisl Algeo]

Lily!
Deutschland??? Wow! Ich hab nicht gewusst dass du Deutsch spricht. Ich hab fuer ein GANZ lange Zeit gar kein Deutsch gesprochen oder geschreiben, so du musst mich vergeben fuer mein Deutsch...
Ich war in Deutschland in 2000 - war da fuer 9 Monaten und wir haben uberall gereisst, aber wir sind immer zueruck nach Darmstadt gegangen. Und jetzt bist DU in Darmstadt? Bleibst du dar den ganzen Zeit oder reisst ihr zu anderen Orten?
Ich hoffe dass es wirklich ein wunderbar Erfahrung (right word???) fuer dich ist!
Leisl