Wir waren im Zeitung!

Ein Post für die, die Deutsch verstehen (oder die, die wissen, wo Babelfisch ist):

Nach dem letzten Stammtisch war mein Komitee Rechter Niederrhein in NRZ (unsere lokale Zeitung). Hier ist der Ausschnitt:


10.05.2006 / NRZ LOKALAUSGABE / DINSLKAEN / VOERDE / HÜNXE
Austauschschüler aus 15 Ländern
AMERICAN FIELD SERVICE / Komitee Rechter Niederrhein wirbt um weitere Gastgeber. Schüler können sich bis Oktober für einen einjährigen Auslandsaufenthalt bewerben.
DINSLAKEN. Jeden 1. Dienstag im Monat wird die Gaststätte "Zum Stammtisch" zum Treffpunkt der Kulturen. Dann trifft sich das Komitee Rechter Niederrhein (REN) des AFS (American Field Service), der ältesten ehrenamtlichen Schüleraustauschorganisation, zum Erfahrungsaustausch zwischen Austauschschülern aus aller Welt, solchen, die es mal werden wollen oder waren, Eltern, Gasteltern, Ehrenamtlichen.
Der Kompetenzbereich dieses Komitees erstreckt sich von Duisburg bis Emmerich mit zurzeit 19 Schüler aus 15 Ländern: Russland, Finnland, Italien, Australien, USA, Kolumbien, Thailand, Tschechien, Brasilien, Bosnien-Herzegowina, Mexico, China, Japan, Argentinien, Costa Rica.
Beim letzten Treffen gab es eine Besonderheit. Austauschschüler, die ihr Deutschlandjahr im Juli beenden, boten eine kleine Show mit Wissenswertem über ihre Heimat. Nach einem amerikanischen Cheerleader-Auftritt von Rachel und der chinesischen Nationalhymne von Kurt begeisterten Carolina aus Brasilien und Hector aus Kolumbien das Publikum mit einer Salsa-Einlage. Etwas ernster war das Thema, das Sanja aus Bosnien-Herzegowina anschnitt. Sie berichtete über die Situation ihres Landes seit dem Krieg in Ex-Jugoslawien 1992, war jedoch zuversichtlich, was die Zukunft Bosniens betrifft. Einen echten Blickfang gab die Mexikanerin Fabiola ab, als sie mit Sombrero und Landesfahne vors Publikum trat und über die "dias de los muertos" in ihrer Heimat berichtete.
Wer Interesse an interkulturellem Austausch hat und einen Austauschschüler aus einem von 44 Ländern aufnehmen möchte, kann sich an die Hostingverantwortlichen Gerhard Höllerich (Tel: 02064/13276) und Gerold Gerland (Tel: 02064/58479) wenden. Wer selbst die 11. Klasse im Ausland verbringen möchte, kann sich bei Anne Baumgart (Tel: 0281/530998) melden.
Alle Informationen sind auch im Internet zu finden (www.afs.de) oder bei der Zentrale von AFS in Hamburg (Tel: 040/3992220). Für den Austausch im Schuljahr 2007/8 ist Bewerbungsschluss am 15. Oktober. Informationen über AFS Rechter Niederrhein findet man unter www.rechter-niederrhein.afser.de.


Ich fand die "Cheerleader Auftritt" Teil des Artikels lustig :-P

Is it really coming to an end?

This'll be a small post, but I felt that I should write something before I leave for Ravensbrück on Thursday. Otherwise these posts will get way behind again.

We only have 7 more weeks in Germany. The other exchange students and I have already realized how short that really is. Can you believe that we've been here over 8 1/2 months now? 'Cause I can't. The time has really flown by. I've got my tickets already for the plane from Frankfurt to NYC, and from NYC to LAX. That was a depressing packet from AFS.

So to compensate we've been getting busy trying to meet up with friends, whether German or other exchangers. I'm practically every day out of the house meeting up with somebody in a cafe on Kornmarkt or just riding bikes or hanging out at someone else's house.

Unfortunately, after a half week of 80° weather (warm enough to wear short skirts, finally), the stormy weather came back. I actually got stuck in a thunder shower on Saturday while on a walk. We're getting our unfair share of hail and rain and lightning here. When the weather prevents getting around by bike, however, the solution is to take the bus everywhere. Or beg your best friend's mom to take you home. There's no reason to be stuck inside when there's so much more to do.

Oh, I have to catch the bus back to Hamminkeln! Tschüß and Bis Später!

Aergere Dich Nicht!

During free periods at school Barbara, Sarah and I play Mensch ärgere dich nicht in the break hall. The woodshop club has made three giant boards on the floor for not only the longest, ärgerlich-est game on the planet, but also for chess and Müller. Ärgere mich nicht is the school's newest addition this year. 6 is the number to roll (here: spin) in Mensch ärgere dich nicht. Unfortunately, this spinner liked to stick on number 4.

What else do we do when we have free periods? (Yes, classes get canceled all the time here in Germany). In the past we've made photo/video tours of the Gymnasium, played Bombermann, looked at CA and NJ via Google Earth, left campus to eat ice cream, and actually done homework (though there are so many more fun and interesting activities to engage in than German Hausaufgabe).

Right now we're going round Klausur time again. I've written my final tests for Geography, German (one of them) and math. Next week is another three, and after that are a few more scattered English and Art finals. And PE finals, if he's giving us one this quarter. We're doing weight training at the moment. Ouch.

A Day in Amsterdam, a Photo Journal

One day in Amsterdam:
Lots of citizens and tourists:

Funny Hollandish hot food vending machines:
AFSers taking a break after walking around the city for hours:

We all tried the flavored sticks (they didn't taste that sweet):
AFSers love photos!(Fumi most of all):

We didn't go inside, but this was the most awesome mall I've ever seen:

Lots of fresh water canals, though I wouldn't suggest drinking from them, complete with house boats:

It was a long, hot day. Nevertheless, Kurt's water exploded before he could drink any:


And then we went back on the bus for 3 hours back to Wesel!

Stammtische, Geburtstage, und andere Feiertage

AFS commitee Rechter-Niederrhein (REN) holds a meeting on the first Tuesday of every month, called a Stammtisch. Judith and I always have Pech when it comes to Stammtische. Last month the car broke down, so we wouldn't have had a way back home. This month, the trains weren't running properly. It took us an hour and a half to get to Dinslaken, when it should be at most 40.

Stammtische are fun anyway, even if you're late. This month every exchange student who arrived in September did a short presentation about an aspect of their home land. For example, Fabiola dressed up in her Mexican gear and explained the Day of the Dead, a festive holiday in Mexico. Federico from Italy did a comic demonstration of the true and false German views of Italians. I did a small bit on school spirit in America, complete with Alma Mater, painted face, and Anchors Away dance. They found it amusing, which is the point.

Last weekend was a three-day weekend. The first night I had my birthday party with my friends from school. There were 9 of us altogether in the cellar, sitting around the table and digging out way through pizza brötchen, chips, and Haribo. Four besides my host sister and I spent the night, so we could stay up late and chat and play cards.

Unfortunately, I developed a bad cough throughout the night, and by Saturday it was clear I had a cold. So after the last person, Babsi, left, there was a quick clean-up and then straight back to bed. I missed Schutzenfest Saturday, where the Blasorchester was playing (it was bad weather anyway, with hail), and Pedro's birthday on Sunday. By Monday staying inside all day had lost all appeal, so I met with Sarah, Christian, Marvin and Alicia in Wesel to visit Kermis.

Kermis is like the rides portion of a county fair, except in Wesel it was a lot smaller. We'd walk to one end, stand around, talk, realize we were just standing there and needed to do something, so'd walk to the other end, stand around, talk. Finally we decided to go to an ice cream parlor and sit down. Besides, the weather didn't look that much better than Saturday's. It was a fun afternoon, with lots of ice cream and conversation. Afterwards I visited Alicia for a couple hours. We usually just listen to music and play cards when we visit. We used to play Set all the time, but now she's a Profi because she practices with them every day.

Since Sarah has come back from the US, our whole group has received those notorious IheartNY T-Shirts. We were going to wear them all today and say it was coincidence, but of course the guys forgot them. "It was too cold this morning, that's why I didn't think of it." It's beautiful 23° C weather outside.