Baileys January Update
Hello again!
 
I can't believe how fast time has gone by. I have really enjoyed my 6 months so far! January went by very fast for me. Firstly, I had 1 1/2 weeks free for Christmas holiday. We were in Switzerland for skiing. The weather was very warm, not much snow, but it didn't stop us from having a great time. During the day I had skiing lessons, while my host family would ski. After 4 we would stop, because it was getting too dark. We would shower and sit for an hour reading. We always had dinner, then played card games like Spoons or UNO. I had an amazing time in Switzerland. We visited a small shop to buy Swiss cheese, which we used in a fondue.
 
I spent the rest of my holiday shopping with my host-sister, and learning German with my tutor.  We just started out second semester in school. I still have the same 8 classes, just now at different times. We had oldies here in my district: exchange students who come in January till the next January. They were super nice, so it was hard to say goodbye to them, but at the same time I was happy because I know they are going to go on to amazing new adventures, like university or high school. We got a new exchange student in my club. His name is Rafael from Brazil. I went to the airport with our YEO to meet him. He is an interesting guy. There have already been some conflicts with him so far, such as coming home drunk or past curfew.
For Christmas I got hockey tickets from my host-parents. We all went to Köln for the game. It was amazing. Everyone was singing and cheering. The atmosphere was crazy. My team ended up losing, Köln, but I had fun explaining the game to my host-sister.
 
I also gave my presentation on Canada last Tuesday. I was incredibly nervous the days before. I practiced with my host-sister and my tutor many times throughout January. Everything went well though. I got many compliments on my presentation, and my German. I was very proud of how my presentation turned out. My host-club surprised me with burgers and fries for dinner as a typical 'Canadian meal’. I thought it was very sweet, and the food was great too. I also made Nanaimo Bars for the Rotary Club. They turned out to be delicious, everyone wanted thirds. After my presentation, my host family sat down with me to say they were very proud of me and everything I have done so far. I cooked twice for host-parents during January. The first time I made Beef Stew, with lots of vegetables, I learned early on my host sister doesn't like meat, so tried to make something with lots of veggies for her. The second time was for a dinner party. I made the four cheese dip from Kelsey’s with toasted pita bread wedges. I also made chicken parmesan with homemade tomato sauce and garlic bread. All the food was delicious, and the company was great. We had invited my counselor, the other exchange student and her family over.
 
There have been some conflicts between me and the other exchange student who came in August, Nicole. She is from Peru. The problems didn't start till November-December. My host dad is also our YEO. Unfortunately for Nicole, her host family is not very active. They never go out, she has no siblings and she spends all her time with other exchange students or in her room. In December she came with us everywhere. She was invited to come to Aachen, Amsterdam and Köln with us. That was no problem for me, until I started to notice her attitude. My host parents brought her to all these nice places, to cool museums, and attractions, and expensive restaurants, but she wasn't at all grateful for it. She never said thank you, played on her phone all the time and ignored my host mom and sister. I never said anything at first because I thought maybe it was cultural, but then she developed a very bad attitude. She was always grumpy and short tempered. I eventually said to her that I wanted her to thank my host parents, they were going out of their way to include her, because otherwise she would never do anything. She got extremely mad at me about it. I then talked to my host mom after she had asked if Nicole was okay. I explained the situation to my host mother, Dorothee, and was very surprised when my host mom agreed and said she felt the same way. Everything has been since cleared up, however I just didn't think it was fair to my host family to feel like they have to bring her because her host family isn't involved in her exchange. My host family agreed they felt unappreciated, and we talked it over and they agreed with me. I didn't want to start anything, but Nicole is not making the most of her exchange (learning the language, making German friends, or going to school) so I just wanted to inform her she would have a better exchange if she tried harder. Everything is sorted now between us.
 
This week is Karneval. It is very popular in my area. I get 4 days off school because of it. Basically everyone dresses up and parties together with food and music. On February 4h, I went to school Karneval, with all my classmates. I was dressed as a tiger. On February 5th, is a party in Köln with my counselor and host family. We are all going as clowns. From the Saturday to the Monday is a Rotary Weekend with the exchange students. Mainly an orientation for the new exchange students. On the Monday my host family and I will walk in a parade. Then on Tuesday back to Köln for another party with all the Rotary members. I am looking forward to it, Köln is known for the biggest parties in Germany.
I really cannot believe that half my exchange is already finished. There are many things I can look back on and smile. I still remember my first day in Germany. I was very tired, but my host family was waiting for me with flags, signs and smiles. I also really enjoyed the Deutschland tour, which was 2 weeks with the other exchange students. Being able to see all the beautiful cities in Germany was amazing. I also am really thankful for our holiday in Switzerland. The area was beautiful, and learning to ski was very memorable for me.
 
School was difficult for me. The teachers didn't want an exchange student in their classes, a few of them saw it as a distraction to the other students. Many of the teachers ignored me, and wouldn't give me the handouts. I was able to switch into other classes for some, but others I just wanted to tough it out. The students in my grade also didn’t take to me. Many of them are 1-2 yeas younger than me, so sometimes there was a maturity difference between us. I tried a lot of things to get my classmates to like me: smiling, starting conversations, asking to hang out. However the people in my small town have been described to me as "closed minded". They don't like foreigners in their town, and the previous exchange students have also had a cold welcome. I did however make a few friends from school. I am very close to one girl, Lily, who I share Art and Sport class with. She also gave me a German book and a television series in German to watch. I hang around a small group of boys at school too. They are all very nice and we often hang out together outside of school.
 
I get along extremely well with my host family. The first month was very awkward of course. My host mother was very upset about her daughter leaving for her exchange in Ecuador. Also my host sister was very shy. After the first month though everything went really well. I tried to get involved in their activities, and they became involved in mine. For a while I played volleyball, so they all came to my first game. I attended my host sister’s handball games, I also helped at Rotary events and my host mother’s charity events. I think they really liked that I was trying to find out more about them and what they were passionate about. I would say now we are all very close. They help me with homework if I need it, they are always taking me places. Really I think I am spoiled because of them, they are the most generous people I have ever met. In December and January, they told me repeatedly how proud they were of my German and how I have handled my exchange, which I was very pleased to hear. My host family has also worked very hard to make sure I see the culture of Germany.  We went to a few sport games, some movies, and Karneval parties too.
 
I know the people very well in my Rotary Club. I go to meetings every Tuesday, and every meeting I speak for one minute in German about what I did the previous week. I am really proud because the last three meetings I required no paper to read. I just went and talked freely, and everything went well, my German was really good. I have also helped out at a few Rotary events. One was to raise money for an orphanage in town.  I really like the people in my club too, they are always friendly to me and inviting me to activities. I also am close with my counselor. We have cooked dinner together a few times and I see her every Tuesday.
There is a lot planned so far for the last part of my exchange that I look forward to. For example this weekend is Karneval. There are huge parades in all the cities, we are going to one in Koln Tuesday. I am also looking forward to the three week Europe trip in March with the other exchange students in my district. I am very excited for Italy and France! Lastly, I am excited for my birthday in May. I will turn eighteen, and it is a very big birthday in Germany. My host mother’s birthday is one day before mine, and I have already been told there will be a surprise for us.
 
I am very pleased with how my exchange has gone so far, I think I have really made the most of it. I can't wait to see what lies ahead for me. I want to work hard on learning more German, making more friends in school, and still spend time with my host family. I am really quite proud, I did not spend time with the other exchange students since November. I wanted to try spending more time with Germans instead. I think it was worth it, and helped me with friendships and German.
 
Thank you again for everything! Being on exchange is one of the best opportunities I have had, and I can't thank the district or my Rotary Club enough for all they have done! Thank you again and have a great February.