Grateful For The Small Things.

I have all sorts of random little things to tell you. So this post won't be a long one, but I wanted to share some things with you. So on Saturday night I played Uno in German. I thought that was pretty epic and on Sunday I was able to sleep in and my family took me to see a castle!

It was a ruin, but a very pretty ruin. Where I am living is quite close to the old border, so this castle was in Eastern Germany. We came home and had tea while we talked about German politics and some of Germany's history. It was really facinating!

Today was my first day back at school for an entire month, so it was a little hard, but I can't really complain too much. (2 weeks Autumn Holidays and 2 weeks Prakticum) After the first few lessons I was feeling pretty down. I felt that the little progress I'd made with some of the pupils had completely gone down the drain. Internally, I was really upset. People at school are rather cool towards me and that's been really hard on me.

My new host mother said that it's not about me, that even another German student who was new at the school would receieve the same treatment. So I know that it's not me, but that doesn't make it much easier. So as usual, I worked really hard on my German words for the day in school because let's be honest, the only way this is going to get better is if I can communicate better.

One of the boys from Drama walked by me in the hall today while I was sitting at a table with a few people and he came up smiled, shook my hand, and then went on his way. It was the nicest thing ever... Internally I had been so upset and that ONE gesture made a world of difference. I don't know him very well because he's younger than me so we have no classes together. However we know each other a bit through Drama. It meant the world to me. So this post is for him. The phrase I could have kissed him came to mind, but I don't mean this in any sort of romantic way. I was just so grateful.

I remember during my last year at Churchill there was a boy at school who was in my Grade, but I didn't know him and he didn't know me, but when ever he saw me in the holiday he would smile at me and I would smile back. There were so many days when that small gesture made my day. I always wanted to tell him what that meant to me and I did get a chance to. On the last day of high school I happened to get his yearbook and I wrote how much I appreciated that. I bet he didn't know. So little things can make a difference. Think about it...

As the day went on things got a little better and I was noticed a bit and spoken to a bit, but school is still quite difficult. People talk so quickly that I usually have no idea what they are saying. (This is the case for both the students and the teachers.)

However my day did get better. My host mother arranged for me to get a haircut afterschool. The hairdresser, while not as good as Rad (my hair dresser back home) did a pretty good job. So I am happy enough with it. I bought some stamps, got some more money on my handy (the German word for cell), and when I got home my host mother and I drank tea and talked. (In German I might add!)

I can communicate in German and I can understand much more than I can speak. All I need is someone who has an interest in me, speaks slowly, and is patient with me. (She is correcting my German too which is also great.) Grammar is my weakness in conquering the German language.

Supper will probably be ready soon so I'll wrap this one up. Take care and until next time I'm Marita Paul. Thank you reader and goodnight!