From Germany with Love

It feels so weird to be writing one of these again, but since I've been having adventures I feel like now I can finally contribute.

So as you all probably know I got to spend the last month in wonderful Deutschland and if you're friends with me on facebook, you'll also know that I've been having quite a bit of fun.

I started my trip in Erlangen with my dad (he stayed for the first 9 days so he could attend my great aunt's 80th birthday party). We stayed in Herzogenaurach (a tiny little town in the country side, mostly known for its enormous Adidas and Puma outlets) with my three beautiful friends Kerstin (my age), Berit (the one who came to America three years ago) and Meike (the awesome rock climber and slackliner). Kerstin is my age and the other two have already moved out so I mostly spent all my time with Kerstin. We only stayed for a few days before we went to Mannheim for a week (but my dad left half way through). In Mannheim I stayed with some very close friends Tim (my age), Sonja (Gordon's age) and Katrin (older and living in Freiburg). I had a ton of fun with Tim and Sonja (I only got to visit Katrin once), we played a lot of soccer and volleyball, I did some yoga with Sonja, I went to school with Tim twice (the first time happened to be on the day of their senior prank), and Tim and I watched the World Cup with 5,000 other people in a hot little tent and then jumped in a fountain with a few hundred other people afterward. Then I took a four and a half hour train ride back to Erlangen for another week. Other than getting kicked out of first class and almost missing my train connection, I think I did pretty well.

Being with Kerstin and her sisters again was so much fun! We cooked, went to bars, slacklined, went to festivals, shopped, watched I Love You, Man, and went swimming and tanned (well some of us got really REALLY bad sunburns). I met so many fun people that I am now friends with on facebook and talk to all the time, and getting to experience the nightlife of the town was pretty cool. About a week ago I took another train to Augsburg, this time I came insanely close to ending up in the completely wrong city but I managed to figure out I was on the wrong train and get on the right one just in the nick of time.

I am now staying with my aunt and uncle who live very near the center of the city so every time they have to work I can wander into downtown which is awesome. My aunt and uncle felt bad that I didn't have anyone my own age to hang out with so my uncle asked his college with a daughter my age if she could spend some time with me on Friday night. I admit I was a little bit reluctant to agree to being set up with a stranger for the night (after all my aunt and uncle are pretty cool so I was content to stay with them). However, the night turned Julia and I (and her friend that came with us) into very good friends and was probably one of the greatest adventures I had on the entire trip (if you want me to elaborate, see me in person) and I was ultimately very glad I agreed to go. Today Julia and I hung out and went shopping for her graduation dress and her friend told me that when I come to Germany again I should stay with her for a while. It's such a great feeling to make these international connections!

Anyway, now I'm supposed to be packing my bags because tomorrow I leave for Frankfurt to stay with my dad's cousin for one night, then I'll be on my way home! I can't wait to see you guys, I really have been thinking a lot about you all (in fact, I've seen German doppelgangers for many of you) and maybe someday I'll cook you guys some German food! See you soon! XOXOXO

Rita