Wine, Uno, and Strategy.

So, I sit here at 11:00pm on a Friday night. What did I do my first Friday night in Europe while actually awake? I drank wine, played uno, and taught Dirk and Aneta what 'strategy' meant. All in all, it was a great night! I had the chance to go to Frankfurt with a couple other au pairs, but the idea of staying up all night in disco's really didn't appeal to me all that much. Hmm. I must be growing up. So, instead, I stayed home and played a hilarious round of uno with two crazy-in-love/drunk Germans. I love it! They are so real and romantic with each other. They are constantly badgering one another, trying everything in their power to make the other lose, yet they give shy smiles and winks across the table! Well, tomorrow is approaching fast, and I am exhausted! We are going to a town 90 kilometers away to participate in a festival celebrating the Brothers Grimm! How fun! I will have pictures as soon as I can!

Sorry...

Well, this is a long time coming! I have been in Germany now for a week! It is really beautiful here. I love the family I am with, Dirk and Aneta and Aaron. They have really made me feel welcome in there home. I really wanted to get some pictures on here, but I still need to figure out how to download my pictures on the computer. Oh well. So, I started my job as an au pair on Monday. Things are going reasonably well. Aaron is very sweet and he laughs just like the younger brother on A Christmas Story. I love it! He loves to ride his bike, play soccer, hammer, and read. He is extremely easy to care for. He likes to do everything himself, which means I only have to make sure he doesn't kill himself. So far, I have been to a Roman castle, Saalburg, and Hessenpark, which is a town set up as it was in the 1500s. We are going to Poland one of these weekends to see Aneta's family, so more traveling for me! Yes! Aneta is a great cook and she wants to help me improve on my lack of cooking. So, soon I will know how to make some German and Polish dishes. I have my own floor, complete with my own bathroom and access to the internet. I hopefully will be starting German lessons next week, but we'll see. I've met two other au pairs so far and they seem very nice. I can't wait to get to know them more. Ok. Hopefully I will get some pics on here soon! There will be more to come for sure!

8 days and counting... So I have embarked on the nearly impossible task of packing. Is it just me or does packing suck? A lot. I am trying to downsize my already overflowing suitcases, but I just can't seem to get it all in. Why do I do this to myself? Why do I think I will need everything I own? I need to just take the basics and not worry about the rest. Oh! And I can't seem to find my passport! Another thing to add to my to-do list. So please pray for me! I really need it right now. I feel like there is a tremendous amount of pressure on me right now and I don't really know why. I do know that I am very, very excited for this weekend to come!! Only 3 more days and life will be a brighter place... Ok. Enough procrastination! I need to get back to packing.

Well, I am officially moving to Germany. I bought my plane ticket today, so it's now a go. Weird.
My best friend, Ashley, and I were drinking chai last night and talking. She used a word to describe her feelings about me leaving, and I have decided to adopt that word for this season in my life. What's the word, you may ask? Bittersweet. Bittersweet is so perfect for me right now. I am sad that I am leaving all I know and love, but I am excited about what lies ahead. I know I will look back on this short time of transition between Salem and Germany with fond memories, but really I can't wait to leave the country. At the same time, I feel guilty for wanting to leave so bad. I love my family, but I am ready to move on with my life. Also, it seems to describe all the thoughts and feelings swimming around inside my head. Why do I let things bother me so much? Why do I care whether or not someone likes me? I know I shouldn't let people decide how I am feeling, but I do. I am human, I make mistakes. I am sorry that I am not perfect, just please don't expect me to be. So, bittersweet. That's my word.
(If someone can tell me how to have titles, that would be great! I can't seem to figure it out...)