Der schöne Mai!

Hey Friends!!

Three months down, three left to go at my second placement. Time is flying by, yet at the same time creeping along. Strange how it seems to do that to me all the time this year.

Now that May has come everything is in full bloom, the fields are starting to bud and the temperatures are steadily rising. This week we have had quite a bit of rain, but considering that it was dry most of April the farmers and their fields are very happy about this change in the weather.

I go about doing my routinely household chores. Laundry, ironing, vacuuming...sometimes I feel like am old housewife, but then I make myself remember that this is only for a year and I can run my household differently one day! There are other things that I am asked to help out with as well. I have helped paint the children's rooms, washed windows, and help out on the yard. Today I was asked to clean out the cabin's where to Polish workers that are coming to work on the surrounding farmer's fields are to live. They really do not get very much space, and the cabin's were a mess. It was pretty hard to get them into shape, to me they still don't seem that clean, though I did as much as I possibly could. I hope that they will feel well living in them. None of the workers are actually going to be working here, as the fields of the Fellmann's have not been planted this year, but they are living here because the Fellmann's have the cabins.

Last weekend I spent in Bechterdissen again. It was good to see Simon and spend some time with him. We went for a run together and he tolled me all about the playoffs and such.

This coming Wednesday we are going to a Hockey Game in Mannheim. Canada vs. Switzerland I believe. We shall see how that goes!

Placement #2

Hi Friends!!

So, as of Febuary 8th I am now at my new placement with Familie Fellmann. After the midterm conference the the Intermenno Commity provided for us we all headed to our second placements. It is hard to believe that I have been here in Europe for half a year all ready. Time seems to be flying.
Anyhow, the days spent between our placements with the 12 other Trainnes where very good. It was great to be served once againe. I have been cooking lunch for the past six months, so it was nice to come to a set table and enjoy food that was not made by yourself.
I arrived around lunchtime at my new placement. I have a very small room here compared to the one I had at my first placement, but I guess this is good for getting me used to my room back home againe. I organized my things and played 'Phase Ten' with the kids, but I definitly noticed that they are older and do not approch me the way that the younger children at my first placement did.
By now a week and a half have passed and I have gotten used to my new suroundings, but things are still new and different. I am mostly working in the household and with the kids. Today I vaccumed and mopped the whole house and I cook lunch once again everyday.
The kids love to play ' Phase Ten' so we do that in the afternoons quite often. We have gone tobboganing, but the kids keep telling me that they are sick and tired of the snow. I too am looking forward to the spring.
This coming weekend I am visiting my family in Bechterdissen. This is always really good for me. I get to go to a place where I am not new and where the surroundings are not new.

Hi Friends!!

well, it has been quite some time since I have last visited my blog, let alone writen some words about what I have been up to. Writing just isn't really my thing I have noticed more and more. Talking is way easier!
So, I have been in Europe for six months now. This is half way time, but it really does not seem like it. I was thinking about it the other day and the thought occured to me that many people only leave for six months and I desided that I would definitly not be ready to come home yet. I am not ready to switch to my new placement in a week either.
I have been here in Dühren-Sinsheim with Familie Aberle for six months now, and I have enjoyed every moment here, but I feel like I have only jsut arrived here in things such as making friends and connecting to people my age. If kind of feels like packing up camp when you have just started to set up the tent.
January has definitly been a good month. We have had lots of snow. I have gone tobboganing with the kids quite a bit and today we even started shoveling a pile for a quinzy. The are so excited to build a 'Schneehöhle' just like we do in Canada.
Christmas was also very nice. I got to spend this time with my relatives and it was wonderful to finally have this childhood dream of spending Christmas with my Oma and cousins come true. I was sick, but had a wonderful time none the less. It was good to be among people who know me, where I am not always new.
As of Febuary 8th I will be at my new placement with Familie Fellmann. I am very excited about this, but the goodbyes are always hard and saying good bye here will be no exception!
Till next time! :)