6 MONTHS.

February 4th and Id officially lived six months in another country. It was a very satisfying feeling. With my recent voracious reading, Ive also realized that I can read books in German only slightly slower than I read books in English, or maybe more difficult English books. February starts off with the Fasching season though, like Mardi Gras but in a german way. There are many 'costume balls' which I am quite excited about. I have a few pictures below from the first one I got to visit. This next half of the year should also bring a lot of travelling, which I am extremely excited about. It is amazing how fast time goes though. I found myself saying goodbye to a few exchange students (in my district as well as at school) from the southern hemisphere that were headed back for their next school year. It is very odd to not know when I could see them all again, or if I would at all. I also said goodbye to Theresa, who I know I already miss a little bit. She's currently on her own exchange in Vancouver, and I don't know when I'll see her next either. Host families really are an amazing thing. They of course don't live with the same principles or atmosphere or just plain lifestyle that your family does back home, but your host siblings turn out to be some of the people you feel the most close too, and your host families are your family when your here. They see you in most states, and they're the ones that know you best in a strange country. Its nice to have those connections.
I also have a few pictures below from New Years (yeah, finally). I figure though, my second half of the year started in February and so Im allowed to feel as the life really has started to speed up and get rolling in the last few weeks. I cut my hair over the break, and dyed it as well. On New Years day. Its kind of fun to have a change like that.

At my first Fasching Ball. There was a DJ there for most of the time, but in the middle of it this band in costume started to play, marching band music. It was really amazing.

Lisa went to the ball as a 'Hawaii Girl', and her brother Max is standing next to her. Yes, brother. I had never seen so many guys dressed in drag before Fasching. Not even at St. Urhos.

Lisa and I (I went as a sailor).

Some kids from my class and I.

German punk.

Back from the Weekend: In Geography, extremely bored. This is Sarah, an exchange student from Tasmania that used to sit by me all the time. She just flew back home.

Innauguration celebration.

Watching Handball - Id never seen it played before, its really quite cool. I like it better than Basketball and than Soccer, which it is sort of a combination of.

My 1st host sister Theresa (in purple) at her going away party. She left for a 6 month exchange in Canada last weekend. Its scary not knowing when I will see her again, because when she comes back I'll already be at home.

Older pictures from 'Sylvester', or New Years. Im reading a "Gummibear oracle book", how to tell your future based on what color combination you pick out of a bag of gummi bears.

Celebrating midnight right as it started to snow looking over Kempten ( we took a small hike at about 11.30 to celebrate New Years outside). I spent New Years with the majority of my friends from school, at one of their houses. I also had an Indian dinner with my host family that night.

Walking back.

Tired!

Ready for a change: Lisa dying my hair on New Years day.

I hope you're all taking care of yourselves and wearing good shoes, as Barbara (my current host mom) concistently reminds me.