Springtime.

Walking to school - I live where the tower is on the right side.

For the first time in my life, I've actually been able to experience Spring. Frühling. It's truly an amazing thing. I don't mean that technically, I mean that actually. Living in Minnesota, especially northern minnesota, you have winter fdrom October until May, and then you have mud with a few flowers for a few weeks, and summer is there. As many would quote - 'there are two seasons in minnesota - winter and road construction'. Southern Germany, or Bayern, is absolutely beautiful in Spring. The snow melted a while back, and the fields have been filled with dandelions and a small lilac colored flower that turn the entire country into a painting, filled with color. There's a magnolia tree in our backyard right now, and the petals that are falling right now really make me sad. It has such beautiful pink and white petals. The dandelions are now being cut (I always really disliked the weed, but seeing the fields from a distance changes your opinion) to keep healthy grass for the young cows growing in its place. Some of the dandelions will be made into a (so I've heard) extremely yummy honey, but most cut grass will be made into hay. This part of Bavaria used to be a large producer of flax ( with small blue flowers!), but the fields are now dedicated almost solely to the precious cows (that stink). The weather is, as predictable, extremely unpredicatble. Luckily, it's getting slowly better. About a month ago a day would go by with rain, snow, extreme winds and sunshine no problem - but with the now warmer weather I'm able to look outside and say 'tut tut, it looks like rain' (or not). Unfortunately, this week Allgäu recieved a cold spell - but things are looking up.
I just thought I'd add a few random pictures from what I've been up to lately.

Hiking the 'Karl Hinbeinweg' with Ulli and Johann outside of Kempten on Friday.

Stopping to play for a while (I am still a child at heart you know).

Walking home - Kempten's gray horizon behind me and some flowers :) .

At a rock concert with some friends (which I didn't know would be a rock concert, so decided to wear white to . . .). The bands made covers of famous rock songs (and a few not-so-famous songs), which was fun to dance to but not so wonderful to listen to.

At the 'Kemptener Jazz Frühling' with Rotary (3rd host mom Barbara is next to me) - Kempten has been hosting a Jazz festival every April for 25 years (Charlie Parker even played in the city one time!).

'Bread break' enjoying the sunshine at school - Lena and Johanna.

Visiting a friend - looking out over Kempten.