Alltagsaktivitäten

I have been back in Heidelberg for about a week and a half now and I am all settled back in.  I have gone grocery shopping like 3 times already (mostly because I refuse to actually plan and keep forgetting little things I need, LOL), I just did a load of laundry and washed my sheets, and I have been having meetings for school and group projects out of the wazoo.  Basically, life is back to my normal routine and the last 3 weeks of the semester are winding down very quickly.

Honestly, I cannot wait for a break from classes.  I have honestly enjoyed them so much and this is probably the most actively engaged in school that I have been in quite some time, but the semester system is loonnngggg.  Back at DU, I am used to our fast-paced Quarter system with three 10-week quarters, rather than the slow 15-week semesters.  It will be nice to have a long break between semesters and hopefully get to sleep more.  My sleep schedule is the one thing that still hasn’t quite adjusted, unfortunately.

I do not have many plans in February as of right now.  I will mostly just be going to the gym (my mom and I started a new fitness program and we are loving the results weight lifting is giving us!), hiking on days it does not rain in Heidelberg (which are hard to find), and continuing with some activities at my church here.  March, however, is when the real fun begins! It is going to be a busy, busy month but I am so excited!  The new group of students from the AJY Program arrive March 4th, and the first week of orientation will just be everyone getting to know each other.  Then, my mom, my older brother, and his girlfriend will be flying in on March 8th.  We are going to do some trips within the southern and western parts of Germany.  We are spending two days in Bavaria (Bier and Bretzeln, anyone?), two days in Baden-Wuerttemberg (which is where Heidelberg is), and in Rhineland-Palatinate (also known as Rheinland-Pfalz, and that is where some of my family lives).  I am really excited to show off my meager German skills and explore more of the country that I call my home for the time being.

After that, my amazing Momma and I are flying to Ireland for the next week to celebrate her birthday, have an awesome girl’s trip, and just to see Ireland itself.  We will be starting on the western side of the country and visiting sights such as the Cliffs of Moher and lots of old, Irish castles and abbeys.  I cannot wait, especially as Ireland was one of the big bucket list trips I had when I first was looking at study abroad.

Finally, I have a few fun things planned for the first part of April, but that still needs to be hammered out a bit more.  And then classes start again on April 15th, I believe.  At that point, I will only have 3 1/2 more months in this beautiful country before heading home.  It is crazy to think about that.  I am finally getting into the stage where I know I won’t want to leave at the end of this, because I probably won’t ever have this same opportunity to travel, grow, and learn in my lifetime.  Additionally, going home will mean I am going to a new house that I have not actually lived in before, in a still undecided location, LOL.  Gotta love how slowly the Air Force gives out information.

All in all though, it will be nice to be back “home” in the US, at least.  There are also talks of doing a family trip to the Garrant Cabin in Maryland around the time I fly home, which will be the most perfect homecoming I could ask for.  My family’s cabin is truly my favorite place in the whole world.  And if any of my relatives are reading this, lets make this happen!!! I miss you all a whole bunch!

It has been a pretty wild ride so far but I still have a bunch of fun and busy plans for the near future.  For now, I am just budget shopping for groceries to save money for my big trips (the sad life of a poor college student, I’m afraid) and continuing my routine.

I hope everyone enjoyed the update on my life, and I hope everyone else is having as much fun as I am!

P.S.  I will post some more pictures on Facebook soon…maybe later today after I stop procrastinating on some homework, so check there for updates!