05 July 2010 ~ 0 Comments

Maddy’s June Report

YEP News
This month was a very heated one, it was the start of one of the Germans greatest obsessions- The FIFA WORLD CUP- FUßBALL (soccer) it is a passion that Germans can’t get enough of. On the weeks leading up to the beginning of the Fifa world cup, shops had already covered their whole store with the German flag, decorations in the German colours (black, yellow, red), while the cars were smothered with magnets, Hawaiian lays, and the German flag flying on the roof of the cars. The houses had all their windows filled with German posters, pictures of their favourite soccer players and of course a huge German flag waving in their garden. There is even a special beer that ONLY ever comes out when the World cup is on, and the conversation would always somehow end up on the topic of soccer. With my luck of course Australia had to be playing Germany in the first match, I went all out, wearing the Australian flag as a cape, wearing an Australian top and had a miniature flag around my leg. It was when I arrived at the public viewing with all my friends and saw no other Australians that I then realized I had two conclusions to the story:

1-         If Germany wins- I will suffer public humiliation and have jokes thrown at me about how bad Australia plays soccer the next day at school OR

2-         If Australia wins- chased by an angry mob of Germans with an evil, deadly look in their eye.Either way I was going to loose but I still had a plan, run away as fast as I can after the game finishes. As you all probably know Germany won extensively, 4-0, I was a little disappointed but sadly known Australia would loose before but that does not change the amount of fun I had there, the atmosphere of excitement was felt by everyone there and the thrill of it all was mind blowing.  I just returned from Lubeck, where my host sisters grandparents live, we spend 1 week there with just Julia, her 2 cousins, Oma, Opa and I. It was wonderful; the whole week was full of beautiful weather so we were outdoors the whole time, driving to the beach, going to an adventure park and to my delight water skiing! In Australia my family went regularly on the boat- skiing, fishing, travelling so to go water skiing again was amazing! It reminded me so much of home. I’ve also learned during my stay here the Germans love their ice-cream, we ate it in winter when there was snow and -8 degrees so in summer it’s nearly every hot day, if you open an ice-cream shop in Europe I guarantee it will succeed. Earlier in the month I also went with some friends to Hannover for the Plaza Festival, it was the most beautiful, hot day so far in the year- so said the radio and I completely agree. We went and saw Milow, Silbermond, and Xavier Naidoo, it was a great, fun day. This month also included the start of the summer holidays, but also the end of my class, they had been together for 5 years and now they would all be going different classes or schools it was incredibly sad because I love my class they are amazing people and have so far made my exchange the best, I remember it was my 3rd month and they were discussing what was going to be on their class jumpers for the end of the year, I’d only known them for a little while but they made sure my name was included in the jumper with all their names, claiming I was part of the class now. My class and friends have included me in everything, in class activities, and outside school activities, so for it to end like this is sad I’m going to miss them all.

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