Today was American Day at Gzmnasium. We prepared presentations about where we live and provided the students with information about what our life is like back home in the United States. Since this travle group from Hanover High consists of students from both New Hampshire and Vermont, we split into 2 gropus and focused on tings that make our states unique. In addition, I assisted Mr.Lavigne in flipping his slides when he gave a presentation on his trip to Antarctica in 2000. He was part of a 'exchange' program with other scientists studying microorganisms in the soil. He also saw animals such as penguins and whales. It was an excelletn presentation, because it included pictures andd videos with music ato make things interesting. Many of the students enjoyed his presentation and I felt proud to be a part of such an unusual presentation.
At the beginning of the week, I was veryz uncomfortable going to school because everything was very odd for me. I have since adjusted, and now I look forward to waking up in the morning to go to classes with my host. I find that in most classes I still do not understand some things and that I still get very embarrassed or shy when teachers talk to me in German, but after today I feel like now they understand where I come fro mand what things I like. It felt really great to give presentations about my home because I was able to 'show off' the things that I often take advantage of. Several students inquired about if people at my school were proud of Mr.Lavigne after his presentations, because if you think about it, his trip was a very special thing for him and an honor in a sense. I told them that back home the school is very proud to have a teacher like Mr.Lavigne, because he is a down to earth guz who also loves teaching science (and he knows if very well!). In return, they told me that non of their teachers have had experiences like Mr.Lavigne; at one point they described their teachers as boring and uncool, while Mr.Lavigne was cool and refreshing.
Even with something as little as a presentation about where I live and in working with Mr.Lavige, today made me appreciate the little things about mz life in Vermont and the teahes that I have been taught bz. I value our friendships that I have with them more and the things that maybe people would consider as being boring back home I look at differently now too.
Tonight I went to a BBQ at one of the hosäs houses in the countrz. She lives about 20 minutes from Christiana, so we drove to her house. Four other American friends were there as well, so when we sat down to a wonderful dinner things were not awkward between us. I found that German was spoken bz everzone, but English was as well because it was easier for ust o communicate more efficiently. I have gotten to know several of the kids whom I was not very close to prior to the trip very well at this piont, so it was exciting for me to be able to hang out with them and have a good time. Once we got in the car to go home, I told Christiana that I hadn't laughed like I did tonight in a long time and enjoyed myself.
Life could not be better than it has been in the past week. For this, I am forever grateful.
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