Rachel Kirk - QLD to Germany (One Week Later)

Mon 30 Nov 2009

Rachel Kirk, from QLD, is currently on a 2 month student exchange program in Germany. She writes:

"So here I am, one week later in Germany. The time has gone by so fast. But, lets start at the beginning.

First, I had to travel to Sydney. Once there myself and others waited pretty patiently for our next flight, considering it was delayed by about 30 minutes. Got on the plane and then traveled to Bangkok, that part of my journey went off without a hitch.

Then came the fun part.... our flight was delayed again. By one hour. Yep, one hour. 60 minutes, 1/24th of day. Then of course there had to be a strong head wind and the lovely British Airways decided to rebook the German kids flight. Gotta love the British. Finally got all the paperwork and thought we forwarded our luggage safely so we all hopped on the plane, excited and ready to go. And then disaster. Turns out, that out of all the bags in all the world, mine and Katie’s (another student's) got left in London. Imagine our shock when our names are heard over the loudspeaker in a foreign airport. Fun Fun.

Stayed the night with DFSR, (partner organisation in Germany) and got a very warm jacket before traveling to my host family (with my luggage that finally arrived) who by the way are the best. Claudia and Andreas are so friendly and nice and funny, I'm having the best time.

Anyway, the first few days were me sleeping off jetlag and going to my first day of school.
So I bundled on my layers only to peel them off the second I stepped inside the school. And the schools here are so... relaxed. For example, today I only had two hours of Biology and then I went home, I had the rest of the day free.

Everyone here is so pleasant and the towns and landscapes are just beautiful. And the history, woah! And the steps - double woah. You see in my little town of Redland Bay, we have only a few stairs, maybe the odd one here and there. But here in Germany, I swear there is a competition to see which area has the most steps in the hillsides and within the houses.

By the time I go back to Australia, my legs are going to be awesome. Everyday I go up and down flights of stairs at the school and at home. Here, at the house my room is on the top floor and there is also a cellar. Who needs a gym? Oh and my room. One word. Enormous - like a bed, two cupboards, lounge, desk and balcony enormous.

I am also slowly understanding more and more. Little phrases and I am learning quite a few words. But the teachers talk way too fast and write really, really messily for me to totally get the gist of the lessons this past week. But its good. I am loving Germany and the people and my host family. I'm going shopping tomorrow with my host mother and I can't wait. The first week has been an adventure and I can't wait to see what lies in store.

Bis später,
Rachel"

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