Hello My Darlings!

Bon Soir!
I need to keep writing to all of you because I have had many requests for more blog entries haha. I find it difficult at times to write but I will make sure I keep up with it because I know this will be good for me in the future and a lot of you enjoy reading which makes me happy :). Soooo it's Monday evening, J is upastairs practicing violin and I am just writing a quick blogaroo...I hope you realize that when I say I miss you every single time that I really do miss you! My heart never stops missing you all!!! Ok so...my last entry was on Thursday and I have had some fun since then!
I went to Germany on Friday morning which was really really early. I had to be at Paris Nord which is a train station at 6:25 AM because that was when my train left for Koln or Cologne in french and we pronounce it Koeln...the German version which is the first one up there is supposed to have 2 little dots above the O but I really don't know how to add those so sorry about that! hahaha But my idea was to leave the house very early so that I had plenty of time to find my train and prepare for my trip and pray that there were no strikes..
Well I have a listing of the time table for the train by my house and it said the first train came at 4:40 AM....so I left the house at like 4:32 and literally sprinted...full sprint not kidding here....with my luggage and all....in my boots....worked up a sweat....got it? Haha ok so I sprinted to the train station to guarantee that I would catch the earliest train.....WELLLLLLLL apparently that time table was wrong because as I approached my platform the screen informed me that my first train would arrive at 5:20....cold and alone I sat and waited for the 45 minutes that it took for my train to arrive. It was pitch black outside too because it was soo early....but I felt good after my small little work out of sprinting to the station to start my day....I finally got on the train when it came along with a mere 5 other people and arrived at Le Gare St. Lazare where I had to catch the RER E which is similar to the metro....I took the RER E from there to Paris Nord and then found my train in Paris Nord. I was excited that it was not on strike and once the screen signified which platform my train was on I walked to find my seat.
I was finally on the train! I was headed for Germany and it was exciting! The train was full and I had to use my ticket from the previous day because there were no cheap tickets if I wanted to exchenge it...the lady told me it would be ok to use my ticket on Friday and it would be the same as if I had gone on Thursday. I was worried about this and I was hoping there weren't going to be any problems with my seat or anything. There was a group of high school age kids with a leader who said that their seats included the one I was sitting it but it didn't matter because there were enough seats in that car so it was no big deal. PHEW that scared me but I was fine after that. Once the ticket man came around to check the tickets I was nervous as well because I was not completely certain my ticket was alright but I was just going off of what the woman had told me the day before and I assumed she knew what she was talking about because she worked for the train company :)....The group of high schoolers that I mentioned really made me realize how crazy languages are...What I mean is that they were all interchangeably using German, French, and English! And not just the formal versions of these languages that we learn in school but really sounded like they knew the slang and all of the normal talk that we use in English. It made me really jealous that they could easily transition from one language to another and know each language so well!
I think a lot of German people are required to learn English in school and I think I have heard before that when you learn at least 2 languages when you are young it is easier to learn more languages later in life, and also that your brain is more advanced and children who know multiple languages growing up are more educationally advanced...now I have not done any studies on this nor do I know that it is a fact but in theory it sounds like it could be true!
I really think it made me realize how hard I want to work to learn French because I just love hearing the language and I want to be able to speak it and understand everything. Sometimes I get caught up in the little things and realize how overwhelming everything is when you think about all of the tiny steps it will take to get to where you want to be...BUT I have recently decided to focus only on the big picture and just keep my goal in mind so that I do not freak out with all of the small steps along the way. I just need to make each small step apart of the big picture and I will eventually be so good that you would think I was French!!!
Question...would you Americans still love me if I turned French? I mean I am quite irresistable I know but...hahaha Just kidding :)
So I was riding the train and studying French and listening to music and playing games on my phone and it was really relaxing and peaceful! The train ride was about 3 hours and 45 minutes but there were a few stops on the way. finally I arrived in Koln where I had to wait about an hour to catch another train to my destination, Paderborn! Here I had to ask an information lady which platform my train would be on and I heard her speaking English to people just before me but she gave me a little attitude when I was asking her questions....that did not make me feel very welcome haha but Oh well...I was told that German's often sound angry whenever they talk so maybe that is what it was hahaha
I found my train and got on...the ticket I had was printed from the internet and I had to show proof of my credit card when I was on the train to make sure it was me. I forgot about this and the man asked me to see my Visa....ok so I got out my passport and he said no Visa card...and then I felt silly but I realized what was going on! hahaha ohhh those visas....
So the train from Koln to Paderborn was very desolate for a while until we stopped a few more times and then it filled up! I was having a lot of fun because Germany is soooo pretty and the land is beautiful and as the train sped by I captured pictures of the scenery. The train from Koln to Paderborn was about 2 hours and 20 min but there were sooo many stops on this train. Without stops it would have been a lot faster I am sure!
I arrived in Paderborn!! YAY!! sooo exciting! And I walked out front and Twig was waiting! I was happy to see him and it really felt good to see a familiar face....very comforting! So we drove around for a little bit and then went to Mcdonalds! My first experience with fast food on this trip....and it was delicious! Twig was busy with basketball stuff so for a few hours I just chilled at his apartment and watched a movie. His apartment is really nice though and he has a million and one movies...not exaggerating hahaha After he had practice we went to the grocery store and made dinner and then just watched a movie and I drank some beer...which by the way German beer is very good! I was worried it would be bitter because I HATE bitter beer but the kinds that I had were not bitter at all so I was happy about that.
So the next day we drove around the city some more but the weather was bad and rainy so we didn't get out to walk around but we decided that I would try to drive his car since it is a manual. I need to get some kind of practice in before these driving lessons that I will have coming up....that will be a laugh! hahahahaha
So I was excited to drive the car and as I began I surprised myself and Twig because I was actually not that bad....of course the transition from stop to start was not the smoothest and my confidence was low but once I tried it for a few minutes my confidence grew and I got better! It is not as difficult as I thought but we were only in a parking lot and I was too scared to go near any cars. I ended up driving onto the road but pulled over to the side when I realized the road led to a busy area....NOT COOL!!! hahaha so we switched and went back home. Twig's game was far away on Saturday so I could not go :( I was sad but oh well...haha I am going to try to go back again and actually see a game! So while he was gone I started to walk into town and I found a couple of shoe stores along my way. I looked for a while and at the second store I found a really cute pair of shoes that took me a while to decide on buying but they were only 30 euros and they were my size and they were sooooo cute! It is very difficult to find my size in France (even though I haven't looked yet) but I was really happy and excited...I am at the check out and they tell me that they do not accept VISA!!! What the heck? Visa is supposed to be accepted everywhere! Then I got out my American card and tried to use that because it was MasterCard....BUT that was unacceptable as well....I was sooo upset....the shoes I really wanted had to say goodbye :( Oh well so I kept walking until I reached the supermarket where we bought our groceries the night before and there was a little stand with a man making gyro-type things and I got one and then started to head back to the apartment because it was really dark and things were closing. On the way back I stopped by the gas station where I bought some more beer and THEY accepted Visa so I was happy about that!!!
I was walking and enjoying the feel of the country and I just got this feeling that Germany was really safe and clean and that no bad things happen there because that is how it seems....then all of a sudden right after this thought crosses my mind, a GIANT white van pulls up onto the curb slowly, right in front of me and next to where I would be walking in like 2 seconds......and a man gets out and starts speaking to me in German and I think he was asking for directions but I don't really know and all I said to him was "English" "English" hahahaha...soooo that kind of creeped me out but then I realized they were not creepers they were just lost....
I made it back to the apartment to watch some movies and use Twig's phone that could call numbers in the US...I know I did not get the chance to call ALLLLLL of you but it was good to hear some familiar voices! I think we really take using the phone for granted :)
Twigster got home at like 1:30 AM or something and I had the key so he had to ring the bell but I was confused and scared that it was someone else because in the hallway it was pitch black...I was on the phone with Shay at the time...remember that? hahaha But then I realized I had to push a button and it was all ok!
On Sunday we just chilled in the morning until T drove me to the train station at like 2PM and we bought a ticket and then said goodbye and I was on my way back to Paris. The train I took back to Koln stopped in Hamm and I had to catch another train but that was easy peasy....The thing that I screwed up on was getting off in Koln...what an idiot!!! SO I got off at the station before the one I was supposed to be in and I was like ummmm this does not look familiar and this is definitely the wrong station...it said Koln but it was not the main Koln...I was walking and trying to tell myself that I was right and it would all be ok but then I realized I was DEAD WRONG!!!! I just went back up to the area where I had gotten off and found a nice young boy who knew how to speak some English! I was telling him my dilemma and he pointed me to platform 10...which means nothing to you I know haha....but he told me that platform always stops in Koln Hbf which is the main station....sooooo I got on the train and everything was ok and I ended up in Koln!!! YAY!
While I was in the station waiting for my train I used the restroom and had to pay 1 euro and that was the first time I did that...actually no I take that back after I saw a movie in Paris I payed to use the restroom as well but it was different because in Paris it was a man who just took my money and at the train station in Koln it was a machine that would not open unless you put money in kind of like at the train station when you are exchanging trains or on the metro when you pass through the thing....for those of you who know what I mean....But I remember things like that when my family and I traveled to Europe in 2007.
That is another reason why America is so great hahaha we never have to worry about paying to use a restroom...I mean that seems odd but I can understand it I suppose....
So I made it back to Paris and it seemed to me like I had a sign on my back that said "Take me please" because a lot of things have been happening that make me feel like people notice me easily or might take me....hahaha of course this is a bit of an exaggeration (Parents do not be alarmed) but I just think it is funny! I forgot to mention that when I was waiting for my train from Koln to Paderborn a man was talking to me and told me that he saw me waiting at the Paris Nord station....and he was asking me what I was doing and said that he hoped to see me again in Paris...it was really weird and I did not like that haha Luckily he did not get on the same train to Paderborn!!!
But when I was back in Paris I was looking at the screen to be sure which platform to go to so I could get back to St. Lazare...a man came up to me while I was looking and said "La Gare St. Lazare?" And I was like yes, it's here? And he said yes...and then he asked where I was from and I said USA! hahaha But it's like how did he know that I was going to La Gare St. Lazare?? I found that a little odd but I guess it is a pretty big station and I was near that platform so maybe he was just trying to be nice....for now I will just stick with the "everyone is trying to take me" theme because it is more entertaining! hahaha
I got home around 10:30 and I felt good to be back! I had such a great weekend but I realized something on the train back to Paris....The French language is now beginning to sound familiar and provide comfort to me, just as English does when you are in a foreign place. That made me realize that I have finally made this my new home and I am so happy that it brings me comfort. Sometimes you have to take a step back and re-evaluate what you have to realize it's something worth having. I think we all need to do that with a lot of things in life because we lose sight of these things too easily and it is so important to stay grounded and really keep in mind the blessings we have. I just think from now on I will try harder to not take things for granted...it is a very difficult thing to do but I will try.
I have been doing a lot of self exploration since I have been gone and I really want to become a better person...there are a lot of things I should work on which will take a while...but hey, realizing it is the first step right?
I am grateful for the opportunity to be sitting here in Paris and be able to really have amazing experiences and really reflect on myself as a person. I just really, truly love my life and I could never have done any of this without all of you! You guys are amazing and I pray for you all of the time!!! You are forever in my prayers and my heart. A quote I keep in mind a lot is this:
~**Never make your home in a place. Make a home for yourself inside your own head. You'll find what you need to furnish it - memory, friends you can trust, love of learning, and other such things. That way it will go with you wherever you journey**~
I found this quote online and I do not remember who it is by but it is soooo true!!! It is amazing and I love it..when I first got here I missed home and felt like I was not at home but when I think about it....no matter where I am I will always have my friends and family, I will always have my memories and every experience I have had....those will always be there....my physical home and my town or country...those may not always be there and I may not always stay in one spot...this quote is really the best quote!!!!
I hope you all know that you each help make up part of what I consider to be "home" and it feels so great to know that I have such a strong support system.
I thank God everyday for an amazing life!
I Love you sooo much and I will again soon but I am actually not done with this blog yet....
Ok sooooo I woke up today and I had my french film class which is a JOKE...not like it's stupid but it's hilarious because it is not about French film really....I met a girl in my class who seems awesome so that is good! And she doesn't live too far from me so we are going to try to hang out soon! But in this class the man is really funny but the thing that makes me laugh is because it is mostly about learning verbs and things and not really watching films...I went today for the first time and was 30 minutes late because of my great sense of direction again! hahaha but it is really relaxed and not a big deal and plus, I have been studying a lot of french on my own!
I am excited for this class because it is funny, interesting, and really intriguing...I think I will get something out of it!
After class I came back to the house for a little bit to eat lunch and chill and then pick J up from school and go to her mom's to do homework and learn a little bit of English. I need to get in touch with some people who teach ESL or English in general because I would like some advice but for now I am doing alright I think. I am probably going to try to print some worksheets offline and try to keep it fun! If you have any suggestions or know anyone who might I would love to know!
I know a lot of teachers as well so I am working on contacting them to see if they know of anything that would help me!
Now I am just finishing this blog after dinner...cordon bleu and pasta...it was good! But I need to go take care of some paperwork and I will write again soon....I promise...I hate to leave ya'll hanging! hahaha
MUAH XOXOXOXO Bisou Bisou!!!
Love You ALL!!
Miss you ALWAYS!!
Talk SOON!!
Jess