My 17th Birthday Abroad and Karneval Begins

So.... I haven't updated my blog in a while (I am a master at stating the obvious).
So... I am only going to talk about things that have happened that may be considered somewhat interesting....

I turned 17 in a foreign country.... that's pretty cool I guess. Birthdays are a pretty thing in Germany for most people.

I started out my birthday magnificently.... by reading all the birthday cards from family at home. (By the way.... my sister's are always the best.... they always make me cry)

Then, we ( had a huge buffet style breakfast at the house. (We is my host mother, host father, Julia (my host sister), all of Julia's siblings (Sabrina, Verena, Kristina, Hendrick, and Markus), Oma, both Hendrick's and Markus's girlfriends, Sabrina's husband and her 1 year old daughter. )As you can tell, there were a LOT of people around and almost all were hear through breakfast, lunch, and coffee and dessert.

Later, I had some girls over for UNO, Take it Easy, and snacks. It was a lot of fun.

My host mom and Julia gave me a winter hat and scarf as well as the very thoughful gift of an elephant necklace, since they have heard mention how I like elephants multiple times. Oma gave me socks that she knitted and yummy candy. I recieved flowers from Zoey and Sabrina as well as Hendrick and his girlfriend, a disney princess themed advents calender from Kristina, and a mixed CD of German hits from 2012, an advents calender by the company with the best chocolate, a new card game, and a variety of girly hygiene products all from different girls that came that night to hangout.

Then of course, I skyped with the family at home... ALL of the family at home.... except for those that don't live in Kansas. It was great getting to see everyone and talk to them a bit though, it would have been better if the video was working properly. my birthday was fun.... and I can now have something new to say if I ever play "never have I ever" (the non-drinking boring version) with my theater friends again :).

My host family and the friends that came over later in the day made me feel at home and made my birthday away from home memerable and enjoyable.


So, Karneval began on Sunday. There was a parade and then lots of talking, dancing, hanging out, and drinking. In the parade all of the dance groups march in there traditional Karneval costumes a few blocks and then there is a formal introduction of this years prince, princess and the mundschenk (which is the person in charge of alcohol or something like that from what I understand. Only people that do Karneval and the dance groups every year march in the parade because the costume that is required is complicated and I believe expensive. However, Verena (Julia's sister who is in our dance group for Karneval) couldn't make to the parade.... so I took her place.

And then, when everyone was going to go up and get there medallion like medals that they get every year (I got one too!! :) and I get to keep it) they presented me on stage.... I felt a bit awkward...

However, It was all fun. And... I was told by the guy talking to me in the picture above (he's president of the Klein Koln (Wüllen) Karneval) that I am the first ever American to wear a guard uniform (it's what they call the dance group costumes).... :) I guess that's cool.


Other than my birthday and Karneval, there isn't really anything interesting to present.

  I miss everyone, but I think the fact that Ican no longer remember some common English words is a god thing.... I hope it means that my German is improving...

Sending my greetings and well wishes all the way from Germany.

               Madison Jeannine Wallace