Celebrating holidays!Suttya laglya.Sutya laglya:D

I have always loved travelling. Wanting to explore more places,meeting new people,observering things has always been my hobbies. I had Autumn vacations on then.I thought it was a great idea when my host family told me we were going to for a vacation in Austria! Austria always seemed such a foreign pretty land. And now I was really going to go there!:D. My family warned me in advance and told me to take warm clothes with me as it was going to be really cold..

And well it was really cold! We drove for around 12-13 hours,which including a ride from a ferry from Boden See. Boden See is a lake which is situated in Germany, Switzerland and Austria. It was so fastinating as I could Austria, Switzerland and Germany being in water! My host dad pointed out to a place and said 'Oh that is black forest there!' And I was like 'Oh my god!'. There was so much happiness within me. Specially since I'm in Europe and the trasport system is ultra super duper cool I wanted to see more and more places. We reached the hotel at around 9p.m. We were served with great food,and a smiling caretaker called 'Petra'. We were going to stay with my whole host dad 's family. Oma(grandfather) ,Opa(grandmother), Felix ,Johanna, Leonard , Sarah, Itay , Andreas and Ulrike. The next day we went for a super long hicking trip. The place is SO pretty that it was totally worth walking forever. I could see the Alps in front of me, flowers , greenery everywhere I saw! We carried lunch with us all the way and stopped where we got shelter. The thing that amuses me was,even though we walked that far the men still had their beer/ wine. My host dad opened this bottle and I offered him a plastic glass which was next to me. And he was like,' it doesn't taste if you don't have the right glasses'. And he removed glass glasses from his bag! I was so surprised. Well at home here, for different types of beers he has different glasses! How cool is that!

The weekend in Austria was great as I got to know more people closely. I actually had someone to call 'Oma', 'Opa' which just always seemed text book names. We played different types of games, saw places and had great fun! But oh,it doesn't end here. On your way back we went through Switzerland. It was So pretty! Switzerland needed a different visa before,but now no more. I could enter Switzerland!!Whoo hoo. And we just crossed borders in a matter of minutes. It was like one moment I said I'm in Austria. And the other I said ohh,now I'm in Switzerland! In India my sister and me would be happy when we would see boards saying we are in different states. Here it was countries!:D. Austria and Switzerland are right next to each other but still they have physical differences. Switzerland is more greener then Austria. Its stange why..

But both the places are surely worth seeing atleast once in your lifetime!

My second trip was a family vacation to Thüringen. This time it was just my host mom,host sister,host dad and me. We have a small cottage there. And one of the reasons other then sight seeing ofcourse was working. Like the house,organising things,cutting grass as no one stays there. Thüringen was cold! Like really cold. I saw snow for the first ever time! Whoo hoo:D.But wait,forget that I saw snow. I don't want that snow to by my 'first snow' because well it was in a parking lot! Hhehe..ya really. We were driving around Thüringen and my host parents saw snow in a parking lot,so to show me we went inside. I touched it,took pictures,it was snow! Snow for real:D. The cottage we stayed in was like kind of in a middle of a forest. I had n't seen those type of trees before. Trees with really long trunks. And Oh my god! I learned how to ice skate. My host dad and sister taught me,and I could pretty much do it by the end. They also showed me a Skii-ng and snow jumping places. My Thüringen trip was wonderful! It included- a visit to Goethe mall (a lot of Gothe things are standing in Thüringen as that is where he lived), seeing Gothe and Schiller, the Bauhaus Museum (a art museum), a really interesting glass factory visit, a lot of other tourist places, a wonderful picture taking time which my host sister. It was actually this cold that I saw ice on the floor! Like as we see puddles,there was ice. And ya,we went to this italian restaunt. And the man taking our order looked at me and said 'I'll make your pizza spicy'( I think he realised where I was from and that I eat spicy food). And I was all happy as I was going to get spicy food after that long. I nodded in excitement. Well I expected the pizza to be german spicy,but it was indian spicy! Like really. I was like oohh its great but its even spicy for me! I don't think I should even mention my family 'y reaction when they tired it.heheh.. Well I don't know if it was really spicy for if my tongue is turned German. But never the less,I almost finished it off :D

Thüringen trip was really quality family time. We played so many card games. It was great fun. Again after driving for like eight hours or something we reached home. We opened the door,came inside and the house really felt like home. Really like home...

Today is my host mom 's birthday:). My host sister made really good cookies. My host brother,sister and I gave a gift and a card together.. And we had some great home made cheese cake at home too!:D

Happy Birthday Gertraud. Danke für alles^^

German Diwali^^

Day before yesterday,I was sitting and having breakfast with my host mother. Suddendly then my phone rang. I had a message. A message from my Indian friend wishing me 'Happy Diwali'. I was surprised. I knew I was going to miss Diwali, but I wasn't prepared that it would be this soon! I told my host mom about Diwali. And she gave me this awesome idea of celebrating it. So we did yesterday evening^^
Diwali is a festival of light. They light diyas-cotton string wicks inserted in small clay pots filled with oil -to signitfy victory of good over evil in an individual.

We invited all the exchange students living in my area and three other families. While inviting them I asked them if they could dress indian^^. I wanted it to be a total Indian evening,including the sitting arrangement. As I had told them,I was ofcourse dressed totally indian. Including bangles,punjabi dress,and 'tikli'.I drew rangoli around the house. Rangoli is a colourful sand,and one can make all types of designs with it. My host sister helped me with it. We decorated the house with flowers. We did not have diyas so we put candles around the house instead. Prepared a special type of lamp which they always put up during diwali called 'Akashkandil'. We had heena designs on the hands. I was amused as one of the lady came to me with a Sari and asked me to show her how one wears it. I was amused at the enthusiasm . All the ladies got tiklis(a dot which Indian ladies wear,on their forehead) And yes I can't forget we had indian music,which means I danced :). And so did everyone else. And Oh! I had a surprise of fire crackers in the end. I was singing 'din din diwali' while bursting them ;)
For snacks we had 'bhakarwadi','chivda','khakra' served with indian tea called 'chai'. For dinner we had 'roti'(indian bread), chicken, panner(cottage cheese). Roti is supposed to be round! I tired my best, somewhere got near it but all weren't exactly round. And for desert we had 'laddoo'(round indian sweet,which they told me tastes like caramel).

The evening was really fun! It was filled with questions about indian culture,traditions and ofcourse diwali. The fun part was seeing Germans eat with hand. I haven't even seen any German eat french fries with hands, seeing them eat a whole meal with hands was adorable^^.
I'm on a cultural exchange. I'm here to learn more about German culture. But at the same time,I carry my culture with me. And India indeed has a great culture. A culture which is rich and diverse in its very own way. We have a lot of indian festivals. And Diwali is one of the biggest festivals in India. I 'm really lucky because I got to celebrate Diwali in Germany. They wanted to know more about the culture. They wanted to see my life style at home. And yes they wanted me to feel like home..
I can't express my emotions how happy I was after celebrating it on this large scale. Thank you everyone who was a part of it. Thank you my host family specially to my host mom for helping me with everything :D

Its amazing how small things bring joy to lifes ^^

Der Angbeginn/The Beginning

The first day:
My host parents,my counselor and her husband came to pick me up. I didn't know whether to shake hands or hug or talk German,but we just figured it out. The start was great! Looked like they were happy because I was there. And that is a great feeling :). They picked me up at Frankfurt airport. We live in Bad Neuenahr Ahrweiler(which I can NEVER pronounce because Germans have a different sounding 'r'). The road looked so pretty! The sun was shinning bright. I was tired,but I didn't feel it. I was talking and talking the whole drive. After reaching Bad Neuenahr we dropped my counselor off. My host parents told me it was the weekend and they eat special type of bread. They asked me if I want to come along with them to buy it. My first ever German supermarket visit:D. And Oh my god. They were SO many types of bread. I'm sure in my entire life I did not see that many breads which I saw at once :). My host dad asked me if I want to choose a bread. I just selected the best looking one! By this time my Indian phone was still with me,and it kept giving me really sweet messages. After the supermarket we were going home! The new home,I was so excited to meet my host siblings. We entered the house and there was a big welcome card for me. Which was totallyy sweet! I was so happy being home. They showed me around the house. The house is really pretty! A lot lot more different then any Indian houses I had seen(ofcourse!). It has a pretty lawn. And I have my own room which gives me a nice view from my window:). I was jet lagged. I need to sleep. After sleeping like half the day I got up. I saw my bag, the new room, new smell that was when I realised I was alone. Alone by myself in this pretty land! I am not going to see 'my people' for a year. I'm the one who is going to set rules for myself. And yes ofcourse going to have the time of life!:D

It's exactly been one month and 14 days since I am in Germany. I truely love it here. I'm staying with family Feist,who try their best to make me feel like a part of their family.My host parents: Host dad(Hubertus:50), host mom(Getraud:47) and my three siblings(Daniel:18(who was also exchange student to Canada), Benedikt:16(who is now in India) ,Thekla:14). My German is still pretty bad,but I understand a lot more now. I can't wait to get better at German.

Important events which have taken place since the time I am here :
1) Wine fests: The part of Germany I live in is known for red wine. There was also a parade with people walking with wine,and trationally dressed. They have these really cool festivals for everyone!;)
2)Met my fellow Exchange Students: Two Americans(David Loring:18 and Signe Carlson:16). two Mexicans (Marcos Raul Salido Portugal) and one Argentinian(Olivia Brugna:18) live in the same town/village I live in. We all go to the same school(exp:Olivia as she is been here since six months).And important,they are all very since people. I'm glad I have them with me because not oly German culture but I also learn their cultures. The Mexican guy also happens to be my neighbour:).

3)German classess: My host mom teaches me German. And my host sister wants me to learn it better so she refuses to hear any English from me.So partly she would be responsible for my German progress ;). I'm so happy that I'm getting better!
4)I got my visa extended: Yayy! So I can by law stay in Germany till the 1.08.2010. And started getting my pocket money from the Rotary.
5)I started riding the bike all my myself: Well has the road system in India is other way around I had problems in the start. But then everytime I left my house,my host mother would keep saying'right,right':).
6)School started: School was filled with experiences. School is a really nice place to go as I deal with people of my age,who think differently. School helps me get better at the language because well its a German medium school and they teach only in German.The start was crazy! I would sit there looking around,drawing in my book,counting the number of people in the class,and once counting the trees outside ;). My school name is Peter Joerres Gymnasium. The school looks totally like an aquarium to me :). Its all glass covered,so when you sit in the class it always seems so fresh. But at the same time I wonder what I'm going to do in winter! In German school system one has to take three Leistungs Kurse(major courses) and remaining(I don't know the exact number,6 or 7 minor cources :) ). My School begins at 7.55 and ends at 5. Each student has a big timetable and he/she has to come accordingly in school. My Subject are:Sport,Art,English(Major cources) and Deusch(German),Mathe,Art(minor cources). Well,one cannot take Sport and Art together but because I requested them I got them. My fellow exchange students have more subjects then me. That's the main reason why I go home early then them(and usually yell a big 'bye bye' while going :P).
7)Making Friends: I made some friends at school. I love hanging around with them because its fun but at the same time I'm learning. Well that's the best part about being a exchange student. Whatever you do,you always learn.Like the other day I was watching t.v. And I watched it for like three hours,but well it wasn't really watching t.v. it was learning German ;).
8)Rotary meetings: My Rotary club had a introduction meeting for us. Wearing our Rotary Blazers. During the club meeting I observed that they don't usually clap but instead 'knock' on the table. And everytime they did it I could not help but laugh! The second Rotary meeting was a district welcome meeting with around 70 Exchange Students,from all over the world. It was really awesome.
9)Weekend at Solingen with Exchange students: Rotex organised a weekend with all the exchange students. Which was full on fun,energy and dancing!:D. Oh look!Now I have friends all over the world.

10)Visits to Bonn and Köln: Visited Bonn and Köln with friends and family a couple of times so far. All of them were great fun! The lastest one wass Bonn with host parents to see a light and water show. It was really cool,as the water moved according to the music.
11)Art Club:Started a art club with my host mom which is every Wednesday. I love Art!And I love going there. The Art club lady is very cheerful and always gives me coffee and some snacks :).
12)Volleyball :I started playing volleyball at a closeby club. I played vollyeball around six year in my school in India and always hoped that I would get to play it here! And yayy :D
13)Rönrad: This sport is like wheel gymnastics. i'm doing something like this for the first time ever. I love it!
14)Missing people at home: I love the here life! But I think about people at home too. I'm not homesick. I wasn't from the time I am here. But I love everyone at home :)

That's about it for now. Gute Nacht. Süße Träume.
Love :D

If you are happy and you know it!:)

Germany! Germany!*clap clap clap*.

The last couple of days in India were the fastest I have ever experienced. I remember counting days. They moved like fire,I didn't even realise when the two digit number turned into one. And finally turned into the last three days!

Being a exchange student has always been my dream . My family always host 's exchangies. I could not wait to have the experience myself! And here I am! Germany!Whoo hoo :D. I remember right from the start. My parents and me had a discussion on where I wanted to go,after which I knew I wanted to go somewhere in Europe. Filling up the huge Rotary forms, interviews seemed never ending then(I have to give credits to my sister and my best friend here)! Then came the country selection day. I had my fingers crossed. By this time I knew I wanted to go to Germany,and I really wished I could get it. In India,atleast where I stay(Pune) we have this system which our Rotary follows,they take our interview and then we are given ranks according to them. I was ranked 4th. The boy who was ranked before me got up to cross his choice. "Cross on anything but Germany",we prayed:). Well,Germany had just one seat. And my luck I got it!:D

I wanted to take Germany mainly because of the language. I learned German in my school,and I was the worst student ever! As most of the students,I strongly dislike studying. But when its coming in a new land,dealing with new people and having a new identity of your own then helll yeahhhh I'm totally up for it!

Rotary youth exchange is very well organised. Usually,someone from the place I'm going comes to the came place where I'm living. As I was going to Germany,I was going to have a boy from there coming to India. My German family wrote me before I was coming to India and sent me a photo along with it. I used to show it to everyone who visited me. "Look look my new family^^". I always asked them a billion on questions with each mail I wrote. My host family 's son was going to come to India. And well he came before I left for Germany. So I went to meet Benedikt in Mumbai. I wanted to know how the place was going to look like,I wanted to know the family 's interests,and sooo many other things! My meeting with him went great! I was excited then ever when he said,'You will fit perfectly in the family'! The fast moving last few days were full of googling pictures,having long talks with friends,spending more time with as many people as possible,eating all the food I love the most and days full of advice :).

August 20th Night:
I had my farewell party this night. I got really nice presents from my friends. My sister and my closest friends made a video for me. My friends gave me this scrapbook(which was totally hand made) with pictures and letters. One of my friend wrote me poems. *Reality check*. 'I'm leaving for real!'.

August 22nd Night:
My bags where packed. I was standing on the airport,with my closest friends and realitives around me. My mother giving me last minute instructions,my dad calling me and wishing me luck and the background people crying. I had always imagined this scene in my mind. But didn't ever expect it to come so soon. Being the person I am,I didn't want to cry. All I could imagine was that I was going to be in Europe!:D. It did not hit me then that I'm going to not really see these people for a year now.

My flight was about to reach. I could see the little roads,buildings outside my window. 'This is the place I'm going to stay for a year,this is the place which is going to give me never forgetting memories,THIS was Germany!' My flight was supposed to arrrive at 8a.m,but it arrived at 9-9.30a.m. I had so many thoughts in my head,I was full on excitement. I did not know what my future would be like. 'Would I recognise my family just because of the photo?','How would they welcome me'?'Would they understand the little German I speak'?' Pushing my lugguage with a huge smile on my face I finally went out of the arrival section.