A Traveler's Chapter: Friendship is Magical

Sorry, I've been M.I.A. for a while, but now I'm back. In an effort to enjoy myself even more here in Deutschland, I had decided to fast off of negative energy. With that, the past month of March has been pure highness of happiness. With April smoothly rolling in, I plan to keep this up to my very last day.

This post shall be highlighting my wonderful friends. All my wonderful friends. The friends I have back in the states. The friends I've made here in Germany and the friends I am to make in the future. This here's to you, here's to friendship, because it's simply magical.

"Make new friends but keep the old. One is silver and the other gold. A circle round and has no end. That's how long I want to be your friend," a short and sweet song my siblings and I love to sing as loud as possible. I find the lyrics to be so inspirational. What the people I love back home have taught me is to be loving to all, address the differences we recognize in one another, and recognize them as beautiful. I can't wait to get back home to the states and to laugh once again with them. 'Till then, I wish the ones back home a great rest of the school year. Stay in school, don't do drugs, keep cool, my friends.

The friends I made here in Germany include my host sister, friends from my program, and friends from school. And though they're few, they mean so much to me. The time I spent with them grew me in ways that I hoped I would always grow toward. The kindness, care, and love made me feel like I had a place here in the foreign land of Germany. It made it that much easier to survive my year.

I still remember the first Saturday I went for a bike ride with Judith around the tiny town of Nerchau. Distracting her for hours from homework and cleaning her room, we'd discuss topics ranging from how society should run to the most effective way to score a boyfriend. Lol, girls are girls all around the world. She helped me and pushed me in areas I didn't want to address or take an interest in. Things I felt I wasn't good enough to do, like learning German, trying in school, and pushing myself physically. Judith was the best host sister I could have received. Her beauty, love of life, and stern standing gave me something I never had, an older sister... Even though I'm the older one, I knew from the beginning I was her lil' sis. So Judith Fröhner, here's to you. To your patients, as annoying as I was, to not giving up on me, to remaining my sister! We shared in moments and have done so much together. I look forward to continuing to learn more about my host country through this amazing girl and her loving family.

A.F.S. is a great organization, but they do the best job of connecting other exchange students with one another. From camps held around Germany to the "chapters" of people I live close to, there's always another exchange student close by. I met countless numbers of students from all around the world. Most of us agree; one of the cooler parts of exchange is meeting all the other students! The expression "learning new things" is so incredibly true. I'm often left dumbfounded and amazed! I had so many amazing experiences with the international friends I've made. From walking the streets of cities, we've never explored to getting lost and finding our way. To the nights we stayed up 'till sunrize, to the morning coffee on the balcony and philosophical discussions at night. To the bond, we hold through the exchange. It's by this opportunity that I have these friends. This is to all the kids that made me smile, made my heart ache with joy. Here's to those brave souls who went abroad with me. Thanks for being a great friend. You know who you are!

Getting German friends was difficult. I always felt I was intruding, trying to stick myself in a place where I didn't belong. But going to Magnus Wurzen Schule was a blessing. The students are kind and helpful, the teachers are patient. As awkward as I felt, they made sure I felt a part of the school. Choir on Thursday became my favorite part of the school. Sitting with Katja and Xarah during lunch made me feel like I had a place. Hanging out after school is rare, a thing I wished happened more often. But when it does, I'm melting with happiness. It's a great feeling to have people around you who care for your well-being. I'm happy to have gotten to know these wonderful german teens. Here's to the fun we're still to have. Here's to the embarrassment and satisfaction of figuring out the culture through you all. Here's to the times we're still gonna make.

So this is to you. To a friend. A person who cares enough to read. Because your reader is one more that makes me feel like what I have to say is valid and worth reading! So continue to be a friend and support my blog by reading. I promise to return that "magic" by writing more often. And remember my friends, friendship is magical *queue "my little ponies" theme song, sparkles and shine*

Ps- hi Johanne, and Iyan, I know you're reading this... And yes, you too, mom, erhhgg, so embarrassing