Germany 2015 - June 29

School again! But we didn't actually sit in class with our hosts, because we had to get ready for the farewell dinner that night. But first, we all took a field trip to town for most of us to get license plates. I (and maybe five others) didn't want one. We then stopped at a grocery store to buy candy (because you can never have too much German candy, for example one of my favorites - Duplo).

Back at the school, the others decorated and Frau set Jake and I up with a computer to type up our MC script. It was in a teacher IPC-type-room, which was kinda awkward, especially when a teacher would be there for a little bit. When we finished that, we worked on our farewell speeches.

Then I had my last German (school) bus ride. For lunch my host mom made basically meatloaf and mashed potatoes. She also made tomato salad, just for me. :) Then I worked a little bit on packing (you know, there is absolutely no incentive for packing when you are leaving a place, especially a place that's been home for nineteen days). Then Elli and I made my cookies. It went really well. Then both sets of grandparents came over, and also my host dad's sister, because it was his birthday. The two grandmas gave me a present - a blue sweater from Country Line to go with my Dirndl, and it fit and matched perfectly. Oma Danner also gave ma a bag with some candy in it to take home. I got pictures with them and as they left they all said goodbye. Then, my mom gave me a gift from them - more chocolate and a little scrapbook she made for me with pictures and words from everyone and also some pictures of stuff we did. It almost made me cry.

Then Elli did my hair - I let her do braids along the front and side of my head and then I put in a ponytail and did my bun like usual. Then I dressed into my Dirndl and felt very German. My family looked so adorable and so Bayrisch (Bavarian). I loved it!

Then...the farewell dinner. I brought my cookies and my mom brought Wurtsalat (sausage salad). There was a bunch of picture taking before, but not near as much as after. So, Jake and I had to do our job and started the party. First, food. I was too nervous to be all that hungry. I ate mostly the German food, though, because American food is boring. I was told me cookies were good. During the food we had people doing an America quiz and guessing games (how many candies were in jars). Then Jake and I gave the prizes.

The farewell speeches were next. After Frau and the other teachers spoke, I did my speech first. Thankfully, it went very well. Each person then got a rose for their mom and a US flag for their dad, and when I delivered mine my mom gave me a hug. I almost cried then, too. I gave Elli my farewell speech so they always have it. Some of the girls cried so much they couldn't say their speeches, so I read one of them and Frau read another.

Then we did carnival-type games, and then dances - Cotton-eye-Joe and the Cha-cha slide. Then we sat down to watch the pictures slide that Miss Hall put together, and that was pretty awesome. Afterwards it was literally just picture taking forever. Frau wanted one of "her MCs" - and we did match really well, because Jake got a blue shirt for his Lederhosen so we'd match. His theory was that if our German didn't go too well, at least we'd look German. It was pretty awesome, though, because all of the American girls got Dirndls, and about half of the guys got Lederhosen - the most in all of the exchanges so far! After Herr Galneder finally got us to leave the school, almost all of us walked together to Maxi's. We all settled into a circle, sitting on blankets in the grass, and unfortunately it ended up becoming spin the bottle truth and dare - which some of us did not enjoy, but whatever.

Back home I packed. We were allowed to have our check bag weigh 23 kg, and mine was 22! Sleep was very welcome.