A Very German Thanksgiving

So this Thanksgiving was a little different than normal. First of all I didn't over eat. Second there was no Turkey involved. And third it wasn't in the U.S. This morning I had History, only problem is that on Thursdays I get to sleep in (this is changing as of next week) a little and this morning I slept way to late. During my oversleeping I had a nice dream and there was definitely some German in it. So I in fact did not have History this morning. Opps. My next class wasn't until 2:30 so I was privileged with spending my morning reading and writing (and listening to 80's music). Once I arrived at school for my class I found out the teacher was sick, which meant as an exchange student I would have nothing to do because I don't speak enough German to successfully complete the tasks we were given. I also was informed that Sports was once again cancelled. So I came to school and did nothing. Not bad for Thanksgiving considering it's not a holiday on the fourth Thursday of November in Germany. After school I went to Laura's and we listened to music from past years deciding it was by far better than anything that is coming out these days. And she straightened my hair. It's getting really, really long. She said I could be a mermaid. Then I biked home in the cold and found a lovely Thanksgiving meal waiting for me.

Lamb with Potatoes, Carrots, Corn and Peas

While we were eating I was asked what else we did besides eat on Thanksgiving. I was momentarily stymied until I said cook. And play cards. The asked how long it took to clean up and I said not long because most dishes go in the .... Spülmaschine. That would be dishwasher in German because I couldn't remember the English and almost said wash machine instead. I'm glad that there is some evidence that I am learning and using German.


All in all it was a wonderful Thanksgiving.


What I'm Thankful For:
- My parents (Todd and Karry Fischer)for supporting me in all of my mad adventures and taking care of me for 18 years.
-My sister (Ida Fischer) for being there when I need it and for putting up with me for 18 years.
-My grandmother (Manna) for spoiling me endlessly, even when I don't deserve it.
-My aunt (Kelly) for editing my first novel and my school essays (I'll miss that in college).
-My Host Family for being great and taking amazing care of me.
-My friends both in Germany and everywhere else, you guys keep me sane.
-All of the wonderful women who have shared their love of horses with me (Cindy,Gabrielle, Wanda).
-My fellow writers for sharing ideas and offering constructive criticism (Emily and Gabrielle)
-My fellow exchange students in Brandenburg (Noora, Laura, Dani and Tae-yeon ).
-Boise water, there's nothing else quite like it in the world.
-My houses (in the U.S. & Germany) for providing me shelter from the elements.
-Good food, the world holds many delicious cuisines.
-NaNoWriMo 2010 for allowing me to actually write and finish a novel after years of trying.
-JMO for allowing me to grow as a horseback rider and for being my Happy Place - where all troubles fall away.
-What Laura says sometimes - it puts a smile on my face when nothing else will.
-My imagination/My Muse

My Speech in English

Hello. My name is Hanna Fischer and I'm from Boise, Idaho in America. Boise is located in the western part of the United States. I have been in Brandenburg for three months. I'm eighteenyears old and I have finished school, after twelve years, in America. My father, Todd, is an engineer and a Rotarian. My mother, Karry, works in the library. My sister, Ida studies hydrology at college in California and she is twenty-one years old. I am in the eleventh grade at the Domgymnasium and am learning mathematics, physics, German, sports, history, art and English. My favorite subjects are math and sports. My hobbies are reading books, horseback riding and writing novels and I am a Girl Scout. I have already visited Berlin, Eisenach, Quedlimbug, Speyer, Heidelberg, Cologne and Duisburg. I found Cologne Cathedral, the Cathedral of Speyer, Heidelberg Castle and the Wartburg interesting. I like Döner and the architecture in Germany. I love Germany! 

The German Original:
Hallo. Ich heiße Hanna Fischer und ich komme aus Boise, Idaho aus America. Boise liegt im Western von U.S.A. Ich bin seit drei monaten in Brandenburg. Ich bin achtzehn Jahre alt und ich habe die Schule nach zwölf Jahren in America beendet. Mein Vater, Todd, ist ein Ingenieur und ein Rotarier. Meine Mutter, Karry, arbeitet in der Bibliothek. Meine Schwester, Ida, studiert Hydrologie an der Universität in Kalifonien und sie ist einundzwanzig Jahre alt. Ich lerne im Domgymnasium in der elften Klasse Mathematik, Physik, Deutsch, Sport, Geschichte, Kunst und Englisch. Mein Lieblingsfächer sind Mathematik und Sport. Meine Hobbys sind Bücher lesen, Reitsport und Romane schreiben und ich bin eine Pfadfinderin. Ich besuchte schon Berlin, Eisenach, Quedlimbug, Speyer, Heidelberg, Köln und Duisburg. Interessant waren für mich der Kölner Dom, der Dom von Speyer, das Heidelberger Schloss und die Wartburg. In Deutschland mag ich die Architektur und Döner. Ich liebe Deutschland!

Potsdam San Souci

(4.9.11)
     Once again I ventured to Potsdam, this time to tour the parks and palaces of San Souci Park.  My mother, father and I decided to bike through the park.  This would take less time than walking and would enable us to see more.  Unfortunately my mother's rear bicycle tire kept going flat so every time we stopped we had to pump it up again.  The grounds and buildings were beautiful but due to the time of day we went several of them were closing or closed.  So we just enjoyed the beautiful exteriors.

Take while biking, an art I perfected as the day progressed.

At the Chinese Tea House, my father,  mother & I.

The Chinese Tea House

Me at Sanssouci - Fredrick the Great's Palace

Apparently potatoes are left in homage to Freidrich der Große.

Fredrick the Great's 11 dogs, buried next to him.

They just don't make things tall enough for me.

The Church of Peace

The Obelisk - with fake hieroglyphs 

The other side of Sanssouci Palace

Orangery Palace

Belvedere auf dem Klausberg

A Post, Finally

     So as far as keeping my blog up to date I really suck at blogging.  It's a sad state of affairs considering I am a writer by trade.  So in the future I will attempt to stay more up to date.  Instead of having separate blog posts for some of the events that happened in the oh so distant past I think I will combine them.
     On 11.11.11 I celebrated my 100th day in Deutschland.  And I have to say as far as dates for your 100th day are concerned 11.11.11 is pretty darned cool.  Unfortunately I had class during 11:11 am and was asleep for 11:11 pm so the true awesomeness of the day was not fully realized.  Still it was a great day.

So a recap of the posts you should look for in the near future:
       Potsdam San Souci (✓)
       Berlin Again (Two visits to Berlin) ()
       Neuruppin! - Rotary District 1940 Inbound Orientation ()
       A Small Tour of Germany (✓)
       Paris ()

Paris Group, about 100 exchange students, at the Louvre

    On 27.10.11 Noora, Tae and I had a Rotary Youth Meeting with our club during which we had to give a speech in German about ourselves and a little about our family.  We also met two rebound exchange students who were very cool. Below is my speech in German - I challenge you to try and understand it without Google Translating it first.  I'll post the English translation in a few days.

Hallo. Ich heiße Hanna Fischer und ich komme aus Boise, Idaho aus America. Boise liegt im Western von U.S.A. Ich bin seit drei monaten in Brandenburg. Ich bin achtzehn Jahre alt und ich habe die Schule nach zwölf Jahren in America beendet. Mein Vater, Todd, ist ein Ingenieur und ein Rotarier. Meine Mutter, Karry, arbeitet in der Bibliothek. Meine Schwester, Ida, studiert Hydrologie an der Universität in Kalifonien und sie ist einundzwanzig Jahre alt. Ich lerne im Domgymnasium in der elften Klasse Mathematik, Physik, Deutsch, Sport, Geschichte, Kunst und Englisch. Mein Lieblingsfächer sind Mathematik und Sport. Meine Hobbys sind Bücher lesen, Reitsport und Romane schreiben und ich bin eine Pfadfinderin. Ich besuchte schon Berlin, Eisenach, Quedlimbug, Speyer, Heidelberg, Köln und Duisburg. Interessant waren für mich der Kölner Dom, der Dom von Speyer, das Heidelberger Schloss und die Wartburg. In Deutschland mag ich die Architektur und Döner. Ich liebe Deutschland!