Semester 1. Arriving with Tina and Astrid. Spending a week and hundreds of dollars on cleaning products in order to clean our apartment. Smoking and playing UNO on Tina and Maria's balcony. First night on the town, drinking well drinks and flirting with cute guys, followed by dancing at Clazel. Dinners at Biaggi's in Perrysburg, delicious bread and the half order of lasagna. Coffee and cake at Grounds for Thought. Cocktails at Reverend's. Morning yoga with Kristen. Dieting with Astrid. Parties at Kristen and Amy's. Watching youtube videos with Jordan in the grad office. Luiza's visit, crying in each others arms as only good friends can. Charlotte's visit, ridiculous chatter amongst good friends. Seeking refuge at Frauke's. Long talks with Anke. Trips home to see family and friends. Shopping with Megs and Kyle. My 24th Birthday, a visit from Jenna and Ian, a party with good friends and some moonshine, music courtesy of Peter Fox.
Semester 2. Starting the semester off right with Cocktails from El Zerape. Going bowling with Astrid and Jordan and realizing that I do indeed suck at every sport. Getting drinks before class with friends from the department. Long nights in the library, studying for my master's exam. A visit from Olivia, going out, feeling the effects of the alcohol long before I should. Remembering the next morning why I hate going out.... More nights at Reverend's and Grounds for Thought. Long talks with Astrid and Tina. Wednesdays babysitting for Marian, marveling at how quickly his English improves. Bar nights after Writer and Work. Passing my master's exam + presentation. Celebrating with Angelika with drinks and good conversation. One last dinner with Astrid at Biaggi's. Graduating, not knowing how it went by so quickly.
;-)
Monday, April 30, 2012
Sunday, April 29, 2012
My time here in Ohio is coming to an end. I am looking forward to moving on, despite the fact that I will indeed miss the new friends that I have made. There is, however, little time to think of that. Things are moving forward. Alles ist vergänglich...
Today I received my Au Pair contract and it has made me even more excited about my trip to Germany. I will be living with a family in Freiburg and will have my own floor/apartment in their home. It should be a great experience for me, one that will allow me to take this year and decide what I want to do with my life. I have no idea where I will end up, but I'm glad I can spend a year pondering my future at European cafes....
I have approx. 2 1/2 weeks left here in the U.S. I will use them to finish up my master's, pack, go to the obligatory doctor's appointments, get my finances in order, and enjoy some time with my family and friends in Michigan.
Since receiving the good news on Thursday that I had indeed past my master's exam, I am clearly in something that could only be described as "flux." I am not officially a "student" anymore, and I am in that stereotypical mid-twenties process of trying to figure out who I am.
And apparently trying to figure this out means that I wake up earlier than in the past (I have been waking up automatically at 8am for a few weeks now).
Time for bed....
LG
Today I received my Au Pair contract and it has made me even more excited about my trip to Germany. I will be living with a family in Freiburg and will have my own floor/apartment in their home. It should be a great experience for me, one that will allow me to take this year and decide what I want to do with my life. I have no idea where I will end up, but I'm glad I can spend a year pondering my future at European cafes....
I have approx. 2 1/2 weeks left here in the U.S. I will use them to finish up my master's, pack, go to the obligatory doctor's appointments, get my finances in order, and enjoy some time with my family and friends in Michigan.
Since receiving the good news on Thursday that I had indeed past my master's exam, I am clearly in something that could only be described as "flux." I am not officially a "student" anymore, and I am in that stereotypical mid-twenties process of trying to figure out who I am.
And apparently trying to figure this out means that I wake up earlier than in the past (I have been waking up automatically at 8am for a few weeks now).
Time for bed....
LG
Friday, April 27, 2012
Goals
Yes, now comes the time where I commit myself to attaining something new.
Goals for 2012:
-Start writing my book of short stories about my travels
-Lose 5 more pounds (chocolate seems to keep getting in the way of that).
-Figure out what in the world to pack for Europe (Hauptsache: light!)
-Think about what I want to do and go in that direction.
-Improve my Spanish and French language skills by taking a class
-Worry less (yoga and/or writing could be therapeutic here)
Goals for 2012:
-Start writing my book of short stories about my travels
-Lose 5 more pounds (chocolate seems to keep getting in the way of that).
-Figure out what in the world to pack for Europe (Hauptsache: light!)
-Think about what I want to do and go in that direction.
-Improve my Spanish and French language skills by taking a class
-Worry less (yoga and/or writing could be therapeutic here)
Notes from Frau Magister Rowland...
As I have been quite consumed by the play I was performing in, studying for my master's exams, and perhaps just trying to get a few hours of sleep in between, I've had little time to sit and reflect on this past semester.
It's funny, but I really do, as much as I complain about it, love being busy. Now, having already performed in the play, and having passed my master's exams, I find myself with little to do. This feeling of sadness came over me today, five minutes after arriving home and eating the last of the ice cream in my freezer. I hate this feeling of uncertainty. What now? I dislike change to its very core.
This is of course not to say that I would like to live in Bowling Green, Ohio for another year. I wouldn't. But I will miss the German department and the interesting cast of characters in my life that have come into my life because of it.
I am quite the sap, I know.
But move on I must, and I will. It's really quite comical that I was sad at the beginning of my Auslandsjahr when I ended up going to Austria instead of Germany. Now I'd like to live in Austria, and yet I am going to Germany. Life is funny that way. I have absolutely no idea what to do now.
It's so funny to think that a few years ago I thought I'd have it all figured out by now. And yet, we never, ever do...
It's funny, but I really do, as much as I complain about it, love being busy. Now, having already performed in the play, and having passed my master's exams, I find myself with little to do. This feeling of sadness came over me today, five minutes after arriving home and eating the last of the ice cream in my freezer. I hate this feeling of uncertainty. What now? I dislike change to its very core.
This is of course not to say that I would like to live in Bowling Green, Ohio for another year. I wouldn't. But I will miss the German department and the interesting cast of characters in my life that have come into my life because of it.
I am quite the sap, I know.
But move on I must, and I will. It's really quite comical that I was sad at the beginning of my Auslandsjahr when I ended up going to Austria instead of Germany. Now I'd like to live in Austria, and yet I am going to Germany. Life is funny that way. I have absolutely no idea what to do now.
It's so funny to think that a few years ago I thought I'd have it all figured out by now. And yet, we never, ever do...
Wednesday, April 4, 2012
Selbstbewusstsein
What this year has meant for me :)
Discovering my self worth. Eating healthier and exercising. Losing 20 pounds. Discovering my love of classic German literature. Writing an awesome term paper. Sticking up for myself. Getting rid of unimportant people and keeping those that matter. Enjoying life without focusing on the negatives. Thinking of myself in a more positive way. Realizing that I have something to contribute to society. Coming to terms with the fact that I was always willing to put others first, but never myself. Learning how to say no. Learning to do what is best for me. Understanding that failing at something doesn't make me a failure as a person. Accepting that I am imperfect. Loving myself for who I am.
Discovering my self worth. Eating healthier and exercising. Losing 20 pounds. Discovering my love of classic German literature. Writing an awesome term paper. Sticking up for myself. Getting rid of unimportant people and keeping those that matter. Enjoying life without focusing on the negatives. Thinking of myself in a more positive way. Realizing that I have something to contribute to society. Coming to terms with the fact that I was always willing to put others first, but never myself. Learning how to say no. Learning to do what is best for me. Understanding that failing at something doesn't make me a failure as a person. Accepting that I am imperfect. Loving myself for who I am.
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