12/31/2012

American Snow

Today was the first time it snowed a little bit more and the snow actually stayed for a few hours.

For my hostbrother from Mexico it was the first time he had ever seen snow in his life so we had a quick snow battle and built a snowman:


12/29/2012

Coke Puzzle finished

After almost 6 hours of puzzling and some help from my hostmum, I finally finished the Coke Puzzle I got from my hostbrother for Christmas:

500 pieces and a weird shape :-)

12/27/2012

Ice Skating in Wichita

Today I was Ice Skating with three other exchange students.

We went to the Ice Center in Wichita and went to the Towne West Mall afterwards for some shopping.

Sinan (Germany), Mau (Mexico), me (Germany), Mariana (Bolivia; photogr.)


12/26/2012

Christmas in the USA - le résumé

Yesterday, December 25th, was Christmas Day in the United States and I celebrated this event the first time without my native family.

Because my hostfamily is really big, the first relatives were here December 22nd and I got my first present.

In the evening of December 24th we went to the church to celebrate Christmas Eve.

The biggest Christmas celebration with unwrapping the rest of the presents and eating a lot was during December 25th. We had a big lunch with all the family and in the early evening we got the presents that were already laying under the Christmas tree since a couple of days.

That is what I got (I admit: Some of the candy is already missing ;-) )

From my hostparents: Some really comfy pajama pants, a Nike FitDry-Running-Shirt, a Kansas picture book, a quiz book, M&Ms and some other things.
From my hostbrother: A Coke puzzle and a nice Kansas map from 1760.
From the Exchange student get-together: A "Batman - The Dark Knight Rises"-DVD
From my grandma: 2 bars of awesome chocolate, a Cranberry fruit bar and some chocolate snowmen

Unfortunately the post was too slow to deliver the Christmas packet from my parents in time - I'm still waiting for it... :o

Overall my Christmas 2012 was really really nice even if it was without my native family. I skyped with my parents, my brother and my two grandmas on December 24th for a little bit, but I was pressed for time because of my Christmas baking (Articles: Christmas Baking and Christmas Baking vol. 2).


Additionally I want to give you a general comparison of Christmas in the USA vs. in Germany:
  1. Like in Germany, getting together with the whole family is very important in America during the Christmas time.
  2. In the United States, December 24th is only Christmas Eve and everybody goes to church, but Christmas Day with unwrapping presents and eating together is celebrated on December 25th.
  3. The Americans imported a "German tradition": They are hanging a glass pickle in the Christmas tree - and whoever finds it first on Christmas Day gets a small extra present. I personally have never heard of that tradition until I came to America even if it is a tradition coming from Germany.

The year 2012 is almost over, but I guess I'm gonna have at least 1-2 more articles to write until New Years Eve.


So, stay tuned,

Marco

12/24/2012

Christmas Baking vol. 2

Today I decided to bake something German for Christmas for my host family.

Because I already made "Hefezopf" two days ago (klick here to see article) I wanted to use the same dough - yeast dough - so I made "Hefeschnecken".

This time I used a rolling pin to make the dough flat, then I spreaded it with Butter Scotch (similar to caramel pudding). After that I rolled the dough up and cut it in thick slices.

That's what it looked like before I put it in the oven:


Then it started smelling really good and after almost 15mins I took them out of the oven. That's what they looked like now:


They smell good, they look good and everybody already wants to try some... But they have to wait 'til tomorrow ;-)

I actually had a lot of fun making those (Yes Mom, reeeeally) and probably I'm gonna bake or cook some more stuff the next weeks and months.



12/23/2012

Christmas Baking - results

Today I had an exchange student get-together with 4 other exchange students (Mexico, Bolivia, Belgium, Germany) and their host families and we ate my "Hefezopf" and other desserts made by the exchange students.

See here for my baking experiences: http://marco-goes-america.blogspot.de/2012/12/christmas-baking.html

Although my dessert looked a little bit strange from the outside it tasted really really good and everybody liked it!

Semester Grades

Also yesterday, the Grade Card for the first semester was in the mail. I think it still looks pretty good :D


Christmas Baking

Yesterday I had to bake a typical German dessert. I thought the easiest would be to make a "Hefezopf"!

After an hour of messy work in the kitchen, this thing came out of the oven - thanks Mom that I don't have to bake cakes and bread at home :o


11/21/2012

First American haircut


Today, I finally got my first American haircut - after 4 months!

Feels gooooood :D


 EDIT: A couple of people asked for "Before- and After Pictures" so, here they are...

Before

After

Almost ready for Thanksgiving

Tomorrow is gonna be my first time to celebrate Thanksgiving.

The preparations for the turkey supper are already going on *hmmm*


11/08/2012

CHS Spirit Week

I just found an old - but important - picture from the CHS Spirit Week (October 15, 2012).

CHS Class of 2014 - Dressed like "middle-aged":

(2nd row): Mauricio Moran, Devan York, RyAnn Sturm, me, Rachel Arnold, Grace Lebeda, Carli Ward, Jaden Ohnemiller, Tyann Isaacs, Jaci Arterburn, Mallory Swingle, Victoria Friend, Kylee Dvorak, Sam Futhey, Kellen Schmidt, Mariana Guerra! (1st row): Brenden Cole, Shae Lebeda, Lexie Rice, Macky Beal, Kambree York, Miranda Callaway 

11/03/2012

After Homecoming Football Game

Here's one more late picture from after the Homecoming Football Game on October 19:

Quentin (Belgium), me (Germany), Mauricio (Mexiko)

10/26/2012

First Quarter in school is over

I nearly got kicked out of the school because of my bad grades - but I could persuade them to keep me because I'm only a foreign exchange student ;-)


10/20/2012

Lunch at KFC

Today was the first time in my life I had lunch in a Kentucky Fried Chicken ;-) It was really good!!

10/19/2012

Homecoming Football Game vs Argonia

Today was Homecoming and therefore a Football Game - against Argonia.

Here are some impressions: