Happy Birthday to myself ;-)

2nd Semester and changes in my schedule

Today was the second day of the second school semester.

I am going to make a little change in my schedule, because in my opinion I definitely have too many computer/design classes.

To get a little bit more physical work I changed my 7th hour class from Interactive Media to Sports Training/Weight Lifting.

Happy New Year 2013

I wish all of you a Happy New Year 2013!

I went with my hostbrother to a friend to watch some movies yesterday evening and celebrate the New Year at midnight with them.

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:

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 :-)

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.)

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