The Truth About The First Two Months

I think everybody thinks a year abroad seems so good. I thought the same, before I left Germany. I thought, everything would be perfect and I could forget all the problems from Germany. I cried, because I was so happy when I arrived in Vancouver. Then I met my hostfamily and they were so nice. A few days later my hostsister also arrived. I was so happy and excited for my first school day. But my first school day was horrible. I was so close to crying at school. For the first time I  really felt alone. I think it is normal for the Canadian students to have international students in their class. So it is nothing special for them and they do not make an effort to talk to them. I came home and told my hostmum, that I was never going to have friends. The next two months I spent lunch with my hostsister and some other international students. Then I met a really nice girl in my PE and Community Recreation class, Kaitlyn. She did not ignore me and invited me to spend lunch with her and her friends. Now they are all good friends and I will miss them so much, when I return to Germany. I do not feel alone anymore. But I needed 3 months for this. It was not an easy time for me. I cried and missed everything, but now I am happy. If you want to do an exchange, do not give up. It will be hard, but you just get stronger, because "What does not kill you, makes you stronger!"

I love you, Mum and Dad.

Take care

Nina

November

Hi,
I have had a calm month. The  highlight was caving. I have never sworn so much... But I loved caving. It was such a good experience. Thanks to Kaitlyn.
I also started learning ice skating. I am not good but I had so much fun.
The last two days we spent in Seattle. My first time in the US and Black Friday shopping. It was so crowded. However, Seattle is really beautiful but rainy..
Now we are eating popcorn. Even if we are used to sweet popcorn in Germany, I really like the salty one. The perfect pairing. A christmas movie and salty popcorn. And that is what I am doing right now.
Take care

French Immersion, River Rafting and Vancouver

Hi!
I am so sorry, that I did not get back to you sooner. I wanted to wait until I did something cool. I changed from French 10 to French Immersion 10. Most of the students in French Immersion have learned French since kindergarden. Now I am in the class. I have taken French since grade 6 (4 years) as my third language. It is really hard for me, especially because I have to catch up the work of the last 2 months. I will do my best. That is the reason why I did not have time to write in my blog.
Now to the cool stuff. We went with my Community Recreation class river rafting and it was so cool! Ok, it was soooo icecold, but beautiful. All of the nature was just gorgeous. The rafting was so much fun, especially because it rained a lot before, so the river was really wild.
A few days after we went shopping in Vancouver. You know that this can only be good and it was! I loved the all you can eat sushi.
This friday we went again to Vancouver. It was the international student programm to Fright Night. We had so much fun and screamed a lot in the hunted houses.
Well, now I have to continue with my French assignments.
Take care
Nina

Thanksgiving

Hi!
This long weekend was Thanksgiving, my first one. It was so delicious! It was great to meet new family members of my hostfamily. I also could sleep in for my first time until 10:30. Finally my jetlag is over after a month and a few days.
Monday was school off and I walked to the lake together with my hostsister. I had to study for my first big test in the evening - Social Studies. I wrote the test today and I would say it was okay, because I could answer every question. If I did a great test, I will see in a few days.
I played the first time in my life baseball today. It was hard for me standing on the field and knowing nearly nothing about the rules. It was funny.
So I will make me a tea now and carry on watching The 100.
Take care
Nina

Trip to Victoria and Cookies

Hi!
I am so sorry, that I did not tell you something about the trip to Victoria ealier, but the last two weeks were so busy.
We drove with a school bus to Vancouver and there we took the ferry. In a school bus is not that much space, so I was really happy when we were on the ferry. Sadly it was raining, but however it was great to see the ocean again. When we finally arrived on Vancouver Island, we drove half an hour to Victoria. There we had the whole day freetime for shopping, eating and taking pictures. First I searched with my friend for a Tim Hotons. That was not easy, but with time and help from a Canadian woman we got it. Then I bought a present for my mum. I was afraid, that I had no more money left, because I spent to much in my first month. For example I bought two new pairs of shoes. It was a beautiful day anyway.
Cooking and baking are still the favourite things of my sister and me. I love to let my friends try our new cookies, muffins or cakes. And we got only good feedback until now. I think today we will bake peanutbutter cookies and blueberry muffins. Also I have to study today, because I have a test in Math and Social Studies next week.
Take care
Nina

Vancouver Island

My lovely hostsister and I

and delicious

School and Friends // Schule und Freunde

Hey!
I am sitting outside in the sun and thought about writting in my blog. I don´t know where I should start, because I have so much to talk about.
Ok, I am starting with the topic school. Every morning I ride the bus to school. I then have around 10 minutes untill school starts. Mostly I go directly to my room, because I don´t use my locker. I am used to having everything in my rucksack like in Germany.
After my first two classes I have lunch. I spend it with other international students who speak Spanish and Italian. So no German. This was my decision, because I really want to learn English fast. Everytime I see the german girls who always talk german, I am happy with my choice. Also I meet new canadians every week.
After lunch I have two more classes and at 3pm I am finished. Sometimes we go to the gym or we just drive home. Then baking, chilling or homework. It´s nice to spend so much time with my hostsister, because we both crazy. Also we listen to music all the time. In the car I am the DJ with my mobilephone. Every drive has good music from Avivii to Shawn Mendes to Rihanna.
Yesterday we drove to Vancouver and it was so beautiful. This weekend we will drive to Vicotia and I am so excited. I am really lookin forward to visiting Victoria.
Take care
Nina

Hi!
Ich sitze draußen in der Sonne und dachte daran in meinen Blog zu schreiben. Ich weiß nicht, wo ich anfangen soll, weil ich so viel erzählen könnte.
Ok, ich starte mit dem Thema Schule. Jeden Morgen fahre ich mit dem Bus zur Schule. Dann habe ich ca. 10 Minuten bis die Schule anfängt. Meistens gehe ich direkt zu meinem Raum, da ich mein Schließfach nicht benutze. Ich bin daran gewöhnt alles im Rucksack zu haben wie in Deutschland.
Nach meinen ersten zwei Unterrichtsstunden habe ich Mittagspause. Ich verbringe die mit anderen Austauschschülern, die Spanisch und Italienisch sprechen. Also kein Deutsch. Das war meine Entscheidung, denn ich will schnell Englisch lernen. Jedes Mal wenn ich die deutschen Mädchen sehe, die immer Deutsch reden, bin ich zufrieden mit meiner Entscheidung. Außerdem lerne ich jede Woche neue Kanadier kennen.
Nach der Mittagspause habe ich noch zwei Unterrichtsstunden und um 15 Uhr bin ich fertig. Manchmal gehen wir ins Fitnessstudio oder wir fahren nach Hause. Dann backen, chillen oder Hausaufgaben. Es ist toll so viel Zeit mit meiner Gastschwester zu verbringen, weil wir beide verrückt sind. Außerdem hören wir die ganze Zeit Musik. Im Auto bin ich der DJ mit meinem Handy. Jede Fahrt hat gute Musik von Avicii über Shawn Mendes bis zu Rihanna.
Gestern waren wir in Vancouver und es war wunderschön. Dieses Wochenende werden wir nach Victoria fahren und ich bin so aufgeregt. Ich freue mich echt sehr nach Vicotria zu reisen.
Liebe Grüße
Nina

My lovely hostsister and I

First week in Canada and learning Italian

Hey friends!
I have been in Canada for 10 days. Today was my fourth schoolday and I am happy that it is the weekend now, because I am feeling my jetlag and so I am really tired. My hostfamily is so nice especially my hostsister. I am so glad, that she is so nice and we get along with each other so well. My hostmum is really nice too and helps us with everything. And my hostdad makes the best barbecue. The dog and the cat are so cute and the horse is a really good horse. Also the view from the house on the river is really beautifull. I love my home here.
My first day at school was really hard. I came home and thought that I will never have friends here. But during the week it goes better and I met some nice people. Everything gets better with time.
Today I wrote my first test in Social Studies and I am so proud of myself, that I got an A. That motived me.
At home I spend a lot of time with my hostsister. Doing homework together, cooking together, talking to each other, playing together also she is teaching me Italian. Because she is an international student from Italy and I love Italy, so she teachs me a little bit. I will improve my English, French and Italian in Canada. I hope I will not forget my German.
I will write again soon.
Nina

Dexter <3