Exchange year.: 29th December

So another Update for the year probably to be one of the last as i now have around only 9-10 weeks left here in Germany.

A few things have changed recently, Im not sure if you're already aware but I have a new host family in a different villagle, its a relatively long distance from my last town and my school and it means i now have to get up and catch a bus in the mornings to school. one benifit though is I live dirrectly next to a forrest and seeing as we have soooo much snow Im able to go cross country skiing right from the from of my door LITERALLY! Nobody has seen this amount of snow in germany in a long long time..

The new family are really lovely, the food is great! and they will be a nice way to spend the last few weeks even though it is a bit hard to now meet with my friends and stay in contact.

My mother came over for a visit of around 3 weeks, and we did a litle bit of travelling, to Salzburg and Berlin and then alot of great places in Franconia such as Rothenburg, Forcheim, Bamberg, Nürnberg, Würzburg plus lots more.. We celebrated Christmas in the traditional German style which entails exchange gifts on Christmas eve then having dinner together and afterwards Playing board games until early hours of the next morning. Christmas here in Germany is Literally 2 days its not just the 25th the 26th is also christmas and in german named ''Zweite Weihnachtstag'' or Second christmas day. So you basically get all the eating of the first day times two.

New years eve is coming up and its interesting that in Germany Fireworks are legal, you can buy them almost everywhere and in every supermarket and prices range from 2 euro's right up to top of the line professional fireworks. you can start purchasing them from the 27th of december but its only legal to set them off on new years eve.

Not alot planned at the moment, organise something for New years eve with friends and then on the 7th till the 9th of January I have an orientation camp for the German outbound students, this will also be my last camp of the exchange before I leave, It's held in Bad Sulza near Erfurt and Weimar. I plan to Visit Heidelburg where my guest sister studies languages in febuary. and on the 10th of January we are back in school.

Regarding Rotary news, My Rotary club donated leading up to christmas 2500 Euros for hampers for the less fortunate in our region, and during the Advent time ran a Stall at the local christmas markets on weekends selling Glühwein (Mulled spiced wine) and Soup which I worked at on a Sunday, to raise funds.

I also want to thank Grandma and Grandpa for their Christmas gift very very much and also Andrea and Joe and Amba and Rodney for their gifts also very very much! but I really didnt need anything :)

I hope everyone had a Great Christmas time and have on Friday a great New Years Eve.

Best wishes.

Ryan