|
|
||
|
|
||
|
January to June 2003 |
||
|
|
||
|
January 19th |
My flight was a very long flight I mean long, but it was better once we met and were with the other exchange students,
they were all lovely people. I arrived safe and happy to the most loveliest family, my host parents are great.
My host brother waited up for me which I thought was sweet. My host sister is adorable and loves me so much. I went to Koln last weekend and saw the biggest most beautiful cathedral. I have photo's so you'll just have to wait until I develop them. I started school yesterday. I have 97 people in my year level and I am in year 11 and after the summer break in September I am in year 12. I do 10 subjects; maths, art, German, English, Spanish, history, sport, chemistry, philosophy and religion. I can do more if I like but I thought this would be enough. I have made many friends, all different in there own ways. I have been very well introduced. It started snowing last night so there is snow everywhere. On Sunday we are going somewhere where there is heaps of snow so we can go snow sledding. The language is very hard but I am getting used to it. I hope everyone is well and happy. I miss you all and love you lots. love Emily |
|
|
|
||
|
February 1st |
Ok on Sunday the 2nd of Feb I went to Gummersbach which is about an hour away from Norf to the east. We were going
there because there is more snow there. Katherin, Constantein, Marie, Therease and I took the train there and we
went snow sledding. We also made a huge snowball and I made a snow angel. On the 4th of Feb I went and met the burgemister of Neuss (the mayor in English) he was very nice and couldn't believe I was from Australia. I had my photo taken with him and it was put in the paper but not the paper we get here so I didn't see it. I have the photo though. On the 9th of Feb we went to Aachen which is where the borders of Germany, Belgium and the Netherlands meet, so I jumped from country to country. Also in Aachen I saw Aachens dom which was big but not as big as Köln's. I also saw the Rathaüs which is German for Mayors house, I mean big big big house. We then went to Maastricht which is in the Netherlands and I loved it. It's so different to go to a different country and the whole surroundings and customs change just like that. On the 12th of Feb I went to my first Rotary meeting and met my counsellor for the first time, he is really nice and can speak ENGLISH. I also met another exchange student. Her name is Veronika and she is from Equador which is in South Amerika and I get along well with her. I also know who my next host family is, well my friend Laura who lives a few houses down and her sister Annabel really wanted me to come to there house after being here, so they rang Michael Roder (my host counsellor) and he said sure as long as I'm happy so I will go there in June for the last 6 months, can't wait. Tomorrow night (Feb 18) I am going to a live concert bySOFIE ELLIS BEXTOR woohhhhhooo can't wait I'm so excited about that. The weather is still cold but no snow anymore, but I'm still freezing my but off over here, yeah you boys, my huge one. Ok more about my school, there is over 100 rooms, I know big, and it's two stories high. The chairs are uncomfortable as they are just wood. There are no carpets on the floor so it's different to our school. You don't have lockers or anything, you just carry your stuff in your school bags and you have one folder for all your subjects. The school doesn't have a lot of rules so we can wear casual clothes, any Jewellery, makeup, piercing, hair colour style we want, you can eat and drink in the classrooms and you can smoke in a special area of the school. How are my subjects well!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Maths- well I never did like it !! sorry Jeffo History- Interesting but in German!!!! Philosophy- luv it!! luv it!! luv it!! Spanish- hard but I have just began German- well when I get it, he he he Art- Love it!!! Sport- Prima!!! the teacher is gut!! English- My favourite he he he!!!!! Chemistry- aghhh!!!!!!!!!1 Religion- gut!!! Ok I will write again soon, and a big thankyou to all the people that email all the time, I appreciate it Love you all, especially heaps of love to Mum, Dad, Naomi and Amanda and my baby Molley not that thing of yours Naomi ohh sorry babe!! I LOVE EUROPE SO MUCH !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! |
|
|
|
||
|
March 6th |
Ok, well Carnival was last weekend and I partied from Thursday to Tuesday. Carnival is the best thing I have ever
seen. It is so different and everyone dresses up, I mean everyone. I dressed up as a Bavarian German with my hair
done up like Pippi long stockings. Did you know that Pippi long stockings are originally from Norway, well I didn't. On the Thursday I went to Düsseldorf with some friends and had a party on the streets. I mean a party. There were just millions of people. On the Friday night I went to the school carnival party which I mean was different as you can drink alcohol and the party goes till like 6am in the morning. Trust me, I wasn't there. I left at 1am because I had to go early in the morning and go on camp in Düsseldorf with other exchange students. So, for the weekend, I spent it with 69 other exchange students. It was the best. I made good friends with many of them, especially a boy from Canada, New Zealand and America and a girl from Equador, America and Argentina. I made so many friends. On the Monday we went to the parade in Düsseldorf and they threw heaps of sweets, T-shirts, hats and popcorn. It was heeeeps and heeps of stuff like chips and everything. It was so much fun. They threw flowers to the girls and it was terrific and the carnival parade was awesome. Ohh, and you boys, they even had a John Deer in the parade. Soo good hu. I have decided to do a trip all over Germany in the Easter holidays with heaps of other exchange students so I am looking forward to this. I am actually quite excited. It is in 6 weeks so ohhhhhhh. I went to Munster which is a town in Germany. It has a beautiful cathedral, beautiful cobbled streets, and it is just such a beautiful city. It is nice and not small like Goroke lol. I mean, like maybe, 14 or 15 thousand people but it is a cosy town a nice town. I like it a lot. This weekend I am going to Kalkar with the new inbounds, that is what I am, to have a briefing. Next weekend I will either go to Bonn or Frankfurt. These places are not on my Germany trip but you never go everywhere in Germany in two weeks. That is how long my trip of Germany is. I think it is funny how people say they have seen all of Europe in 2 weeks when it would take a year to see all of Germany. Ok I would also like everyone to recognise that my website is being designed by Bob Thomson, a friend of the family, and that he is doing the best job and I really appreciate it. Ok sending heaps of love to you all and lovely to hear from ya all. missin you all love Emily |
|
|
|
||
|
March 23rd |
I went to Kalkar and met up again with my fellow exchange students and we all exchanged badges etc. On the way
home we went to Krefeld where we Went to a huge castle (a very old one 1400) and we looked around that it was very
old and different. Well Last Saturday I went to Frankfurt, which mind you is rather nice even though it is a lot newer than many of the other towns in Germany. While in Frankfurt we met up with Kathrin's (my host mum's) step mom and we went out for lunch and she gave me a beautiful Amethyst necklace because she saw that I liked amethysts. We then went for a boat ride along the river Main (Main is the name of the river). We were supposed to get home at 9pm but ended up getting home at 11pm because our train was an hour late. On Friday I had an interview with the press about Australia and the differences I found with Germany and Australia and why I wanted to come here etc. Well not much else happening except school really which is going ok´. Oh and a message to Karen thankyou very much for the letters I appreciated them. Thanks Pa for the Postcard and thankyou very much Abbey for your drawing, and Belinda for your card. Ok well love ya all and miss ya all sending all my love Love Emily |
|
|
|
||
|
April 12th |
Samstag 12.04.03 We all piled on the bus at Düsseldorf and headed to Heidelberg where we looked around the Heidelberg Castle for about 2 hours. It was schöne (beautiful). It was soo old but so nice and we also had some group photos taken. We then headed back to our youth hostel for the night. Sonntag 13.04.03 We all had to manage getting out of bed and on the bus at 8am which mind you was harder for the boys lol!! We then went on our way to Speyer where we looked at the Dom St. Maria und St. Stephan which are both world Heritage sites. We also saw the Mikwe which is a ritual Jewish bath for woman and nearby we also saw the remains of a synagogue. We then headed to Freiburg im Breisgau where we stayed at another youth hostel. We played basketball outside while Mark, Jimmy and Will decided to go swimming in a river across the road from where we were staying, in -10 degree water, brrr. They were very cold after that but I suppose Jimmy is from Norway so it is warm for him here in Germany. Montag 14.04.03 Today we headed to Insel Mainau which is on the bondensee. It was such a beautiful day. The sun was shining and the sky was blue. Insel Mainau was such a beautiful place with so many fountains and flower beds with the flowers in bloom. Now I know why this is called the Island of flowers. We also saw the Baroque Palace which was built in 1739 to 46. That night we stayed in Oberammergau where we went out for tea at a typical Bavarian meal which was really good. The best pork I have ever eaten. We were then given torches, I mean real torches, to walk back down the mountain to our hostel. Dienstag 15.04.03 Today we went to one of the most beautiful places I have ever been in my life. We went to a Schloß (Castle) called Neuschwanstein. I am not kidding when I say it was like a fairytale Cinderella castle. It is set in the middle of mountains and it was built in 1869 to 86 for the Bavarian King Ludwig 11. It was such a magnificent place that it was like being in a fairytale. We then went to another Schloß about 20mins away by foot called Hohenschwangau. It was remodelled in 1538 to 47 and it was a very large but beautiful schloß. It was remodelled after the Tyrolean war which destroyed some of this schloß. We then out for tea again at a restaurant and let me give you a tip. Never leave your plate unattended at the table. I will tell you why. Koke put little chilli's inside my pasta and god was it hot. He thought it was so funny. He was like it isnt that hot and I was like you are from Mexico I am not. Mittwoch 16.04.03 Today we went to Schloß Linderhof which I must say the inside is so beautiful as is practically all made out of gold. The walls are all made like if you can imagine like wallpaper but they are all tapestry. We also went to Kloster Ettal which was ok but not the best thing I have seen. We then headed to Munich which was ohh excellent. It was so big and great. We did a bus tour around Munich and were then given free time. That night in Berlin we met up with another group of exchange students from another district and went to an Australian pub and drank Fosters!!! It was awesome to have some Aussie music, Aussie beer and Aussie people behind the bar. Donnerstag 17.04.03 Today we took another trip by foot around Munich looking at different things including the neo gothic Rathaus (City Hall) in Marienplatz (Munich's central square), Olympia park, the tons of Museums and listening to the side streets music. That night we went out again to a Bavarian pub but it wasn't very good as the beer was very expensive like 8 Euro ($14 AUD) a jug so we went to a different Australian pub called Ned Kelly's bar with the other group of exchange students. Freitag 18.04.03 Today we left Munich and went to Dachau concentration camp. If I must be honest with you all our group meaning the English group (Canada, Australia, America, New Zealand, Rotex, Zimbabwe and Norway) did not take this concentration camp very well at all. We all took this very bad. I think it was harder to hear what was done to then and see photos and where it was done. People say don't let it have an effect on you but it has to have an effect on you or you are not human. I mean we were all fine later that day but just at that place at that time we were all a mess. I mean we are not just talking girls, I mean the boys took it harder than we did. We then headed to Erfurt which was not a very nice town I thought. Samstag 19.04.03 Today we did a tour by foot around Erfurt for about 2 hours which was quite boring as the tour guide was so just ahhh. Also today I have been in Germany for 3 months and I was glad I was in the most beautiful place I have ever been in my life - DRESDEN. Here we did a tour by bus for an hour or two then we headed back to our hostel and just spent time together playing cards, drinking and eating chocolate. We then had a little disco in the hostel which was nice just to dance with friends. Sonntag 20.04.04 Easter Sunday was today and let me tell you something. I may be far a way but the Easter bunny still came to us all!! Today we went to the Zwinger in Dresden which is just the most beautiful thing and it is so big and it was constructed in 1709 to 32. If I could explain it to you why it is so beautiful but I couldn't. It's something that you have to witness yourself to truly admire it. We then went to Schloß Moritzburg where we did a tour around the schloß. Schloß Moritzburg is an old hunting lodge, well lets just say large, large, large, hunting lodge. It was nice but not as nice as I thought it would be. We then headed back to our youth hostel in Dresden. Montag 21.04.03 Today we travelled to Berlin where we did a huge tour of the city. This was such a beautiful city with the best site being the neo classical Brandenburg Gate. We were then given time to just look around Berlin in our own groups. We laid out in the sun outside the Reichstag which is the parliament house. That night we went to an Irish pub in the city. It was a Karaoke bar and we, meaning the Aussie's, got up and sang 'we are from the land down under'. It was so much fun to see everyone get up and sing different songs, the Mexicans singing Spanish, and so much fun we had. Dienstag 22.04.03 Today we headed to Potsdam for the day and did a tour on foot and by bus for 3 or 4 hours. It was a nice town and we went to Sanssouci which was a massive park occupying an area of 287 hectares (700 acres). We then headed back to Berlin where were again given free time. Some of my Mexican friends and Karlee, my friend from America, got piercings. Don't worry, I didn't get one. I went in with Karlee to get hers done which mind you would have hurt like hell. It is one place Emily will never get done. We then all got dressed up and went out to a disco in the city. Today was also my beautiful sister Naomi's birthday. May she feel my presence today in her heart. Mittwoch 23.04.03 Today we travelled to Hamburg where we did another tour of Hamburg on the bus. We were given free time to look around the cental and sit by the jetty, talking and eating by the water. Later that evening some of us had a sauna at the hotel we were staying at which was great and sooo relaxing. We then headed to the boys zimmer (room) to watch the soccer match and drink beer. Donnerstag 24.04.03 Today was our last day together and we went on a boat tour around the port. We were then given more time to look around. That night we went out to a restaurant for our last night together as a group. We had a typical German meal together but mind you we had Spanish music going. We then went back to the hotel and spent time partying in our rooms. Freitag 25.04.03 Today we had to travel back home to all our disgust. I think we could have all stayed together for so much longer. We just spent time travelling back and chatting about our trip and of course half the time sleeping. I have learnt one very important fact in life. Sometimes it takes a long time to really know what the meaning of friendship is and how much it really means to people. I have found this friendship being with these people and I have made 8 very special friends who will forever remain in my heart as my friends to honour your friendship forever. I love you guys very much May we forever be in each others hearts Mark (Canada) Tilly (Australia) Karlee (USA) Natasha (Australia) William (USA) Jimmy (Norway) Lyall (New Zealand) Brent (Australia) |
|
|
|
||
|
May 23rd |
Ok, well what have I been up to. Well I went to a cousin's communion in Köln. It was very different in the
way they celebrated it. They were Catholic and they sang well, of course, it was in German. They had a big luncheon
after to celebrate. The communion girls all wore white dresses with white flowers in their hair. On Sunday Tante and Odget came for Lunch and we had white asparagus which was mmmmmmmmm great. On Mothers day we went for a bike ride to a beer garden to have some beer. Karlee came to my house for the night and we went to my school party. It was fun because I was with her. I love her so much. I have been doing lots of school work. It is getting easier as the language is improving. Yesterday was Constantein's namstag so we are going bowling and out for tea tonight (Namstag is a Catholic day every Catholic gets) Last weekend I went to Kleve with a Rotary weekend and we had fun doing different activities including aerobics, meditating, bowling and spending time just in our own groups. Ohh, and we were situated on a lake so we were canoeing a lot. Ohh and Karlee was swimming. Don't know why, it was soo, soo cold. Next weekend I am going sailing in the Netherlands on a Rotex weekend (other exchange students), so this should be heaps of fun. My birthday is in 3 weeks and I cant wait as I am going to Venice for the weekend. I am moving next month sometime to the Stroh family. They are also a lovely family. Oh, On Tuesday I went to Düsseldorf with Will, Karlee and Brent for the day so it was fun Ok, well, got to go My love and hugs and kisses to you A message to my mum I love you To my sister Naomi I am not a suk up, I love ya too and my sister Amanda I love you and Boof I love you too I miss my family very much especially my mum, because I am not used to her not being there, but I know she is there if I need her. to my moo moo (Amanda McPhee) I love ya and miss ya to my baby I love you and miss ya too Jimmy, Mark, Brent, Karlee, Will, Tilly, Natasha and Lyall You guys know I love you all. |
|
|
|
||
|
May 28th |
Hi everyone just a quick update of what I did last week. Well on the 28th of May I went with my friend Karlee
to Düsseldorf. Karlee is another exchange student and she is from America and I love her to pieces. We get
along really well. She is the best. Well we went to Düsseldorf for the day just looking around and then we
jumped on a train and went to Wuppertal and went on this funny train that was hanging from the tracks instead of
on top of the tracks. We then went to Rüscheid and saw another friend of ours, Nic, from Sydney, Australia
and he is pretty cool too. Rotex weekend with 40 other exchange students!!!!
|
|
|
|
||
|
June 9th |
Ok hi everyone what have I been up to. Well On the 9th and 10th of June I was in Trier a very beautiful town in
Germany close to the border of France and Luxemburg. We stayed in a little town on the Mosel river. The town had
like 300 people in it, like home hey. We stayed at a winery bed and breakfast place. It was really nice neat, quiet
and peaceful. On our way home we went to Luxemburg and over the border into France. It was so different to go to
like 3 countries in one day cool huh. Ok then on the 13th of June I flew to the most spectacular place in Europe, so I think, Venice. It was a place that was so beautiful that it is so hard to describe. It honestly made me go into my own little world, to be eating pasta and gelati ice cream over-viewing the canals. All the little canals and back streets were beautiful. I will give you a clue, to really experience something; Venice is my greatest experience so far this year. On the 15th was ummmmmmmmmm let me think, oh yes, it was my birthday and it was so great. I woke up in Venice. It was cool. we flew home and Karl had bought me a daisy plant and heaps of chocolates and lollies. I went and saw my second host family. That too was cool. I went to my second host family for tea on my birthday and we had pizza. Ok, on the 18th was my birthday party and I had 15 oder (or) 16 friends come and I got sooo many sweet presents off them all. They are really special friends, my exchange friends and German friends, it was a lot of fun just being all together. My host mum made us the best dinner ever so much different stuff, it was so cool, I was so happy!!! On the 19th was my friend Natasha's birthday party and I went there for the night. She had a party and we all had a big dinner and cake and stuff. Tash's host parents are so sweet, they even treated me like a daughter and they were really nice. I will send another update tomorrow as it is my host mum's birthday today and family are coming and Maire is telling me to hurry up. so love ya all als kla love Emilia Well here I am again like I said I would be. On Saturday the 20th was my friend William's going away party at his house. His host parents are sooo sweet and it was fun just to spend some quality time with exchange students and Will. He leaves on the 28th of June (next week). My Friend Mark from Canada leaves on Tuesday morning at 8am so we all have to be at the airport at 6am. That means poor Emilia has to get out of bed at 4:30 in the morning. Mark thought he said goodbye to us yesterday because we told him we couldn't come to the airport. He cried and told us all how much he'd miss us, he is such a sweet boy and I will miss him heaps. I can't wait for us all to surprise him. Today is the 21st of June and it is my host mum Kathrin's birthday. We had some family over for lunch and it is nice and sunny so I am sitting here writing an email wearing a dress. What are you guys wearing, 2 oder 3 layers. On Wednesday the 25th of June I move to my next host family. My host mum's name is Birgit Stroh and she has 3 daughters, Geraldine who lives in Düsseldorf, Laura and Annabel (my friends at school) who both turned 18 in April. Sooo I am looking forward to a new family and a new way of life but I know that I can always come back to this family. I am still going to Belgium for two weeks in the hol's with these guys and that I will still come here a fair bit. Now the moment you have all been waiting for. My new address. C/Birgid Stroh Emilia Gash Ricarda Huch Weg 10a Norf, Neuss 41469 Germany und meine telefon nummmer ist 021378316 Ok well I am keeping myself busy as you can tell I'm travelling around the world mum, my dreams are coming true, it is still a blur that I am living my dream. Ok well love everyone Thanks everyone for the emails for my birthday it was sooooooooo sweet of you guys I think of you guys and miss you guys always remember this never let a chance pass ya by it is the best advice I have been given lately, so just thought you guys would appreciate it love always and forever Emilia. |
|
|
|
||
|
|
|
|
|
All graphics on this site are subject to copyright |
||
