Sunday Morning in Germany

Sup guys,

So here I am in Germany, on a Sunday morning. I got up, realized I just missed Mass for the second time in a row (let's not get into that) and was like "hey I am gonna blog."

Not like I spend enough time on my laptop as is, but no worries it's just a time filler until things really start to kick off (first swim practice in Germany this Monday, so nervous/excited, plus I am starting to get a good group of friends going, but wish me luck) which are is starting this week. Right now my main two concerns are: 1) I need to start getting on top of my game as far as getting in with the "good" crowd (really hard to tell, it's like being a freshman all over again). 2) Last Friday (or two Friday's ago, I forgot how to phrase it) my class wass discussing something about an extended trip (week maybe?) later in September, it would kinda be nice to know what is going on, especially if I have to tell my parents to drop 200+ Euro (which should be interesting considering how my Visa card works here).

Okay I lied, I have three, the third is 3)So my plan for my birthday is to have a small party with my host family with cake and coffee (a German thing?) and then head out for a brewery tour later that evening with my host brother and a couple guys from school (not quite friends more like "hey your English is good, want to chill). Things is I am constantly being told to "live it up" and "party" by a lot of the guys in my class, I am not against having a few beers and heading out to a club, but there is a line that I already know I don't want to cross while I am here and that might turn into an issue next weekend (unlikely though if I keep my head straight).

To be honest, I am truly having a great time here, I do miss home and I look forward to when I can speak English, surf, speak more English, and actally be able to drive a car. BUT I am having a great time, and those pleasures from home can take as much time as they need to to return to my life.

As far as German is concerned, it is improving, I am noticing the more relaxed I am in a situation, the better it is. Mind you this is still two weeks (what?!?! it's felt like two DAYS) in and I still (after three years of studying German, sleeping in German II) sound like strongly American accented toddler.

but yeah, that it's for now!
Cheers
Sean

P.S-my "looking forward to" list of things I am pretty stoked about for the next couple months and getting me through the hard-ish times (going to school and not being able to particpate...grr..just...grr)

1) Birthday party
2) Going to my favorite German city so far, Marburg the day after my birthday.
3) German swim team (little nervous too, I was decent back in the states and the coach asked me to try out and I don't want he/she to think I am Michael Phelps...or Tim Hupp for that matter)
4) When all the CIEE kids in Hesse MEET UP (if that ever happens before mid-year)
5) Mid-year seminar in Bonn (January, loooonnng ways away)
6) German Christmas and New Year #momnobodydoesthepicklethinghere
7) Seeing my brother at some point (Thanksgiving)
8) AMERICAN THANKSGIVING Chaa....hopefully either with all the Hesse kids or with Rachel Tempesco and Mrs.G in Stuttgart +host famalies (still working out the whole conversation of "hey, can we go Stuttgart to spend a holiday that isn't even celebrated here in a catle with people you don't know but I do, yet we are in Germany")

...and publish