New Year, New Family, Same Elias

So I have to admit that I've really had no desire to blog recently... I think the reason is that sometime over winter break, my exchange started to feel like my life. That seems like a really weird thing to say, because of course this is my life, but the first months of your exchange sort of feel like you're trying on clothes that aren't yours and that are way too big on you. Nothing fits quite right and for a while you're really uncomfortable, but eventually you grow into them. And now, five months into my exchange, most things have stopped being new and scary and I'm comfortable. I feel okay with the language, I've figured out how to fit into my host family, I'm accustomed to the culture and I've developed a daily routine. It's actually a really nice feeling. However, today I moved into my second host family, and naturally some of this comfortable feeling has gone away. They're all extremely nice and I know that I'm going to get along with them, but of course when you move into a new family you have to "start over" in a way by relearning how to fit in to the family, what they're rules are, how to connect with them, etc. This move was especially hard for me because of the bond I've formed with the Tillmanns. They have become like a second family to me, and leaving them even if it means only moving down the street made me really sad. I consider Elias a brother now and it's going to be really weird not living with him. But I know that the bond I formed with the Tillmanns is a bond that I will always have, and I now have a home in Germany that will welcome me with open arms if (when) I come back.

A welcome gift from my new host fam! (37688 is Beverungen's zipcode)

Elias posing with my crazy amount of stuff. I didn't think it was possible, but it was definitely harder to pack everything I have now than it was to pack to go abroad for a year...

So the act of moving itself has been pretty rough for me to say the least, but I'm excited to see what's to come in my new family. I'm also grateful that I feel like an exchange student again -- although it was nice to start to feel really comfortable, I feel like I was getting TOO comfortable and now that things feel new again I sort of have a refreshened outlook. But anyways, let's backtrack a little bit to New Year's. New Year's wasn't only the highlight of my break, (I did a lot of sleeping and Netflix watching, not that that's a bad thing) but also one of the highlights of my exchange so far. Celebrating a holiday in another country definitely makes one question traditions that commonly take place in your culture back home. Like, why the heck do we all watch a giant ball drop at midnight? Germans set off fireworks at midnight, and whenever they asked me why we watch a ball drop I really was clueless as to how to explain that and I realized how weird that actually is. So I was looking forward to experiencing something different this year, and the Germans didn't disappoint. I went over to a friends house where adults and teens alike were all celebrating together, which was quite a sight. At midnight, the sky exploded with fireworks set off by every house as the entire city rang in the New Year. I don't have many pictures or videos of this because I just wanted to take it all in, but the moment was magical. I got to light the first and last firework (I was really scared and everyone laughed when I screamed and ran away when I got it lit, oops). The fire works started at midnight, and after they were all set off, we all went inside where the party continued literally until the sun came up. We were at an especially crazy house, and what I thought was really funny was that people that were walking home and saw/heard that we were still partying would come in and join the fun. Gotta love these Germans.

Conny and I with these weird face cards they had at the party.

I slept at Conny's house since we danced the night (and morning) away, and this is what I looked like when I woke up and went home at 2:30 in the afternoon the next day.

Although we didn't have a white Christmas, it finally snowed here in Beverungen! Now it's back to being like 40 degrees, which I'm grateful for. But it was nice for a day. 

And just when I thought the Christmas-related celebrations are over, Germany pulls out another one. Above many doors to German homes is this.....

which I have never understood no matter how many people I ask to explain it to me. But now I do! Today, three kids dressed up like the three kings came to our door (they knew to come because we had a sticker), and sang to us. So on the sticker, the year is shown by the first and last two numbers (2016) and then the three letters in the middle are the first letter in each of the king's names. Finally I understand this!!!

Update: Turns out I still didn't get this right. I have been informed that the letters actually stand for "christus mansionem benedicat", and that its a catholic tradition to protect one's house with the help of God! 

The three kings that came to our door. 

And well, that's my update on life's most recent events! I'll leave you with one last picture....

This will probably be my last embarrassing picture of Elias for a while, so enjoy!