Eigentlich geht dieser Post nur an Jesco, der grade in Starkville ist, und sich an mich gewendet hat:
Könntest du mir bitte eine Email an Jenny_Leipert@web.de schreiben? Ich würde dir das gern per Email erklären, weil das nicht jeder wissen muss. (Hoffentlich erreicht dich diese Nachricht. Du hattest leider keine Email-Addresse angegeben und ich weiß nicht wie ich dich sonst kontaktieren soll^^)
Liebe Grüße
Jenny
Saturday, November 1, 2008
Thursday, August 16, 2007
2 months ...
N bisschen mehr als zwei Monate bin ich jetzt schon wieder da und das neue Austauschjahr hat für viele schon angefangen. Für andere wiederrum geht jetzt das große Suchen los. Für mich ist aber vorerst alles vorbei. Elvis hat heute seinen 30ten Todestag. Und Tupelo, MS, die Stadt in der ich war, ist Elvis Presleys Geburtsstadt; und grade wenn die Gastmama so n großer Elvis Fan war, denkt man schon mal zurück und ist sentimental drauf. Ich hab auch gestern im MSN mit meiner Area Rep ne Runde gequatscht und die hat mir halt auch erzählt, dass ihre Enkelin (das fette Baby, auf das ich immer aufpassen musste) jetzt laufen kann. Christus stand neben seiner Tante und hat mir was geschrieben und sagte dann so I love you (Karen hat mir das geschrieben). Alles soooo süüssss.
Irgendwie schreib ich immer nur wenn ich Heimweh hab.
Um aber mal was positives zu sagen. Ich hab mich mittlerweile schon sehr viel mehr eingelebt. Ich hab ziemlich oft was mit Freunden gemacht, grade was meine 3 Junge angeht. Danke an dieser Stelle nochmal. Ihr seid mir echt verdammt wichtig. Und auch so Leute, wie Janine und so, die mit mir immer quatschen und mal n offenes Ohr für Sachen haben!! Danke. Ihr helft mir echt alle furchtbar doll wiederrein zukommen. Naja und deswegen gehts in zwei Tagen dann auch erstmal an die Ostsee für ne Woche. Ihr glaubt gar nich wie ich mich freue. Ich bin schon totaaaal hibbelig.
In diesem Sinne,
+H³ k!nG !$ aL!v€
jenny <3
Irgendwie schreib ich immer nur wenn ich Heimweh hab.
Um aber mal was positives zu sagen. Ich hab mich mittlerweile schon sehr viel mehr eingelebt. Ich hab ziemlich oft was mit Freunden gemacht, grade was meine 3 Junge angeht. Danke an dieser Stelle nochmal. Ihr seid mir echt verdammt wichtig. Und auch so Leute, wie Janine und so, die mit mir immer quatschen und mal n offenes Ohr für Sachen haben!! Danke. Ihr helft mir echt alle furchtbar doll wiederrein zukommen. Naja und deswegen gehts in zwei Tagen dann auch erstmal an die Ostsee für ne Woche. Ihr glaubt gar nich wie ich mich freue. Ich bin schon totaaaal hibbelig.
In diesem Sinne,
+H³ k!nG !$ aL!v€
jenny <3
Wednesday, July 25, 2007
A Year Ago....
Vor genau einem Jahr, sass ich auch hier und habe glaub ich Abschiedsbriefchen geschrieben. Letzten Donnerstag hab ich nen Abschiedsbrief an einen Austauschschüler geschrieben, der dieses Jahr wegfliegt. Das war n ziemlich komisches Gefühl. Ich wusst genau was ihn erwartet, weiss wie er sich im Moment fühlt, weiss genau wie es ihm zwischnzeitlich geht, weiss was ihn erwartet und wie er sich fühlt, wenn er nächsten Sommer wieder da ist.
Jedenfalls, ich hab Abschiedsbriefchen an Leute geschrieben, an die ich hätte keine Abschiedsbriefe schreiben müssen, ich hab auch Leute vergessen, denen ich hätte Briefe schreiben sollen, und ich würde wenn ich heute in zwei Tagen fliegen würde, ganz anders ran gehen: ich würde nicht so viele Erwartungen haben, würde weniger Klamotten mit in die USA nehmen wollen und auch einiges am dortigen Leben ändern wollen, aber das kommt eh, weil 1tens kommt es anders, und 2tens als man denkt.
Naja, jedenfalls würd ich nur all zu gern, nochmal an der Stelle in meinem Leben sein, wo ich auf gepackten Koffern sitze, meine Gastfamilie schon kenne und in zwei Tagen fliege. Aber das ist vorbei. Leider!
Was hat sich in den letzten 5 Wochen getan, seitdem ich in Deutschland bin? Ich versuch das Verhältnis zu meinen Jungs und auch anderen Freunden wieder auzubauen, versuche Freunde in meiner neuen Jahrgangsstufe zu finden, hab meine Leistungskurse (Deutsch, Englisch gewählt), hatte ersten Kontakt zu deutschen Jungs :D und überhaupt ... fang ich endlich an mich wieder einzuleben.
Ich werd dann heute noch ne Email an Kathy schreiben und dann gehts morgen ab nach Mallorca!!!
Jedenfalls, ich hab Abschiedsbriefchen an Leute geschrieben, an die ich hätte keine Abschiedsbriefe schreiben müssen, ich hab auch Leute vergessen, denen ich hätte Briefe schreiben sollen, und ich würde wenn ich heute in zwei Tagen fliegen würde, ganz anders ran gehen: ich würde nicht so viele Erwartungen haben, würde weniger Klamotten mit in die USA nehmen wollen und auch einiges am dortigen Leben ändern wollen, aber das kommt eh, weil 1tens kommt es anders, und 2tens als man denkt.
Naja, jedenfalls würd ich nur all zu gern, nochmal an der Stelle in meinem Leben sein, wo ich auf gepackten Koffern sitze, meine Gastfamilie schon kenne und in zwei Tagen fliege. Aber das ist vorbei. Leider!
Was hat sich in den letzten 5 Wochen getan, seitdem ich in Deutschland bin? Ich versuch das Verhältnis zu meinen Jungs und auch anderen Freunden wieder auzubauen, versuche Freunde in meiner neuen Jahrgangsstufe zu finden, hab meine Leistungskurse (Deutsch, Englisch gewählt), hatte ersten Kontakt zu deutschen Jungs :D und überhaupt ... fang ich endlich an mich wieder einzuleben.
Ich werd dann heute noch ne Email an Kathy schreiben und dann gehts morgen ab nach Mallorca!!!
Sunday, June 17, 2007
Germany sucks...
Nachdem ich nun eine Woche hier bin, wird es Zeit mal wieder was zu schreiben.
Ich hätte nie gedacht, dass ich mal Sachen,die jetzt kommen, schreiben werde, aber erstens kommt es anders und zweitens als man denkt.
Schon als ich am Flughafen in Atlanta gewartet habe, dachte ich schon wie scheisse (entschuldigt bitte das Wort) die deutsche Sprache klingt, und wie unangenehm Leute sich doch aufregen, wenn sie denken, dass man sie nciht versteht, wie Deutsche versuchen mit Deutsch an einem amerikanischen Flughafen weiterzukommen ... Mir war es peinlich meinen dunkelroten EU Reisepass in der Hand zu haben, mir war es peinlich einer von denen zu sein.
Kaum bin ich in Frankfurt,Main angekommen, ging mir die deutsche Sprache noch mehr auf den Keks. Es ging sogar soweit, dass ich nur Englisch geredet habe, und die am Flughafen mich dann dumm angeguckt haben, als sie meinen deutschen Reisepass gesehen haben.
Und auch jetzt noch, find ich Deutschland nicht so toll. Deutsche Radiosender spielen immer noch den Mist wie davor, wie vor 2 Jahren, wie vor 5 Jahren. Ich habe Radio immer so gern gehört und jetzt lief es einmal 30 Minuten und seitdem nicht mehr. Dienstag war ich in meiner Schule, um die Kurse fürs neue Jahr zu wählen und der Grossteil meiner Ex Klassenstufe sagt mir nicht mal Hallo. Ich muss sogar gestehen, dass die 7 Leute aus der 10ten, die mich begrüsst haben, mehr waren als die aus meiner Ex Klassenstufe, die mir Hallo gesagt haben. Schon traurig, oder?! Für die meisten war ich nur 2 Wochen im Urlaub. Viele verstehen überhauptnicht, dass man sich da ein zweites Leben aufgebaut hat, dass man da GELEBT hat und nicht nur Ferien gemacht hat.
Auch sonst, langweile ich mich nur! Ich weiss unter der Woche nicht was ich machen soll, sitz nur vorm PC und tu nichts. Ich wollte meinen Führerschein umschreiben lassen, habe aber rausgefunden, dass ich den amerikanischen erst übersetzen lassen muss, um ihn dann umschreiben zu lassen und dass ich dafür Passbilder brauche. Die Passbilder hab ich schon. Übersetzt ist der Führerschein noch nicht.
Ich hätte nie gedacht, dass ich mal Sachen,die jetzt kommen, schreiben werde, aber erstens kommt es anders und zweitens als man denkt.
Schon als ich am Flughafen in Atlanta gewartet habe, dachte ich schon wie scheisse (entschuldigt bitte das Wort) die deutsche Sprache klingt, und wie unangenehm Leute sich doch aufregen, wenn sie denken, dass man sie nciht versteht, wie Deutsche versuchen mit Deutsch an einem amerikanischen Flughafen weiterzukommen ... Mir war es peinlich meinen dunkelroten EU Reisepass in der Hand zu haben, mir war es peinlich einer von denen zu sein.
Kaum bin ich in Frankfurt,Main angekommen, ging mir die deutsche Sprache noch mehr auf den Keks. Es ging sogar soweit, dass ich nur Englisch geredet habe, und die am Flughafen mich dann dumm angeguckt haben, als sie meinen deutschen Reisepass gesehen haben.
Und auch jetzt noch, find ich Deutschland nicht so toll. Deutsche Radiosender spielen immer noch den Mist wie davor, wie vor 2 Jahren, wie vor 5 Jahren. Ich habe Radio immer so gern gehört und jetzt lief es einmal 30 Minuten und seitdem nicht mehr. Dienstag war ich in meiner Schule, um die Kurse fürs neue Jahr zu wählen und der Grossteil meiner Ex Klassenstufe sagt mir nicht mal Hallo. Ich muss sogar gestehen, dass die 7 Leute aus der 10ten, die mich begrüsst haben, mehr waren als die aus meiner Ex Klassenstufe, die mir Hallo gesagt haben. Schon traurig, oder?! Für die meisten war ich nur 2 Wochen im Urlaub. Viele verstehen überhauptnicht, dass man sich da ein zweites Leben aufgebaut hat, dass man da GELEBT hat und nicht nur Ferien gemacht hat.
Auch sonst, langweile ich mich nur! Ich weiss unter der Woche nicht was ich machen soll, sitz nur vorm PC und tu nichts. Ich wollte meinen Führerschein umschreiben lassen, habe aber rausgefunden, dass ich den amerikanischen erst übersetzen lassen muss, um ihn dann umschreiben zu lassen und dass ich dafür Passbilder brauche. Die Passbilder hab ich schon. Übersetzt ist der Führerschein noch nicht.
Sunday, June 10, 2007
Essay about Exchange Year
BEING A FOREIGN EXCHANGE STUDENT IN THE UNITED STATES
What is being an exchange student?
- It's happiness, friendships, freedom, excitement, peace, tolerance, mystery, love, learning, improvement, smiles, pictures, hugs, tears, heartbeats, knowledge, memories … it's life.
I still remember that one day last summer – July 27th - when I was sitting in the hotel, starving, but after eating just a piece of bread and half of an egg, I felt so sick. I thought I wouldn't feel better until I got to the airport. So, my dad and I went an hour before we actually wanted to leave for the airport in Frankfurt/Main. I met another exchange student who was going to live in Meridian and we spent the remaining hours together until the plane was ready to board.
While I was boarding, I felt as nervous as I have never felt before: On the one hand I knew that I was going to do the RIGHT thing, but on the other hand, I thought I wasn't really sure what I was doing when I approved the invitation to do an exchange year from ISKA. I went to my place and I was sitting down and just looking out of the window. After a while, two Baseball guys were coming and sat down next to me. The plane was starting and I opened my farewell book from my friends. I hadn't looked in it before I left, and now while I was sitting in the plane about to leave, I was reading it. It didn't take me long (actually I just read the first entry) and I cried. Those boys were asking me what was wrong with me and I told them what I was going to do. They were kind of impressed and they told me that they could never do something like that. I felt somewhat proud of myself and I felt stronger and now I knew that I really was doing the RIGHT thing - at least for that moment. I felt so excited about seeing my host family, stepping into "my" room for the first time and about experiencing everything. I was listening to music that even cheered me up more.
After 13 hours in a plane and changing planes in Atlanta, GA, I was half asleep but still excited, to see my host family - the people I would live with for the next 316 days. It was similar to meeting my people that I had just seen on TV. I just had seen pictures of them that my host mom had sent to me, but it was still "weird." They hugged me and we got in the car and drove to "my" new home. I felt so extremely tired and I had the feeling that I had not learned English for the last 6 years at all. I pretty much understood most of the stuff that my host mom was telling me, but I didn't really say anything because I didn't know what to say and the things I knew I couldn't translate from German into English. As soon as we got home Jenna, my host sister, showed me her room, which was going to be my room. I was so surprised, because I didn't expect a room like that. I loved my room right from beginning. I even had my own little bathroom and a wonderful bed that I wanted to sleep in so badly. Some friends of Carrie Anne and Jenna were at "home" and they ordered pizza and I just sat on the couch. I still didn't know what to say and what to talk about, and all those other people were talking and I had a lot of trouble following them and trying to understand the things they were talking about.
During the next weeks before school started, I still had the same problems - I didn't understand most of the stuff, that they were saying, and if I didn't understand a question, I just said "yes" or "yeaaah" and smiled.
Another thing that I was scared about at the beginning was going to school – going to a high school in the United States. I was hoping that it was going to be like I had always seen in these movies. I tried to find out as much as I could about Tupelo High School, and when I found out that I was going to a high school with 14 buildings and about 2500 students, I was scared. I dreamed about getting lost at school and always being late for my classes, because I couldn't find the class rooms. I didn't know if I would really learn anything, because I would be learning in English for a whole school year. I was scared about failing all my classes, because I didn't understand a word that the teacher was saying, and that's how it was during my first week. I didn't understand my "country-speaking" teachers. Well, but all those other nightmares that I had, didn't happen.
The weeks, when I was just saying "yes", smiling, and not understanding anything, passed by and my English got better and better. Now, I understood people and I could make friends better and better and I talked more and more.
After a couple of months, I understood pretty much everything, and I thought that school was a lot easier than school in Germany. School was easier, but we had a lot of more homework than we had in Germany. I even had days when I spent 2 hours on doing homework. I just wasn't used to that much homework and having the same classes every day.
Another great experience that I had was being a cheerleader on Tupelo's squad. A friend told me that the cheerleading try-outs had been in April and that I had missed them. I was really disappointed because I wanted to practice with all those cheerleaders so badly and now I had missed the tryouts, because I had been in Germany. That was terrible. Well, I talked to my counselor and she told me that I should ask the cheerleading coach. And naïve as I was, I walked to her on the same day, and told her "my story." Honestly, I expected a "No, sweety I'm sorry. We can't let you get on the team, if you didn't pass the try-outs." But that's not what she said – Mrs. Rowe said, "Yes," and she told me that I should come to the next practice.
My first cheerleading practice was so much fun. I'll never forget it. One of the girls told me a little bit about everybody, and then after that I was trying to do some toe touches. Some other girls taught me the cheers that I would have to know for the football games. I didn't take too long and Mrs. Rowe came to me and said that I'll be in the pep rally the next day. Wow! I asked if she was sure, because I didn't feel ready at all and she said, "Yes." I got my uniform that same day and I was so excited about the pep rally, but not as excited as about my first football game, which was going to be on the same day. All my teachers said that I did great during the pep rally. But the real "test," if I knew all the moves and words to the cheers that I learned, was at night. I felt so stupid when they were starting to do a cheer that I never had heard about before and I was trying to do the same moves that they did. I went to competitions with all of them and I even went to the State Championships in Jackson, MS with them and I won with them. I remember when Mrs. Rowe said "What are you gonna tell your friends in Germany – that you won State?!?"
I really enjoyed the time being a cheerleader on a fun and awesome squad.
I have also had the opportunity to go to a lot of places in the United States during my exchange year. I didn't expect at all going up north while I am here, but I did. Some Marketing students, Mrs. Angie Davis and I went to the Mall of America in Minneapolis, MN in January. I saw a whole new part of America – people that were talking kind of "weird" (I must have gotten used to that Southern accent) and winter weather that was as cold as in my home country.
Other German exchange students and I went to Disneyworld in Orlando, FL in February. One could actually hear where all the exchange students were spending the exchange year: Just three of us were saying "ya'll." One of our chaperones even asked me if I'm doing an exchange year in the South because I was asking her for catfish when she offered me hushpuppies.
On my last trip, I went to San Francisco, CA. San Francisco actually reminded me a little bit of my home town in Germany. I saw all these famous sights, like Golden Gate Bridge, Redwood Trees in the Red Muir Park, and Chinatown, that I just saw in my English Book or on TV. I even rode in a cable car. I had so much fun in San Francisco.
My (host) family and I have been to Hattiesburg, Memphis, and Nashville together and I enjoyed those trips as well!
I ought to say, that I never really felt home sick, but that doesn't mean that I didn't miss my country, my family, and my friends. I guess, I just have been too busy to be homesick. I was one of those lucky exchange students that got placed in a really great family the first time. I have enjoyed my time here since the very first day.
All in all, I have to say that this exchange year has been such a blessing in my life; there is not even one day I don't feel grateful for having had that great opportunity. I am a totally different person now, just better. I sometimes surprise myself and remember how I used to be before I got on that plane on the way to Mississippi. Everything changed then…my personality, my knowledge, my way to see life and the world…Just like one of my friends once said: "The world is smaller now"…This is so true!
Being away from home made me a more open-minded, respectful, independent, confident, mature and happy person. Maybe this is something that could be obtained while living in one's own country, but the experience is just not the same. I feel all exchange students speak the same language: The language of feeling the luckiest person in the world for having the best experience in life. When it is time to go back home, hugs, tears and smiles seem endless. There are still the many phone numbers, e-mails and addresses, and now it's the time to travel and visit each other. But even if we cannot see each other again, our many sweet memories and the positive changes in our lives will always remain in our hearts.
Last but not least – I really have to thank a lot of people.
Thank you to my two families – my (German) family for making my exchange year happen, for helping and supporting me in every minute and also for paying for half of it – and my (American) family for hosting me, for being such a fantastic second family, and for taking me places. Thank you for everything. I love ya'll.
Thank you to ISKA, ICES and my area representative Mrs. Karen Allen.
Thank you to Mr. Mac Curlee, the counselors, and Tupelo High School for letting me attend. It has been such a great experience!
Thank you to my teachers for giving me advice and just supporting and helping me when I didn't understand it the first time you explained something.
Thank you to Mrs. Monica Rowe and the Tupelo High School Cheerleaders.
Thank you to all my friends. It has been so much fun to go to parties with you, to hang out, to do nothing, and just talk to ya'll. It was just the sweetest thing how ya'll accepted me. I'm sorry that I can't name everybody of you, but it would take me forever.
What is being an exchange student?
- It's happiness, friendships, freedom, excitement, peace, tolerance, mystery, love, learning, improvement, smiles, pictures, hugs, tears, heartbeats, knowledge, memories … it's life.
I still remember that one day last summer – July 27th - when I was sitting in the hotel, starving, but after eating just a piece of bread and half of an egg, I felt so sick. I thought I wouldn't feel better until I got to the airport. So, my dad and I went an hour before we actually wanted to leave for the airport in Frankfurt/Main. I met another exchange student who was going to live in Meridian and we spent the remaining hours together until the plane was ready to board.
While I was boarding, I felt as nervous as I have never felt before: On the one hand I knew that I was going to do the RIGHT thing, but on the other hand, I thought I wasn't really sure what I was doing when I approved the invitation to do an exchange year from ISKA. I went to my place and I was sitting down and just looking out of the window. After a while, two Baseball guys were coming and sat down next to me. The plane was starting and I opened my farewell book from my friends. I hadn't looked in it before I left, and now while I was sitting in the plane about to leave, I was reading it. It didn't take me long (actually I just read the first entry) and I cried. Those boys were asking me what was wrong with me and I told them what I was going to do. They were kind of impressed and they told me that they could never do something like that. I felt somewhat proud of myself and I felt stronger and now I knew that I really was doing the RIGHT thing - at least for that moment. I felt so excited about seeing my host family, stepping into "my" room for the first time and about experiencing everything. I was listening to music that even cheered me up more.
After 13 hours in a plane and changing planes in Atlanta, GA, I was half asleep but still excited, to see my host family - the people I would live with for the next 316 days. It was similar to meeting my people that I had just seen on TV. I just had seen pictures of them that my host mom had sent to me, but it was still "weird." They hugged me and we got in the car and drove to "my" new home. I felt so extremely tired and I had the feeling that I had not learned English for the last 6 years at all. I pretty much understood most of the stuff that my host mom was telling me, but I didn't really say anything because I didn't know what to say and the things I knew I couldn't translate from German into English. As soon as we got home Jenna, my host sister, showed me her room, which was going to be my room. I was so surprised, because I didn't expect a room like that. I loved my room right from beginning. I even had my own little bathroom and a wonderful bed that I wanted to sleep in so badly. Some friends of Carrie Anne and Jenna were at "home" and they ordered pizza and I just sat on the couch. I still didn't know what to say and what to talk about, and all those other people were talking and I had a lot of trouble following them and trying to understand the things they were talking about.
During the next weeks before school started, I still had the same problems - I didn't understand most of the stuff, that they were saying, and if I didn't understand a question, I just said "yes" or "yeaaah" and smiled.
Another thing that I was scared about at the beginning was going to school – going to a high school in the United States. I was hoping that it was going to be like I had always seen in these movies. I tried to find out as much as I could about Tupelo High School, and when I found out that I was going to a high school with 14 buildings and about 2500 students, I was scared. I dreamed about getting lost at school and always being late for my classes, because I couldn't find the class rooms. I didn't know if I would really learn anything, because I would be learning in English for a whole school year. I was scared about failing all my classes, because I didn't understand a word that the teacher was saying, and that's how it was during my first week. I didn't understand my "country-speaking" teachers. Well, but all those other nightmares that I had, didn't happen.
The weeks, when I was just saying "yes", smiling, and not understanding anything, passed by and my English got better and better. Now, I understood people and I could make friends better and better and I talked more and more.
After a couple of months, I understood pretty much everything, and I thought that school was a lot easier than school in Germany. School was easier, but we had a lot of more homework than we had in Germany. I even had days when I spent 2 hours on doing homework. I just wasn't used to that much homework and having the same classes every day.
Another great experience that I had was being a cheerleader on Tupelo's squad. A friend told me that the cheerleading try-outs had been in April and that I had missed them. I was really disappointed because I wanted to practice with all those cheerleaders so badly and now I had missed the tryouts, because I had been in Germany. That was terrible. Well, I talked to my counselor and she told me that I should ask the cheerleading coach. And naïve as I was, I walked to her on the same day, and told her "my story." Honestly, I expected a "No, sweety I'm sorry. We can't let you get on the team, if you didn't pass the try-outs." But that's not what she said – Mrs. Rowe said, "Yes," and she told me that I should come to the next practice.
My first cheerleading practice was so much fun. I'll never forget it. One of the girls told me a little bit about everybody, and then after that I was trying to do some toe touches. Some other girls taught me the cheers that I would have to know for the football games. I didn't take too long and Mrs. Rowe came to me and said that I'll be in the pep rally the next day. Wow! I asked if she was sure, because I didn't feel ready at all and she said, "Yes." I got my uniform that same day and I was so excited about the pep rally, but not as excited as about my first football game, which was going to be on the same day. All my teachers said that I did great during the pep rally. But the real "test," if I knew all the moves and words to the cheers that I learned, was at night. I felt so stupid when they were starting to do a cheer that I never had heard about before and I was trying to do the same moves that they did. I went to competitions with all of them and I even went to the State Championships in Jackson, MS with them and I won with them. I remember when Mrs. Rowe said "What are you gonna tell your friends in Germany – that you won State?!?"
I really enjoyed the time being a cheerleader on a fun and awesome squad.
I have also had the opportunity to go to a lot of places in the United States during my exchange year. I didn't expect at all going up north while I am here, but I did. Some Marketing students, Mrs. Angie Davis and I went to the Mall of America in Minneapolis, MN in January. I saw a whole new part of America – people that were talking kind of "weird" (I must have gotten used to that Southern accent) and winter weather that was as cold as in my home country.
Other German exchange students and I went to Disneyworld in Orlando, FL in February. One could actually hear where all the exchange students were spending the exchange year: Just three of us were saying "ya'll." One of our chaperones even asked me if I'm doing an exchange year in the South because I was asking her for catfish when she offered me hushpuppies.
On my last trip, I went to San Francisco, CA. San Francisco actually reminded me a little bit of my home town in Germany. I saw all these famous sights, like Golden Gate Bridge, Redwood Trees in the Red Muir Park, and Chinatown, that I just saw in my English Book or on TV. I even rode in a cable car. I had so much fun in San Francisco.
My (host) family and I have been to Hattiesburg, Memphis, and Nashville together and I enjoyed those trips as well!
I ought to say, that I never really felt home sick, but that doesn't mean that I didn't miss my country, my family, and my friends. I guess, I just have been too busy to be homesick. I was one of those lucky exchange students that got placed in a really great family the first time. I have enjoyed my time here since the very first day.
All in all, I have to say that this exchange year has been such a blessing in my life; there is not even one day I don't feel grateful for having had that great opportunity. I am a totally different person now, just better. I sometimes surprise myself and remember how I used to be before I got on that plane on the way to Mississippi. Everything changed then…my personality, my knowledge, my way to see life and the world…Just like one of my friends once said: "The world is smaller now"…This is so true!
Being away from home made me a more open-minded, respectful, independent, confident, mature and happy person. Maybe this is something that could be obtained while living in one's own country, but the experience is just not the same. I feel all exchange students speak the same language: The language of feeling the luckiest person in the world for having the best experience in life. When it is time to go back home, hugs, tears and smiles seem endless. There are still the many phone numbers, e-mails and addresses, and now it's the time to travel and visit each other. But even if we cannot see each other again, our many sweet memories and the positive changes in our lives will always remain in our hearts.
Last but not least – I really have to thank a lot of people.
Thank you to my two families – my (German) family for making my exchange year happen, for helping and supporting me in every minute and also for paying for half of it – and my (American) family for hosting me, for being such a fantastic second family, and for taking me places. Thank you for everything. I love ya'll.
Thank you to ISKA, ICES and my area representative Mrs. Karen Allen.
Thank you to Mr. Mac Curlee, the counselors, and Tupelo High School for letting me attend. It has been such a great experience!
Thank you to my teachers for giving me advice and just supporting and helping me when I didn't understand it the first time you explained something.
Thank you to Mrs. Monica Rowe and the Tupelo High School Cheerleaders.
Thank you to all my friends. It has been so much fun to go to parties with you, to hang out, to do nothing, and just talk to ya'll. It was just the sweetest thing how ya'll accepted me. I'm sorry that I can't name everybody of you, but it would take me forever.
Jenny Leipert,
ISKA Exchange Student 06/07
Today …
Today is one of those days having a great time with friends,
listening to my professor and learning a lot from her,
walking by myself
and realizing how lucky I am,
taking millions of pictures to capture the
unique moments,
having that wonderful conversation with a true friend,
sharing tons of smiles with friends and strangers,
talking to a friend
and trying to make her feel better,
hugging that special someone who made my
life happier,
crying tears of sadness but happiness at the same time,
saying good-bye to my friends with no words but just looks…
Today is one
of those days I am dreaming I am still an exchange student,
Today is one of
those days I wish those days returned…
Friday, June 8, 2007
Countin' down the days...
Wer mich also in Frankfurt am Main willkommen heissen moechte, sollte am SAMSTAG, den 9.6.2007 um 7.36+1 Uhr da sein. Ich wuerde mich natuerlich mega freuen!!
Thursday, June 7, 2007
"Last day"...
Jo, heute morgen hab ich dann Susi mit zum airport geschafft und naja irgendwie waren alle voll traurig aber ich war die einzige die geheult hat, und das obwohl ich sie in 2 wochen oder so wieder sehe. ich glaub ich hab mich da an stelle von Susi zum Teil gesehen. Das war voll komisch.
Naja, den Rest hab ich dann mit Pily verbracht. Wir sind erst zu ihr gefahren, haben n paar Pictures gemacht und sind dann zu mir gefahren und wollten uns dann mit Bahaa im Park treffen und Fussball spielen, aber da war keiner. Also sind wir dann zur Mall gefahren, haben die verschiedendsten Sachen erledigt und haben uns dann gegen 7 mit Kathy bei Abners getroffen und chicken gegessen :)
Danach ist Pily noch mit zu mir gekommen und hat mir n bisschen beim Scrapbookin geholfen und sich Musik gebrannt und dann hab ich sie gegen 11 heimgefahren.
So. Das war nun mein letzter Tag. Ich weiss gar nich was ich sagen soll. Mir is das so voll nich bewusst, dass ich morgen fliege. Ich hab fertig gepackt (einen Koffer mit 50pounds und einen mit 70 [50pounds sind erlaubt]) und hab das meiner meinung nach ziemlich gut gemeistert. :) Aber die ganze Gefuehlswelt steht Kopf. Ich komm mir vor, als ob ich morgen Ferien machen fahre. Ferien in Deutschland und nach zwei Wochen komm ich wieder und seh Susi, Pily und all them wieder. Sooo komisch.
Naja, den Rest hab ich dann mit Pily verbracht. Wir sind erst zu ihr gefahren, haben n paar Pictures gemacht und sind dann zu mir gefahren und wollten uns dann mit Bahaa im Park treffen und Fussball spielen, aber da war keiner. Also sind wir dann zur Mall gefahren, haben die verschiedendsten Sachen erledigt und haben uns dann gegen 7 mit Kathy bei Abners getroffen und chicken gegessen :)
Danach ist Pily noch mit zu mir gekommen und hat mir n bisschen beim Scrapbookin geholfen und sich Musik gebrannt und dann hab ich sie gegen 11 heimgefahren.
So. Das war nun mein letzter Tag. Ich weiss gar nich was ich sagen soll. Mir is das so voll nich bewusst, dass ich morgen fliege. Ich hab fertig gepackt (einen Koffer mit 50pounds und einen mit 70 [50pounds sind erlaubt]) und hab das meiner meinung nach ziemlich gut gemeistert. :) Aber die ganze Gefuehlswelt steht Kopf. Ich komm mir vor, als ob ich morgen Ferien machen fahre. Ferien in Deutschland und nach zwei Wochen komm ich wieder und seh Susi, Pily und all them wieder. Sooo komisch.
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