It's already been a while since I was in Porto, but I just didn't get a chance with uploading this post. A lot has been going in my life. So but I'll be trying to upload posts regularly again. Day 117.02.2017 My sister and I went to the airport pretty early in the morning. The flight to Porto only took about 2 hours. From the train station we had to find our apartment in the city centre of Porto, without any internet. Just a map. Because we were early to check-in in our apartment, we went to eat lunch around the corner. As you might see in pictures with my sister, we look pretty Latin, so people just assumed we speak Portuguese. And when they realized we don't speak Portuguese they automatically lost interest. This experience was somehow funny. Because I get asked like all the time if I am Latin . After we ate and got the keys for the apartment we went to explore the city a little. We took a boat ride in the river, douro and got a view of all six bridges. To let the day sink in we went to the ribeira and on the other side of the douro, i think village on the other side was called, Gaia. After it got dark we ate something little for supper and tried to find the way back to our apartment, where we went to bed really really early. Day 218.02.2017 On the second day in Porto, we got up early so we can use the whole day for productive stuff. While my sister was getting ready, I went around the corner to get some coffee and croissants. The first stop was the famous libary, Livraria Lello. It was really crowded so we didn't stay pretty long, we went to the really pretty main train station of Porto. At the train station we bought bus tickets to get out of town, to the sea side. Unluckily the weather wasn't as good as we tought it would be but the sun ended up coming out anyways. We had a lot of fun at the minimalistic Sea Life of Porto and had a great meal at the sea. For our "last" night in Porto we wanted to go out. We went to the Hard Rock Café, which was just around the corner from our apartment. Actually all of the night life scene was around the corner. even though Day 319.02.2017 We got up early on Sunday, so we can use all the time before we have to go to the airport. First thing in the morning was to visit the Jardins do Palácio de Cristal. The garden was so pretty and had an amazing view over Porto and the Douro. After we walked all the way down to the river and a visit at the pirate museum, we both were hungry. We went again to Gaia, where we saw earlier that weekend a traditional Portuguese restaurant. (Yes, please don't mind this annoying man looking at my sausage.) After buying a few souveniers we went back to our apartment to get our stuff and go to the airport. But when we came to the airport they told us they overbooked our flight. And we will get a standby ticket, in case someone misses the flight or doens't show up we can have their seats. But everyone showed up for the flight to Zurich, so we had to spend another night in Portugal. Good thing, we got everything paid from the airline. A nice hotel, with a great view on the river, and even two meals. Day 4After spending another night in Portugal, we had a flight back home at 6 in the morning. We left our hotel around 5 I think. Can't really remember, I was so tired. Being back home made me think about what I loved most about this amazing trip, besides spending time with my big sister. I think the part I liked to most was the street art, from musicians to painting. I am wotking on a video of all the artists I was able to catch a shot of. Hope you enjoyed reading about my trip to Porto!!
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I couldn't wait to go back to Switzerland when I was in America, but now all I wanna do is redo my exchange year. I miss so many people. And the worst part is having not only American friends but also best friends living all over the world. And you just want to talk to them but it's really not the same to text or call a person, when you saw them everyday for a year. You just went to school and could tell each other everything. For a long time I thought I had a bad experience, but how can an experience be bad at all? With two great host families supporting me no matter what. And knowing that whenever you get back you will always have someone waiting for you. Can't thank the people enough who where truly a blessing to me in such a short time. But not only do I miss my friends and family but also did I never thought I could miss my boyfriend this much. We didn't get to know each other shortly before I had to leave, so we didn't have much time with each other. But he was also the most important person, during probably my hardest time. So after nearly 9 months of a long distance relationship I really just want to go back to Alabama.
Another year has flown by. And I just feel like I've blinked and it all whizzed by. 2016 has brought along so many highlights, as well as challenges. The year started still in Alabama, actually Crossville and I am glad I got to spend the first day the of the new year with such amazing people. Later that month I went on a trip to Orlando. I had such much fun. Disney World was such a happy place. Great People-Great Time Valentines Day was great too, I had an amazing day with friends and the best Valentine I could wish for. Spring time was definetly one of the best times during my exchange year. I had crazy times with my host family and soon enough Raffaela came to visit me in Alabama. I had like the best spring break I could wish for. We had fun with the EF group at the factory. And with my host mom and brother at the Space & Rocket Center. I got the cutest prom proposal and Marco took us to the Caves with his little brother. I had a great time with Raffaela. After she left Prom was around the corner. Nothing like I imagined Prom is going to be like. After that everything kind of fell apart but got fixed by my Americam mom. And I never thought once, that I would get to the point I just wanted to stay. And then it was already time to say goodbye to America. I thought my exchange year was rough but the time that came up in Switzerland was way harder than I expected it. It was really hard to get back in my old life again. And my grand-mother passed away what didn't make things easier for me. After summer fall was exactly what I needed. Everything was alright again with my friends. I experienced the Red Hot Chili Peppers live! And I went to the Oktoberfest in Munich. And a lot of hiking was going on too during fall. For a great end of fall I went to Vallais for a long weekend trip with my family. The beginning of winter was not so great. But there's nothing to change that now, so I am not closer going to talk about this topic. In Novemeber I started to practice yoga regulary. My birthday was a success too. And then the hectict Christmas time already started. I got to hangout with a close friend I met during my exchange year. I am so glad I got to catch up with her. Before the new year. 2016 was in many ways a disaster. It was disturbing, wounding and eye opening. But I still can't complain, all those amazing things happenend and so many amazing people were surrounding me.
Let me read about your year in the comments. And want you want to read about next year! I haven't seen Tabea in forever. And we both were so busy getting back in our daily routines, nacl on track with old friends, and the school and various stuff. However I am so glad we finally got to see each other again. It is really hard to talk to friends which haven't been on an exchange year about your experience. We were just haning out, for hours talking about our lifes. It was weird getting to think about last year again, but it felt great to have someone who understands. I don't mean to offend any of friends, because I love talking to them as much but it isn't the same. There's been so much change in both our lifes after we came back. And it is good to now that you're not the only struggling with some things. The best thing was that after all this time we still could talk to each other like nithing has changed. On Thursday morning I left with my family to Vallais for a short vacation. We drove up there by car. We made a stop at the at the Furka Pass, where we went inside of a glacier. We arrived pretty early at our appartment. So we went to eat lunch and afterwards to a suspension bridge. It was making me sick. The next day we went to Brig, where we went to the old castle, getting groceries and swimming at the Brigerbad Spa. For supper we made Raclette, like we Swiss people like to do. My sister left me behind on Saturday morning. So I went hiking with my family and Go Kart Downhilling. It was really fun. The old village was so beautiful, it was amazing to see this old structre of buildings. For the last day my father had planned to go paragliding with his wife, but we ended up going hiking at the Aletschglacier. The weather the whole weekend wasn't bad at all. It was way warmer than I expected it to be. All in all I had a fun weekend, even though it's really stressful to go on vacation with my family. HOME IS WHERE THE MOUNTAINS AREThere is been happening a lot in my life, and I still feel like I am doing nothing. School is going great. I have friends, I feel comfortable with and right now the classes aren't that hard. But just some teachers are making me furious. I feel like they have no common sense. Other than that, in school everything is going pretty well. SPENDING TIME WITH FAMILY AND FRIENDSI spend a lot of time with Lia and Maite. September 24thI went hiking with Maite on the Titlis. We had a lot of fun, even though we didn't get that far with hiking. On our way to Engelberg we saw Switzerland in different ways. And for a short stop we were in Lucerne. OKTOBERFEST 2016With Aline and Lia I went one week later to Munich. It was a crazy short trip. We went shopping in the morning until the afternoon and in the evening we went to the Wiesn. Our hostel was like 10 minutes out of the center so we saw a lot walking towards the center. It was a bummer that Lia got a cold excalty the day we left for Munich. But we had a lot of fun anyways. RED HOT CHILI PEPPERSLast Wednesday the Red Hot Chili Peppers came to Zurich. I went with Maite and some other friends. It was a great show. I was just a little disappointed that they didn't bring all the songs I was hoping for. They brought most a the song of the new album and an amazing pre-band. THIS WEEKENDOn Friday Maite and I went to watch the stars, on a hill near my house. It was so freaking cold, even though we took like 5 blankets with us. I love that I can do crazy stuff like this with my friends. On Saturday my oldest friend Raffaela, which came to visit me in Albama, came to visit me in Zurich. I took her with me to a party of my family. But we left a little early and went to a bar. After that we made a horror movie night at my place. As you can see I am always busy with work, school or spending time with my family and friends. But still I'm never really happy. I do enjoy all those moments. But it just hits me in the weirdest moments and then I'm suddenly sad after I've been in the best mood all day. I am trying to figure out, how to controll my mood swings and be more positive. Yes, I know I got really bad in updating my blog. But most part of the people who read my blog is anyways my family, so I try to keep them updated anyways. I have been busy those past few weeks.
There's a lot going on in this time of the year in America. Well my best danish friend had her birthday this month. In school we had so much going on. Like finals and other end of the school stuff. And on friday I graduated. And I spent most of time with my friends and my family. Well Penny keeps me busy, when I'm at home. I never thought during this whole year I'm gonna get to the point where I'm saying "I don't wanna go home." This year has probably been one of the most difficult things in my life. I wanted to give up so many times, and I'm so greatful for those people who kept me going, my family back home, who always supported me, my friend Julie, my RC and now hostmom Penny and Marco. Marco has been my best friend this whole year. And I couldn't wish for a better best friend than him. Every single day of my exchange year he has been here. Every time I needed someone to talk to, someone to help me, or ride, whatever it was he has been there. I seriously don't think I would still be here, if he wasn't my friend. Anyways I don't think in any other year of my life I learned more than in this. I am not talking education wise. I mean I have learned so much, about people, American culture, Mexican culture, and most likely about myself. There are some other things I wanna write about but I don't really know how right now. So, I am gonna say for now, that this past few weeks, made up so much for my whole year. And I am really happy with my life. I am happy for what I have. I have amazing people in my life. I have everything I need and I couldn't wish for more. I just wanted to say again how grateful I am for my Mother back home and for Penny my American Mom. I got 23 days left before I have to go home. A few weeks I go i just wanted to go home and I was so done with everything here. But I don't wanna go home anymore. Or at least not that soon. But I can't change the fact that I have to go home. On the other hand I'm excited to see my family and friends. But the more I talk about it, the more it gets real I have to get ready to go home. What I've been doing the past few weeks...The last week of April we had Eagle week in school. Everyday we dressed up different and we had several activities trough out the weeks. I have been to the fair with Marco and his little brother. I have been spending a lot of time with my friends and Penny. I have been involved in the preparations for the Musical production of the school.
The weather compared to Switzerland is great. Well, except from my allergies.
My weekend hasn't been that exciting. And on Monday after school we had a water balloon fight. It was a lot of fun. And for supper I got one of my favorite foods here. Today for supper we went to Asia Garden. And in my fortune cookie was written: "You will step on the soil of many countries in your lifetime." I hope that's true. This week we have Eagle Week in school. We dress up every day different. And there are diffferent activities on different days. Even though I have a lack of school spirit I'm excited for the rest of the week. |
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June 2017
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