Leaving Germany/Arriving in New Zealand.

Sunday 5th March 2017:

I had said my goodbyes to Yasmin and her younger brother Nikki in the morning after church.

I said my goodbyes to Stefan and Julian at home as Stefan was sick and Julian didn't want to go to the airport. Julian just said Tschüss to me. Stefan and I hugged and we both cried a little. Christina, Jonas, Elisa and I loaded up the car and we picked Oma up on the way to the airport.

(München [Munich] -Dubai)

After checking my bags in, we walked around the airport and then walked up towards customs. Christina hugged me and we shed a few tears, Elisa hugged me next full on crying and I cried lots too, she has taken a place in my heart as my younger sister and it was hard saying goodbye. Jonas had said nothing at all once we had got to the airport. As he hugged me he burst out crying, his face turning red. He told me not to go, to stay, that this is my home. I told him he was always welcome to come visit me here in New Zealand and that one day hopefully I can go back and meet them again. I hugged Oma and she cried too. I then walked into the line to head into customs. I turned around as I was about to walk through the door and I saw them all crying and waving. I was still crying as it was sad to leave my second family. I waved back and with tears still and I bent down to the kids heights so they could see me a little better and I put my hand on my mouth and turned it into a smile. I saw Elisa and Jonas smile while crying as I walked into customs.

(Dubai-Sydney-Christchurch)

To put a long story about my flight into short words:

I couldn't sleep the 6 hour flight to Dubai. When we landed in Dubai, customs was strict, had to wat an hour in a line just to go to the toilet. Had an hour and a half delay in Dubai. Arrived late in Sydney, customs was weird, borded the plane late in Sydney. Arrived in Christchurch along with 3 other planes so the declaring line was super super long. But thankfully, when I said I only have 1 thing to declare the lady said "That's fine just continue down this lane straight to the exit." I was super happy as I didn't have to go through the super long x-ray line.

I kept walking super fast and looking out the doors to see if mum was there. I finally came out and there she was! I walked straight to her, as we hugged we both cried.

Arrival in Christchurch.

Week 12

Saturday 26th February 2017:

We drove to Neusaß for a faschings street parade. It was a fun experience but I wasn't allowed to take photos as there was some sort of rule about it. But it was an amazing time the kids came home with bags full of candy. One of the floats people came over towards my side and he filled my pocket with candy and said "For you sweet thang", which I found very weird as he looked like he was in his twenties.

Monday 28th February 2017:

We went to another Faschings street in Gablingen which was only a five minute drive away from Hirblingen. It was cold and as soon as it was over it started to rain and we had parked very far away from where the actual parade happened but luckily I was wearing my rain jacket.

 After we arrived home, my host family's best friends came over for some afternoon tea, we had Krapfen and other baked goods, we drank tea or coffee while the kids drank Apfelschorle. (Homemade Apple juice).


Wednesday 1st March 2017:

I met up with Susanne again, we met in Gerstofen and we took the tram to Augsburg. It was surprise to where we where going. The surprise was going to the Zoo. Zoo Augsburg.

This photo above is a Rhino body, with a tiger painted on the front, it then merges into a zebra, each of the back legs is a leopard and the other back leg is an elephant and the tail is also an Elephant's tail.

I found King Julian.

Friday 3rd March 2017:

It was Julian's birthday. He turned 9 years old. Majority of the first day was full of cleaning and setting up for his friends to come for his friend party. His friends came and we had hamburgers and hot chips! We had then droven to a resturant/ bowling place. We only went for the bowling bit though. We all kept changing teams for whatever game we played. My highest number of pins I bowled was 8/9!

After bowling we dropped Julian's friends off at their houses and started to get the house cleaned and ready for the family party which we only had 1 and a half hours to get ready for. Thankfully we all helped out and everything was ready before people started to turn up. After dinner and desert, the kids and I were in the living room with the adults on the other side of the shut door while they talked and we watched cartoons. I played with 3 year old Fabian and 18 month old Elias.

Sunday 5th March 2017:

We went to church, I took Elisa to childrens church and there we sang songs and read bible stories before going and joining the real church for the last few minutes. After lunch Christina took Elisa and I to the Botanical Gardens in Augsburg to see the butterfly house and japanese gardens.

 

Week 11

Satuday 18th February 2017:

I met up with Susanne and we went to Augsburg for the day. We went out shopping and doing random things. We caught the tram to Augsburg, and walked around talking and window shopping to keep us from boredom.

 Little Video of the Tram trip 😉^

Tuesday 21st February 2017:

Today was the last day of going to my Deutsch Course as it is the Karnival/ Faschings holiday the next weeks. I said goodbye to my tutor and gave him a little box of chocolates to give my thanks on helping me improve my German. I'm very thankful to Herr Funke for taking his time in helping me with improving my language skills.

Friday 24th February 2017:

Today was the last day of school as it was the holidays for the next weeks. I had baked muffins for my class and teachers, and the leftover muffins from my last batch I gave to my host family and they really enjoyed them that the kids ate all of them before I could take a photo of them. I made the muffins on Thusday. As the final bell rang for the end of school, everyone in my class was happy yet upset. Happy for the holidays and upset for not being able to see me after the holidays as I would leave for New Zealand before school started again.  

9c Class photo's^