I woke up at 6:30 am and started to finish packing. Everything was stressful, but I guess that was perfectly normal considering that I was moving to a different continent. After a hectic morning we all piled into the car. We left at 12:30 pm, giving ourselves quite a few hours to get to the airport. Our plane was leaving at 7:00 and I assumed that our little trip to LA would be pretty smooth sailing. But our family is cursed. Something has to go wrong, we are always late or cutting it frickin close! The whole ride I just staired out the window and tried to shut my ears so that I didn't have to listen to my brother and sister complain the whole way. It defiantly didn't make me feel any better when I would have to listen to Gretchen and Hartwin take turns saying "Yep! We are defiantly not going to make it!." I just thought about all the people that had helped me with this difficult transition. For all of you that are reading this... thank you so much for supporting me through this move. If i didn't have your support I would not have felt strong enough to do something like this.
I took pictures of all the things I knew I was going to miss. I tried to think about other things so that i wouldn't cry. I had defiantly done more than enough of that. I thought about Germany. I told myslef to be in the moment, don't think about the past and don't think about the future, I will be there soon enough. After being at Middle School for 4 years I think that I truly understand the phrase "time flies when your at SBMS, so try and get the most you can out of it." I am sure that is not exactly how the phrase goes, but it's something along those lines. I am not sure where all that time went, but I know where all that learning came from, I know what I learned and I won't ever forget. I remember last fall being so excited about my 9th grade year. When I came to school my very first day as a little 6th grader I knew I was staying for 9th grade. I went through so much, and I was very confused, but there was one thing I was always sure of.
I wanted to be a 9th grader at Santa Barbara Middle School and I wanted to make everyone proud. All these things flew through my mind, actually they lingered for a long time. All through the car ride and the 10 hour plane ride to Zurich, Switzerland.
I sat next to a boy just a year older than me. He told me that he was going to visit his grandparents in Zurich. He asked me what I would be doing in Zurich. I quickly corrected him, telling him that I would attending an all German school for a year. His face lit up almost immediately and he was filled with excitement. He made himself perfectly clear when he said "WOW you are going to have a great time! That is going to be a life changing experience!" at the top of his lungs. I tried to match his amount of excitement, but I think I failed because I was not nearly as loud as he was. With a MUCH QUIETER voice I said " thank you so much! Whenever I hear that it always makes me feel better."
I tried to get comfortable on the plane, but I soon accepted that this was an impossible feat. Just a few years earlier I was able to curl up into a little ball and fit perfectly in the seat. Now things are much different. I can't curl up into a ball at all, I cant even sit without having my knees forced into the seat in front of me. I can't even begin to imagine the amount of pain tall people have to deal with.
After we landed we quickly jumped onto our next flight to Berlin. I sat next to a 12 year old girl who was flying by herself (Suzanna). Without even thinking I started talking to her...in German! Whenever the flight attendant would come by I tried to think so something to ask for just so that I could speak German. Well this is surprising I thought, I didnt know that I had such a desire to speak. I actually enjoyed that flight. Suzanna taught me a few card games I didn't even know existed. We had a lot of fun talking about California, school, her family and summer vacation. I had know idea I could actually do it. Even though I had been taking lessons back in SB and speaking with my German teacher I was amazed that she could actually understand me!
When we landed in Berlin Katja (my cousin, now my guardian) was waiting for us. She greeted us with big welcoming hugs. We jumped into her big, cozy, brand new VW bus. As we drove through the city I looked at it in a way that I hadn't before. It wasn't just a cool summer vacation as it had been every other time. This time it was actually my home. When we got to the house I went straight to bed and slept until 11:30 am. When I woke up I was filled and excitement and the need to explore. My mom took Gretchen and Hartwin to do what they wanted to do and I got to get to know this city that was completely foreign to me. I was blown away at how beautiful it was. "...wait I am actually in a city??" There where old, perfectly happy German couples walking hand in hand, children playing together on beautiful grassy fields surrounded by cute little cafes, men and women in a hurry, there where so many things happening but the movement didn't make me feel dizzy or claustrophobic. I was happy, curious and thrilled all at once. "Holy shit...I live here, I live here, I live here."
amazing ! maddy
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