You Know You're an Exchange Student in Germany When...

• your diet mainly consists of carbs *cough* bread *cough* 
• you drink more apple juice than you do water
• you have fresh bread with an assortment of cheeses and deli meats every night for dinner
• your main way of communicating with people is nodding and smiling when they speak to you in German because you have no idea most of what they said 
• you don't have a clue what's going on in school and have accepted that you probably won't get any credits at your American high school
• you're tired all the time
• you walk/bike/take public transportation everywhere
• you get lost a lot
• all the stores, except some bakeries, are closed on Sundays 
• you have no hope of ever understanding German grammar or ever being able to use it correctly 
• Ritter Sport chocolate is your life
• other exchange students are like family
• the middle of October is as cold as the middle of winter at home and you have still not accepted that it's going to get even colder
• there are pharmacies everywhere, like at least 1 on every street in downtowns 
• people just call you the American
• you still can't get used to being able to drink beer and wine

The list could go on and on and I'm sure there are many things I have forgotten. Also, I have some big news, I have just received my new host family! In December, I will be moving to Berlin! I am so excited! Berlin is the capital of Germany and is also it's largest city (3.5 million people, wow) and it looks absolutely beautiful! I will have a host mom and a host dad and three host siblings, a 16 year old sister, a 15 year old sister, and a 12 year old brother! Even though I am very excited for my upcoming adventures in Berlin it will be very sad to leave the family I am in now. I love them so much and I am so incredible grateful for everything they have done for me. Because they took me in on such short notice they were only a temporary family until December. They have made me feel so welcome and at home here even though it was only for a couple of months and for that I will be forever thankful.