Aachen

Hello! From this point on, my focus will be my year abroad, with minimal insight into the political happenings of Prince Edward Island, and Canada. Maybe I will start a second blog?
Anyhow, the first week in Aachen was very interesting, and quite busy. It will be great to learn German, which is quite difficult. I arrived in Köln (Cologne) and was greeted by the Rüthers, my first host family. We drove to Aachen, where I now live, and had a relaxed breakfast, in English, outside. Aachen is a fairly cloudy city, overcast almost daily, but still warm, and the outdoors is great. That first night, I biked for about 45 minutes with a new friend to a going-away party for another student. It was nice, and I met many people that I will be in school with soon.
On Sunday, there was a church festival, and I went, mainly to meet more people... for the benefit of those who don't know, I am an Atheist, but I always put Roman Catholic down for religion, because I was baptized that way. Now I go to a catholic private school. Last time I do that. The people were very nice, and I met even more people.
Monday was my first day at the language camp, and it was fun. I met the other exchange students. I guess you could say Madeline Street has become my best exchange-student friend, she is American, the other 3 are Mexican. Afterwards, I went to Saturn, much like Future Shop, and started shoring up on supplies.
Tuesday was just another day at language camp, and afterwards, I went with Ingeborg (my host mom) to get money for my insurance, and to purchase a Handy (cell phone).
Wednesday, I again took the bus to the camp, but afterwards, it was my first trip home alone on the bus. I did not get lost, however! That evening, I went to see the England-Germany football (soccer) match, albeit in a bar with the Scout Troop. In case any official sounding Rotarian or other person ensuring a chem-free exchange is wondering, there was no alcohol. Now, the match put me in a moral dilemma. Seeing as I am not a soccer fan, should I cheer for my adopted country? Or, since I am a British subject, should I cheer for England? I picked the middle, and merely smiled politely at each goal. One of the leaders of the Scouts is an Air Traffic Controller, so we had a great chat. As well, all three leaders were once in my position! I believe I was the quietest person at the end of the game, when Germany embarrassed England.
Thursday, the anticipation for the barbecue started to build. On Saturday, we would be hosting a barbecue for EVERY exchange student, their families, the upcoming host families, a few outbound students, a few rebound students, exchange coordinators, and a few others. I'll save the math. There were 60 people coming! To our house! Other than that, everything was normal.
Friday was a bad day. We all wanted to sleep in class, and obviously, couldn't. Afterwards, we had to buy meat. Lots of meat. 60 Germans eat a lot of meat. 150 Wurstcheins (little sausages), and at least 70-80 Steaks (now, in German steak describes beef, pork, and poultry, so there was a mixture). We also had to pick up the dishes for these same 60 people. And 5 cases of carbonated mineral water, 10 two-liter bottles of Coke, 3 2-4s, a case of Sprite, a case of Fanta, some iced tea, and other such things. I don't think our van was designed to fit that, AND three people!
Saturday involved three trips in the van around Laurensburg (the district of the city, like Royalty, or Wilmot, or St. Eleanors) to pick up enough seats and tables for these people. Now Germans, natural partiers, all have what we call Bier Banks (beer benches). They are all identical, and many can be found all over the place. We set up 4 of these, for 40 of the people, and other things for the rest. It was quite the adventure. The party was great, and I will add pictures later. One of the Mexicans, Alejandra, had her 16th birthday, so, instead of helping clean, us students went into town for pop, to celebrate. It was grand.
Sunday I had the chance to sleep in a little, before returning all the Bier Banks. We then went into the City, just Jobst, Ingeborg, and I. I believe I outspent them at a Cafe, where the encouraged me to sample a beverage and desert. I feel guilty and will be quite careful in the future. The city is beautiful, and I learned a lot of its history. I will add more details as I take the opportunity to hit each landmark in detail over the course of the year.
Finally, Monday, August 27. Another day of death via language camp. They need to hold it in the afternoon, not the morning! We all nearly fell asleep. Again. Then I had to help return the dishes. Minus one cup, which did not survive its two-day stay at the Rüthers residence. Now, I am staying up past my self-imposed curfew to write this, and must go to bed!

Moncton

I am almost done flying in Moncton! I will be home very soon, and I cannot wait! It's going to be a good week, before jet-setting it over to Germany for the year.