Following Rivers.

Dear Blog, I'm very sorry that I have neglected you ever so much during these last six weeks of life. I hope and my readers are forgiving. For you see, life really caught up with me there and taking the time to reflect was not on my top priorities...very unfortunate, I know. But alas I am back! Where to even start? This truly is the trouble when one fails to give attention to a blog. Leaving: That night, I didn't sleep. How could I? I was leaving around 3am for the flight of my life. When we finally got to the car, I was wide awake and ended up driving us to the airport. Oddly enough, I've never driven to the airport on my own or even to portland before this. But here I was, me and my family. Mostly though, I felt connected with my little lilahbug. She's my beloved car, after all. It was our last journey together. That car always symbolized freedom to me. Freedom to sing loudly. Freedom to feel the wind through my fingertips. Mostly, freedom to leave and go on a different path. Airport: It wasn't until I saw the anxious smiley faced Jamie that I realised that I was going. I was so excited at that moment, nothing could bring me down...not even my parents who were more or less gutted at the fact that I was leaving. They both cried and part of me wanted to cry to show that I DID care and I DO love them a lot but I couldn't..I didn't cry at all. I was too excited and was more than ready to leave Oregon. Luckily, my sister was at the airport as well and was able to console them and keep their spirits somewhat up. This is what I love about my sister..she stays calm in any situation and takes care of people. She's so selfless. I realised a few nighs prior to me leaving when there was an incident in my family..my sister stayed! she stayed! I ran. I always run. It's my instinct. The munch town..the moonch moonch..MG: For the last 6 weeks I have been living in Mochengladbach at a British Military base! I've made really good friends with my fellow camp adventure ladies and even made some british friends. Some highlights: Watching the Olympic Ceremonies with the brits while drinking magners! I've never felt so patriotic in my life. God save the Queen...indeed! Playing thumper on our first friday with all our new friends! The many nicknames of Jack aka Jack Jack, J-Razz, Shifty J The numerous nights just bullshitting with everyone out in the court yard or griffendor longue. The moment Jack Jack came to our house with 5 things of Ben and Jerry's. Getting in trouble for being barefoot. Dodgy Rob and his delicious blueberry pancakes served on a special silver platter just for us. Tick Trail. Mich Mich! Travelling Our first weekend, all of the rheindahlen girls went to Koln on Saturday where we climbed up the narrow winding steps to the top of Europes tallest Cathedral. We also ate Pizza! which was much desired after a week of Cassel's meals. The next weekend was my birthday, I went to Brussels with Tanya,Michelle, and Michael. This is where my love of waffles really began. However, very disappointed of this iconic pissing baby statue. There were replicas that were larger than the actual thing..gutted...especially when I made everyone search for it with me. Luckily, my birthday meant belgian beer (framboise..YUM!) whilst playing rummy with everyone. At night it took us ages but we found this bar called Celticas! It was a lot of fun...even got to dance for a bit. Lastly, I ended my 22nd birthday walking around the beautiful belgian town with Michael. The next day, while sharing a waffle..Michael + Sarah was official. It was such a nice day that we tried to find a park but only found a homeless refuge. We eventually laid outside of a cathedral for a while...which was a lot prettier/a lot less sketchy. Dear blog, I am keeping my promise to...for once, I know! The next weekend was BEERFEST in Berlin! We hurried out of work as fast as we could and caught the next bus out of the Rhine. After we got to the center, we had pizza (again..but still amazing) where I stole a coke (going to hell for this). The german pizza guys loved us though because we were from "California" and they insisted on singing us the Phantom Planet's song titled..Califronia. Shocking! Anyways after being wired from the stolen coke, delicious pizza, and the idea that I would soon be reunited with my bestfriend Brigette and my boyfriend in BERLIN...I didn't want to sleep on that 5 hour journey there. This lead to ridiculously loud banter and laughter between Alice, Mich and I ...there may have been some bets concerning two of our friends as well. Suffice it to say, we really over shot on that one. Anyways, we learnt that fresh fruit from trainstations aren't nearly as appetizing as those back at home. But still an upgrade from the mushy apples at cassels. Once we got to Berlin, I found myself in the largest trainstation in all of Europe. It was mental, there were escalators going every which way for levels up and down. Luckily, it was pretty simple to find Michael. Then we were off to our hostel to meet up with brigette and his friend (Mathieu..he's french so it's pronounced "Ma-Choo" and I like to call him Ma Choo Choo..or choo choo train. This trip has been all about nicknames..Right so once we got to the St.Christophers inn, Ma-Choo bought me a magners and all of us drank and bantered on for a while. The next day, me and brig went on a walking tour where we found Beau, Jeanine, Kristen, and other Camp A friends from back home. It's so cool running into people you know in places that are so foreign. In the past year, I've hung out with Beau in Berlin and Hawaii..How cool is that? -here I go diverging again. Right, so we were on this walking tour where we went all around the city of Berlin. Saw the main sites; including the wall, check point charlie, hitler's bunkers (the parking lot that is now on the spot), holocaust memorial, and where Michael Jackson showed off his baby "Blanket" on the balcony of a Berlin Hotel. It was a very informative tour. Once, we were done, we were at Museum Island but I was exhausted after the walking and heat. Michael ended up coming to Museum Island where we splashed around in the fountain a bit (loads of fun) and laid around in the park surrounded by old beautiful museums (also fun). Clearly we didn't rest enough because when we got back to the hostel, we took a nap and went into deep sleep almost instantly. I really didn't want to get up, but I did! Because it was BEERFEST! The beer tents seemed to be endless. There were hilarious German bands as well performing. I was loving the fruit beers...such as cherry beer, raspberry beer, and my favourite..Banana Beer! The next day, it rained so me, michael, and choo choo train didn't get to go to the tier gardens as planned but instead sloshed around in the rain looking at cheap records and haggling with street merchants for jewelry (got my locket for 7 instead of 12)! My shoes were soaked though but luckily we ended up inside... in a "California Burrito Grill"..which was surprisingly good and met my mexican cravings..for a minute atleast. I could still use a mexi night at my parents house desperately. By that time, it was time to head out..we caught the train back home. Long train rides seem to go by fast with Michael. Oh by the way. I was introduced to "I follow rivers" that weekend which is a very catchy tune that hasn't left my head since that day. It's always the first song me and Michael listen on any car ride. It's almost dinner time at Cassels...meet and potatoes surely. Yumm :/ More soon. promise. x x x x