17.05.15: Prom & Universal Studios

Hey guys,
Even though Prom was almost a month ago I decided to write a short post about it.
Prom was on a Saturday so in the morning Barb and I got our hair done and got ready. Before I went to Max and Liz, because I was going to Prom with them, we took pictures in front of our house. When I got to Max and Liz´ house they haven't even started to get ready yet. So they were really stressed out. When they were done we took even more picutres. Liz' date was picking as up from their house. We were late and already on our way when they realized that they had forgotten the flowers and that Max had forgotten her ticket. So we went back. Fortunately we got there in time because they didn't let anyone in after seven. Prom was in a Golf Course. Because our school is pretty small it was in a kind of small room but the room was really pretty. The one side was all just windows through which you could see the Golf Course, a small waterfall and a pavilion. In the beginning I wasn't sure if it's not going to be boring because we weren't allowed to leave until it was over and it was five hours long but it actually was fun. There was a camera team which took a video of the whole evening.  I don't think that it turned out well but it's a nice memory of the evening. Unfortunately it's to big so I can't upload it.

This Friday was the Senior Trip. Even though we're not Seniors the exchange students were allowed to go. So in the morning we all drove with the yellow school bus to LA to the Universal Studios. I don't think that those buses are actually safe. It was raining a little when we got there which was actually good because there weren't many people in the park. I personally liked the Universal Studios more than Disneyland. Universal Studios doesn't have as many rides as Disneyland but they are way better. I had a lot of fun and the day went by so fast.

I only have two more weeks of school left which feels kind of strange. Barb, Max and Liz are going to leave a few days after that. I honestly don't know if I should feel happy that I am going to see my friends and family soon or sad that I have to leave. I am just going to try to enjoy my last few weeks here.

Bye
Leo

09.05.15: Fakten & Unterschiede

Hey guys,
I actually wanted to wait to write until I get the pictures from Prom before I write a new Post but after three weeks I still haven't gotten them so I decided to post somthing that I have been working on for the last eight months. I started this list of facts already in the beginning of my exchange year and added new facts once in while. So in the first few are in german and the later once in english. This is all just what I have experienced so it might be different in other places of the US.

Ein paar Fakten:

• jeden Tag in der zweiten Stunde gibt es eine Durchsage und alle Schüler stehen auf in Richtung von der Amerikanischen Flagge (die in jedem Klassenzimmer hängt) und sprechen mit der Hand auf dem Herz die Pledge of Allegiance. Wir Austauschschüler müssen sie nicht mitsprechen aber ich kann sie trotzdem langsam schon auswendig:

"I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, and the republic for which it stands, one Nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all."

• Die Kurse sind gemischt, das heißt es ist normal wenn Freshmen ( 9-Klässler) und Seniors (12-Klässler) im selben Kurs sind

• Es gibt in fast keinem der Klassenzimmern Fenster, und wenn sind sie abgedunkelt.

• jede Aufgabe oder Hausaufgabe wird eingesammelt und benotet

• es gibt keine mündlichen Noten, deshalb macht kaum ein Schüler im Unterricht mit und wenn melden sie sich nicht sondern rufen einfach nur rein.

• Die Lehrer haben jeder ein eigenes Klassenzimmer, das sie selbst gestalten mit Bildern ihrer Familie oder Postern von ihren lieblings Footballmanschaften. Außerdem hat fast jeder Lehrer einen Kühlschrank und eine Mikrowelle in seinem Klassenzimmer. Mein Biolink Lehrer isst als Erdnussbutter mit einem Löffel aus einem riesigen Erdnussbutterglas, während dem Unterricht.

• Es gibt hier nur Einzeltische an die ein Stuhl von der einen Seite mit einer Metallstange befestigt ist. Das heißt man kann sich nur von der einen Seite auf den Stuhl setzten oder man muss über die Stange klettern, was echt bescheuert aussieht(Ist mir am Anfang immer passiert).
• Manche Lehrer lassen während dem Unterricht Musik laufen. Mein Algebra Lehrer zum Beispiel hört manchmal Schottischemusik oder Musik von Harry Potter und Herr der Ringe. Letztes mal als wir einen Test geschrieben haben hat er im ernst Star Wars Musik laufen lassen.  

• Während der Mittagspause gehen viele Schüler zu Starbucks, McDonalds, Subway, TacoBell oder andere Fasfood Restaurants in der Nähe
• Wenn sich ein Schüler die Nase putzen will muss er aus dem Klassenzimmer da es 'unhöflich' ist. Dagegen ist es normal laut zu rülpsen. Vorallem die Mädchen in meiner Schule machen das oft.

• Die meisten Amerikaner gehen so gut wie jeden Tag essen oder gehen zu Starbucks

• Starbucks gibt es in jedem noch so kleinen Ort

•  Wenn man in einem Restaurant essen geht, ist es normal das was übrig geblieben ist einpacken zu lassen und mit nach Hause zu nehmen

•  Wenn kaum noch etwas im Glas ist bekommt man es umsonst wieder aufgefüllt oder ein neues Glas, ohne zu fragen

•  Man bekommt jedes Mal einen Strohhalm zu seinem Trinken, sogar in fancy Restaurants

•  Obst und Gemüse ist hier sehr teuer,

• Es gibt hier Süßigkeiten mit jedem Geschmack, von Erdnussbutteroreos bis zu Kaugummis mit Bacon Geschmack

•  Man kauft hier Milch und Apfelsaft in riesigen Kanistern (ca. 4 Liter)

• Fast alle Teenager hier essen die ganze Zeit Cheetos. Das sind Chipssticks die meiner Meinung nach nach nichts schmecken, aber unglaublich scharf sind.

• Chocolate: The american chocolate is just awful, especially the dark one.

•  Reeces: Reeces are one of my favorite american candys. It's a chocolate „cup“ filled with peanut butter.

• Many kids are being homeschool by their parents and don't go to school. My friend Bella for example was homeschooled her whole life and just came to school for her last year.

• Americans love dogs. I haven't met a family which doesn't have a dog yet. And they don't just have one or two dogs, no most of them have 2-5 dogs. I am not kidding.

• Even though they have a speedlimit on the highway, I am sometimes really scared by the american driving. While in Germany you're only allowed to pass another car on the left side, American pass also on the right side. And the slowest car doesn't drive on the right line. They are just driving wherever they want.(But i is only allowed in certain states)

• At least half of the cars you see on the streets are Trucks. It's just sometimes really strange when I see some of my classmates that are maybe 16 driving these huge Trucks. (It's normal for 16 years old to own a car)

• When we go shopping, shopping carts are all over the parking lot. When people are done grocerie shopping, most of them just let their shopping carts stand in the parking lot.

• American eat a lot of sweet potatoes instead of normal potatoes, to almost every dish.

• Americans here in California love avocados, epecially on burgers.

• Almost every one has Netflix.

• In every restaurant are at least two televisions, showing baseball, football or basketball games

• When you order water in 99% of the restaurants you will get awful tasting tap water.

• You can't really choose where you want to go to school to. In the district where you are living in you have to go to school to. 
• If you want to go to the restroom or out of your classroom you need a pass because there are Security guys walking over the campus taking you back to your class or 'in house'(somehing like detention) if you don't have one.

Here a few pictures when Solveig and I went to the Getty Museum in LA. It's an Art Gallery on a hill right before Downown LA. Because it is so high up it has an amazing view over LA.

Leo