Soooo, this is a bit awkward. I haven't written in a long time, and I'm sure you're all really mad at me. I realize how heavily everyone out there depends on my literary prowess to brighten up their days. I am aware of how much you all rely upon my published experiences that you may live vicariously through me while still going about your normal lives. I apologize for not having been there for you. I have been bad.

I really am a bit of a, let's say (for lack of a more accurate but still appropriate word) jerk. The reason I just made fun of all of the people who are nice enough to read my blog is because I'm quite embarrassed that it has been so long since the last time I've had the resolve to sit myself in front of the computer and brag a bit about my experiences. Maybe I should have played the I-was-doing-everyone-a-favor-by-not-writing-about-my-cool-experiences card and said that you all would have just been really jealous. Oh well, too late. You know, the funny thing is that it's not too late. I could VERY easily rewrite these last two paragraphs. It's not like I'm using a type-writer, although now that I think about it, that might be a good card to play too...


Alright, I'll get started now that I've wasted a couple paragraphs and hopefully drawn a forgiving smile to your lips, faithful reader.

The following are widely studied and accepted statistics. By me. The average German visits two Christmas markets during the winter holidays. An overzealous tourist/exchange student spending the holiday seasons in Germany visits at most 4 Christmas markets. Your favorite American exchange student visited as many markets as two Germans and one of them crazy foreigners. That's right, eight. And a few of them multiple times as well. I just loved the amazing atmosphere that permeated the entire... atmosphere, I guess, of all of the markets. Everyone was always bundled up and huddled around mugs of Glühwein (hot wine) or wandering past stands displaying locally made fineries. The sense of good cheer was always accompanied by the scents of all sorts of edible edibles. Schnitzel, currywurst, steaks and french fries consistently conspired to spark an inner desire for some greasy goodness. The sweet aromas of candy apples, chocolate covered strawberries, and crepes crept in the nose and tickle sweet spots on my brain. Even the tiny markets, like the one my 3000-person town put together, are just so cozy that they tease the corners of even a particularly frozen mouth into a smile.

Despite the lack of snow, and probably largely due to the Christmas markets, I got that Christmas feel a lot earlier this year than I ever have before. Somewhere around the 10th I was ready for the pine-needley scent of some evergreen foliage to start wafting through my house. This feeling continued until the 23rd, when just about all of the markets closed and real German Christmas started. It was time to decorate the tree, finally. I was a little dissapointed that my family had bought one unceremoniously from a parking lot, but I know a lot of families do that in the US too. What really was strange for me was how little work a family puts into actually making anything feel Christmasy. The tree was scantily decorated in 20 minutes, a few snowflake ornaments went up around the house, and that was it.

In Germany, Christmas is a plural concept. The evening of the 24th until the 26th are all included in the perception of the holiday, which was a new thing for me. And here Santa isn't provided with the opportunity to put the presents under the tree, which must be a big bummer for him. Gifts make their way to their resting place during the day when the family places them there. Family showed up in the evening, and we opened presents and then ate dinner. Don't get me wrong, it was a real good time. It was great to meet a few more family members, eat a big dinner, watch everyone appreciate my gifts, and get a few in return. I know Christmas is all of those things, I just usually feel something more. The next morning I woke up for the first time in my life to a normal day on the 25th, and it was a little bit of a bummer.

I realized that for the first time in my entire life I was a little bit homesick, which was a feeling I was VERY unused to. I realized that there are a lot of things I truly miss about where I'm from, and you are all a part of that. I just want you all to know that I really do miss you. I may have said it before, but then it was just kind of a "It would be nice if I could see you," type deal. This time I really mean it. I miss all of you.

One of my presents was a ticket to the concert of a really famous German band, Die Toten Hosen. Literally translated that means The Dead Pants. Solid name. They're an 80s rock band who have written every type of hit that exists: party songs, soccer songs, politically critical songs- you name it, they've done it. The concert was on the night of the 26th, and Constantin and I were dropped off together in Frankfurt with a bunch of rowdy fans ranging in ages from probably fifteen to fifty years old. The band was really talented, and the music was fun, but seeing (or hearing) as it was a loud concert I could understand very little, and I didn't know any of the songs beforehand, so it was a little hard to get into. It was still a cool experience though. This band was pure free German spirit. They loved their partying, they were frustrated with their politics, and they were adamant concerning their soccer.

Then, a couple of days later I entered 2009 at least six hours before almost all of you. Jealous? You should be.
Shortly thereafter I went skiing in Austria. It was sick. 'Nuff said.


Now I've been back in school for a week, and it's nice to see all those goofs who haven't graced my line of vision in a few weeks, but I miss having no worries. Not that I have many worries in school, either. Let's just say that I am making the most of the fact that this year's grades don't count for anything. ;) I was actually very surprised at how my grades are. Considering the fact that I spend next to zero hours dedicated to school at home here and that German is not my first language, I am rather proud of myself. One piece of work I did, a philosphy essay on the existence of love, turned out really well. My teacher even said it was, "poetisch." That means poetic, in case you didn't pick up on it. I'm thinking I might want to put the essay up in english somewhere because it really was interesting (if you're into that kind of thing) but I'm not sure yet.

Lastly, I now have a haircut that I haven't had since 7th grade: a buzz cut. It's amazing to me how the relationship between the cost of a haircut and the amount of money in your bank account can determine for you how fashionable said haircut is.

Along that same train of thought, I thought I'd put a little advertisement out there. I am looking for a job this summer, and I REALLY need to have one waiting for me because I'll be getting back after all of those inconvenient college hooligans. And I don't have any money. So in the case that any of you have fallen in love with my clever literary wit and know of any employment opportunities, I'd love to hear about them.


I promise that it will not be this long before I write to you again, and I offer once more my humble apology that it took so long this time. I hope you can forgive me.

Hope you are all enjoying your new year,
Tommy