LOVES & Hates, Part II

The days growing shorter, my time here nearly finished, 

my love for Germany ever growing

I love Germany. As my time here slips by ever faster, I'm reminded every hour that yes, Germany is incredible, and yes, I made the right choice. Deciding to spend four months away from home is a risk, and I realize now that I knew very little about what I was getting myself into. As my time here is drawing to a close, I really believe that I will forever look at Germany as a home. It's more to me than I even know. I've learned and changed here; I've grown and understood. When I'm home sitting in front of the fire on a chilly Williamstown evening, it will be nice to know that on the other side of the world, I have a place that I love so dearly.

There are many teenagers who get to travel, and many who have seen far more wondrous and exotic places than I. But not many of them have had the chance to live like me. I don't feel exceptional--only grateful for the opportunity I've been given.

I took Luc and Sebastian to the Frankfurt Christmas Market. They loved it. 

LOVES & Hates, Ten Days To Go

With that, I want to add to my LOVES & Hates list that I started back in September. I wish that I had updated it each month, because there are so many little pieces of Germany that I've fallen in love with. With these additions I will probably skip over things I love the most, because they've become obvious parts of my everyday routine. Still, these details are the ones I cherish, because they're the ones normal travelers rarely experience. I'm lucky to experience all that I have. I'm making the most of every day, because all too soon I won't have these things at the tips of my fingers. For now, that makes them all the more special.

Snowy rooftops in Rothenburg ob der Tauber, the quintessential German town

LOVES

• HOT Hot Chocolate - I've found my favorite drink. Ever. It's not apple cider or orange juice or a latte or chai tea. It's not a smoothy or an Arnold Palmer (which I enjoyed discovering at a Frankfurt grocery store) or even one of the many fantastic German beers I've sampled. No, it's the hot chocolate with chili powder from Chocolate Plus (which happens to also be my favorite store in Bad Homburg). They serve the steaming drink with a complimentary truffel, which alone is mouthwatering. On the chilly, grey afternoons, I make a point to stop for a drink that warms my spirit.
• Biking in the Snow - Though I've biked in the rain plenty of times, I had my first snow-biking adventure this past Monday. We've received exactly two inches of snow two times, and during one of those I happened to be returning home on my bike. I could've placed this experience in either category, but since I'm in Germany and I'll look for the silver lining in any event, I officially love biking in the snow. At least that one time.
• Izzy's Facial Expressions - It's fun that the cutest and funniest in the Judson household is often the youngest. Izzy has a face for every mood, and no matter what she's conveying, I just have to laugh. 
• Reading on the Train - I love riding the trains. They're easy to figure out, usually timely, and fairly convenient. Plus, Germany isn't as flat as I thought it was, and whether it be the trees of the Black Forest, the hills of Lower Saxony, or the picturesque towns of Bavaria, there's always good scenery. But I've found the train rides useful for other things, too. This past week I finished two books, and the majority of my reading time was on the train. 
• The Other Kind of Football - From Monday to Saturday, I focus much of my time and energy on the German type of football, but come Sunday night, there's nothing I would rather be doing that watching the NFL. I know this is not exactly an aspect of German culture, but since I do devote late Sunday evenings to watching the Patriots and following my fantasy team, I thought I'd mention it. Also, I love being the only one awake at 4:34 EST on Thursdays when the weekly waivers go through, so I can jump on any player not grabbed on the waiver wire. 
• Spending Less Than I Thought I Would - I've been keeping pretty detailed records of my spending, and after entering the November totals into my spreadsheet, it was nice to see that a) my original budget was fairly accurate, and b) I'll spend less than I my predictions. 
• Anticipation of a Trip - I've made all sorts of journeys over the past four months, and still, there's nothing more exciting to me than waking up early and making my way to the train station. I enjoy planning for a trip and asking myself, "What does this city offer that interests me?" At the same time, I'm so comfortable with travel by now that I don't feel it necessary to plan my trips minute by minute. There's nothing better than exploring somewhere new, discovering what it's all about, and finding the little details that make it special. 
• Wheat Thins - My go-to snack cracker, I survived for over three months before my parents brought me a box when they visited. It was my only request from home, and over the course of last week, I savored the crackers, pairing them with a delicious gorgonzola cheese that we had purchased in Oberursel. 
• The Undeniable Christmas Feeling - With cold temperatures gracing central Germany and already a total of four inches of snow (gone by now, of course), December actually feels like winter. Couple that with the opening of Christmas Markets in nearly every town and city, and Germany has an palpable Christmas spirit in the air. 
• That I Still Have Ten Days to Do Everything I Love At Least One More Time - My love list could go on and on, and I'm sure that when I get back, I'll begin to generate a list of "things I miss the most." But for now, I still have time to enjoy my favorite parts of Germany, Bad Homburg, and living with the Judsons. It will, like the previous sixteen weeks, go by too fast,  but I'm going to stop as many times as I can along the way to have that final conversation or savor that final cup of hot chocolate. 

Hates

• Daylight (Or Lack Thereof) - Even here in central Germany, we're farther north than any point in the Lower 48. The days have felt short since late October when we turned the clocks back, and now it feels like I barely see the sun. Late autumn weather in Germany isn't exactly splendid--lots of grey and lots of rain--and that just adds to the gloom. At least the Christmas Markets are gorgeous at dark, and at least I'm not in northern Scotland or Scandinavia right now. (Wouldn't mind going there in June though!)
• An Abrupt End to the Soccer Season - I actually feel a little bit strongly about this one. After having a men's team training canceled Monday because of the snow, I heard yesterday that the league has already called off all matches scheduled for this weekend. I don't know if they're looking to get an early start on Christmas travels or if they actually trust the long range weather forecast, but canceling a match four days in advance is ridiculous. And it's not just any match--it's my last game! So, my German soccer season ends in a terrible anticlimax. I will still train with both of my teams and have the chance to say goodbye, but I'm disappointed about the game. I thought the Germans were tougher than that!
• That I Have to Say Goodbye - Germany and it's sights, food, and traditions will always be here, but many of the people I've had the privilege of meeting will go their own ways over the course of the next few years. I have no idea when I'll come back, and even when I do, it will be difficult to see everyone. I will keep in touch with my closest friends, but for many others, saying goodbye this coming week might be the final goodbye. I've learned from all of them, and I can't thank them enough for making my time here so incredible. I'll miss many things about Germany, but ultimately, it's the people whom I'll miss most.