The Fist Few Days

Germany is very far from Australia. Therefore, it was a very long plane trip. After saying goodbye to the family, the rest of the Sydney stipis and I made our way through customs and onto our plane. It was then a 14 hour flight to Abu Dhabi, with only various movies and fitful sleep to distract me from the horrible plane food (Seriously, are you sure that was chicken?). In Abu Dhabi, it was then another 4 hour wait in the terminal for the Victoria and WA stipis, along with our group leader, Masha. Luckily, I got the window seat for the flight from Abu Dhabi to Germany, and I was able to admire the view.
When we landed in Germany it was afternoon, and half of our party got whisked away by their hosts. Thsoe of us who were staying far away from Frankfurt were going to be staying the night and catching a train out in the morning. After a quick stop in the hostel for showers and a rest, we had a quickk tour of Frankfurt, where we went up the 'Main Tower', named after the main river that flows through Frankfurt. The view was beautiful, but eventually the cold wind got the best of us and we headed back to solid ground. We were in a large mall when, after visting the highest ice rink in Germany, it  started snowing. It was amazing. Barely any of us had seen snow before, so when given the option to walk half an hour in the snow to the resturant for dinner, or catch the train, everyone chose to brave the weather and enjoy our first night in Germany in the snow. Even after we were all cold and wet, no one regretted the choice. After a traditional dinner of schnitzels, we caught the train back to the hostel and fell promptly asleep - we were all dead tired and jet-lagged.
After a breakfast of bread, cheese, and cold meats the next morning, we all parted ways at the Frankfurt train station. There were 5 other stipis on my train to Hamburg, and the 4 hour trip was divided between gazing out of the window at the countryside, comparrisons of our home-town beaches, and  failed attempts at schoolwork. My host family was waiting at the station when the train arrived in Hamburg, and although I was super excited, the tiredness was beginning to set in again. By the time we got to my new home for the next 10 weeks it was 5, and after a quick tour, unpacking session, and dinner of pizza, it was time for me to go to bed.
You cannot deny that the German breakfast is one of the best - the fresh bread, sharp cheese, and delicious meats add up to my favourite meal. My host sister had already gone to school by the time I woke up, after a 12 hour sleep, so it was just my host mother and I eating. Today was my first relaxed day and first taste of German life. And so, after a chill day of reading and groceryshopping, day 3 of my trip in Germany is coming to an end. Tschüs.

Sneeee!!!!!

Gassowary Girls - Frankfurt 

View from the Main Tower