Geburtstag!!!

http://www.nwzonline.de/index_portal_ammerlaenderwoche.php?ausgabe=aHR0cDovL3d3dy5ud3pvbmxpbmUuZGUvbnd6L21vZHVsZS9Tb25kZXJ0aGVtZW4vZmxpcGJvb2tzLzEyNjc2MjA5MzdiaW5kZXIxX3BkZl9mL0RlZmF1bHQucGhw

Hopefully you can access the above link and see the article. Click the right arrow to the second page and use the magnifying glass to zoom in and give your best guesses at the crazy German words. The reporter has assured me that he didn't write me as an axe murderer, so we can all rest easy : ) Actually, I think I understand most of it, and it's basically saying what you already know about me. I'm in Edewecht to take care of Piet, but I want to be involved while I'm here so I'm volunteering at the vegetable place. Mentions that I've studied social work and I hope to study in Boston this fall. I'm really hoping that I haven't jinxed myself by blabbing about that, but we'll see. It also brings up my birthday, and quotes me saying that in America you never plan your own birthday parties. I guess that's not entirely true, but here your colleagues expect you to bring them cake as a thank you for celebrating it with you. Backwards? I think so. Regardless, I planned to make a cake last week for the people at the vegetable place, but my host mom said it's rude to ask people to celebrate before the actual day, even if it's the day before. So, even though it's a little strange to me, I'll be making a cake in the morning for my lovely vegetable cohorts. I'm glad that they could read the article actually, because they really don't know much about me otherwise. Since my German is so limited, I spend most of my time there just doing the work and grinning when I think somebody has made a joke. They're all really kind, but I can tell it bothers them that they can't really ask me questions, so this is a great way for them to know who this weird girl that grins a lot actually is.

So the newspaper thing was cool, but in fact, my host dad stole my thunder by making it into newspapers all over Germany. Jorn managed to earn around 12,500 euros for the economic department at his school by explaining in a video contest what their department does. He's been giddy all week, and we're all really proud of him. He's been in tons of newspapers and totally trumped me by even getting to do a tv special this Friday. I'll have to come up with some spectacular plan now to beat that. Suggestions? : )

So, my birthday was absolutely fabulous. First off, I received a crazy amount of facebook messages and emails, and boy, did I feel the love. Kelsey sent me ten really cheesy e-cards which made me start the day giggling, and my host family went above and beyond. I woke up to a train (to Piet's delight) around my breakfast plate that had candles and 23 on train car. There was also a pretty sherbet colored rose, a headband to keep my ears warm, and a sweet card. They also bought me tasty special bread so I could start the day right with the buttery honey and molasses spreads I love so very much. I spent the morning gloating over facebook and went for a short run to the pretty lake I've discovered in Edewecht. I was blessed with one of the most beautiful days we've had here so I just took it all in beside the lake and thanked the good Lord above for giving me such a great family at home and a loving host family here. The goodness continued when Piet came home and sang Happy Birthday to me and then we had a delectable steak lunch. Mmmm. That afternoon Elisa came over and we all enjoyed chocolate cake. The cake was meant to be a surprise, but when Piet and his mom made it the day before, he came to me grinning with chocolate all over his face and whispered that they were make a surprise, so I put two and two together and chuckled. Cutie. So Elisa and I spent the afternoon riding bikes with Piet and then went to Yvonne's house for the cake that Elisa had made for me the day before. As you can imagine, I was well stuffed at this point, but she made a quite delicious carrot cake and I just couldn't say no. We took the cake to a cafe in Edewecht which was empty aside from a table of old men playing cards and the lady who worked there. We showed her the cake and asked if it was okay to eat it there, and she quite grumpily agreed. We ordered coffees quickly so she'd know she'd get some business and then Elisa pulled out 2 and 3 candles and stuck them into the cake. She and Yvonne started singing Happy Birthday and soon the gentlemen chimed in and even the old lady contributed. We cut the cake, and as we distributed it, a few of the men recognized me from the paper as the Beineke's au pair and happily shook my hand. I was a bit embarrassed, but it was nice of them. I was pleased to observe that after we offered her cake, the woman working at the cafe started to like us and even gave us birthday champagne on the house. She and Elisa exchanged cake recipes and when we left, she invited us to come back whenever we want. Ah, the diplomatic power of cake.

So the birthday madness continued Saturday when we awoke insanely early (for me) to get the train to a tiny town called Wernigerode. I wanted to go somewhere cool for my birthday, but cheap, so my friend Andre suggested we check out the mountains. I can't say that the mountains blew me away, or the town either, but there was a pretty castle and an all you can eat Chinese buffet, so I'm not complaining. Oh, I forgot to mention that Germany got hit with more snow. Yep, it came down Friday and it's still here. This allowed for many snowball fights and silliness throughout the trip, which reminded me that snow isn't all bad. We stayed there Saturday night and then planned to make several stops on the way home Sunday. First we stopped in a nearby city called Gaslor, which probably would have been nicer to stay in on Saturday night, but it was more expensive. I'm glad we saw it though because the buildings were all really old and much more traditional German than I see in Edewecht. It was really sunny that afternoon so we found a bench in a market place and just soaked it up. Really nice. After Gaslor we stopped in Hanover for some ice cream and then we dropped Andre off in Bremen where he walked us to a big hotel where a relatively famous soccer player lives (sounded more impressive when he described it). So the trip didn't have any wowing moments, but it was really fun to be away with a group of people I like so much. We had heated games of Uno and Bull (ahem) Shiz, and we worked pretty well as a traveling team. So yeah, good stuff.

This week I've been feeling a little bogged down with allergies, but my spirits are up. To be quite honest, before my birthday last week I hit an emotional low after I revisited an ugly falling out I had with a friend last year. After some nasty emails that cut me deep, I gave up and sent the whole thing up to heaven,along with my whole life. I listened to a great podcast by a preacher in Atlanta named Andy Stanley, and after praying I sent a simple apology back to my friend, and just like that, she gave me a sincere, understanding explanation and apology for her actions last year. So yeah, after over a year of bitter disagreement, Jesus cleared it up in minutes. Crazy, huh? Since all of that I've finally been able to find peace in my heart here. Before I've spent night after night reliving and regretting the past, and now I'm just happy. Too much info for a blog? Maybe. But that's where I am and I'm glad about it.

So I'm happy here but eager to know where I'm going. March is fading fast and it's not long until I hear from Boston University and can start nailing down some plans for the fall. If I don't get in, I guess I'm just going to have to bum a couch for a while. Any takers? I clean well and can build a mean train!! : ) It'll work out though, I'm certain. Hope everyone at home is enjoying the enviable 70 degree weather. Don't forget to give Madi a birthday hug on the 16th and enjoy St. Patrick's day if I don't post before then. Later taters!