My year 2019

My year 2019 started with the intent to play more sport. My dad had the same idea, so I started at the beginning of the year and took up running. A few days later, all of my family went ice-skating. So far, so good. We did this a couple of times before, so no big deal. It was good fun, until the end. My dad fell and hurt his elbow. It wasn’t that bad so we kept skating, but after a while it began to hurt. My mum and my dad went the same evening to the hospital, they took an X-Ray of the arm and saw that the bone was broken. Not an optimal start to the year, especially because our winter holidays were only seven weeks away and my dad and I wanted to go skiing together in Bavaria. The chances weren’t great but luckily the elbow healed quite fast. In the first week of March, a day after my birthday, we drove to Bavaria.

We had lots of snow so it was good fun. Even if we needed a few minutes, especially me, to get into the technique again.

We did some great tours, one over 20km. But at maybe half of the way, there was a hill, which is normally no big deal. It was a little bit icy but we are both good skiers so we went downhill. When we were nearly at the end, I saw my dad falling. Nothing special and I wasn’t worried, until he didn’t stand up for a while. I went to him, helped him up and looked at him but couldn’t find anything that seemed unusual. We decided to go on and to finish our tour. Luckily, the rest of it went really well and no one fell. We arrived at the hut around midday. Suddenly, after my dad took a tissue and cleaned his nose, I realised, that his left eye was really swollen. He went to the doctor the same evening, they couldn’t find the issue, so he went to the hospital after that, they did an X-Ray and found out, that the bone under his eye is broken. We drove home and the operation was a few weeks later. All in all, not a great start.

A week after our holidays, I received a call from Stepin. They told me, a host family for my exchange year in Ireland was found. I was really excited and realized that the exchange year wasn’t a dream anymore, it became real.

At the end of March, we went to the “Akkordeonale 2019”. I met the organizer the year before at a workshop. I did know that he composed a new song at the time, I met him but what I didn’t expect was, that he played this song for me on stage. I was really shocked and surprised.

At the beginning of April my best friend came back from his six months trip in the Caribbean. I was really glad, that he is back. I missed him.

In the Easter-Holidays, my family and I went to England to visit my Aunt, Uncle and my two cousins. We went into London for a day to see the musical “Motown” and to the Enigma machine, which decoded the transmissions of the Germans in World War II.

At Whitsun, I went with the Royal Rangers to Slovenia for a week. We spent the week on a camp site near a river, which had a shower and it only had six degrees. I had an amazing time in Slovenia. We went Canyoning, on one day we woke up at 4 o’clock in the morning and did a trail the whole day until 8 o’clock in the evening. Most of us went to our limits and beyond at this day. We went to the beach in Italy and had a really good time there. I learnt a lot at this time, made new experiences, found new friends and got closer to friends I already had.

My exchange year came closer and closer, but I didn’t realise that I would actually go to Ireland in a few weeks

I had between Whitsun and the summer holidays a really good time in school, spent a lot of time with my friends and started to play Volleyball in a club.

Two weeks before the school ended, we had my farewell party at our house. Most of you were there, so I don’t have tell you what happened. I really enjoyed it and it was so nice to see all of my friends again.

At the last school day our principal told us, that our class will be split the next year. That took all the joy. Normally at the last school day, everyone is happy and so relaxed because we know, there’ll be six weeks without any worries and we can just relax. But not this time. We all knew that it is possible that our class will be split the next year, it was really shocking to hear this. I was lucky, because I stayed in one class with all of my friends.

In the summer holidays, I met my friends, we played Volleyball, went climbing and a good friend and I tried to cook an Indian meal. It wasn’t too bad and we had a great weekend. On the Monday, before I left, I visited a few houses to say goodbye again. I was so happy to see you again and I miss you all so much. And I mean all of my friends.

My last day wasn’t that difficult for me as I thought it would be. I just didn’t realize that I’d be leaving the next day and be gone for seven months. In the evening, I sat there with my dad in our sitting room and we drank a beer together and just talked. When I look back, that is the feeling of being home. When you know that there are people who love and support you in every situation of your life. It is such a nice feeling. And my mum and my dad are really important people in my life and sometimes you have to go to realize how good it is to be at home.

The next day, I was so excited that I could barely eat, and you know me, that this is really rare. At the airport, I met three girls, who flew with me. We talked a little bit and then we had to say goodbye to our families.

It was so hard and I don’t know how I walked beyond the security check. But I think you guys know most of the beginning, about the three days in Dublin, my host family and my life here.

I’d like to tell you a little bit more about my Christmas time here. On Christmas Eve, my host dad Bartley and me brought the cows home and cleaned up the shed. We filled up the road as well and now that the tractor is fixed, it is much easier and faster.

On Christmas day we had thirteen people for dinner. Most of Jill’s and Bartley’s family were there. We had the traditional Irish Christmas dinner: Turkey, Ham, Potatoes and Carrots. It was an excellent dinner and I was so full after it. The kids went absolutely crazy because of all their new toys. My little host sister Emma got a Hoverboard and nearly killed the dog while driving on it. My seven-year old host brother Jason got a robot, which can dance and do some crazy stuff. The kids are still busy with all their new toys. But they got so much sweets. I’m wondering how long it’ll take to eat them all.

The next days we cleaned the house up, ate the rest of the 8.6-kilo turkey and relaxed. The last two or three days, Bartley and me cleaned up the whole area around the shed, because we are moving the gym. Tomorrow we’ll start painting.

I don’t know, if there is a special tradition on New-Years-Eve in Ireland. If yes, I’ll let you know.

When I look back at this year, I would say it was the best year of my entire life. I met new people, made new friends, new experiences and most important: my exchange year. It let me face new challenges and new experiences. I had to go out of my comfort zone and grow.

That was my year 2019. I wish you all a very happy new year 2020. A huge thank you to all the people, who supported me in 2019 and before. Who were always at my side no matter what I did and always believed in me. Thank you to all the people I met new this year. It is always a great pleasure to meet new people, especially when they stay with you.