Back home in Germany:

A lot has happened since I last wrote. My final days at Lawrence Academy are over and I finally flew back home to Germany. My last term was overall the most exiting and sad semester at LA.
The time just flew by from an interesting Winterim in March until the end of school in June. One activity always followed another and there was not a lot of time for homesickness. Winterim was a highlight for everyone no matter where they went. Dominican Republic, Japan, Panama, Peru and other off campus trips were popular among the students. But a lot of us had to or wanted to stay on campus. I decided to experience my first Martial Arts class in a karate school close by LA. It was a lot of fun and at the end all members of our group received two green stripes on our Obi.
Prom was by far the most amazing experience. Which girl doesn’t dream of becoming prom queen, driving in a limo or dressing up like a princess? All this was possible at our LA prom in May 2008. It was a special day for everyone. Girls got their hair done, got ready at each other houses and were finally picked up by a limo for the ride to the Country Club. It was impossible to not enjoy the evening, the dancing and taking lots of pictures. The LA prom was even followed by an after prom party which lasted until early in the morning.

 

By springtime everybody already knew all the people going to our school and a lot of us became very close fiends. Saying good bye to my second home, my friends and America was harder than I thought it ever would be. During the last week of school, someone I was close to left everyday. First the graduated seniors said goodbye and then most of the international students went to their different airports on the last day of school. More than once I broke out in tears and didn’t want to leave. But, we all know that our friendships will never end.

This summer I am flying to Spain for a week to visit one of my friends in Tenerife. I am still in touch with a lot of other friends as well and I really want to keep in touch will them.
For anyone who is thinking about going to the US for a year abroad all I can is: DO IT. Not only will you improve on your English, but you learn to become more responsible for yourself. Take a chance and make your junior year the best experience from your years in high school.