Falafel

My host family always wanted to eat something Egyptian. And I have been here for more than a month now so today was the time. The first time for them to eat Egyptian food and the first for me to cook Egyptian food. Well, I never cooked a meal entirely by myself.

We went shopping yesterday for our "Falafel" ingredients. I certainly skyped with my mother to get it all under control. It was a bit hard to find some things I needed like dry beans or coriander. I spent almost half the day making it, of course with the help of my amazing host family and my mother it turned out to be just fine.

Ägyptisches Abendbrot

Challenges?

When I was in Egypt, I thought it would be easy in school, everything would be okay and obstacles would be a piece of cake. Mainly because going to school abroad was one of my dreams. However, school was one of my hardest obstacles till now.
 I was in my host sister's class for three weeks. And I failed to make friends but one. I was alone most of the time. My host sister wasn't a help. I guess the age difference plays a role there.

Now I am in the 10th grade in another class. I am not alone most of the time. And I have been there only for a week. There is no one to blame for being alone at the beginning but me. I just gave up and started comparing myself to other exchange students that had already made friends instead of standing for myself. Despite all that I am having a good time in my new class.

 

Der Lieblingshund, Winni

  Schwerin

Host Family

As I already mentioned that my host family consists of parents, host sister 13 and an exchange student in the USA as host brother. The parents are literally amazing. They are doing their best to help me and make me feel comfortable. I have been here for three weeks now and I am really grateful. As for my host sister things are a little bit different. She is not as nice as my host parents are. She didn't introduce me to her friends the first day of school. (We're together at the same class) I don't understand her till now. Is she mad I came or she misses her brother badly? The whole family miss him actually and that's totally normal.

Usually after dinner my host parents help me practice my German reading. I really enjoy that.

for Hannah and Merna

Family Dinner

First Impression: OWO 5

      Three weeks had passed since I first got here. I spent my first week in Launburg in the Jugendherberge with 26 other exchange students from the whole world. Well, Mexico, Italy, China, Georgia,  and Venezuela. That was the orientation week (Qrientierungswoche OWO). It was literally amazing thanks to our YFU volunteers. We worked, played, walked through the streets of Launburg seeking for answers, danced and finally packed our bags to go to our host families.

My first day in Germany was a shock, relatively beautiful though. I couldn't interpret my feelings. But I did catch a cold. Lamiaa and I traveled from Alexandria to Cairo the day before Germany. Our flight took off from Cairo. A lovely nervous exciting day was spent in the Flamenco Hotel in Cairo. Many people were calling to say goodbye again and again.

Der Jugendherberge, Lauenburg

Baby Shark tu tu te tu tu tu

On the Way