Winnekendonk

The Vasa

SM and Amanda...
On our way from Sweden to Köln- note to self: one of the more rocking aspects of Swedish trains is the water boxes they give you. You may think that is juice I am drinking, but you are quite off, my friend. It is simply a refreshing glass of water. Beautiful.

To the left here: The American sector of Berlin right near Checkpoint Charlie, which was one of the best muesums in Berlin. So cool.

Well, I’m sitting here in the upstairs of SM’s host family’s home in Wennekendonk Germany, (You thought the town name Due West was weird!). This morning, I woke up to chickens clucking about outside our window, and the stars last night were crystal clear and twinkling away. If it wasn’t so cold, you couldn’t have stopped me from sleeping outside on the soft grass. Hoorah for being in the picturesque countryside after the five weeks of concrete buildings and busy streets! It’s a beautiful change, and exactly what my heart needed. Sarah’s host father, Thomas, took us on a tour of many buildings which used to serve German industry, now transformed to “industrial art”. You’ll see this concept later I’m sure.

One interesting thing for me in Germany, at least in this household, is the concept of a language barrier. You see, everyone here including SM speaks German, leaving me in my own little bubble for hours at a time. It’s kind of funny; they probably think I’m the quietest person alive. No seriously. The first evening, I think I said like four sentences the whole time. It’s a world record! But this is good for me, I have time to think and pray, and my sketchbook has gotten a lot of attention, Mrs. Walker will be proud. I’m also picking up a good bit of German; when they say the best way to learn a language is through immersion.

By the way, Lindsey Miller: You rock. Not only because you are going to Erskine next year, but because you enable me to listen to rocking music on the train. Whether you realize it or not, your iPod saved my sanity AND brought Ben Harper to Europe. Yay for converting people from Robbie Williams to Ben Folds, Citizen Cope, the Postal Service and Cake. Man, record companies should pay us for promo like this.

Love to All,

Sarah.Hope