As you may have read from my last post, I am going to Germany in a few months, as is Elizabeth, with both of us having received scholarships for a school year abroad. We have less than three months until we leave(!!), and as you can imagine, that leaves us with a little bit of German to learn. Just a little. (Hint: that's sarcasm)
I can't wait. I have been learning the language (Ich lerne Deutsch), but have a fair bit to go, so every time I think about being immersed in German, I scare myself into studying a little bit more, which is probably not a bad thing. I am also spending a lot of my spare time practically stalking the country Germany - googling random culture facts, reading American or Canadian to Germany expat or student exchange blogs, getting a basic idea of the names of the sixteen states and where they are, and other things, trying to get myself as prepared as possible for the trip. Can you tell I'm excited?
I'm nervous too, but it is the good kind of nervous, the kind that keeps propelling you forward, that excites you despite your worries, and - most of all - keeps you focused on preparation.
So yes, I have Germany on my mind (who wouldn't?). I also have exams coming up in a very short period of time (feel free to insert screams of fear and agony here), and fairly heavy course loads that I'm having to balance in the meanwhile, along with some fun extracurriculars - for example, I recently joined my school's podcast, which is extremely fun. I get to be a school journalist, using a type of platform that students, teachers, and staff will actually use and listen to. It gets me talking to people I wouldn't have talked to before, and going places or doing things I might not have before.
Trying to keep up with it all, I have been neglecting this poor book blog, and it has gotten to the point where both Elizabeth and I have realized that for now, this blog won't work. It makes me very sad to say this (since I love writing for this blog so much), but for now, we have decided to stop writing new articles and updating the blog. With my life so busy (Elizabeth's is too), and only set to get more so (in all the best and most exciting ways), I haven't been able to give this book blog the time and effort it deserves.
Hold on though - this does not necessarily mean that this blog is done forever. We may decide to pick this up again someday. We love books, and having this way to tell others about books we love (or maybe don't love) or to just talk to about book geek topics (such as the anticipation of reading a new book, or my notoriously picky ways in a book store). I will miss writing for this blog.
If you want to keep up with me though, I am planning on running a blog to track/journal my exchange to Germany, and perhaps the bit of the summer leading up to it. I will be writing about everyday life, culture quirks I've discovered (in comparison to my native Canadian culture), and how it is to be on exchange, as well as related topics. I think it will be fun, and a great way to keep a record of my year.
So for now, I guess this is good bye. But remember -
Stay Addicted!
-Jason