So, it is with great regret that I inform you that some europeans have yet to discover the wonders of a strong deoderant. I discovered this the other night in the Disko. Side note: Germans call their nightclubs "Diskos" (short for "Diskotheka") - I'm not sure how I feel about this, it still seems a little too reminiscent of the 70's. Oh well. Nonetheless, german Diskos are quite the experience. I've never been a fan of clubs in the U.S. Typically they open between 9 and 10pm and then close by 2am (a few are open till 3am but it's rare). I've never understood this. I don't eat until 8 or 9, factor in time to digest, shower, dress, and get ready to leave and it's soon 10:30pm. Then, by the time you get to the club, it's 11 - granted most people don't show up until 11 or so, and then leave around 1-1:30, which to me is way too early. Now, clubs here, excuse me, "Diskos" here do not open until 10/11pm. On friday I met a few american friends in the city (one from my language camp, two other CBYXers, and a german) at 10. Then we went to a bar and hung out there for a while. We left the bar at about quarter after midnight and got to the club around 12:45. It was NOT at all crowded. It didn't fill up until 1 or so, and was in full swim by 1:45. It started to empty out around 3, and we left a little after 4. What I found funny was you could tell it was emptying out, and people were leaving, but the dancefloor remained just as crowded. All the lookers and bar-flys had left. Unfortunately, the music was too inconsistent to be really enjoyed, but it was a good time.

I'm in my last week of language camp now. I don't know that I've learned a lot in the language camp, but I definitely feel as though I've honed my skills a bit more, and I've done a lot more work with the preterite (which makes a lot more sense in german than it does in spanish!). It's been a fun class though. There are a few people I'd be perfectly content to have them not be in the class (does that make sense? Did I mention I feel my english getting worse every day?) but for the most part it's a fun group of people. I'm going to miss a few of them a lot actually. But that's now until friday, I don't want to dwell on it now!

Göttingen is a cute little city. It's too small for me but it's been a lot of fun for the last month. As far as where I'm going next... Well, it'll be interesting. I'm just a little unsure of the whole small town thing, but we'll see how it goes!

It's weird, I'm not at all homesick. The thing I miss more than anything is my food. It's not that german food is bad, it's just lacking - and I don't know what it's lacking but it just is. Also, my current host family has NOTHING in the way of snacks. I found a good mexican and a good chinese restaurant in the city and I've bought cashews to satisfy snacking urges, but it's just not enough. I've definitley lost weight here. But I'm going to my next family soon, so once I'm there I'll be able to sit down and say "Look, I love to eat, here are my favorite things. Please stock your kitchen and I'll gladly cook for myself." I also miss that: cooking for myself. My current family has a kitchen the size of a dinner plate. Add that to the lack of food, and you have one hungry thomas. Another thing I miss, math! And reading! We tried to read "Das Parfum: Die Geschite eines Mördes" in my language camp but it was WAY too difficult. People in my class with siblings said it was the equivalent of what american students would read in AP English. Needless to say, we only read the first 4 chapters. Today we got "Der kleine Prinz" aka "Le Petit Prince" aka "The Little Prince". I'm actually really excited to read that. I also bought "The Golden Compass" in german. I read the first chapter; it's a little difficult for me but I'm going to give it a try. I also want to brush up for when the film comes out. I can't wait! But I miss being able to read a book - to really read it and pick it apart. Thus I asked my parents to send me a few books to read. I'm excited to get them. But yeah, no homesickness. Sure, I miss my parents and my friends, but, not really. I don't feel any NEED to see them. I guess that's good, makes things here easier. I bought the first season of Will and Grace in german... Oh yes, it's wonderful. Luckily I know most all the episodes my heart, so I can hear the german versions. Very interesting. And neither my host brother nor my host sister had ever seen it! So we watched a few episodes the other day and they both really liked it. Yes! Score one for the american. But yes, I miss cooking, american food (I'd kill for a cheesesteak from Jim's), reading, and Hannah (I miss that little black devil!). Though I must say, I've found the german equivalent of cheesesteaks: Dönerkebabs aka Döners for short. It's a giant pita pocket, cut open, they put two different sauces on each side, then carve lamb off a giant spit and stuff it in, then put some lettuce, some cabbage, some onions, and a tomato, ET VOILLA! Delicious.

Well I think that's about it for now. It's raining again, it didn't today, but it did all day the past 3 days and now it's starting again. Lovely german weather. I hope all is going well back in america. I'll post my new address on here soon so you can all send me american snack food and books! (I jest... partially)