Munich!

So that is Munich over -didn't take many notes because we have been doing so much! On the train to Berlin this morning though so I thought I'd better give an update.

So I'm kind of used to the whole thing about always drinking bubbly water, and having to pay for it at restaurants.

The only problem with drinking bubbly water is when you open it in public there's a good chance it's been shaken up and will go everywhere..

Also, drinks in restaurants come in small and large sizes (300mL or 500mL) and mostly it's Szorle (fruit juice with mineral water) -I've tried mango and rhubarb (below) here in Munich!

Went up to the Zugspitze (Germany's highest point) and it was funny seeing all the old traditional chalets with solar panels on their rooves.

Got to go sledding -was oddly warm even in the snow though -had a fantastic snow fight at the top though (I swear snow fights are just an opportunity to blatantly flirt though)

Visited the old concentration camp in Dachau today (no, Mum and Dad, they're not trying to hide from their past). I've often tried to imagine it from the point of view of the prisoners, but seeing the Germans get so emotional made me wonder what it would be like to feel responsible. Some of the German students hadn't been before and it was difficult to see the actual location of so many events they'd learnt about. Really though, all of us humans are equally responsible for the way we treat other humans. I was happy to hear that my group leader didn't feel at all guilty though -we always hear about how guilty Germans even today feel and I don't see why.

Looking at this sculpture, at first we thought it was a representation of the close living conditions in the camps, and the dignity prisoners lost -after watching the video, I saw their bodies actually were so thin, and the dead were really tangled together like branches.

This is the door prisoners had to walk into for what they thought was a 'shower' (it even says it above)

It would be fun to have your birthday during the PAD scholarship -had to wrap Tim's present up with dental floss though haha #resourceful #newnumbereightwire

We're all pretty tired, and you get some great comments (okay, some of them might not be due to tiredness) like Cande (Argentinian) said when we were by the Olympic Stadium in Olympia Park "Is Olympia a football team?" #hahahah

Went to an outdoor night market/festival in Munich (heaven?) and we sat on the hill watching these male comedians/acrobats from Barcelona perform

Did see NZ taonga-like necklaces being sold???

Not so good to get 'I believe I can fly' as an earworm (song that's stuck in your head) when you're standing on the edge of Munich's tallest building!

Most days we have surprises, which is fun. So far they've included going summer bobsledding, getting to eat at traditional restaurants of some of the nationalities in our group and disco bowling. Technically though, everything we do is a surprise #livingthehighlife #cornyhashtags

If variety is the spice of life, then I must have a very spicy life

Although it is fun having so much new stuff on offer, on the whole with German restaurant fare it's a 'no, we couldn't be in a long-term-relationship'.
I mean, 'is it yum?' in German is literally 'can you taste it?'
They've got a tradition of eating (and they do the entrée thing which is fun and healthy) but I can think of other countries I'd rather eat out every night in.

(Isn't it beautiful though) this is dinner at a beer garden (Biergarten) at 8.30 after swimming at a park with a fast-flowing canal flowing through it.

That is taking it into account it is high Summer, and maybe in Winter a whole leg of pig, Käsespaetzle (cheese egg noodles) and so much bread every night would be more palatable.
We don't eat German most days though, and everything else has been much to my satisfaction (Indonesian, Italian, Döner Kebabs)

This was noodles and bubble milk tea for lunch yesterday -Chinese on the go!

And the breakfasts make up for everything -can't wait for tomorrow's first breakfast in Berlin -I've heard it's fantastic! Also plz don't judge me when I come home weighing 100kg..

Had a grill on the beach with all 4 groups last night -was absolutely magical..

Also -a few last things from our last weekend in Konstanz

Tea party (well, mostly cake party) in the sun. Climbed a cherry tree and ate cherries from it, then had a stone-shooting competition.

Grillen erry night (since the Abitur exam is finished)

beer and smoking (also every night)

Sofia (Swedish) and me hanging out (our guest sisters are best friends)

And saying goodbye to our host families -was a lovely time!