Germany with all the bells and whistles

Last week in Konstanz. It's actually ridiculous how much stuff we get to do, even with our guest families in Konstanz.
To write, and put pictures of all the things we actually visit (museums, castles, history) would take a whole other blog, as would talking about the my wonderful PAD group, and the people in Konstanz. And travelling is one of those things you kind of have to experience for yourself anyway. For now you'll have to make do with these general conclusions/things that struck me the most.

I am certainly not used to getting all the frills (ie expensive tourist traps) when we visit places (probably because I'm used to travelling with Mum haha -we both like to keep it cheap)

At the Rhein[water]fall, for instance we got to take a boat out through the rapids to one of these islands in the middle of it to get a better view. Because of the floods the rapids were really big.

It's a strange thing, being on such a small island, with water all around you where only birds can come and go on their own steam #ohwait #IliveinNewZealand

The Rhein is the longest river in Germany which both Bonn and Konstanz are on, so we feel like we know it now.

Why do tourists always wear white shorts? #notpractical

The Rheinfall is actually in Switzerland. There were a lot of Swiss flags around to remind us of that fact. One gets the feeling they definitely don't want to be confused with Germany

Crossing the border into Switzerland (5 minutes from my house -one of the other host sisters rides her bike from Switzerland to school every day) is such a small deal here. 

Quicker than a McDonalds DriveThru.

Europeans don't get how exciting it is to cross another country's borders. In New Zealand we have to fly for 3 hours and 3 hours and pack for a whole other season.

Saw Europe's biggest waterfall, had my first wurst (sausage) in Germany and went to Switzerland #notbadforamorningswork

NB that's sausages down -I tried sauerkraut and it wasn't actually that nice.

At school we have lessons with just our PAD group of 12 most days, and then we go to classes with our guest siblings (or whoever's free). Most days though we have an excursion either in the afternoon or the whole day -a lot of that involves visiting other towns and islands in and around the Bodensee (lake Constance), which is gorgeous because the weather is so hot!

Learning about the French declaration of rights in history -the awkward moment when Germans have the same word for same and equal #thinkIjustfoundtherootofalltheirproblems

Hahahaha I'm in a class with a whole lot of 16-year-old boys. Half of them are 6 foot and the other half look 6. Good times.

Germans say 'genau' (exactly) a lot, esp at school. Whenever I say that to a teacher, I always feel a little bit cheeky #thereisnowordforpatronisinginGerman

#Fakts Robbie Williams is still big in Germany

Also people still wear those singlets with lace at the bottom, and they use OHPs and blackboards #what #isGermany2006

I keep forgetting this isn't a private school. Can't believe German education is free -the government must spend so much money on it #thesefacilitiesareHIBSquality

At a school concert -the concert has it's own logo and the kids are all wearing t-shirts with it #onlyatHIBS

7.29 and the concert is starting

That awesome moment when one child performing in a concert actually smiles #:)

This concert is a lovely reminder that music transcends all languages (taking into account they were actually singing about that in English)

I take that back -there is a ridiculous amount of English being sung at this concert -the singer in the jazz band introduced every song in English!

#Fakts 99% of guys look more attractive with dark glasses

At the summer concert they give a rose to all the people they want to thank, including the students performing that are in their final year #suchagoodidea

If they didn't clap for so long, this would be over by now #parents

The senior orchestra look like legit orchestra players #ThePlayingsNotTooShabbyEither

What kind of mother would let a 9-year-old get a side cut? #goldilocksfromtheleftcancerpatientfromtheright

#RoadTrip passed an indoor 'free time park', 'Sensapolis' -a giant atrium for humans filled with couches #what

Heard someone say 'New Zealand' on the radio today

Germans drive like they own the road #NotGoodWhenTheresTrafficAndYouFluctuateBetween0and200kph #PleaseImTryingToSleep

Apparently you can ski on long grass #sights

There's nothing more inspiring than watching things grow #summer #not #thinspiration

German number plates start with the letter code of the city they come from. If we had that in NZ I would continually judge people on the city they came from #AucklandDrivers

The Intouchables (French film -watch it) has solidified Earth Wind and Fire as the best road trip music ever

If your car only fits 2 people and you're driving across the country, you should probably just take the train

We are currently moving at 200km/h #scared #speedkills

*Plz slow down to 100 for road works* #hahahaha

Long car trips are great for working out the important things of life, such as how to make each of your toes move separately

Muriel's Oma's house where we're staying for the 50th is full of hunting memorabilia and cool old furniture

and every wall looks like this:

8 Viszla puppies at my guest sister's cousins' house #puppies

At a 50th birthday party #SittingAtTheKidsTable #KinderSwag

Regional dialects make family ties important #battlingtheeffectsofglobalisation

What's the point of going to other people's family gatherings if there aren't any cute guys?

Was slightly dubious of the drinking age of 16, but now I'm here I would trust 11-year-olds with alcohol. There's just something in the language that makes them sound so in control!

Taking a night ride in a soft-top mini listening to the Wise Guys #doesntgetmoreGermanthanthat

Schwarzwälder Kirschtorte (black forest cake): pretty sure that's the fastest I've ever eaten a piece of cake #caloriesdontcountwhenitsnamedaftertheplaceyoureat

Okay -calories probably do count when you eat a slice of every type there is.

#Milka #ComeAtMe

Why do we not drink spirits made from sugar cane in NZ? sounds like the perfect drink to me!

Who runs the world? shaved ice #IllHaveAMartiniOnTheShingle

Taking notes for my blog on my phone when the others are texting their friends #aw #popular

Every emotion is stronger when you're overtired #drunkforamonth

Limited vocabulary. #waddupswearwords

Have worn my Birkenstocks nearly every day here, even to parties #yea #canuhandlethesandal

Flicking channels and I hear the word 'Neuseeland' -turns out it was a talk show featuring a guy who was really enthusiastic about NZ #nearlywetmyself

If you ever need a self confidence boost, wear red lipstick #workseverytime

Just remember, when you're wearing shorts, your legs are part of your outfit

#Overheard on #German tv: "I was so drunk I didn't know if it was half past 10 or quarter to 11"

#1 tip for getting locked out of your house without a key: go for a wee in the garden and somebody will definitely come home and see you in action

The only bad thing about NZ is we don't have squirrels.

Tweets about Konstanz

Okay so it's much more interesting for you and I if I keep these short and sweet (I'm sure I'll talk enough details when I get back!)

There are so many things that make me so grateful I did my French trip first

Eg I would never have gone to class if I'd been here first #playingcardswiththePADstudentseveryperiod

playing cards is so much like life #nowIunderstandallthemetaphors

Most places in Germany have automatic, blinds -this is really helping me nap during the day #3hours

Waking up from a deep nap feels like time travel

We have ambrosia for breakfast here (except it's quark and yoghurt and fruit, so it's healthy)

There's a ball dress shop in Konstanz where you have to register your school when you buy a dress, and they won't sell it to you if someone from your school has already bought the same one #SHCneeds

Not being sure whether the small town you're docking into is in Austria, Switzerland or Germany #boatholiday

#Argentinianhandgames

Dat feeling of satisfaction when it's cold and rainy in the morning and you're the only one wearing shorts then it turns ridiculously hot and sunny in the afternoon and you're still fabulous #yea #thatsright

Eis

Alcopops are illegal in Germany #fakts

I've decided boys dress better than girls here

Painting my nails everyday #summer #nouniform

Love how some English movies have different (simplified) English titles in Europe #Hangover #VeryBadTrip

At the movies in Germany.. 20 minutes later, still watching ads #ads #didntthinkitgotanyworsethanNZ

Make that half an hour later..

What?! They show you ads for ice cream then turn the lights on and bring them round -isn't that covered by some sort of brainwashing law?

Bought one anyway #notpaying #youonlygotoGermanyonce

Any movie that ends with Michael Buble is my kind of movie #BigWedding

What could be better than a nap, a movie then a summer night market?

Beer, beer everywhere, but not a drop to drink

Apparently lots of people get headaches in Konstanz from the winds that come down from the alps #firsthand #fakts

The very wet then hot weather is great for #Mosquitoes #didntthinkitgotanyworsethanNZ

Sad that one of the 3 sentences I can actually say in German is 'excuse me, could I please borrow some mosquito spray?'

Do I scratch it because it's red and puffy, or is it red and puffy because I scratch it?

Spent 4 hours at an adrenaline forest-style climbing park in the forest today #tired

There happened to be a wedding there at the time -slightly odd but cute. We were literally flying-foxing over them while they were saying their vows

#Fakts Wedding in German is 'Hochzeit' and high is 'hoch' #punnyweddings

The thing about German is they put foreign accents on all foreign words -I am soemtimes taken aback when they come up with random French or German words in the middle of a sentence! #champignons

Saw a few people wearing dresses in town today #thereshopeforGermanyyet

Europe: where everybody wears bikinis, regardless of body type #meforinstance

So lucky to be on the road for a month without any worries or cares #exceptmyblog #butILYblogreally

Having to delete photos off my camera for once #problemsofsightseeingforamonth #goodtoknowwewontbelackinginphotosforRubys21st

Just saw a guy with a belly button piercing #fierce

In New Zealand, one would not get away with speedos and a t-shirt #especiallywhilepushingapram #definiteundies

Looking at my sunglasses in the mirror through my sunglasses and they look even pinker #sunception

German regular salads can be veritable rainbows of vegetables #isthatsomesneakypotatoIseelurkingatthebottom #GermanSaladTweets

The main difference between French and German salads is the amount of dressing Germans like to put on theirs #likealotalot #GermanSaladTweets

Families that don't look the same disconcert me

Had strawberries, strawberry cake, strawberry punch, and strawberry jelly beans today #strawberries #summer

#fakts paprika chips taste the same as bbq

There are a lot of hairdressers in Germany, I feel

Nothing like watching Guy Williams to make you feel at home

Meet the gang

What more could I possibly have to add from Dubai airport, you think? so much. Arrived in Germany, and met up with the rest of the groups. There's 60 of us who will be travelling most places together, and  reportedly a much bigger group we might be bumping into some places -exciting! We discovered there were some Australians that had been on our plane all the way from Melbourne (not the one below -he was the random Aan sat next to). The Aussies are younger and haven't learnt German for very long so they're speaking English a lot. The guy and the girl that were on our plane are keen though! Had some good convos on the train to Bonn -loving it so much! The kiwis and the two Aussies are staying in the same hotel (everyone has to stay in different ones because they're not big enough -cute right!) and it is so lovely! I've got a Swedish girl and the German girl (there's a German with each group) in my group. Feels great to relax, (use the amazing facilities -they have errythang) and listen to some NZ music -it's such a buzz speaking another language! She did a year-long exchange in America though so it's tricky listening to English songs and not switching to English! Got to go -our groups are going out to different restaurants for tea (plus wifi is 1 euro) -bis später!

1. The other two + Lyndon the Australian friend in Dubai

2. Lillian and me in Germany finally!

3. The Aussies <33

4. the beautiful view from my hotel

5. my only German roomie xo