Take me home...

Austin, November 30th

A day with highs and deeps.

My first high was that I met my girlfriend before school. On the way to my first class I realized a big difference between German and American teacher. Americans are more 'connected' with their students. Actually I realized it when I high-fived my theater teacher when I saw her. But You can see such things often, and they usually ask you whats going on with you. Not like German teacher who just say hello, IF they say something. They expect us to greet them, but they mostly ignore us. Exept for the few times we jump up and down direct for they noses and wave, but we do that not very often, it looks silly.

But my first down came soon. In second period. All the Juniors in the football team got a Versity lockerroom locker. Exept for those who missed to much training the last few weeks and of course: Exchange Students.

Great, I'm probably the only person who has no chance of getting into the Varsity lockerroom, everyone else can earn a locker there. That sucks.

I kind of hope that everyone earns a varsity locker, than will I have the whole room for me alone. Would be cool. And boring!

And we had to return our football equipment today. If I will ever see that stuff again?

For tomorrow I have to bring shorts and t-shirt for football class, because we had to give our clothes back too.

Some of the football boys asked me all the time what I did in the break and then they laughed. I wonder why, I was most of the time very well behaved. Well, always, exept for maybe one day, but how know they about that?

Our English teacher gave us a project to do, until thursday! She really could have mentioned that one class earlier!

Since we don't have football practice after school anymore, I took the bus home. The first time that I knew some people there! I shared my seat with Charmaine, the girl I met at homecoming game and later a few times. In the next seat sat JP, a boy from theater class. And some seats back one of the football team.  That was actually a pretty fun drive home.

School

Austin, November 29th

Today was fun. In football class we were in the Study hall, the coaches informed us about some stuff for the off-season and next year. I talked with some friends about what we did during the break.

We are about to start our final semester project for Mulitmedia. We have to chose a movie poster and redesign it. With own pictures and text and everything selfmade, but it has to look like the original poster.

I think I will do a Star Wars poster. I found a really good looking poster of the little Anakin.

Steffen and I sit usually  with Emily and some other band kids in Lunch on b-days. Today we decided to 'visit' Caro after we ate. She and her friend sat outside, it's weir weather. Not really cold, but not warm either.

My best class today was theater. We write in groups of three little plays. Pretty in the beginning of the class Jessi gave me her eyeliner pen, or maybe she didn't mean to give it to me, whatever, I had the eyeliner in my hands and tried to put it on - without a mirror. Jessi said it's possible, so I tried. it suck at this. So she helped me. Some of the class were shocked when they saw me with eyeliner, most just laughed, but my teacher said I'm a pretty girl! I knew it, it's true: Boys are the prettier girls!

But it hurt a bit, I think I draw on my eyeball.

Lullaby League & Lollipop Guild

Austin, November 28th

Last free day, I'm looking forward for the school, but I don't want to get up so early every day. But I enjoy my last day. At about 330 came Miranda. We had fun and watched Scrubs, then we went to her house. Actually we wanted to watch 'The wizard of Oz', but we watched Spiderman 3 while we started to decorate her house for christmas. 3 trees and lots of lights are in the house, I wonder how it will look like when they finished decorating.

We went for dinner to Sonic and then she brought me home.

Before I went to bed I watched 'Wizard of Oz' with Loran and Gary. It's a silly movie, but suddenly make many jokes from other series sense, they often refer to the Wizard of Oz!

O Tannenbaum

Austin, November 27th

During breakfast we listen to christmas music like a orchestra version of 'O Tannenbaum' or 'the Nutcracker'. After breakfast we started to decorate the house for christmas while watching Star Wars Episode II Attack od the Clones.

It's the first time I have a plastik tree, but it still looks good. It has a lot of red and blue lights and ornaments. Trouble hates the tree, he trys all the time to pick the things from the tree.

In the evening Loran and I went to the gym and went then to a restaurant to get some burritos.

Friday after thanksgiving

Austin, November 26th

After two delicious thanksgiving dinner it was time for Loran and me to go to the gym and get the 'holiday fat' away. And then I relaxed in the swimming pool, the hot tub and the sauna. Unfortunately is it impossible to get in the gym a cold shower. In fact the shower next to the sauna is almost as hot as the sauna itself.

THANKSGIVING

Austin, November 25th

Thanksgiving 2010

It's Thanksgiving day! One of the most important American holidays. Eat as much as you can and when you are full, watch football - a big event for the whole family.

In the morning we watched the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, while having Silverdollar-pancake breakfast. Silverdollar pancakes are pankecakes in the size of a silverdollar. Or a little big bigger, and with blueberry sirup very good.

At about two o'clock I went to Lauren. I watched her making her hair and then we went with her mom and brothers to her meemaws house. There we went for a walk through the neighborhood. Somewhere we found a dead animal in a dog food bag. Or at least the head and some weird other parts, we don't even know what parts they were. And it smelled disgusting. Later when we were back Laurens mom called the sheriff because of that.

The food was awesome, delicious, great and way to much. We had one 20 pound turkey and then a second turkey we didn't even start to eat. And stuffing, and mashed potatoes and much more stuff, and it tasted great. Especially the Apple Pie, Lauren and I made.

After the dinner we watched football. Saints vs Cowboys. I don't really know the teams, but the Dallas Cowboys are from texas, so I of course prefered the Cowboys. Unfortunately they lost.

But I really enjoyed Laurens family and the dinner. 

The day before

Austin, November 24th

Donut-breakfast! What's a better way to start the day, than with donuts?

And then I went to Lauren, we baked Apple Pies and prepared the stuffing for the Thanksgiving dinner.

This Pie made Lauren and I together

For dinner we had an a bit early thanksgiving dinner, so I had it with my hostfamily, but can also go to Laurens thanksgiving dinner tomorrow.

We had:

• Shrimp Spring Rolls
• Roadsted Turkey
• Deviled Eggs
• Pickles/Olive/Carrots
• Garlic Mashed Potatoes
• Sweet Potatoe Cassarole
• Green Bean Cassarole
• Stuffing
• Sparkling Cider
• Iced Tea
• Crossaints

It was a great dinner. Gary is super cook.

Cinema

Austin, November 23rd

Hmm, I love late breakfasts with eggs and bacon.

The vacation is a great opportunity to talk to some friends in Germany. I still don't really miss them, I guess for that I have to wait to christmas, like TravelWorks said, but I'm always interested what my friends and family do.

I think I'm getting a fan of Eminem. I love his songs 'Love the Way you lie' and 'Not afraid'. I'm listening to those two songs since I got up.

For dinner we were at Serrano's. I LOVE Mexican food. At least I love the chips. And queso, and the mashed beans!
At 7 Gary and I were in the cinema. Not Harry Potter, I know there is a new one out, but he can wait. We saw 'The next 3 days'. Sometimes a bit confusing, but very helpful, if you ever plan to get someone out of jail. Or want to break out by yourself.
And then we bought a dozen donuts. Im very excited for tomorrow, donuts for breakfast! Amazing. Awesome. I go to bed, I want to have tomorrow already.
Ha, Lauren is right, I really am like a little boy. 'I wanna have tomorrow!'

Vacation

Austin, November 22nd

Yay, three days no school in a row. And no football practice, it feels like I haven't had a football free monday for years. And I miss it. But this week I won't think about school. Just relax, a whole week.

So the only thing I did today was going to a 'outdoor' Mall with Gary. It's like a big neighborhood with more shops than living houses. The first shop we went to was an Apple Shop. The new Ipod Touch is great, I hink I will buy one. The price is pretty good, about 300$ for the 32GB version.

If I buy an laoptop from Apple, I don't know yet. They look good, and are very good. But I don't really know how to use them. I always had a Windows OS, I never used Linux.

The last shop was a book store. A huge book store. They had lots of Star Wars books. I thought of buying one or two, but I never have time to read. I land twice a book from the school library. From the first book I read about 4 chapters, the second one I didn't even open.

Gary and I listen to a book, which played sounds of the Star Wars movies. In the book were many pictures of movie scenes and a number. And then we looked for the number at a little computer an the corner of the book and if played the sound to that scene. Like shooting a gun, the engine sound of a space ship or the great voice of Chewy.

Then I invited Gary for a cup of Coffee in the top story of the store.

Billard

Austin, November 21st

I sleeped long and after breakfast, we had soup, I watched some TV. I saw a very weird commercial for a medicine against pain caused by overreacted muscles. They warned that the medicine might cuase suicide thoughts or actions, make problems with breathing, let swell four hands and much, much other stuff. Why would someone take medicine that could make you jumping from a bridge or do some other stuff to kill yourself. If you don't do it right you will have much more pain than you had before you took that medicine. And if you do it right you are dead. Both not very nice options.I saw this commercial about 5 times, because I couldn't believe what I saw and heard.

For dinner we wanted to go to a billard hall. Right when we left I got a text message from Miranda, whether I want to come to her and Lauren. So I went to them after I lost some games of billard against Gary and Loran. Against Loran I almost won! But when I had just the 8-ball left, I put the white ball in a hole... shit happens.

At Laurens we watched a movie. Later Alec joined us and we four went to Walmart. Then we watched another movie 'The Increcdibles'. Sometimes before midnight they brought me home.

Piercings!

Austin, November 20th

After I got home after the game I had a very late dinner at about 12:30. Then I took a bath until about 2.

When I woke up later I made myself a sandwich and watched TV until Miranda picked me up.

We spend the midday at Laurens and pierced her ears. Yes, WE pierced them. Miranda the left and I pierced her right ear. I was so excited that she let me do it, it was probably the bist thing I did this week. 

Play off round two

Austin, November 19th

It's friday. And it's game day. Actually was no peprally planned, but they made one, after the coach asked for one. Even when they wasn't planned, they was really good. The Starsteppers are great dancer!

Like some from the football team later said: Thats real high School Musical. One girl started dancing in the middle of the gym, some other joined her and soon were all the Starsteppers, Cheerleader, band members and the first few rows danced.
I wonder why so many of my classmates don't like pep rallies. They are so great. And they make the classes a bit shorter.

Because it is the last day before the vacation, we didn't make much in most classes. In Algebra we started normal, but soon we stopped lesson and we coul 'socialize'. A funny word that simply means talk.

In football we just said in the study hall. I hoped we would go to the weight room.

Our history teacher made norml lesson. But in English our teacher put all the desks on the walls and wanted us to lay on the floor and draw two Thanksgiving cards to two teacher or other perons who work in the school. Since we had to draw something, the first perso I thought I should give a card was my multimedia teacher. The other card gets the teacher I spend most time with, my football position coach.

Direct after school I run to the locker room. We ate a sub from 'Firehouse Subs' and then we changes clothes.

This time I got jersey Number 74. The first time that I wore a red Jersey.

Fits very good to the red long sleeve shirt and my receiver gloves I wore, in case that it's going to be as cold as last week. It didn't but I was still glad to have them.

Tyler laughed about my number. He said the 74, a lineman number, doesn't fit to me, because linemen are usually a bit bigger than I am.



Then we had a long ride to Alamo Heights. It's close to San Antonio, I think. On the way we watched highlight of the last game.

 Before the game our head coach hold a very amazing and emotional speech.

It was a good game. We led very early with a field goal. But in the end we lost with the horrible endscore of 24 to 51!
I'm very sad that we lost and so are out of the play offs. I was so looking forward to the games in the big stadiums like the Alamodome.

But on the other side, we have no pratice in the vacation. A whole week to relax and maybe practice soccer.

After the game we got pizza. It was cold, but still very good. Then we drove home.

Viva Mexico!

Austin, November 18th

First time this week that I didn't had to take the bus. Yay!

And that was the start to a nice, relaxed school day.

In the first class we played See, Run, Do. Like in English class some weeks ago, i was Doer. I had to recreate the poster one guy of my group sees. And the boy who sees the poster can't tell me what he see, he has to tell it someone else. And this guy has to run to me and tell what the first one tod him.

Sense of the game was to learn something about the negative 'tu' commands in Spanish.

In Theater we watched 'Big Fish'. A movie with Ewan McGregor. Maybe are other, better known actor in the movie, but I recocnize Obi-Wan Kenobi when I see him!
Because it's short before Thanksgiving we got a Thanksgiving meal in lunch period. Turkey and mashed potatoes. And this stuff you usually pu into the turkey. It was not bad, but nothing I would eat every day.

After school I went with Jessi, Caro and Steffen to the German Club.We talked about Candy. The German Club will import and sell German Gummi Bären from Haribo. And Toblerone! Toblerone is great, I wonder how I forgot to take some with me.  To late, and the stuff I have, or had, most of them is eaten by my football team or some other friends. Mostly Richard, he loves the Swiss chocolate bars called 'Branches', they are really good.

After school I went with Miranda, Lauren and Alek, a friend of Lauren, to Taco Cabanas. I love Mexican food!

Gym

Austin, November 17th

Again the school bus. At least I met Charmaine there, so I had someone to talk to.

In Algebra the dasks stand now different, hopefully they stay like this. I sat down in a corner, so I can lean against the wall, and at the side I have spance for my feet. The American school tables are so small!

We wrote a test. it was so easy. Maybe I should ask my German math teacher to go for some year to America and ask an American teacher to come to my school. It would make school a lot easier.

In history we started to speak about World War One. At the end of class everyone should write a question on a sheet of paper, throw the paper and take an other one. I had a great question. Do you think it was right, that America joined the WWI?

As a German I of course don't want a strong country like the USA fight against Germany. But if I would be an American I would answer different, based on what I learned today, I guess it was the right decicion to bring 'fresh' soldiers in the war, before the Central Powers could end it in Europe and bring the war to America.

After school I was the first time for weeks in the Gym. I had a good workout and I feel much better now. I guess I will sleep really good tonight. And i was finally in the hot tub and the sauna again. And one of the men there gave me the tip to work on my schoulder muscles. That would help me to strenghen my arms and my back.

After I worked out I took a picture of myself and wanted to send it to my girlfriend... but somehow I sent it to the wrong girl! I'm sometimes really too stupid!

Fun day in school

Austin, November 16th

And again the cold boring school bus. Before school I had time to meet Miranda.

It's stupid to be in school twenty minutes before the class starts, most of my friends come later. And who is already there is somehwere in the huge school, that I often don't know who where to meet.

School was retty funny today. In football the sun shone us direct in the eyes, when we receiver practiced. it happened often that the one who should catch just stood there, hold his hands up and tried to see something. And in that time the ball hit his facemask. To me it happened just once. The rest of the time the ball was to high or I catched it somehow, without really see it. It's so much easier to catch a ball in this 'pass hole' practice, than in plays or in real games.

In theater class we played 'the dating game'. It's like one of those stupid dating shows in TV, but every bachelor get a character, like a drunk teacher or a shizophrenic. And the candidate has to ask questions, usually two to every bachelor, to guess what character they have. When I was the candidate  I was pretty sure about the characters after the first question. They talked all the time with each other or acted, so I didn't know what to ask. And always I had a question I needed so long to get the attention of the girls that I always forgot the question and then I accidently cursed. In English. I wonder why I didn't said something in my motherlanguage. That's easier and the teacher can't understand me. I guess i just spend to much time with the football players. I hear all the time bad words from them. Whatever, the class thought it was funy and the teacher didn't say anything. And then I absolutely couldn't think about another senseful question. So I just said what I thought they are.

Austin, November 15th

Loran had an appointmeint, so I had to take the bus. he first time for ages that I saw my regular bus driver. But she didn't drive by herself, she just said behind the driver, because she had an broken finger. It was the first time that she realized I wear contacts. 

In algebra we wrote a quizz and in history we started talking about imperialism. An interesting topic. It's crazy that a former colonie so fast reaches for own colonies.

...in a row

Austin, November 14th

I slept not that long today. I woke up, ate a bit, and chatted with my little sister and a friend from Germany.

Loran and Gary went out for lunch. I didn't want to go out. I made me a steak later, when I got hungry.

The fire alarm didn't turend on when I cooked the steak. But later, when I let the pan cool down unter the fan, it suddenly turned on. Funny.

In the afternnon Miranda came over. We had a fun time together. We watched the Hangover and had later dinner together with my hostdads.

Two great days...

Austin, November 13th

I came late home after the football game. And after dinner I took a bath. I guess it's the firt time that I took a bath at about 1 o'clock in the morning. But it was good!

Some times very late I finally went to bed. I slept long and relaxed over the day.

After dinner Gary brought me to Laurens house. I had fun jokig around with her sweet little sisters.

I think they like swords. At halloween they stole my pirate sword and today they attacked me with a lightsaber.

We tried to let their oldest dog into the house, but keep the other two outside. It wasn't easy, they are very fast! Then we watched two movies. First Nightmare before Christmas, later Monsters vs Aliens.

I had a fun evening at her house.

Bi-district champs

Austin, November 112th

It's friday. Finally! Tonight is the first play-off game. The district champ of our district against one other district champ. A bi-district championship.

I wore the firt time my game day outfit on a friday, but since many JV player will go with the varsity team to the game, all those players had to wear their 'outfit'. The khaki pants and the gameday shirt.

This morning was a pep rally. I reallt like the music there, I think they become louder.

When I went to the football lockerroom I saw a helmet in front of my locker. It had the red VR of the varity team on it. 'Okay', I thought, 'tonight we will wear Vasity helmets.' But no, it was not a new helmet, it was my old one, it had my name and the skull on the back. And now the VR! Thats rwally cool. And in my locker was a jersey. Not my #34, but the #33. I guess they just gave everyone a jersey and didn't look on the nuber, because hardly one got his own jersey.

After school we hurried to the study hall, where we got a free meal. Just a sandwich from Firehouse Subs. But I think it's better than Subways. About 45 minutes after school we left in three charter buses. We were about 130 players, plus the student trainers and coaches. During the drive we watched the highlights of the Rouse game.

The game was awesome. We scored in less than one minute. The Travis rebels had no chance. The endscore was 41 to 6. The first play off game for a Ranger football team, and then such a success!

Veterans Day

Austin, November 11th

The 11th day of the 11th month is Veterans day. So we had a lettle ceremony. I think at about 11 was it already over. Three of the marching band played drums. The NJROTC people wore their Navi uinforms. Two had flags. One American and one Texan flag. Two other escorted them and had guns. I don't think they are real weapons, but they look very authentic. Every student and teacher stood outside. The football team in their trainings-outfit, because the ceremony was during our football class.

After the ceremony we practiced for tomorrow. It's the very first play off game for our team and many of the JV players have never been in a varity game, so they told us where we have to stand and when how far to move. I'm so excited for tomorrow! 

For dinner I went out with Miranda and Erika to Panda Express. We talked and laughed much.

Exchange Breakfast

Austin, November 10th

Today was the 5th Annual Exchange Student Breakfast. Invited weren't not just we four German exchange students, but also the students who just moved to America. I got known a guy from Brazil and a girl from Australia. I think the girls has been in one of my classes. The boy I've not seen before. Lauren told me that he exist, but more I didn't know. And the RAP students were there. Thats a club from the school, I think. I knew many of the people there. Some from classes and some I just met somewhere, like on a football game. And to some people, which I actually should know from a class, I talked the first time.

It's funny how excited they become, when they here that I have an American girlfriend. And they always tell it everyone else who is close.

Actually the breakfast ended at 10. But we stayed there during Ranger time and the other three also for second period, I think. It was much more fun than my own Ranger time class. We have couches, and played a game. And the room looked more comfortable than the room I used to be. I'd liked to stay there longer, but I can't skip football class. The coaches know me, and they would know if I miss class, but come to practice. And if I miss something I can't go to the play offs.

My theater teacher wasn't there. So we watched a movie with the theater tech class. But it was a boring musical and so some of us left the room. I'm not sure if the teacher didn't care or didn't noticed that we left.

Nothing happened

Austin, November 9th

In math we wrote a test, a very easy one.

Our history teacher made new seat plans. I sit now close to the door. The other people on my desk I know from earlier seat plans.

In English class we watched a boring video about the Witch Trials of Salem and then about Joseph McCarthy. Actually an interesting topic, but the movies were boring.

Hmm, I think that was my day, nothing interesting today.

Just a normal day in America

Austin, November 8th

Yesterday was change from Summer time/Day savings time back to normal time. I almost forgot it. If I hadn't seen that the time at the computer and my cellphone is different than the time on every watch in that house, I would have just ignored the time changing. But so I came on the great idea to write a text message with 'Hey, what time is it?'. Stupid content, but better than get up one hour to early today.

I like normal time better than summer time. I'm not as tired in the morning. At least the first some days.

Actually is the summer time crap. I read some studies and researches about the summer/normal time change. It's useless. In fact, it has some big disadvantages. Cows who should be milked, give less milk, because they are confused by the new time. Not really a problem for the majority of us, but for the poor little cows.

Trains have to wait somewhere for one hour or they bring the schedule in disorder. Or they come one our to late to their destination. Students who forget the time change date wait for an hour for their bus or train or again, they come one hour to late. I think hat never happened to me, but it's possible. And I read some important business issues, but I can't remember them right now. I just now that the summer time makes no sense, nobody saves anything.

I woke up early. For normal time early, for summer time not. I made a coffee. No first I googled what kind of coffee is stronger, dark or light roasted beans. And whatever else I could find about coffee. I was bored so I just read everuthing I could find. THEN I made coffee. And then I wanted a club sandwich. But I couldn't remember what everything was in it, so I just mada a bacon, ham, pepperoni sandwich. Then I took a shower, wanted to make my bed, looked at my alarm clock and saw that I will miss my bus when I don't run the 20 yards to the bus stop. I don't know why I always run, the bus is never punctually.

In football class we had a very special training. The first time in the history of Visat Ridge that a football team was weight lifting to prepare for the play offs. I had really fun, I'm so excited for the game on friday.

But it sucks that I'm not in the varsity team. But still, we will have a better bus and I think we will get new jerseys. That's so cool.

In theater class we played again some Lazzis. I played with a for me pretty much new group. Maybe I had some little improve szenes with one of them, I'm not sure. But it was really funny. ADDs people without their ritalin are very funny - and I'm not just talking about myself.

The freshman team joined us today in football practice. I liked it to help them. It's something new, that i help Americans in football.

It was weird, I dropped some really easy balls, but I caught almost every ball when the sun was shining in my eyes and i couldn't see them! Maybe I should trust more my instincts than my eyes, like a Jedi... and I should stop to think about Star Wars all the time.

Sooo... other things that happened today...

Lauren has a cute little belly button piercing. Loran is back from his cruise. I hurt a finger in football again. 

Diana liked to pull my shirt and let it snap back. She didnt wore such a flexibly shirt like I, so i couldn't do that with her. Brian made a salto over Alex when we actually should rehears our play. Looked cool, but you can tell, that he is hyper without ritalin. Loran showed me pictures from the cruise, it's a nice ship. And he gave me a keychain he bought on the cruise. I love keychains.

Movie evening with the Germans

Austin, November 7th

I wanted to have 3 minutes eggs for breakfast. But I couldn't turn on the stove. Somehow was the safety device for children on. But with a little help from googe and a bit luck I could turn it off by randomly pressing buttons. So I had a very late breakfast at about 1 o'clock. Then I watched Raiders of the lost ark on television. And then I did some dumb bell exercises whhile I watched some series. I think mostly 'I dreamed of Jeannie'. A very old series, I didn't know that it's still sended.

In the afternoon Steffen picked me up. We watched together with Jessica a movie at his house and ate pizza.

And about 30 minutes ago I had my first cup of coffee here in the USA. Gary just bought a new coffee machine.

Indians and Wizards

Austin, November 6th

Today is the Lonestar competition. The last band competition. I wanted to see it, but it's in Dallas, a little bit to far away. But so I had time to go to the Indian PowWow. I Think that is the only word I know with 'ww' in it.When Gary and I arrived there was my first thought, somehow familiar. I was sure I saw this area before. But I didn't thought long about that.

We met with Sharon and a lot of other exchange students. Mostly from Germany and exept for Adrian -a Spanish boy- all girls. First we walked around and watched what the indians sold. Lots of jewelry. I bought a bracelet and Adrian bouth a knive with firestone blade. A very nice knive. And we tried a buffaloe burger. It was a bit dry.

Some of the girls let draw a picture of themselves. A woman who sees animals around people draw the pictures. Together with the animals, and then she explained the meaning of each animal. At Sunnys blog i a foto of one of the pictures.

Later we watched a indian dance competition. It was interesting, but some of the outfits weren't really authentic. I'm sure indians had no neon color or with CDs decorated clothes. But they still looked neat.

When we left I finally knew where we were. The PowWow was next to the Burger Stadium. The varsity field where my JV team played a week ago!

Short after I arrived at home, Lauren picked me up. We spend the rest of the day with watching Harry Potter, playing Guitar Hero, baking Angel Food Cake, talking, and we were out for a walk, together with her mom and her little sister.

I'm not really good at Guitar Hero, not like Lauren, she played two songs really good. First we watched Harry Potter 4, but it was boring. I know it already... Later we watched a part of HP5. I know that two, but we did other stuff too, so it didn't get boring so quik. I never heardthe strong British accent before. They sound so funny.

 I had really fun today, so far the best day of the week.

At home I watched the end of Jeepers Creepers 2 and the beginning of the first Jeepers Creepers. On Halloween it was more scary. But I didn't saw the beginning of the first movie, when we watched it on Halloween. Now I finally understand what the whole time happens.

One big family

Austin, November 5th

Another week is over. Where is my time?

Even the time in school is running. I don't know why the American school day is so quick over, compared with the German day. Maybe it's because we have more breaks and more classes in Germany.

In football class we were in the weight room, in history we have a seat plan. I don't have new neighbors. on of them sat next to me the last some weeks and the other guy sat next to me the weeks before.

In english class we rated some posters of other students. Some were about the witch trials of Samem, other about the pilgrims and some abou other events or people of the American history.And the rest of the time we read books or magazines. I read something about Star Wars Episode 1. I think the next time, we have this SSR / reading time, I will continuine with that book. It looks interesting.

Later today, Daphanie brought me to the football game. It started good, but then it got boring. The endscore was 61:7 for the Rangers. I cheered the first some touchdowns, but then I didn watch the game anymore, but talked to Sivonna and Erika. And I got know Kerri, the last drum major. First she wasn't very happy about meeting me. Someone told her about the kidnapping and the roof, so she was scared that I would do something to her, too. Actually, I have some nice ideas what i could do with her, but for one thing I would need a boat and for the other a airplane. And I have to get her on the boat or plane. Would probable not work, so I have to think about something else. Or she is just the lucky one, and I don't do anything to her.

After the game I talked to some guys from the JV teams and waited for Miranda. I watched her tidying up the band stuff and met some other band guys.

Some of them call me dad! And Miranda is mom. And abou a half dozen of them hugged me. Some of them, most of them, I've never seen before. But okay, I'm a nice guy, if they want to hug their 'dad', why not? 

And one person, I think his name is Paul, want me to call him. He is one of the guys I've never met before so I think I wont call him. And I don't have his number, so even if i want to call, I couldn't. Someone else told me how he likes his pancakes. Very important to know, isn't it?

The laundromat robber

November 4th

Loran left today for a cruise. He will be away until monday morning.

In Spanish we wrote the second part of our test. I think it's the first time, that I wrote one test on two different days. 

Theater class was great. The best thing today, since I have no game. We should write in groups Lazzis. Thats like a little script that says you who you are and what happens, or what kind of person you are, but the rest you have to improv. We wrote about Dracula. We organized props, a sword as cross and a huge gun, and had some good ideas what to play. But later in the auditorium the teacher told us, that we olay the Lazzis of other groups. Mrs Dye said something about partners, I wasn't really listening, so I looked for a partner. Or better the partner looked for me, Tishya wanted me to be her partner. But the Lazzi we got was for 4 people. Jessiaca joined us and the 4th person we skipped. 

Tishya and I were in a laudromat. I think it was called like that. Thate's were you can go, to wash your clothes, if you don't can do the laundry at home.

And Jessica was a robber. The probably worst robber I've ever seen. I ahven't seen much real robber, so she IS the worst one. She wanted to steal the Quarter coins of the machines, but when she shot to open those machines, the bullet flew back and killed her. Shit happens. But a good opportunity for Tishya and me to take the coins and disappear.

That was pretty much my day, not very exciting.

The last battle

Austin, October 3rd

Today was a half day in school. I don't know why, someone said something about a teacher meeting, but I don't really care. School ended at 1 o'clock. And for my last football game I had to be back in school at 4:30. Enough time to go home, eat some chili and watched a movie.

According to my team mates is it very cold. Actually, it's like it have been every morning in the German early summer. Just the rain and especially the rain was annoying.

For the game I wore a red shirt with long sleeves. Fits good to the black jersey. 

It was the third time Rangers versus Cavaliers. And the second time that the Cavaliers won. And both times in our stadium. Luckily we won the first game, I'm very positive, that we are still district champ.

It was the last game in this season. I will miss it. Hopefully the varsity team will stay long in the play offs, so I can at least watch them. Today i bought a play-Off-Shirt. I love the sentence on the back: Going where no Ranger Football team has gone before.

I guess thats everything tht happened to me today. It's just one thing left:

Happy Birthday Dad!

 

It's cold. Outside.

Austin, November 2nd

I wonder, if I can implement parts of songs if the title. Like for today it would be the sentence 'It's cold outside'. Hmm... I don't know the title of the song... But that's exactly what I want to hear now.

This morning I got my phone back. For that I was first in the main office, so Loran could sign in as visitor, then in the attendance office to get the phone. And later in Spanish class I got a note that I have to go to the guidance office. But not because the phone, I had to sign something, that I go back to Germany after this year, so I don't have to do the TAKS. As if I had a choice, my visa isn't valid for a second year. 

In football class the special teams had practice. So I had to take a knee, somewhere at the field to mark the position of the opponent. And it was cold. As long as you move it's okay, at least for me. I'm used to such temperatures, for the poor americans it was much worse. And the shower was cold. 

In multimedia I colored greyscale picture. I have no access to my email account and now not even SchuelerVZ anymore, so I can't upload my pictures.

My multimedia teacher plays Call of Duty, can you belive that? She said, that some in her CoD team are from Germany, so she wanted me to show her, from what part of Germany I am. 

With my football coach I talked about the German school system. It's nice, that so many people are interested in the differences of the US and germany. One football player asked me on what side the cars in Germany drive. Actually he asked me twice. And Steffen at least once.

And some other player lookes shocked, when I told them, that for me the weather is a great November weather.

But after school the weather was really bad. It was cold, windy and it started to rain. We stopped practice at about ten after five. So I had to wait almost an hour until someone picked me up. I should ask some guys if they life close to Avery Ranch, but most of them life in a other dirrection. It really sucks, that I can't reach nothing without a car. And if both of my hostparents work, I can't to anything.

found and lost again: My cellphone

Austin, November 1st

HAPPY BIRTHDAY JESSI-SCHATZ

It's my sisters 19th birthday. And I'm not in Germany to celebrate with her. Probalbly I wouldn't celebrate if I would be ther either. But I hope she had a great day with her friends or family.

Yesterday I lost my phone. Luckily just in Mirandas car. She gave it back to me before Algebra class. Actually I wanted to meet her in front of the band hall. But she waited at an different entrance than me. Great job we two. 

I wrote loran a text message that I have my phoneback. He answered. And I wanted to answer him... I just sent a short message to Miranda during lunch period and wanted to write Loran, that it's probably not a good idea to text me when I'm in school, when suddenly a teacher appeared behind me. "Did we wrote a nice text?" "Yes, Sir." "Follow me please". And again was my phone away. Crap. Isn't it ironically, that they took my phone, just when I wanted to wrote someone, that I shouldn't text during school? I should have followed my own advice, and shouldn't have texted. But, really, what's the problem with texting during lunch? It's not like I miss any class!

People who know me know, I hate talking while I eat. So even if i wouldn't text during lunch, I would not talk more.

Whatever, I don't really need the phone, actually i just have it on, so I can wait for a text message. That keeps me from fall asleep in school. 

But today I was so tired, it wouldn't have made a real difference.

Annoying was, that I had to wait for about 30 minutes, after football practice. It ended very early, but Loran of course couldn't know that.

And it was kind of stupid, that I had to be online to chat with people, just sending a SMS is way easier. Then I can be whereever I want and do whatever I want to do. Enough about cellphones.

Football practice wasn't very good. I caught after the warm up just about 3 balls. One of my contacts was broken, so I couldn't see very well, and I forgot my gloves at home. And it was hot! But I still had fun. Maybe I should become something like a cornerback. Just run against other people.

Of course the day wasn't completely bad. I had fun in English class. The best thing about A-days. We watched a movie about the witch trials in Salem. Terrible story. 150 people were innocent in jail, 3 peolpe died there. And 20 people were executed.

Later the teacher read statements, and we had to decide if it's a 'always a sin', 'sometimes' or 'never'. Like, not voting is in my opinion never a sin. If the people don't care by whom they are governed, it's their own business. Murder is always a sin. And some more statements like that.

When we walked back, Saige slaped my butt. Ali said, she can't do that, because I have a girlfriend. I slapeded Alis butt and told her, that I think my girlfriend don't care so much about that. I hope.

Hmm, is slap the right word there? Or should I use clap or hit?

I guess I will change it sometimes. But not now, it's late, I go to bed now.

Good night America, good morning germany, hello rest of the world!