Sorry for not updating in a while!

I guess now that school has started, I've been pretty neglectful of writing in my blog. I should do this more often, since I always have so much going on- it's nice to retain the details of every day, since they're beginning to slide by fairly quickly.

I gave a presentation today, in my German History class. It went fairly well, so I'm pleased. It's still nerve racking though, to stand in front of the class and have to give a lecture for a half hour. Granted, I did work with someone else, so it wasn't like I talked straight for thirty minutes. Despite the occasional presentation, classes are going well. Tomorrow is thursday, however, which means my busy day, though I'm lucky to report that linguistics is canceled due to my professor being sick. I'll take it, it'll be nice to have a break!

I can't believe it's already November... I've been here officially over two months now, and I'm approaching the magical number that falls towards the end of November, marking one month until I return for christmas.

But I shouldn't get too ahead of myself. I'm actually kind of torn about coming home, in many ways. I'm really starting to feel at home here, things are starting to click... I can see why people would say that studying abroad for only one semester would be painfully short... Just when things are going good and you're making friends, you'd be thrust back home!

I have to say, I'm really enjoying Freiburg. I need to get out and explore the city more often, however. There are so many little things here to discover and enjoy, it's going to take me the whole rest of the year to learn Freiburg's many secrets! Last week, I met with my tandem partner, Charlotte, (have I talked about her at all yet?) and we hiked up to Schloßberg, a giant tower on top of the "mountain" in the middle of Freiburg. The tower is a giant metal contraption that is ominously high, and shakes rather unsteadily in the wind. Alright, so I have an ever so slight fear of heights. You would too, though, if you had to climb up over a hundred steps in a shaking metal tower that looms above the surrounding tree tops! Am I glad I did this, though? I'll let my breath taking photos do the talking for me:

As you can see, my afternoon endeavor was completely worth it! I'm thankful to have signed up for the "Tandem" program, where a german student here teams up with me, allowing us both to practice our language skills. Charlotte is an english major at Albert-Ludwigs-Universität Freiburg, and she's in her third semester. She's helping get to know the city better and better in our weekly meetings. It's nice to have someone to show me the ropes.

I have to admit, seeing the Black Forest every day is something I might never get used to. Even if it's a long week, full of presentations, homework, stress, what have you... I get to stare fixedly at the Schwarzwald every day as I take the Straßenbahn (street car) into town. I can't wait for a little snow to fall so I can go hiking through the Black Forest again- it was absolutely breath taking last weekend.

Everything is going well for me. I'm beginning to settle in here. Time is passing more rapidly than I'd like, however. I'm excited for Christmas and all that, don't get me wrong. But this is an amazing time in my life, and I am not looking forward to this year ending next August. That's way too far off to contemplate, though! It's not even time yet for the Weihnachtsmarkt (Christmas Market). I'm really looking forward to advent- because that marks the beginning of the Christmas market season. Nothing like some warm Glühwein (spiced wine) and ginger bread cookies, while shopping for Christmas presents!

Before we all get there though, we have to get through Thanksgiving. Which, of course being an American holiday, they don't celebrate in Germany. Yup, that's right, I'm expected to go to classes. And what's more, I might even have to give a presentation that day. So as all of you are gathered around your turkeys, eating your mashed potatoes, and flipping between football and cliché holiday movies, remember me, poor David in Germany, hard at work. It won't be all bad, however; one of the girls from StuSie, my dorm complex, is celebrating her 21st birthday on Thanksgiving, so we're going to put together a meal at her apartment. It'll be a good day, regardless! Plus, not having class on thursdays, I can sleep in, just like everyone in America. Oh wait, everyone in America will probably be up before me, despite the six hour time change, waking up early to buy cheap stuff from Walmart. Ah, good ol' America.

"Knowing trees, I understand the meaning of patience. Knowing grass, I can appreciate persistence."

-Hal Borland