”We never know how strong we are until we passed yesterday”

Salsabela Fitri Mardianingrum (INA AFS to Germany YP 16–17)

That’s my favorite quote since I arrived in Germany. Why ? Because it was really happened to me. I mean, actually we are stronger, but we just not realize. And by this second News letter. I would like to tell everything during my 5 months here.

In the beginning of December, finally I could feel winter season for the first time. It was extremed cold, because the temperature reached until -11°C. I have to wore double jackets, sweater, scarf, gloves and long boots everyday. It seems like a garlic which have many layer haha. And the most that I’m waiting for in winter was snow. I always imagined how beautiful and how smooth snow was. And in Germany my dream came true. I could touch snow and played over the snow. It was amazing, and I still remembered how childish I was to built a snowman and made a snowball..

And in the middle of December, there was a christmas market in my town. They sold many sweet souvenirs such, rainbow candle, santaclaus doll, christmas tree, love lamp, etc. And not just that, there was also foods, like waffle, oreo donut, pancake and choco banana. The christmas market was opened 2 weeks before christmas day, so everyone could enjoy. My winter season was great, because I also have 2 weeks holiday. I spent my holiday almostly with my host family. We travelled together to Konstanz. Konstanz was very beautiful place, because we could see many lake and historical building. We spent two night and did everything like took a walk around the lake, ate popcorn, went to museum, watched a theater and etc.

After that, absolutely on 24th December 2016 my host family celebrated a Christmas Day. And here, I learned how to respect each other. Although we had differences, but actually we are the same. We had dinner and gave some present for each other. It was really sweet moment, because in the middle of our dinner my host mother said ”Bela you’re a good moslem”, those sentence touched my heart so much deeply. No matter what, but when we respect the others, of course they would respect us too.

Live in the other country was actually mean out of our comfort zone. We would find new culture and new environemnet that we didn’t know before. And of course it would be so hard. And now, almost my half way in here. Sad, happy, lucky, unlucky, fortunately and unfortunately. I felt all that way. There were so many thing I have learned, and honestly made me stronger. It’s okay to be hurt, but we didn’t need to gave up, because there will always way to stand.

And since I’m here, finally I got my New year. I didn’t know why, but I felt so happy. For me, New year mean to started over again. We could fix everything that we have done, we could make new wishes, we could get a new spirit and of course we also could get a beautiful fireworks.There was no reasont, but I love the New year vibes in Germany. It was full of trumpets, gifts, balloons, fireworks and absolutely foods. I went to the town with my host family here. We were arrived at 23.15, and it was 15 minutes before fireworks party, We also bought a lolipop and chocolate. So, there was no more lovely things expect this sweet taste and boom sounds from the fireworks.

00.01 o’clock — 01st January was my first day in 2017. And started from that time, I promised my self to be better.

Day by day were passed. But not for 24th January 2017. Because yessss, that was my birthday. Honestly I just hopeless, and thought there would be nothing. But one hundred percent I was totally wrong. I got many surprised from my host family, from my parents and from my friends. My host mother made a big Nutella Tart which tasted so delicious, and she also gave me small travel bag and a brown watch as a presents, hahahaaa how happy I was. Then, my parents, my papa and my mama in Indonesia, they were called me in the middle of the night. Maybe just like a simple thing, but really it was so mean to me. Their love and their care would never end for me. And also my friends in Indonesia and Germany, the way they remembered my birthday. All those hopes and wishes, really I would never forgot.

All above was my experience during my 5 months here. It’s not finish yet and I still search for more