Last blog before Paris

Hello everyone! Once again, sorry for the lack of communication, but it has been utter chaos here these last few weeks. Here's what has been going on: 1. Christmas carolling...last week the Bodenseehof students spread out to cover the community of Fishbach. We went door to door singing Christmas songs, passing out cookies, and handing out invitations to Bodenseehof's annual Christmas concert. The Germans do not traditionally go carolling so many times the door was slammed in our face...literally. But many people were excited to hear us sing...off-key as it was haha. 2. Advent International: Bodenseehof's annual Christmas concert. Students performed Christmas songs such as Mary Did You Know and Silent Night. We packed the house with about 150 people not including students and staff. 3. Viola: I am now tutoring a neighbor girl. She is about 12 years old and actually speaks very good English. I am having so much fun getting to know her. We have tutored three times together already, and I will continue to help her with her homework until the end of the year. 4. Tutoring in Fishbach: I was also asked by the school to head up a tutoring program with a 9th grade class in a school in our community of Fishbach. I have a team of about 15 Bode students assisting me. I met this last Thursday with the class and they are great! We will continue to meet on Thursdays once I return from break. 5. Christmas Market in Stuttgart: We had the chance on Wednesday to take a day trip to Stuttgart and wander the city and the massive Christmas market. Such a great time. And now I am one night's sleep away from seeing my parents in Paris. I board the train tomorrow at 10am and will arrive in Paris at 4pm. I am so excited...although I will admit taht I am starting to miss my Portland a little bit. Lots of love to all of you! Have a very Merry Christmas, T