CARNIVAL!!!!

This last weekend has been CRAZY!!! Thats the best way to put it. Here in Mainz there has been a huge celebration. Startin on thursday everyone of all ages has been dressing up in costumes and drinking large amounts of alcoholic beverages. Unfortunately this year I didnt have any excuse and was forced to participate...although i was able to avoid the alcohol cause i just waited for everyone else to get too drunk to realize i hadnt joined them. Last night the whole team dressed up as lady bugs after our game and went to this huge ball that is held every year. It was a lot of fun but just ended up being too much for me so i called it a night very early. Thank goodness for me I "HAVE" to work tomorrow cause the party has not stopped since thursday. Tomorrow is the huge parade and even bigger street party. Should be a lot of fun!!! Hope to make it out alive. Mom and Dad can definetly vouch for me on this one.

Update!!!

So I know its been a little to long but things have been some what busy....or at least i tell myself that. In all actuality i just have too much time on my hands and am the worst procrastinator. So here it goes. Since returning to germany after christmas things havent gone so well. Going into christmas we were undefeated and were by far the best teams in the league. Upon returning we played one of the worst teams in the league and killed them. Our next test we went up against Nordlingen....the result a big L. After that it seemed our team just fell apart. Everyone kept wondering why we had lost?? What was wrong with the team?? I just tried to forget about and focus on the next game. Unfortunalty we went to Leimen and lost by 25 points. Our team had just unraveled. Again the same questions...what was wrong??? why had we lost by so many points??? Again, couldnt honestly tell you. As for myself at this point I am physically, emotionally, and mentally drained. I havent played well and need to get myself right before this coming weekend. But things can only get better. Mom, Dad, Maggie and Reilly will be here so it will be a nice to have those familiar faces. I will be able to focus on being the tour guide for a few days. Reilly should definetly keep me on my toes. Just imagine an eleven year old who is independent all I have to say....foreign country, foreign language, and a child who likes to wonder and make up his own languages:)

Christmas!!!!

After a long trip...to be exact 16 hours, I finally set foot back in Montana. It is so wonderful to finally be at home with the family. Unfortunately everyone is still working so i havent seen them much. These past four months have been a great experience although very difficult. I had to live with a 35 year old Czech lady and her 9 year old son (who i believe is the spawn of satan but thats a whole other story) for all most 2 and 1/2 months. Definetly a learning experience. Finally in the middle of November I was able to move into the new apartment which is very nice. I am now living with two of my other team mates, but we are still without phone or internet. Imagine being away from all your loved ones without any way of contacting them on a regular basis. I felt like i had dropped off the face of the earth. I absolutly love living overseas but it can be very difficult being away from the family. I have missed so many things, such as reillys football season, Thanksgiving, Halloween, and all the little things that you take for granted. But it has also made me realize that im not ready to settle down and become a real adult.