#bodenseehof

The fairgrounds in Wuerzburg plays host to a series of extraordinary and fun local events. The location is called the Talavera which when said aloud in the right accent clings gently with a wisp of magic in the very sound of the word.

Maybe it’s the fresh-out-of-the-box feel I still have with my new hometown, or it could simply be that I’m picking up on the subconscious body language and micro expressions people have when referring to that area, but to me… The word Talavera is an idea or feeling as though something is spoken into being by the collective memories of those who have been there before. People who say it always seem to say Talavera with a smile, as though to do otherwise would be to do the one hearing about it a great disservice giving a false impression of some mystical, fun Adventureland that really has to be experienced to fully understand.

Before you get your hopes up too high, though, you should know that when there isn’t a Festival, convention or other event being hosted there, more often than not, plenty of Wuerzburgers use the open space as a parking lot. Ha ha ha!

  I’ve been going to Volksfests and smaller Kirchweih-s in Bavaria and parts of Franconia (Northern Bavaria) since I first came to Germany for school on the Bodensee at the turn of the millennium.

Each fest is, in essence, all the same. Like a pizza, once you get the basics of the ingredients to go together ba-da-boom you’re a maker of the ‘zza! The same principle applies to setting up a carnival. There is almost always a Ferris Wheel even if it is only big enough for elementary school kids to ride.

There is almost always a stand peddling hot Crêpes while just around the corner somebody is pressuring anyone who walks by to buy the largest pretzel known to man, and no Volksfest is complete without a booth selling hot sugar-coated almonds. Of course all of those carnie games that are a test of skill, chance, strength, whatever it is you can do and do slightly better than others are to be expected as part and parcel of the fair-going experience, pretty much at any carnival you go to in the world where you can pay to prove it with an oversized stuffed animal as your reward.

Remember son, Mama said you have to save room for dinner…

I am a firm believer in the fact that it’s never the place, always the people that make a place great, considering there is nothing new under the sun. For me, Wuerzburg is one of those places.

It’s one of those cities with the sort of folk who are just easy to get along with, ultimately have good intentions in what they do and know how to be happy.

Once you get this you have to say 5 nice things about yourself publicly, and then send it to ten of your favourite followers :D

— alaska-riversong

Well then. That's five random facts and five nice things. *cracks knuckles* Let's do this.

Random things:

I grew up in a tiny Kansas town. There were nine students in my graduating class.

My freshman year of college, I went to a Bible school in Germany called Bodenseehof.

Ich spreche ein bißchen Deutsch. (As in, that is my best complete sentence.)

I had a horrible experience in Paris over those Christmas holidays. Someday I'd like to go back and actually enjoy the city without having men attempt to seduce me.

Getting to London after four months on the continent and seeing signs in English was one of the best moments of my life.

Nice things:

I make a really great cuppa.

I pick up on facial expressions really quickly, which means I can shift the conversation to the mood of the person I'm talking to.

I generally believe the best about people.

I have an almost eidetic memory. (Related: Don't tell me something you don't want me to remember.)

Dear friends,

I AM IN GERMANY! BNASJDIOVDFLAKSJDOIXNLNXZLKVAOIWGNASLKKBNASKLDBANKSLJALDKFJASDKLASKLFN!!!!!!!!

So on Wednesday night I met up at the airport with Daniel Foutz, who I flew from Toronto with. We got our first 5 hour flight to Reykjavik, Iceland with Icelandair, which was quite a nice airline actually (recommended!). It was uneventful and unfortunately sleepless on my part, but hey, I got to see Iceland! There was no ice... letdown.

In Iceland we went through long security lines and they checked our bags yet again. Then we got our second flight from Reykjavik to Frankfurt, which was also uneventful and thankfully there was sleep!

We got to spend a fun 8 hours in Frankfurt, doing not very much. There was some awkward vlogging fun involved and taking selfies with my doll of my friend Priscilla! (We made dolls of ourselves and swopped them.)

Once we took our flight to Friedrichshafen, which I completely slept through, a couple of girls (Kendra and Alisha) met us at the airport and helped us get a taxi to the youth hostel we stayed in for the night! The shower and bed was lovely. However, I did realize that I accidentally hadn't eaten anything but granola bars since dinner the night before!

In the morning we went for a walk around Friedrichshafen before the staff from Bodenseehof came and picked all of us girls (and poor Daniel) up from the hostel and drove us to the school!

Everyone was there and it was ridiculously crazy and stressful to see 104 new people who were all really excited, but the awesomest part of my first day was realizing that Anna Kate and I were put in the same 4-person room! I'm so excited to be roommates with her! It's really an answer to prayer that I know someone already and I'm sure it will really help me to adjust quicker to Bible School.

I've done a few things here so far, like walking to Kaufland (the wonderful grocery store here in Fischbach - the little town Bode is actually in), taking a walk through Fischbach itself and going to some amazing bakeries and coffee shops with Anna Kate and the wonderful only British girl here, Kezia, and already RECEIVING SOME MAIL?! Thanks so much to the people who sent mail, I feel so blessed! (I was the only person to get 2 letters on the first day, I feel so loved!)

So overall, that has been my crazy and full first few days! Not as much detail as I could include, but Internet is a bit hard to get here because everyone is trying to use it at the same time, and our days are pretty packed! Once I get into a routine I'll try to start posting more regularly and more interestingly!!

So much love, you guys!

Hello peoples!

I have a special post today, because it is about my first official Bode friend, who is also sort of my twin, Anna Kate Crane :)

She lives in Ukraine as a Missionary Kid, and the two of us have a RIDICULOUS amount of similarities! I sent her a message on Wednesday and since then we have discovered that we are both gingers, both love Ariel, both love music, wear glasses, have the nickname Steve and have fathers who are doctors. Those are only a few of the things on the Steve/Steva list of sameness! I'm so blessed and excited to have a friend already, and I can't wait to meet her!

Just wanted to share my joy at this discovery with you guys!

Yours, Rosanna

Great news, everyone! I have been accepted to Bodenseehof! :)

I got the email this morning, and I am so thankful to God for showing me what He wants me to be doing next year! His timing is perfect, and He really worked through the period of (agonizing) waiting for Bodenseehof's reply.

I absolutely cannot wait to see what God has in store for this coming year!!

<3 Rosanna

PS Here is me taking out my exuberant joy on poor David.