Hallo!!! Wow, nine days and counting...time is going by too fast. It is hard to believe that I have been an IFYE for nearly six months! Can you believe it?

I had  a really great weekend. I went with my family to the Hamburg area to visit the sister of my host father. Their family was so nice, and I really enjoyed meeting them. We took a sightseeing tour in Hamburg on Saturday, and let me just say that Hamburg is now one of my favorite European cities! It was beautiful, clean, interesting, and full of history! I got to see the huge harbor, an amazing church, some of the biggest shopping districts I have seen so far, and many foreign embassies. I definitely hope to come back to that great city someday! I also had fun spending time with my host family and their cousins. We went ice skating, shopping, and bowling. It was a really great weekend!

Now, I am back in Penkun! It's really cold outside, but there is no snow yet. I made lunch for my host family today, and then went horseback riding with my host sister. (We had fun!)

Not so much time left now! I will be sad and happy at the same time when I get on that plane to America! Sad to leave behind all the wonderful people I have met, but happy to get back to the people who love me at home! Hope you all are doing well, and I'll be seeing you soon! -- Emily