I'm free!!!

Hehe, that reminds me of Footloose. That was centuries ago! Wow... anyways... I am done with the papers!!! I've actually been done basically since Monday and technically since yesterday--on Monday I finished writing the last paper and sent it to the tutor for proofreading, and yesterday I made the small adjustments based on her corrections and sent the final version to my prof. It is a great feeling.

The last couple days have been slightly strange with nothing really big and important to do, but life will start getting busier... in a good way! Here is some upcoming funness I have on my calendar:

This Saturday: "practiing" making Mexican food for the Fiesta we are having at church in a few weeks. Yummmy.......!

Next Monday: I'm going to rehearsal for the second time for this cool choir I might be joining. I went last week and really liked it. It is a smaller group, probably 30-35 people, a mix of music and non-music students from all over Berlin. Since I liked it the director said I should come to a second rehearsal and then afterwards she will officially decide if I'm "in". I hope I can join, 1) for the music and singing and 2) because I'd get to know lots of German kids my age, which is harder than expected because they don't really have the "campus life" here that American universities do. The group is very social though - they always go out for a beer (or a hot chocolate!) together after rehearsal, with their director too!

Next Tuesday: I'm going to Lyon to visit Shannon!!! I am so excited! For one thing, I have never been to France, and really, until Shannon and Janine visited me and told me all about their experiences, I really didn't know anything about France and I wasn't particularly interested. But now I am very interested, and super-excited about getting to hang out with my favorite roomie from Penn! Plus, I get to stay with her host family, which will be so neat. Shannon told me all about the amazing meals they have, which of course are always accompanied by a cheese plate with like 8 types of cheese... And Shannon is stocking up on chocolate for me... teehee...

Next Friday: I turn 21! I will still be in France, so I will celebrate with Shannon.

Next Saturday: I come back from France, and I might try to get together with friends here in Berlin to celebrate my birthday.

The Wednesday after that: Mom and Dad come to visit!!!!!!! I can't wait!!!!!!!

The Sunday after that: The Fiesta at church. Mom is going to help with the food, and it's going to be fun! We are having it as part of the 40 Days of Purpose campaign we are doing right now. It is actually going to be an opportunity for people to present all the areas in which people can get involved in the church and give people an opportunity to find ways to get involved, but they recommend adding a theme to make it a special event that no one will want to miss. So... I thought it would be awesome to have a Fiesta! And Tobi and Manu liked the idea, so... I'm getting to eat Mexican food in Berlin! Woohoo!

The Tuesday after that: Dad has to go back to the U.S. But...

The Wednesday after that: Mom and I depart for ISTANBUL! And we are staying with Elif, my TA from my Turkish classes at Penn!!

The Saturday after that: We come back from Istanbul.

The Wednesday after that: Mom has to go back to the U.S. I will be sad. But then, not long afterward, second semester will start (and hopefully kick first semester's butt!), I will go on an excursion to Hamburg with my study abroad program, I will come home briefly for my brother's graduation!!!, and... I'm sure life will continue to be fun.

Hehe........ can you tell I'm excited?