It is time for Part Four of my trip to Europe with school. Everyone became friends and great memories from it. In this part, the last part of my trip, the remainder of Germany, and the trip home. Conclusion of Dinkelsbühl and The famous site of the Nuremburg Nazi War Criminals Trials - Nuremburg, and Göttingen, where we stayed for only a night then left, and Hamburg, the last stop on our trip, and the location of our Homestays, where we stay for 4 days, and then set off by car, train and airplane, home or at least to Calgary, and then home.

DAY TWELVE: Bells across the Giant chuch across the cobbelstone street are loud and they ring for about 10 minutes.. The chuch is the largest part of the town, and you can see it from beyond the huge walls that completely enclose the town. The town itself was built between 1000 and sometime in 1400, and was restored in the 1600s. Seriously. It was not bombed in WWI or WWII, and is completely original. Most beautiful place I have ever been to. All of the streets are cobblestone.. This is a place I will definately come back to before I die. 1and a half hours of free time. Decided to walk around the wall with Joel, Christian and Josh (the other josh, who is a Jew.. must have been interesting in Dachau). Found some old, worn stone steps, so worn, they were curved.. Driving through beautiful country side.. all the farms are the exact same.. The barns are massive and the exact same colour and shape and size. So odd.  LONG 5 hour drive from Nuremburg to Göttingen. Hotel gave us a huge suite though. Rooming with Josh, and Dylan. Jamming to Stevie Ray Vaughnan with them now, got my hair straightened bu Erica. Who is very pretty. Never really talked to her or noticed her before today. Apparently she did, like me, suck her thumb until we were like 10 years old (yes, I did.) and got the same kind of retainer that poked your thumb when you tried to put it into your mouth (it REALLY hurt OK!) Never ever met anyone the same as that before.

DAY THIRTEEN: Morningm hair a little curly after being straightened. Breakfast was average buffet. Drive was short and easy, 1 hour lunch. Left hotel and 9:30 and got to School in Hamburg, Gymnasium Eppendorf, at about 2:30pm. Bit of a crazy time with 64 people running around in a small room with their luggage and then homestays arriving with every minute..  My homestay, Jenny, 15 is very shy, quiet and cute. We couldnt figure out what to do when we got home. *they picked me up in a Silver VW Polo 4-dr, they dont have those in North America!* Later on we went to the U-Bahn and walked in one of her favorite places to walk + think. If I didn't live in the middle of nowhere I'd to that too! I did at the old house! It was so awkward! And I can almost never think of anything to say! + Wondering or thinking that the other is bored. Its hard OK! Her cousin Stefan plays hockey and asked if I wanted to go to a pub or something  that night.. I said only if Jenny could go, and they had a big discussion (most of which I did not understand, thanks to my low amounts of German at the time) They ended up trhat she could not go. Her parents are strict. I hope I don't offend or get anyone in shit! And I think she doesn't like me. haha

DAY FOURTEEN: Woke up about 8:15, Breakfast was to be at 8, but everyone was late (lucky!) I was so confused at breakfast. Cold cuts, marmalade, and buns and crissonts. So I watched and learned. (I learned much by being observant). Jenny had to study for a chem test tomorrow, so I read a book. When she was "finished" (haha actual quotations there, I remember she rolled her eyes) she picked up a book and we both read, in her *my temp.* room. So that was good, and not so good. Still awkward. After 2 we decided to go, brace the rain and go to the mall. "Europa Passage". And there had some more ice cream. and check out some.. baud/baul/ball/book (I have no clue.. I'm not sure what I wrote) and dancing. Then checked out the Rathaus (town/city hall) and left for out boat tour of the Hamburg Harbor *the second largest in Europe, as the guide mentioned about 10 times, in his terribleness* (I still have some tickets from taking the U-Bahn/S-Bahn from that day.)

DAY FIFTEEN: Shower. Another confusing Breakfast, left for SCHOOL! (in Germany.. not at home) at 9:15 Went to RELIGION for 2 hours (all in German, didn't understand anything besides Tom Cruise and Scientology) 2 hours + breaks in glass to get a Gymnasium Eppendorf T-Shirt, free t o the Canadian Students. The classes are so different! They discuss everything, its GREAT. The teachers mark on how each student discusses, and the points they bring up. I decided to go to English with some gr. 9 students instead of Bio with Jenny.. *I'm pretty sure it was rude but I was so confused!.. and I appologised over and over.. and over* After English I went to eat. And after, I couldn't find Jenny for half an hour, and so I went on a computer and eventually saw one of her friends and found out she was in Cheute and was off to Deutsch/German. *they have so many bells its confusing, and the I can't understand the announcments!!!* AHHH! (HAHAHA) So I stayed in the computer lab That's where I am. After Schuhle we came home, check out some movies at the theatre *online* checked my email *Nothing from anyone - good or bad?* and then Jenny and I went to the giant Library, Rained again. Went to a GREAT candy store by the Europa Passage mall. (THAT CANDY WAS THE BEST EVER. They made the candy on site, and this place was tiny! Gummy Candy and some chocolate SOOO good. I kept the bag so when I go back I can go again.) Then came back for Supper, read after, and went to a movie in English (German subtitles), called Be Kind Rewind. But I feel we broke some ice today and were able to talk easier. We were both really quiet the first while. Her sister Eva is really cool too. (she's the one with the VW Polo, and plays bass, and is the same age and so on).

DAY SIXTEEN: Early wake up today. Went to school with Eva and her Polo, Talked a bit about our inflences of bass, and languages and such. Jenny had dance in the morning so I went to English with Eva *The lord knows how I dance so I spared the world and didn't embaress Jenny*, where they asked me a lot of questions, and there were alot of good looking women, like the girl (who even today I regret not remembering her name and sort of writing it down, and going with that drink she offered.. DAMNIT). In English the teacher spoke no German, all English. And she made me read part of this article, half-way through, the bell rang, so I was "saved by the bell". They didn't know what Hyouhnym (I can't even spell it!) was - not even the teacher! After English went to History with Eva, and watched a movie. I'd seen it before, but this was the German version. (Forget the name. the one about the Crusades, with the emporer with the silver mask because he had leporcy?) I later went to drama, ate in the cafeteria, and joked with people from the trip, made fun of fat-ass Mr Ryan. Jenny and I went sightseeing after we had lunch/dined with her dad at a REAL Donair, (nothing like the wrap-like shit we get in North America this was SO good) Jenny and I went to St. Michael's Kirsche (church) where you could climb the tower and see like the whole of Hamburg. *I HATE HIGHTS!* Walking down, seeing the clock from the inside, the mechanisims, and the rickety staircase that went down SO far *I HATE HIGHTS!!!* after went to statue of ______ (?) the founder of Hamburg. Massive statue, on a hill, looks over the city. Jenny had never been there before. Then off to a church that was bombed in WWII (like most the city) but was left as a monument against war.. really interesting. The tower was still intact. Once again, Jenny had never been there. Both saw something new. After that we sat on a dock in the city by the Rathaus and the Euorpa Passage mall. I forgot to get a picture. Such a beautiful spot. A couple of Jennys friends showed up and scared her (so funny, she accused me of seeing them coming, even though I had not.) They started teasing her in German, and I UNDERSTOOD SOO MUCH! I was proud of myself. She was telling them the plans of the night (we had a group thing to go to an amusment park that night the "Dom") and they said, go home and.... what? She was blushing so much and I just acting like I didn't understand. When we left I laughed SO hard, and told her I understood. (She didn't talk to me the rest of the way back. But it was worth it.) At the Uhlundstrasse S-Bahn station near the house, there was an advertisement for Jasper National Park in Alberta, Canada. I was SO surprised! Later we went to the outdoor theme park with the sweetest rollercoaster. the "Europe Star" the bumper cars we so fast and didn't have seatbelts so dangerous and fun! Go carts, house of mirrors is what else we went on. Got back at about 11pm. Good times. Got packed up for the trip back home tomorrow. I'll miss Germany.

DAY SEVENTEEN: "Homeward Bound" This morning was the only morning someone had to wake me up at 5:50AM. Got up, took some pictures with Jenny, Monika, Tomazs. Short drive to the train station. Jenny stayed with me until I had to get on, but I didn't get a hug. I almost broke down waiting for the train. Only a handshake, thanks and a goodbye. When I sat down on the train, I broke down.. I had so many moments there. Getting off the train in Frankfurt went all well except for Sam, he left his baggage on the plane, expecting someone else to get it. + he didn't have a name tag on it. Stupid.

(Later, on plane) Took forever to get through Frankfurt security and check in. I had to pay 41Euros to get my luggage on board. Which was bitch. The lady wouldn't let 4 kilos slide. Fuck. 41Euros. Because we couldn't get through security very quickly, we we not able to get to duty free!!, and I had a bunch of money left.. Dylan is the worst person to sit beside in a plane. He is taking over half my chair, and keeps hitting me in my sleep, so no sleep for this plane ride, like the overnighter coming here. 1hour 34minutes until we're back in Alberta, then customs, hopefully duty free, then plane to Edmonton. "Home" Fuck I miss Germany already! THERE'S STILL SNOW ON THE GROUND IN ALBERTA. WHAT THE FUCK. ITS APRIL!

(Later, on plane to Edmonton Int.) Arrived in Calgary early, Had time to eat. Plane out was delayed because someone decided to get off, and take their luggage. 45 minute wait and off..

(at home later) I saw Fauve crying, looking for Ben, seeing him, running, him dropping his stuff, her absolutly tackling him (crashing the ground in kisses and hugs, etc) He forgets all the help I gave him, and encouragement to go after Fauve, look now, happiness, and hates me for no reason known, probably even to him. Fucking Asshole.

(I found this note in the back of the book from sometime I was in Hamburg.) Its an interesting experience. I'll never be able to do that again, because I'm finished school, so it was a once and a lifetime chance to visit a foreign class and experience that. Its so weird and so cool.. It's almost like being in third-person mode. And Luckily everyone was about my age, in Evas classes anyway, so it was a bit more at ease and could actually take them more seriously. Seriously should have accepted the drink invitation.

Its been.. 3 months and 4 days since I came back from Europe, and I still think about it daily. I have been trying to get a hold of that dark skinned, black haired girl who offered me that drink back in the English class in Hamburg. No luck yet.. Soon, I hope! The reason the teacher made me read from the article was because I was talking with her the whole class.. How did I end up forgetting her name!!?! GRR that pisses me off..