People, the last week has been a little crazy. But let’s begin with the weekend. It was beautiful, because the sun was out the whole time and Phoebe, Nancy and I enjoyed the nice summer days outside at our neighborhood pool. We also rode our bikes and played soft ball outside in the back yard of our house. I loved being outside with the two and enjoying our last couple of days until I have to go back home.

On Monday I took my French exam at RJR. It was fun, because the whole class finished a little early so we all watched Shrek 2 in french.

Same on Tuesday, English exam- and suddenly, I was done with school - for the whole summer, and for my whole year in the USA. At that point I think I started to understand that this really is the end of my year in the states. I was sad, leaving my friends from school and having to say goodbye to my friends, but I still had plans for the week. Three of m friends and I had planned to go get lunch and to go to the pool after. Sadly, only one of them showed up at school and that only to tell me that she couldn’t join us. Well, I was bummed and mad. Of course. Who wouldn’t be? Then I walked home to get lunch and to let my parents know that I wasn’t gonna go out with my friends. Because I didn’t really know what to do with my time (by the way, it is still Tuesday), I started packing. Yes, I started packing all my clothes and other belongings. It took me a while to get everything in its place, but I was done pretty quickly, at least with filling the first, but biggest!, bag.

On Wednesday, I didn’t have to go to school, but everybody else, including my friends and Phoebe. I packed a little more, I started throwing all my school stuff out and wrapping the presents for my family. Well, I got very sad over all this on Wednesday morning so I went on a bike ride to a store and back. It was great to get outside again. For about 16 miles and 50 minutes I didn’t think about anything but getting up those hills. After my adventurous ride through Winston-Salem and its streets I got back to my bags, because the earlier I finish packing, the more time I have to chill and hang out with the family. Nancy and I have been joking, that I am just visiting home and not “going back”. But I have to say, I miss Dresden, I miss watching soccer games, my bed and - of course - my family in Germany. But I also know that I am going to miss Nancy, Jeff, Phoebe and the two lovely dogs, the house, climbing trips with Jeff and Nancy, Alan, Kristie and even more friends.

Today, I’ve been pretty lazy. Other than a little cleaning in the kitchen, getting last things together and turning locks and books in at my school I didn’t do much. Tonight, Jeff, Phoebe and I will go to a Dash baseball game at downtown WS.

Tomorrow there will be a big dinner with family and friends to say goodbye to me…and to tell last stories. Nancy and i are going climbing for my last 4 days and then there is Wednesday again. I’ll fly home from Greensboro over Philadelphia, Frankfurt to Dresden in 23 hours. But about that later.

I’m going to enjoy my last days in the states (at least for 2010) and you will hear from me in a week.

love,

Maike