Dear Vilde,
it was so nice to read that you are going well, thanks a lot for your letter.
And that you as well for the lovely little present you send with- I love the colour blue and I am often wearing the little necklace!
As I told you the last time, I moved to France for my studies.
The city I live in now is called Metz and a amazing typical old french town.
The first half year of university is already over now and I can look back on a quite exciting period of time (even as exciting as the trip to Scandinavia, but unfortunately not as relaxed ;) )
Actually I did not only learn a lot about the subjects I'm studying (arts and geography) but I learned even more about myself.
When I was writing my last letter to you, I felt like the biggest obstacle would be the distance to my family (and my friends).
Luckily it wasn't way as difficult as I expected, I went home quite often during the weekends and I started to love my new independent way of live as a student.
Furthermore the new media, like smartphones and Internet, made it very easy to stay in contact with my family and friends.
In my hometown Freiburg, I often had so many activities besides school and that I did not always take enough time to care for my friends.
This is now also going better, I found out which people are really important to me and I have a very deep and good contact to them.
When I came back to Germany to celebrate my 19 birthday, all my friends were around me and I was so grateful to see this group of people I can always laugh and cry with ;)
Unfortunately I was very stressed at the end of the last year, because I had expected to much from myself by combining a lot of work at my studies and many trips to Germany that stole all my free time.
I didn't take care of my body, didn't do sport, didn't sleep and eat enough.
It took me quite a long time to realise that I could continue like that.
Now I am recharging my energies and I start to feel very good again.
I developed an healthy sleeping rhythm and I stopped working and meeting people without limit until late in the night (I guess this is an experience every student has to make once ;) )
Furthermore I eat four times a day, but I am still not really really happy with the stuff I eat (chocolate and stuff like this is not really healthy, isn't it?
;) ) but I guess with a little bit more organisation this will hopefully also change.
In my last letter I also told you that I want to integrate sport into my daily life... to be honest, I did do sport, but far away from doing enough sport... hope this will also become better (but the rainy weather is not really inviting me to do sport...)
Due to the fact that my back began to hurt a lot (I feel like a grandma) because of sitting so much while studying there is a new motivation to do more sport and I dry to stand as much as possible during the day.
The CV I was writing and the presentation I was preparing when I wrote you about achieved their aim: I got the scholarship I applied for - this is amazing!!!!
The coming five month I will continue my studies in France, until this date I will have to take a decision in what kind of field I will continue my studies in october.
During the summer holidays I will travel to Canada with a good friend and to Thailand with Lisa, the girl I have been to Scandinavia with.
Christmas was also a great celebration in my family.
For me it's the best time of the year.
We did celebrate Christmas at my home in a little group: my mother Andrea, my brother Jonas and my grandma Irmhild.
Same as in Norway, we also open the gift on the eve of the 24 december.
I got very nice presents from my family and I was happy that they also liked my gifts.
- Thank you again for your gift, such a lovely idea that I didn't expect at all!
We do also have a Christmas tree and usually we go to church on Christmas Eve before going home, eating a yummy Christmas meal and singing together.
I wish you all the best for the new year, continue to have a good time with your friends and family!
I am looking forward to reading from you,
XX