Day 8 (:

I woke up at 6:30 in the morning to a table arranged with different kinds of cream cheese and bread. There was chocolate cake coated with Nutella too. It was an amazing start to a long day ahead.

After breakfast we, my buddy Meile and I, left her house to catch the bus to Heilwig Gymnasium. On reaching school we were lead into the computer room to work on our respective projects in groups. Today was to be wholly dedicated to our project work. Once we seated ourselves in the room, Mr. Bruhn briefed us on what they expect out of us in the project work. We then began working dedicatedly on our respective topics.

At around 10:30 we had a short coffee break. We visited the Heilwig cafeteria called Mamma's Canteen where a few of us bought chocolate milk and a few bought bread filled with chocolate chips. The Franzbrötchen, a popular type of sweet bread found only in Hamburg, was also in great demand among the students. After the refreshing coffee break we returned to the computer room and proceeded with our project work.

At 12:30 we visited the cafeteria again for lunch. I liked the baked potatoes and cream and Bionade Holunder that I had for lunch. All of us spent some time in the cafeteria and returned after an hour to finish our project work.

At 3 we, the Indians, practised our presentation on India and our dances for the evening. I then left for Alsterdorf with Meile. I was slightly exhausted and could not wait to get home.

At home Meile made a huge bowl of scrambled eggs for me and herself and then she went to the study to practice Mathematics as she has a Math exam tomorrow. We then left with her parents for Eppendorf Gymnasium for the evening's program.

On my arrival at Eppendorf I saw all my friends dressed up and looking pretty in anarkalis and Indian wear. The program began with a short speech by Amitha Desai, the head of the Goethe Zentrum and a Hamburg Ambassador. She spoke about life in Germany. This was followed by the presentation on India. The girls danced to Chammak Challo and various other songs. Surya concluded the presentation with a short speech on the general misconceptions that foreigners have of India. We received a huge round of applause. Everyone was then led to a hall where pretzels, Champagne, apple juice and sparkling water were being served. While the parents and teachers interacted, all of us students clicked several pictures together.

Soon it was time to leave and as we drove back home, I sang songs by Kings of Leon with my host family in the car. Once we were home we binged on delicious chocolate cake that Karen, my host mother, baked. Today ends for me with this blog. It's 11:45pm here in Hamburg currently. So, guten nacht!

-Nidhi Rao Belman ;)