My First German Friend

Hello Peoples!
Well I have been living with my host family for 3 weeks now and I think I am starting to have some regrets... I am regretting that I had not known them sooner! They are so cool and I am in love with the dynamic of my host family household. I had a wonderfully delicious Plaumkuchen (plum cake) that I helped make with my mom today. We visited Koln and it reminded me of where I live in the states a bit, it has a old money feeling to it that I really enjoyed.
But not everything here is as I thought it would be. I love the people at my school they are very nice and helpful, but it was a bit difficult to make friends. I am "the new kid" and I also am "the new kid" that cannot speak German very well. I am a very talkative person, but in unfamiliar situations I freeze and am very quiet unless asked a question. So for two weeks it was sitting alone at tables, and watching people observe my every move. But happily to say I have received many invitations to sit with people during breaks, visit cities with friends and to go to sporting events. I do not have a group of friends yet, but one girl has been very nice to me and now I have one person that I can define as more than an acquaintance. We have similar tastes in music and she has been to the U.S. We talk and are in a couple classes together. I am happy to have found a friend.
<3 <3 <3

P.S. I would love to visit other parts of Europe or Germany while I am here. Any suggestions? Please leave comments below <3 

Whats up?

Hey So...
I have been very busy lately. I have moved to a different city, with another host family and a new school. I have a new life and I love it. Today I went on one of the most interesting and challenging bike rides of my life. My host mom said that we were going to go to a festival thing and I wanted to come along. She said that we would ride bikes because it was not that far away and it would not be a hard ride. So I come downstairs with my casual sunday outfit and wearing flats. She is wearing something similar so I figured that I would be fine. After 5 min we approached a hill. It was not very steep but it was not easy and as soon as I was done I assumed that that would be the last hill. WRONG. We continued to ride through a forest with different terrain at every turn. Hills were abundant and breaks were few. We went through this crowded forest for around 45 min. My bike is not the best. It has very thin wheels, is crazy old and makes a wonderful sound when anyone over 5lbs sits on it. My Family has bikes that could ride easily up mountains and through mud. So when we arrive at this fest I chain my bike and proceed to sweat through every article of clothing that I had on. I watched people preform and an hour later we decided to go home. So after hopping on my bike I start to think about and dread the ride back home. Little did I know that my host family was showing me around and that all along we were only 15 min away from the house. I got home and laughed.

<3 <3 <3

P.S. I love my host family and I could not wish for anything more, except a different bike but as long as it gets me to school than I have no problems. I just wanted to share a funny story with you all!