Two amazing weeks in Utah

Hey it's Hecki and Maria...we just opened our blog to communicate with you. We're looking foreward to hear from you.
We two visited in different times the hostfamily from Moritz in Utah. We had an amazing time over there.


Our trip to Salt Lake City via Munic and Chicago was exciting. Julia and I had to wake up at 4 am and travelled about a day. So when we were in our flight to Chicago everybody had a display in front of them. Julia and me, too. We checked out our displays, but my one didn't work. So I asked the stewardess for help. After 1 hour the re-start of my display begun and then it worked. In this flight I wasn't sitting between people, I sat next to the gangway =). Usually I sit between persons, like in the car squeezed in between. Next to me sat Julia and next to her sat another woman who really liked to seize Julia's small place. So Julia got the feeling, which I usually get =).
A few tiers in the front sat some people, who spoke a language, which was unknown for Julia and me. What beautiful language! Now we really wanted to know where they are from so we asked a stewardess. She told us that they are from Cyprus.
When we were approaching Chicago we flew through every cloud and got heavy turbulences. Seriously I was a little bit scared, but finally it was funny, because all of the passengers first were screaming and then they had fun, because of this fly feeling. That was an amazing feeling!
And when we arrived in Chicago we had to call our parents but the public phones didn't work like we wanted them to work. So we had to ask somebody to help us. We found a family which was very kind and helped us and finally we could call our parents with their cell phone.

When we were on the flight to Salt Lake City we talked about the upcoming situation, seeing Moritz and his family at the airport. We were really excited! We also were thinking about how to say hello to them. Finally we were too tired for more thoughts so we fell asleep.
In Salt Lake City the weather was beautiful, the sun was shining and it was really hot in comparison to Chicago. That was one reason for that we instantly felt better. So we took the escalator downstairs to get the luggage. At this moment we saw Dixie and Moritz waiting for us and we fell into their arms.


Moritz told us that he has his driving license already. He wanted to show us his driving knowledge immediately. That was totally new for us and so cool. When we went home, real american hotdogs were waiting for us.
After dinner the only wish was going to sleep. We did go to bed and we felt like two dead people and felt asleep immediately.


On Sunday we had to wake up very early for church. The church was a new experience for us. It was so interesting. We were also surprised that it took about 3 hours, because in Germany the church takes only 1 hour. I liked it to see so many people every sunday in a church in PG (there are so many!) and to see that the belief in the church is very deep and true. That was an awesome picture.
After church Moritz wanted to show us PG, but Julia didn't feel well. She had a bad jet lag. So Dixie and Moritz showed me the city, Moritz' school and the beautiful landscape. We stopped at Moritz' school so he could schow me everything. I was impressed seeing a big football field, two baseball fields, two tennis courts and also a big hayfield. They explained me the building works in the school. We went around the school and I saw the new main entrance. By the way I noticed a lot of "public toilets for the builders". And I asked Moritz something in German Dixie didn't understand so she wanted to know what we were talking about. I wasn't sure, if I should tell her, but finally I did. In Germany these "public toilets" are called "Dixie-Klo" :-S. I know that wasn't very kind, but at last she laughed a bit =). Sorry Dixie =). After the school we drove through the streets so I could see all the houses and I could see the amazing temple building. We also drove to an awesome point of view where I could see almost everything: lakes, mountains...I was so amazed!!! It was so beautiful!

We started our trip to Las Vegas on monday already. The drive took about 6 hours. It got hotter outside and inside the car it got colder. Julia and I weren't very grateful about the air conditioning :-). We agreed that people like Janice like it when they have their air conditioning and love it to be wet by the fan ;-). We wanted to buy a fan at Walmart, too. Unfortunately we hadn't enough place in our luggage.

So we arrived in Las Vegas after a break in Saint George and wanted to see everything in Las Vegas immediately.
Las Vegas was awesome and for us 3 a very new experience. The buildings, the people, the lights and the heat!! About 130°F!!!
That was soooo hot!! (Maybe too hot for our neighbour :-)
We've never been in a place, where it's so hot. In Hamburg it's always cloudy and in summer the hottest temperature might be 75°F...
On the second day in Las Vegas we went to the Stratosphere building. Amazing!!! I guess it's about 1,149 ft. high! On the top were two rollercoasters! How weird! I never would take a ride on those rollercoasters! But many people did it!

When we were heading back to PG we visited the Zion National Park. I've never seen such an untouched place like this one. Back there we saw big mountains but first we saw two big cows and of course as tourists we had to take a photo :-)
So we drove through the Park and by the way I always have to sit in the middle of the car so I really culdn't see very much without stretching my body. But then I got the idea to look out of the roof top. Best idea ever! I think I had the best view and of course I took lots of pics. We stopped one time on the side of the road and watched the just beautiful landscape, especially the mountains! Then we went to a shop with lots of stuff for tourists near by the fantastic mountains. Outside the shop were set up many flags of different countries, also of Germany!! Inside the shop you could buy lots of weird things. For example "The Werewolf Of Utah", tarantulas, cowboyheats, sweets...
Finally all of us bought a bottle of water.

So on wednesday we were back at home. During the day we went shopping in a mall somewhere in PG. Our shopping-trip took about 4 or 5 hours. And as always I got my headaches. I hate headaches! But actually I always get them and everywhere. So we shopped through every store and were done and tired.

Friday July 4th. Independece Day. I knew that this day would become very national and patriotic. But it was more than these thoughts about it. So we woke up at about 7 am to be about 8 am at one special street in Salt Lake City I guess, where we could watch the parade. We've packed our lunch box and put blankets and folding camp chairs into the car, like the whole american people did, I guess :-).
When we arrived we had to look for a place where we could lie down. But there was no free place but a place in the behind. So Julia and Dixie put a blanket on the street where Tyson, Moritz and I also have sat down. Then we had a great view!
On this important amercian day Tyson wore a t-shirt with a Hamburg label. He didn't care about it. That was funny!

Moritz' hostfamily was amazing! They were so nice, open and sweet to us. We love them and we are very grateful for everything they have done for us.
And the most important thing is to know the meaning of kidding!!
Everbody's kidding there!! Everbody :-D! We loved it!


On one day when we went to Salt Lake City we visited the beautiful Temple Square. The construction is amazing! We also visited the Utah State Capitol, which was also pretty nice. The Barrington's were soo kind, they took long time to show us almost everything and explained us statues and buildings. And after this great trip to Salt Lake City we drove back to our sweet home in Pleasant Grove.
At home Tyson showed me how to ride a waveboard. He was pretty good! He had a lot of skills. I really enjoyed watching him! I thought it was hard but real fun! So he's the master of waveboards ;-)

Last wednesday when we were there we went four wheeling. It was soo cool! So we left the house at 11 am. We had a lot of fun and it was Julia's and my first time. But we did a good job and Julia and Moritz discoveres a small river. The water was cold but really clear. So we drove through the river and tried to make us wet as possible, because we were sooo dirrrty and dusty.
When we took a break at our first meeting point we were surprised about the typical picture of the american camping. Everything was perfect. At about 6 pm we drove back to the parking lut to the trailer. Moritz was trying to get two four wheelers onto the trailer. The first try went well. But the second didn't. He was too fast when he tried to move the four wheeler onto the trailer so he went on the back wheelers over safety fence. He was lucky behind the trailer there was another trailer where he fall on. That was so shocking that we first thought that he was dead. Luckily he was not!!!! That was terrible. The miracle was that he just had a scratch on his leg and his back was hurting a little.

On thursday we visited Seven Peaks, the biggest waterpark in Utah. First we bought tickets in Walmart and when we arrived there the sun did it best by shining.
So we were looking for a place where we could put on our stuff. Since it was a real hot day the park was full of people! Finally we found a place near by one of the many pools. Then we had the first chance to look around and watch the amazing slides. At any time Moritz and I tried out some slides. First the pink one and then the cave. Inside the cave it was really dark so nobody could see anything.
Sometimes we just lay on our towels and sometimes swom in the pools or rode the slides.
At last we played cards I guess it was Scrump =) I don't know the name but it was pretty funny.
For the stay we took the cool box with us, filled with bars, joghurts, chocolate cookies, frozen water, water and water...;)
When we were playing cards I took a bottle of water and tried to drink that much I could, because the water was frozen. I had to wait to get liquid water. Then Riley asked to get some water of my bottle. Why not?! BUT finally he drunk all of my liquid water for which I was waiting a long time. That actually wasn't funny! =) haha

After (I don't know) 3 or 4 hours?! we drove back home. During the drive we were listening to 2 special kinds of music: latino and hip hop!
Seriously I recorded Riley while he was dancing to latino music ;). This Macy's boy is soo funny! I'm always rolling, when listening to him!

Later the Barrington's arranged a farewell party for Moritz.
We all were surprised how many people Moritz knows and came! I guess about 100 people!! Of these 100 people Julia and I did only know about 5 ... =) But it was pretty nice and we got know many people.
During Moritz' stay in Utah Dixie and he set up an amazing photo album where you really couldn't miss Dixie's creativity! It's wonderful!

The sadest day we had in Utah was of course our last day. In the morning Dixie, Riley, Moritz, Julia and I wanted to have breakfast at One-Man-Band. But Dixie didn't feel good because of her cold so she went to a doctor.
When Riley and us Germans arrived at the restaurant we recognized that we would be the only ones having their breakfast. But that didn't matter, because it was the funniest breakfast we ever had. Julia and I were surprised when we saw telephones for ordering. Another example how lazy the Americans are! ;)
I remember that I ordered the "hungry breakfast" and the others something same like this. Moritz took a hot chocolate and I wanted too. But when it was my turn, the chocolate machine put only hot water in my cup. After asking the waiter finally I got my hot chocolate too. Then I saw Riley taking sugar, jam and sirup...You have to know that I love pencakes!!! I needed sirup too. I took a lot of small cups to put in
some sirup. Finally we had about 10 small cups filled with sirup. Thought that would be enough...;)
A few minutes later we got our breakfast and Julia wasn't happy with her order. She saw my breakfast (I had two plates: first with 3 pencakes, second with hash brown, sausage and eggs) and was jealous!
But I have to admit that I could understand her. While eating we talked about weird things! When we finished it Riley really liked to put honey in the chocolate, to put the left sirup on the plates and made glop.
Our next conversation dealt with a psycho therapy lesson. So everybody of us had to present his or herself. The beginner was Moritz. So we asked him: "Hey what's your name?" Then he answered: "äääähm...I am Moritz.."
we answered immediately: "Heeeey Moritz!!!!!!!!! How are you? What's your problem?..."
Totally crazy but funny!

Later, Sally and Shawn came to have dinner with us and they wanted to spend the last evening. Even though we had a sad situation on this evening, actually it was one of the funniest evenings we had and we'll never forget it. We did lots of crazy, silly and funny things! We tried to put up our foot as far as we could over the head. We tried to do handstands and headstands. Shawn and Moritz did a good job!!! Sally and I had to have some help by Shawn! :-D
The highlight was Sally's "Banana Dance" that she taught us and it was hilarious!!!! When Julia and Moritz joined they also had to dance it with us. Finally we recorded the dance.

So that was our last evening with the Barrington's. After the ultimative "Banana Dance" we took our last MonaVie and Riley started a conversation about building a toilet into an elevator. How does somebody start a conversation with the idea to build a toilet into an elevator?! ;)
On saturday we had to wake up at 4 am, but we woke up at almost 5 am. We really had to hurry up and had to put our last stuff in our suitcases. Tyson was soo tired! He lay on the stairs, was packed in a black blanket and was still wearing his pajamas. Rex put our bags in the cars and the Germans followed him. Tyson also wanted to get into the cars so he came out - without shoes. BIG mistake! The sidewalk were too cold for his feet and he began to cry. Sorry Tyson, but that was sooo cute!!! A little boy standing outside on the sidewalk without shoes and crying. Too cute!! When we arrived at the airport nobody wanted to realize the upcoming situation.
Finally we gave all of our bags to Lufthansa and after saying good-bye we passed the security. On the flight we didn't see Salt Lake City but the Lake and the view was amazing!
Everybody was sleeping on that flight.
When we arrived in Chicago we really couldn't find the right gate. After an hour we decided to ask a policeman. He told us the right way and asked for our nationality. When we said good-bye he said "Auf Wiedersehen".
So now it's up to you Amercian guys to find out the meaning...=)
After another 2 hours we sat already in our flight to Frankfurt. Bad flight. Couldn't sleep and were so tired.
And when we finally arrived in Hamburg everybody beside Moritz got their luggage. So we had to wait another 30 minutes to get the information that he will get his luggage at 6 pm.
Back at home we were totally exhausted!!!