Whoop for the Wall!!!!

Ok, so the Berlin Wall is amazing.....and I've finally started to get used to these computer's key locations....or I've just gotten used to the backspace...haha!!! The train to Berlin was really sweet. I tried to take pictures through the window....but that didn't work out so well. We got to the hotel, and there was a mix up with our rooms.....our room is really...um......cozy. I'm trying, as Chyng pointed out, to be as complient with everything as I can be...just becaue I dont feel like being anything more than passive. I'll blog more I'm sure through the trip...so guten tag for now. ;)

Berlin

Well, we are in Berlin and its a blast!!! Of course there is more graffity in the city than the entire Northeast combined. Yet that does not ruin the fun for the trip, Im extremely excited for New Year's eve. Last night we went to a local Jazz club which is alot of fun, but a girl with a funky haircut kept trying to stare down the group, in particular the girls. Needless to say there didnt seem to be much upstairs in that blonde head of hers. We also toured the Berlin wall, which over time has become a solid mass of graffity, but it was still moving to know that it was once a sinister symbol of the cold war. Tonight we are looking forward to celebrate New Year's at Brandenburg gate.

Original Second Post

sorry once again heres post 2

12-29-30 Lacie Kilsby 16:23

The trip so far has been more than I could expected. I really enjoy the town of dusseldorf and the hotel is more than great. Yesterday we celebrated my 20th birthday. We first got to journey into cologne. My favorite part of the day was the elephant house. Getting to go behind the scenes like that was something you expierience only once in a life time. Seeing the Dome was also an experience I am not likely to forget. The night was exciting as we first started out on our own to find a restaurant to fit 12 people that everyone would like. That in it self was a task. Over all it has been amazing and I wish I could celebrate every year in Germany!

My original first post

sorry these all have to come together but i had some tech difficulties. so here is post 1


I got really nervous today as I was putting the final touches in my suitcase. Do I have enough of everything…do I have too much? This will be my first time in Europe and I am really excited. Though we have been thoroughly prepared, I still know nothing will be as I expect. It is odd spending Christmas with my family all cozy in the house while I kept thinking of how in 24 hours I will be on a plane miles away from the familiar. This is the beginning of a great adventure!

New Years Eve in Berlin Tonight

Woo wee! So we are in Berlin right now in an internet cafe. Last night we went and saw the Berlin wall for a second and then wandered around the mall for awhile. After that we went to a jazz cafe and listened to music for a little bit. I must say that i think that was exactly what i needed. Just a nice relaxing night out. I enjoyed eating at the Italian place for lunch and i genuinely enjoyed our waitor. Courtney said he mentioned that he liked Americans because we are always happy and always smiling and i like to thing that is definitely something we are all about. Well so tonight we are celebrating Sylvester and I hope that we all stay safe and have a good time. I am very excited!

Executive Decision Maker

Berlin is so different from Düsseldorf! I love the S-bahn, it gets me everywhere. I wish we had something similar in the US... The East Side Gallery was very cool and the graffiti art left on the Berlin Wall was insightful. I'm not sure if all the other writing on there now is very appropriate, but the art was impressive. The jazz club was very relaxing, until the red-sweater German lady. I've never sat through a jazz performance like that before, it was a good experience. I ordered chicken-schnitzel last night, it tasted like Tyson's breaded chicken breast that you bake yourself in the oven. Kind of a disappointment.

I'm excited about the New Years celebration tonight. We apparently were very close to the Brandenburg Gate area last night when we saw the ferris wheel and the food stands.

Blogger Difficulties Resolve!!

Yay! blogger finally worked for me! yesterday was a blast. i am loving berlin! I think I like the New York feel it has. I was really excited about last night because we finally found something to do as a group that everyone enjoyed. We went to a jazz club called b-flat and it was a good way to relax before the intense silvester. Though we did have a little bit of trouble with the motion sensored revolving door! I think we have mastered the transportation here in Berlin which makes it nice to be able to move around without looking like blatant tourists. We visitied the Berlin wall last night which was really neat, but I think I would like to see it in the daylight. The hotel amelie is apartment style and I really like that since we are going to be here for a week because I feel more at home rather than a hotel style. Well the daylight is wasting and I want to explore more of Berlin!

I hope that I don't offend anyone...

Expanding on my last blog, I have been very surprised at the reaction of most of the Germans that I have met in my attempts to speak German. Dr. Wasser had mentioned that most Germans will help you to speak German and are relatively pleased when you at least make the effort, but I didn't expect such positive reinenforcement and encouragement. So far, when I have had the courage to attempt to speak German I have either been politely corrected or recieved positive encouragement. This has boosted some of my confidence and made me a little bit more outgoing.

In most situations I am still a little embarassed and worried that I will just come across as an a##, but I think that learning some of the language is part of the abroad experience. I guess that I just need to suck it up and feel stupid for a few weeks and hope that I don't offend anyone.

Communication Boundaries

Alright, I have to mention my telephone card predicament because I am so frustrated by it.

Over the past year, my experience with people from other countries has led to the conclusion that one of the most valuable assets for any individual is the ability to communicate effectively across language barriers. A prime example of the value of communicating across language barriers and my own inability to communicate effectively occurred in Dusseldorf where I purchased the wrong telephone card.

The first day we were here in Germany, we were in a small store with two cash registers, and we were all seeking to by the same telephone card. I went to the other cash register, and they gave me the wrong card. I leave no blame to the girl working the register and blame my self for this blunder. I was never able to use the card and completely wasted the five Euros because I couldn't communicate to the cashier what exactly I wanted. The situation was even further exacerbated when I attempted to use the card (ineffectively, I couldn't read the German directions) and had to purchase another card (only to leave it on the hotel desk in Dusseldorf after using only eight minutes). I am so frustrated by my situation and am reluctant to purchase another card. I would like to call some of my family back home, but I may just wait and talk to them when I get back to the US.

This experience really made wish that I was bilingual and that I had spent more time to learn basic German before I came. I hope that in the future I can devote more time to learning another language and expanding my communcative abilities... I think that I should start with German.

Berlin definitely rocks

Although we just arrived yesterday, I am enjoying the amazingness that is Berlin immensely. Checking into our hotel was a bit of a hassle- we had to wait a long time for our rooms. But the rooms are rather nice so the wait was okay!

We went to the Alexanderplatz last night-- it had an ice skating rink, a ferris wheel, and all of these cute food stands. We also went to a jazz club, where we managed to pay half price just because we were thinking about leaving. I met some cool people there too! Two french guys, named Viktor and Stefan, helped me order drinks. They just finished University and were in the helicopter industry, so they travel all over Europe on business. Stefan even studied for a while at the US Air Force Academy in Colorado! So they were very helpful and even suggested some places for us to see.

All in all, this trip has been amazing, although I seem to get tired very easily while I am here; it may be just because I still have not quite adapted to European time yet!

Hallo!!!

I personally love saying this word. As well as 'ya.' I seem to use it in many unessasary ways. I forgot to mention in my last blog that we saw the wall yesterday, the east side gallery. This was so impacting on me. First of all, I happen to appreciate graffiti art, and because we walked the entire length of the wall. I also wanted to mention one more thing that I think is important to remember in the US. I know how it sucks to not know the language, and I can see that we have all encountered language barriers. I have always been sympathetic towards this, because English is most definately not my first language. Being in that semi trapped situation again, I think it is important to remember and be patient with people in the same situation back home.

Das Blog Post

Berlin rocks my socks. Last night we got in and became and went to a pizza place where we had the most animated waiter i've seen in a while. He definantly was from italy and spoke both german and threw in some italian which sure as heck didn't help us follow along. That night we all went to the East side gallery to see the biggest intact part of the Berlin wall. It was very interesting and it had amazing street art or "graffiti". Then we walked around the alexander platz which is where that huge tower in berlin is. At this one hotel in the alexander platz they had this ellaborate revloving door which shopping merchandise like imbedded in the door and it sensed the movement of your feet so that it didn't kill you. Will us americans just had to make a scene... or so it might of seemed, the door stopped when we we're halfway threw it and then we found not only us but germans on the other side of the door almost stuck. Jessica ended up coordinating everyone to exit the revolving door area and succesfully the door turned on again. We got the most definative weird looks but atleast it made for a funny story. and on that note i say to you chow

The Ampelmann

Okay guys,
The first thing that I have to say that I absolutely LOVE about Berlin is the overall fascination of the ampelmann. Admittedly, I already bought a pro east berlin t shirt, lighter, and photographed the little guy. I also think its absolutely hilarious how many bear Ive seen. no, not real ones, but big-small ones. the man of the year is photographed alongside a lovely polar bear. The large brown one on the shopping strip leading to the brandenburg gate in a store called the toy place i have nicknamed Yorick. it is the only name worthy of this honor!!!

All right, another thing I must mention about Dusseldorf now that we have left it is that I personally loved seeing Barbarossas palace. Although we got semi´disoriented in Kaiserwerth, I believe we learned a slew of German words just out of confusion. The walk towards the castle ruins was amazing. we were blessed with lovely weather and the quiet and peacefullness of the Rhine was almost a godly experience. It was uber amazing!!!

I am also completely positive that I had the best bockwurst of my life for less than two euro at the curry post. I love Germany. I also must say that I have enjoyed meeting so many different personalities. Dr. Wasser is also my personal ask jeeves. I believe him to be a true renassiance man.

Ich bin ein Berliner

I are in Berlin. Great city, great fun. Although I'm not exactly the big city kinda person, I'm still having much fun. Our first night here I actually saw the Berlin Wall, as well as some (ahem) colorful graffiti. I wish I'd brought my camera but I plan on going back in the daytime. After that, our group visited a German mall. Interesting and oddly familiar I have to say.

I also ventured into my first jazz club. An interesting experience I must say. I probably could have been better without the funky screwdriver I had but I'm still glad I went. Totally worth it.

It wasn't all sunshine and giggles the first night here though. The train trip managed to take it out of me quite throughly, but I still managed to recover somehow. Three people to a room for the next week is also a bit cramped but I'll manage somehow. Finally, I managed to antagonize one of my fellow classmate by saying something tactless for which I'm very sorry for. I was joking and to think about it, it didn't even make sense. Ahhh....

Today is New Year's Eve and I'm very excited. I'm going to see some sights and exhibits during the day and party out at night. Sylvester is going to be great. I just hope I can finally get some Pepcid so I won't feel as crappy as I did last night in the jazz club.

Finishing my previous post

I didn't get a chance to finish my previous post, so here goes...

The public transportation is great. There are some cultural differences, such as personal space and level of congeniality with people you don't know, but it is all very interesting.

Cologne was a rather interesting place. I enjoyed the zoo, especially our "behind the scenes" tour. The food that the animals are fed is surprising like people food, and the giant beets that the elephants eat actually didn't taste that bad. I've wondered before how elephants are handled and cared for, and it is surprisingly similar to the way cattle are handled, just with larger equipment.

Seeing the wise men in the Kölner Dom was neat, and our city guide was pretty cool.

In Düsseldorf on Saturday, we had a free afternoon after morning lecture, which Nancy, Andy, and I spent by visiting Kaiserswerth, north of Düsseldorf, where there were ruins of an old fortress/castle built in the 11th century. It took a bit of thinking and map consulting to find, and in the process we stumbled upon a pretty cool hotel. Once we realized that we had initially gone the wrong direction, it wasn't too hard to find. The 'castle' was positioned next to the Rhine. While it had been blown up by the French when the retreated from the Prussians (I think), much of it remained. We were unable to go inside, but still got to walk around on the side and see a inside a good deal. Apparently, the Nazis made it a memorial during their reign, and there was a marker outside of the gate. We were not sure if the stone marker was put there after WWII by the town or before by the Nazis. At any rate, it was a nice excursion.

Nancy and I spent the rest of the evening wandering about town, strolling down Königsallee, marveling at the expensive, upscale store like Prada and Chanel. We stumbled upon a pretty church, Johanneskirche, that looked really cool at night. There was a statue of Kaiser Wilhelm and Otto von Bismark outside of the church, and I was proud of myself for recognizing Bismark, even though I couldn't place him. I'm getting better at German history!

I was kind of sad about leaving Düsseldorf since we had sort of figured out our way around, but I'm super excited to be in Berlin. There is so much to do here, but I'm not sure that we'll be able to fit everything in, even the shortened list!

So, we got started last night. The whole group went to see the Berlin wall at the East Side Gallery, and Carrie, Nancy, and I walked the whole kilometer's worth. Then the three of us visited the Brandenburger gate and walked around the outside of the Bundestag. we think we also passed by the Russian embassy and that of the UK too. New Year's Eve (today!) is going to be so crowded and busy down there. I sort of want to see the US embassy now.

We stopped at a couple of souvenir shops, and at one of them we saw cuckoo clocks. They are very pretty, but rather expensive. The smallest fully wood one was €139, which works out to about $210. Yikes! It would be risky business carting it around anyway.

The food here is also rather good. German food seems to have a good deal of meat and bread, just like Dr. Wasser said, which is good because I love bread! We've also eaten at an Italian restaurant, and the food there was awesome as well. Our waiter was also really friendly there, always smiling, very patient, and cracking jokes.

I guess that's all for now, can't wait until tonight!

self excursions have value to...

so the tours have been great and i love rounds of drinks on our program fee is just a great idea. But i must say that today has been a wonderful day. i napped for 3 hours after lectures and awoke at 6. i went to the film museum but they were closed. I then decided to walk up along side the rhine river past the crooked tower. I finally arrived at this huge mosaic on a wall and it was beautiful. It was most definantly an unexpected surprise but a very worthwhile one. I then went back to the mini pizza place recommended to us by Stephanie. It was sweet they make you a minipizza not just a slice fresh when you order it. I met 2 nice Germans who spoke english and they gave me directions to a quite little bar that served great espresso and i read the roy porter book for a little while. The night now ends with me just going to the little shop outside the hotel and carrying the most butchered german conversation with a man for 3 or 4 minutes, he spoke no english... in the end i enjoyed my nacht and i definantly appreciated the practice of german speaking.

whoa

We have only been in Germany for three days and already I feel like I have seen so much! Dusseldorf has the "small town appeal" even though last night as we left the Altstadt, some young Germans decided to throw a firecracker in our direction. I really wasnt expecting much from our day trip to Cologne but I had so much fun at the zoo. I know that I will never get a chance to be that close to wild animals again. Being allowed to go where the bear keepers and elephant keepers work was amazing and it made the zoo experience unlike any other. It was ZUPER fun (haha). The Cathedral in Köln was breath-taking. The tour guide was informative even though I felt really rushed the entire tour but it was interesting nonetheless. The lectures today were very interesting especially the second one about the Nazi euthanasia. So far, I have had so much fun with everybody, more than I had expected to in such a short time. Last night when we arrived at the Hbf, we decided to stop to get döners and turkish pizza...thank goodness that a young girl spoke some english or else we would have never been able to eat.

Oh yeah Im excited that I finally learned how to say "excuse me" properly.

Köln

As a Catholic, one of the things that I was looking forward to visiting on this trip was Köln and the Dom. The cathedral was amazing, and I could easily see why the people of Köln are so proud of it. It size and architecture amazed me from the outside, but I enjoyed the inside even more. The crypts, statues of saints, and the three wise men really had an impact on the me, especially during this time of year. It was a unique experience of my faith's history, and, now I would really like to go to Rome.

Internet Cafe

Well this trip so far has been more than I expected. We have done so many things and I have enjoyed every minute of it. Visiting the zoo and going behind the bear and elephant house was SUPER fun. I feel like I will never have a chance to be that close to animals like that again. We then walked Cologne and learned alittle bit about its history which I thought was very interesting. I thought that last night was exciting when we all went out together. I feel like we have officially mastered the transportation system in Düsseldorf. Its a shame that we are leaving this city already. But I cant wait to leave for Berlin tomorrow!

In Dusseldorf

So far the trip has been a blast! There have been some small every day instances in German life that occasionally throw me off, like the z and y being switched on a keyboard or the coke bottles have their caps not fully come off. Light switches are unique and sometimes seem complicated. But besides these setbacks its incredible to be standing on history and be immersed in a wholly unique culture who previously Ive only read and seen movies on.

dontknow how to use this computer...

i reallz dont know how to use this european computer, so i figured that i just wouldnt worrz about spelling and grammer, and just let mz fingures do what thez normallz do. itll be part of the blog. ha. ok so weäre in duesseldorf, and i have had a fantastic time. i was just told bz a good fridne next to me, who is watching me tzpe this...that i shouldnt tzpe a long one....so i wont. all i will saz is that i love this trip, the people, the food, ...the drinks....which are plentz.....and waz tooo dang expensive....and if icould find the exclatation point there would be lots. i love what we are learning...and i know that one daz i will be able to use this computer no problem.

First Impressions of Duesseldorf

We arrived! Everything is very citified. The streets are smaller than I'm used to, but then again, the cars are smaller too. The public transportation here is really great, once you figure it out. The German people seem rather nice too, and Stefanie is awesome. Time to go to class, more later.

dusseldorf and cologne

germany has been absolutely amazing. there is a lot of stuff to get used to, like th fact that i cant figure out how to make capital letters on this keyboard, but i am having a lot of fun just the same. we went to the cologne zoo yesterday, and had a lot of fun. i really l iked the fact that the architecture is styled to the location that the animal comes from. i also enjoyed being inside the elephant enclosure and looking at the bears close up. we've had all sorts of adventures-from trying to figure out how to use an adapter to finding food in under five minutes. i was also in complete awe of the dom. being a catholic, i appreciated the beautiful architure and enjoyed hearing the story of princess ursula.

dusseldorf is also amazing. more later

Sleepy!

Its a dreary Saturday morning here in Dusseldorf and I'm quite tired from celebrating Lacie's birthday last night! Everything we did yesterday, from the zoo to the museum to the dom was awesome! I had a really great time. It has been very strange seeing the honesty of everyone in Germany. Our tour guide yesterday was quite blunt and it was very different than anything you would see in the US. I'm looking forward to Berlin and the New Year!

First Impressions

Well, I'm finally here, Duesseldorf. It all seems so unreal, but to be honest I couldn't be happier. Well, that's not true, I would like to meet a nice frauline...

Anyway, I am truly happy to be here. Flying here was an absolute hell though. I managed to stay awake for about 60 hours before I finally was able to crash. But our first day was worth the pain. Getting to know everyone and touring the city was an experience to remember. I now know what Dr. Wasser meant when he said we'd be surrounded by culture. Duesseldorf is nothing like I have seen in the US; you can't walk 4 steps without encountering some form of public art. The people here, while curt, are very real. This is a refreshing change from the phonies back home.

I was quite amazed at the food here as well. My dad made it seem that Germans do not put much effort into cuisine, but that is so not true at all. I've had two fantastic meals while I've been here. Maybe it was because my dad was in bavaria for a year, I don't know. I also have to say that the breakfast here in the hotel is the best I've had.

Our second day was even better. Our group got to go to the zoo. The animals were facinating and we had the rare opportunity to get up close and personal with some of the animals. I was literally a meter from an elephant and some bears. After the zoo, we toured Köln. It wasn't as fun but that might have been due to how painful it became to walk after doing so much that morning.

The highlight of the day was when the entire group went out drinking. It was the most fun I've had in a long time, even though I capped myself at two drinks. I got to know my classmates better and I'm a better person for the experience.

It's hard to imagine how any of this could get better, but I know that it will. I could get used to another two weeks of this.

Leaving tody!

Alright alright... I'm in the airport right now and I'm getting all kinds of excited. I am a bit anxious. i always get worried when I got places that I am not familiar with but I hope that i AM able to over come that during this trip. I can't wait to see everything and start my learning experience. Woo Wee!!! I shall see you all soon!

We're leaving!

We're in the airport about to board the plane and I'm looking forward to studying the history of medicine and doing lots of sightseeing! I am looking forward to Berlin the most. I am worried about getting homesick, but I'm sure its going to be an awesome trip!

Oh yes!

So i really like the reality of this trip. When i first heard Dr. Wasser mention it on the first day of class i was not ever thinking of studying abroad because of being afraid of getting behind in my major. But this trip was exactlly what i wanted , a streamlined activity filled winter class relating to medicine. The more i learned about Germany in the class the more excited i got about the trip.

If theres one thing i'm a little worried about it's sleep. The only time i've ever been over Europe i had the most horrible jet lag experience ever. There were two days of my life that were a complete blur. Other than that i really think this trip will be one of those great experiences that i don't know how often i'll get to do with how busy college can get and hopefully med school as well.

Man did time fly past me!!!

Ok, finally I have figured out how to work this whole "blogging" process. I am not always the most technologically advanced...haha...but I love that this class has this blog. I have enjoyed reading that my peers have the same worries and anticipations that I have.
I am so unbelievablly excited to be leaving for GERMANY in a day! I have this travel itch that won't cease! As the heads of the program have come to find... I am a procrastinator extreme, so like others...my time has gotten away from me. I don't feel that I have studied the language as much as I'd have liked to, or the history (aside from the fantastic lectures by Dr. Wasser). None the less, I just want to get there already. I am ready to see the architecture, experience the people, see how medicine exists in another country, and simply view the stars from a new place (hoping it won't be too cloudy). The museums and hospitals are just waiting for my questions. Haha! And I can reassure them....I will have many!
The program thus far has done so much to prepare me for trip. My anticipations are high, and my anxiety is existant...but very low. :) I think that we are all so lucky to have this opportunity! I have been to Ecuador twice, and Mexico a couple of times, and I KNOW that I will be enlightened beyone my imagination by this trip. I have already met so many fantastic people, and am eager and looking forward to getting to know them!
I also love airports! I love to sit and watch the families around me...thinking and wondering where they are traveling to, and what is there purpose for travel. So interesting-the people that I've spoken to! "Bon voage" to all those who will read this before they go, and I will see yall soon!

Exhaustion

With the trip to Germany drawing near, I find myself experiencing none of the emotions and anticipations that I had when I initially registered for the program. Originally I was excited about this experience and this trip, and the material and coursework we did the past semester sustained my excitement and increased my enthusiasm. I have always enjoyed experiencing different cultures, and I have been looking forward to the chance to experience European culture and environment in Germany.

However, I have been exhausted by finals and the holiday season. Now, I am just ready to go. I don’t feel as excited as I once did, and I regret not having more time to learn more about German culture, history, and their language before our course begins. Yet, my sentiments may only be due to the length of the last semester and this holiday season. I expect that my excitement and enthusiasm will come back on the flight over.

Upcoming Trip

I have never traveled beyond North America before, the reality of traveling so far never really came into focus until I started packing today. In only a few days I will be leaping thousands of miles towards an unfamiliar setting. It was always a dream of mine to see Europe, its cities are so laden in history. It will be awing standing on ground once ruled by the Romans and places where the throes and struggles of World War II took place. I always have heard that European cities are a blend between history and modern civilization, I finally will be able to experience this myself. Needless to say, I can barely contain all the excitement in which I feel.

Reality setting in...

It's an amazing feeling knowing that I will be in Germany in a week. I have been running around like crazy trying to buy warmer clothes, smaller luggage, and bigger boots! It has been a fun experience though. The first trip to a new place always involves a sense of excitement and anticipation of what is to come. It will be my first trip to Europe-but after all of these shopping adventures, hopefully not my last. My expectations for this trip are simple. I hope to see classic landmarks, learn more about the German culture by being immersed in it, and hopefully, become a more outgoing person. A year ago, I would have never spontaneously decided to go to Germany without fully thinking about it first. But sometimes, the last minute decisions are the best ones. I've also learned a lot of interesting information in class-it supplemented my otherwise dry semester.

There's so much to do!

I'm so excited to go to Germany!! I'm hoping to learn more about the country, its culture, and Europe in general. I'm also sort of hoping that the things we learn about and discuss will help me get a better feel for what the field of healthcare is like, and whether or not I would like to go to medical school.

I haven't started packing either! And I still need to get winter gear. I'm sort of worried about the cold and being properly prepared. On one hand, I don't want to/can't take too many warm clothes, but on the other hand I don't want to be uncomfortable because I'm freezing. Hopefully I can find a middle ground and deal with the wintry weather. Looking forward to beginning the trip and hanging out with everybody!

10 days

In 10 days, I will be flying from Dallas to Duesseldorf! Can you believe it, how fast the time has gone? Since our first meeting in September, I thought that this day would never come but it snuck up on me. I've been talking to a couple of people that went on the study abroad trip in the summer, and they just keep reassuring me about the fun times we are going to have.

But first, I am so glad that finals are over...and I have loved not doing anything for the past three days. Now that I think about it, I haven't even started packing or preparing anything to pack, which can't be good. When I leave on the 26th, it will be my first time to fly alone. And unfortunately, I have been on longer flights than this one to Europe. When I fly to Taiwan, it's about a 16 hour flight from Houston. I'm nervous but at least I'll see Brandon in Detroit and we'll be on the same flight to Duesseldorf! I love airports for some reason. Mostly though, I like to people-watch and where better to do that than an airport where people from all over the world are flying in and out of. I am excited. So excited. I really can't think of another word to use besides excited at this point (my brain stops functioning during the breaks that we get). Sitting here, I'm beginning to freak myself out about all the things that I still need to do...

After Germany....

As one might note from the date, it has been almost 3 months since my return from Germany. The delay in the post may serve as a saddening reminder of just how easy it is to get re-adjusted to your daily routine, even after such a wonderful experience abroad.

While everyone's experience coming home is going to be different and difficult, I must admit that I thought that mine might be harder than most simply due to the fact that I was in Germany for 13 weeks, rather than 6. I was however amazed, grateful, and surprised all at the same time when I found how quickly I re-adapted. I'm not sure what I was expecting in terms of reverse culture shock, but I certainly wasn't expecting to get back into the routine as quickly as I did. I suppose on further investigation it makes sense. Both Germany and the United States are highly developed countries with seemingly identical standards of living. This does not however mean I felt no reverse culture shock. After walking or taking public transportation anywhere and everywhere for 13 weeks, I was very happy to be able to drive everywhere again (although in hindsight a little walking would have been better). When I did start taking public transportation again at the beginning of the school year, I sat down quietly and read a book and was utterly amazed when I heard two strangers say hello to each other let alone see a young man stand up for his female classmate. I'm not implying that the Germans are an unfriendly people (this in fact is a myth I try to debunk every chance I get) but things are just different over there.

I try to incorporate my experience into my everyday life and I can honestly say that I am much more conscious about the amount of energy and water I use daily. I find myself taking shorter showers and actually considering looking into a hybrid car for my next vehicle. I try to expose myself to some German language every day in the form of either music, literature, or news and I succeed on most days. This may be a reason that I still don't feel a huge discrepancy between my summer and what I am doing now.

People that are considering going on a study abroad trip have been asking me how my trip was. I normally can only find enough words for "It was a lot of fun and very worthwhile" types of answers. This upset me the first time it happened because the trip was really much much more than a good time. It just seems difficult to describe what at the time felt perfectly natural. I woke up in Germany, went to class or on excursions, came home, and socialized with the family. The routine was much the same as in America yet distinctly different. I ran into the same problem when people asked me "What is there to do in Berlin?" I could have just repeated what I did in Berlin but the opportunities for experiences in a city like Berlin are so vast that I would end up answering "You'll find out when you get there."

While changes were made once I returned home, the overall lack of culture shock surprised me. While there were changes, it was back to something completely comfortable and natural and the transition was sadly effortless. I don't take this as a sign that I didn't experience Germany or ever really embrace the German culture but rather as a sign that I have to go back there to experience everything again. I know time and money are two things people always wish they had more of, but I can honestly say I am very willing to sacrifice both again for another trip to Deutschland.

Words can't describe how much I miss Germany

Summarize my post-Germany thoughts? I really don’t know where to begin, because there are so many thoughts and experiences I recall every day. Thus, I’ll briefly discuss immediate re-assimilation into American culture, and recall my experiences as I slowly became accustomed to my life in Texas.

The initial ending of the program was sad, yet exciting. I had learned tons of new things about the world, and had many great experiences that I was ready to share with all of my family and friends. I was excited to see my family as well, because my sister became pregnant while I was oversees! Aside from suffering a miserable, long flight, the excitement prevailed. I, like Andrew, ( funny inside joke from trip!) could not start a sentence without the phrase “In Germany,…”. I am not sure if my friends eventually became annoyed by this inclination, but I seriously could not refrain myself from mentally re-living the great moments our group shared in Germany.

As the semester started, and school went on, things started to become somewhat depressing. While in Germany, I spent over a month living a foreign lifestyle with an amazing group of people. After such a close connection with my host family and friends, it was all gone in a flash. There have been points where I have felt nostalgic and gloomy, because I have gone so long without seeing my host family and my amazing friends from the trip. I miss touring Germany altogether. I sound crazy about saying this, but I even miss the public transportation! I miss the trips made to amazing countries during the free weekends, and bonding with the other students while touring and riding on night trains!

Although it sounds dismal to go on about my insufferable nostalgia, I have the reassuring thought that Germany is not going to disappear, and I can go back and visit in the future (when funds are available). Still, the trip is not going to be the same without the same group of people. THAT is why the memories of this trip are held very, very close to my heart.

Post Europe

Well, I am sitting here in my townhouse, it's senior year, and its 2-3 months post my study abroad. I really enjoy being back here in College Station. It is amazing at some of the technology and things we have that we didn't have/ didn't need there. I get glued to my TV and my xbox, I'm obsessed with my laptop, and I drive my car like I'm 16 and just got my driver's license. Words cannot express what my study abroad trip meant to me. I learned so much about myself and interacting with others, and learned more about the profession I want to go into, and learned history (and I'm a history buff!) and learned more about this bigger world that goes on around us. For all of those (I used to be included) whose definition of the world = United States, wake up!) There's so much more! I would really, really like to go back to probably a Germany/ France combination trip for my honeymoon, or just a vacation, but with my significant other/ or wife at the time. The Mosel valley between Dusseldorf and Triere is amazing, and I think it'd be really neat to live there someday. I've learned alot about life, and I definitely think it's been just a big of an experience as college in it of itself. I really enjoy Dr. Wasser and Dr. Musser and think they make a great combination. I still keep up with the people I went abroad with. I think we shared something special together. I made sacrifices and I got homesick, and got tired of only talking to my girlfriend with a go bananas card instead of seeing her, but all in all, it was totally worth it. I don't think there's a thing I would change. I recommend this trip for anyone who wants to find themself personally, and career-wise, wants to make good friends, see the world, and have a blast doing it. Thanks so much and I'm so elated everything worked out that allowed me to go and be a part of it. So long Germany and the Rhine valley, I know it wont' be the last time I'm there.

Back to Reality

Well I've been back in the States for month and a bit now, and as much as reality has set back in, I dream that I'm still in Europe. I knew that after I got back it would be a hard shift back to real, boring, mundane life, but I forgot how mundane real life actually is. We didn't have much time off to miss Germany before school started up again, and now being back in the hubble and jumble of tests and homework it is easy to get distracted; however, every time I see the biomedical engineers who were on the trip I remember Germany. I miss Germany. I really got used to the European way of life, the trains, the trams, the weather, the sights. I loved getting to see really cool things every day; I loved experiencing completely different things from one day to the next. Here, we see the same kids, the same professors, the same places day in and day out. There is nothing particularly exciting about College Station/Bryan, and regardless of whether there is anything interesting or not, it's absolutely nothing compared to what you could see in Europe. In some ways I'm glad that I'm not studying abroad all of the time because I'm not sure how much studying I would actually do, but I like to dream we're all still there having a blast.

Looking back, I can see that I wasn't that shocked at anything I encountered while I was in Europe. The European lifestyle did not take me by surprise, and I was prepared for most of what we saw. What I was not prepared for was experiencing Europe as an adult, traveling with peers, traveling to completely different countries than the 'supervising adult', being treated as adults by those supervisors. That is what made the trip so memorable for me; the freedom and responsibility of being abroad as an adult helped me grow so much more than I had anticipated. I miss Germany, it's true; I don't miss carrying my passport with me everywhere I go!

Back in the States

A couple of summers ago, my friend mas went to study abroad in germany with dr. musser and dr. wasser. We wanted to go together, but at the time i couldnt afford the trip, so i decided to wait an extra year. The following Fall semester when i first met up with Mas, i couldnt shut him up about the trip. Everything we did, he would trace back to some experience he had in Europe that summer. I was getting annoyed, but not because of him, but because i was jealous that he was able to go.
When i got back to the states this summer, i told myself that i wouldnt bring up the trip unless someone brought it up. That didnt happen. It was hard not to tell anyone about my time in germany. Everything reminded me about something or someone in Europe. For the first couple of weeks i would look at my pictures multiple times a day, and was always glad to show them off to people.
Here at A&M, i feel like i belong to a special group. I've seen several of my classmates from europe and i try to say hi to all of them. It feels like we have that special connection with each other. Everytime i talk to one of them, it's hard not to imagine being in europe with him/her this summer. It's unfortunate that we have not been able to get together as a group. But i hope that we will soon.

It's Just Not The Same!!

Life, as I know/knew it, has changed. It's been about a month and a half since I've been back in the States and it sucks here even more than it did before. I wasn't too happy with the US to begin with, but I got by alright because I didn't know what I was really missing, and now I do.
For a while after I got back, I was pretty depressed. I had nothing exciting to do (aside from riding horses, which I missed a lot!), nothing old and exquisite to look at, nowhere worthwhile to go. I missed my new friends, learning things about medicine, history, and culture, and being amidst the German people. You know the first thing I saw when I got off the plane after a full day of ticket misunderstandings, lines, delays, and sleeping in an akward position? A HUMUNGOUS FAT PERSON... welcome to America.
It took me about a week to stop trying to speak German to people. Since I'm from Miami, I first had to adapt to speaking Spanish again, THEN when I got back here to Texas, I had to switch to English. I've looked for bread that is at least similar to what they have in Europe, but even in the so called "artisan" bakeries there is none to be found. I miss taking trains everywhere. I miss seeing dogs everywhere. I miss NOT seeing children everywhere.
As soon as I can, I am going back to Europe. I know I want to spend some time at the research farm we visited before I go off to vet school, and I eventually want to move to somewhere in Germany or Switzerland. That's my goal.
I long to be back on the other side of the pond, but I suppose I can always look foward to returning. But it won't be soon enough!

I miss Europe too!!

So I realized today it’s getting close to the end of September, which is pretty crazy, so I need to do my last blog. I can’t believe it’s been almost a month and a half since we were in Germany. Sometimes it feels like just yesterday, and then at other times it feels like I wasn’t even really there. The trip home was not so fun for me. I was so ready to be home, and then of course what happens, my flight in Berlin got delayed and I missed my flight in New York. Made it even worse that I got to see the airplane I was supposed to be on leaving the gate. It really sucked, and the New Yorkers are not the most sympathetic people. I made it to Atlanta that night, but had to stay in a hotel by myself, when I really should’ve already been home, with my family, sleeping in my own bed. But I finally made it home Saturday morning, and so did my luggage, which helped me to reconcile with Delta airlines. But I don’t plan on flying anywhere anytime soon though.
I absolutely love being home, but I miss Europe a lot. I guess it helps that I’ve been pretty busy with school and stuff that I haven’t had much time to think about exactly how much I miss it. But anytime I look at my pictures or see someone from the program, I get a little reminder of what an amazing experience it really was. It’s hard because I try not to talk about it too much to my family and friends because I know they get tired of my stories that start with, “In Europe…” And really, most of my stories, you just had to be there to really understand! I guess that’s what makes it special. And that’s what makes me so happy to have several people from our program in my classes, or just seeing someone on the way to class, or at the rec, or at a football game, or at the Texas Hall of Fame :) (seeing Dr. Musser dancing with his wife there was definitely a highlight). I haven’t seen everybody, and that makes me sad, and we seriously really need to have a reunion someday, with everyone there.
I have had a little reverse culture shock, but it hasn’t been as much as I expected. Using dollars again for the first time in 5 weeks was probably the weirdest thing, I don’t know why, but it was weird. But there’s way too much to go into, and I have a lot of studying to do because I have my first biochem test this week! So I hope everyone’s semester is going great so far!! Beat the hell outta Baylor next weekend (I’m trying to pretend the Miami game just didn’t happen at all)!! And hope to see all of ya’ll around!!! :)

I miss Europe!!!

We are supposed to blog one last time, so here it goes:

I miss Europe, especially Germany so much!!! As soon as I got home I went into shock and wanted to get right back on a plane headed for Germany. It all of a sudden hit me how loud public places are in America and it was strange to hear English everywhere I went. I noticed how dirty American cities are and it was weird seeing so many SUVS and trucks. Being in Germany made me realize how wasteful Americans are and how we don't take as much care and value in our surroundings. Also, it was hard adapting to how hot it is in Texas and how cold it is inside because of air conditioning.
I do enjoy having free bathrooms and free refills once again. Meals are also cheaper here, even though the food isn't as good.

As soon as I got home, I organized my thousands, and I mean thousands, of pictures. I printed 500 of them off to make an album/scrapbook. I'm almost done. I've been showing everybody pictures. I notice how almost everything I say starts with "In Germany"...my friends and family are probably getting tired of hearing me talk about it so much. This trip was the best experience of my life. All of the culture, history, art and everything else was just so much better than anything you can find in the states. This trip made me more open-minded. One of the things I have noticed the most after being back, sadly, is that I have lost pride in being an American. I think that after hearing so many different perspectives about our country made me realize that foreigners are losing respect for us and we need to make changes to get our country back on track. I am still thankful to be from such a powerful and free country, but I don't want our country to be disliked by so many others.

Well, good luck to everyone this semester and I'm glad you all made it back safe and sound. I'm thankful to see so many of you around campus and to have classes with you!!! Hopefully we can always keep the friendships that we made!

My family away from home

Today will be my last day in Germany, and unfortunately i have to spend it by myself. I just got back to Dusseldorf from Berlin, and my flight leaves tomorrow. There are other people that are leaving tomorrow also, but they are leaving from Berlin. I regret not doing that myself.
The train ride back to Dusseldorf was tough. The whole time i sat there and thought about the past five weeks. How ive seen everyone in the program just about every day. Now, although we'll be in school at A&M, it wont be the same. We wont be in the same classes, and chances are we may never cross paths as we walk through campus.
I sat on the train remembering the good times we had together. Eventhough we didnt go out and drink as much i would have liked, the few times we did were great. Everyone got along (for the most part) and there wasnt any drama (that i know of) that got in the way of us having a good time.
Each of us had our own unique personality. I will alway remember Larry´s Dwiggymon jokes. Dustin as my travel buddy and roomate, and his outgoing personality. Joey´s "Danke Shön." Sarah`s Forrest Gump quotes. Kat as being one of the guys. Kimberly's friendliness. Michelle's split personality (she can be quiet at times, but when you talk to her she's hilarious). Laura's kindness. Andrew's alcoholism (hahaha....not really, but he can drink like a German). Jacob always having a clever joke. Braden's knowledge about farm animals (freaking genius). Meredith never turning down a beer. Kendall my fellow Austinite. Matt's stories. Hannah's love for shopping.The time Jennifer and ran down our night cruise ("im losing it"). Leigh, the Canadien. Chris' night in Zurich. And Kaylee's "duber" (the word, not the actual thing).
A couple of summers ago, i was in the same situation. That night as i was saying good bye to my yellowstone coworkers, someone said "after tonight, you will never be with the same group of people in one room again." So far this person has been right, i have met up with people from that summer, but we have never been together as a group again. I really hope that doesnt happen with this group, and i've got a feeling that it wont.
While we are in College Station, lets make sure we say hi to each other when we walk by, and hang out every once in a while. Even if it's just to have dinner or something. Lets never forget the time we spent together in Germany, and how we bonded together as a family.

This is Hanna's blog...

I am having technical problems with my blackberry so I am using Kim's to blog. Today is our last day in Berlin. Our flight leaves at 930 tomorrow morning. The time has gone by so fast. We had a bike tour here on Tuesday. That was my favorite tour so far. This city is very interesting and has a lot of history. There are also a lot of hippies, artists and musicians. On our bike tour, we rode through a park and it reminded me of somewhere in Austin. Today Sarah, Kim and I went to the Berlin Zoo and saw Knut. That was really neat because he is so famous all over the world. Tonight is our farewell dinner. I am excited, but it is also sad to think about. My host mom sent me an email yesterday. I am going to miss them a lot but am looking forward to seeing my family tomorrow.

This is Hanna's blog...

Berlin

I only have 15 more minutes of Blackberrying so I have to make this one short!

I am so glad to be in Berlin again! It is so beautiful and there's always something to do! I went to KaDeWe today and was blown away by the gourmet foods section. It was full of things I'm desperate to bring home! I bought a ton of chocolate and some coffee too. It figured these are things my family would love. I can't wait to show them these things!

Its strange that I'm going to be home tomorrow! I'm sad about leaving Germany, but it will be nice to be home. I miss my family, A/C, and steak!

Berlin

I only have 15 more minutes of Blackberrying so I have to make this one short!

I am so glad to be in Berlin again! It is so beautiful and there's always something to do! I went to KaDeWe today and was blown away by the gourmet foods section. It was full of things I'm desperate to bring home! I bought a ton of chocolate and some coffee too. It figured these are things my family would love. I can't wait to show them these things!

Its strange that I'm going to be home tomorrow! I'm sad about leaving Germany, but it will be nice to be home. I miss my family, A/C, and steak!

Well I guess this is my last blog. I'm really going to miss this blackberry. :( this morning we walked around downtown, saw a really cool old bombed out church, went to the kadewe and ate too much german schokolade. We are going to the jewish museum and then having our last dinner together. I have all day tomorrow to wonder aimlessly around berlin before my train takes off for vienna. Hopefully I will make it despite the deutsche bahn train drivers strike. I'm so glad I don't have to fly out with everyone else tomorrow, but I still feel melancholy that they are all leaving. I can't imagine going back to real life in college station texas right now. I have absolutely no idea what it will be like to go home. I just hope it doesn't seem the same.

Last day in Germany....

So today is my last day in europe before I go home in the morning. We've been in berlin these past couple days and its been really relaxing. Berlin is a lot different than everywhere else we've been in germany and has more of the look and feel of a big city, like new york or somewhere like that. Its interesting because it has more recent history than just world war two. Seeing parts of the wall and where it stood was really amazing and also imagining what east berlin mustve looked and felt like before the wall came down was so eerie almost. Today, I went to the berlin zoo and saw knut and he was so cute! He was swimming around for us :). But it has been a good end to our trip and I'm definitely ready to get home and see my family and friends. We are going to the jewish museum today and then we have our farewell dinner tonight and then leave in the morning. Its sad to leave here and it was really sad leaving my host parents but I have so many good memories and I really feel like I learned a lot and was exposed to so many great things.

Well, I'm really suprised how fast this program is ending! I'm ready to go back, though. I really miss my friends and family. The things I really miss at home:
Being with friends and family, having a regular schedule, eating tex-mex, having a car, sleeping in my own bed, having unlimited refills on drinks, never being charged for something that I don't realized I'm being charged for, being able to go to church, knowing where everything is, never having to pay to go pee, and being able to read and understand every posted sign. Things I'll miss from Europe: everything having a story behind it, being spontaneous with my free time, the extensive public transportation system, being lost and not caring, always being somewhere new, Dusseldorf, trying new food, eating at deliciouss delis, going to the places I've always dreamed of going to. I could go on and on, and I love it here, but I'm ready to go home. I've learned so much here, I don't think I've realized how much I've learned yet. I think once I go home, I'll realize a lot more how I've changed and how much I've learned.

This time tomorrow most of us will be over the Atlantic Ocean on the way to our hometowns. I am sad to be leaving, but it is definitely time to go home. I think the length of this program was perfect. If it was any shorter I could not have seen as much as I did. If it was any longer I would've been so worn out that I could not have appreciated the things I did see in a longer stay. I am so excited to fly home and have my family come pick me up at the Shreveport airport. I am nervous about flying by myself all the way home, but I feel like I have grown a lot on this trip and going through customs will be a piece of cake compared to navigating the Paris metro and regional train system. Not only have I learned so much about German history and culture, but I feel like I have gained so much more confidence in myself. At the beginning of this trip I felt like I was being given too much responsibility, but I really feel like I handled it all pretty well. They told us the first day of the program we would really mature during our five weeks here, and I found this to be very true.

I love being here in Europe, but I don't know if I could live here. I would love to visit or study abroad again, but I am ready to be back in America. I am proud of my country even though I feel like we get put down a lot here, and sometimes we put down ourselves. Yeah, we have our problems, but what country doesn't. Any nation has its bad times and its good times, and I think that's something the Germans can really understand. But that's just how I feel. I am anxious to see what it will be like when I get home. It has been a long time so far away from home. It has been such any amazing experience though, and I won't soon forget it, especially with my 500 pictures or so. So I hope everyone has a safe trip back home!! And I don't know about everyone else, but I am getting really excited about football season! Gig 'em Aggies!! Whoop!!

So...I blogged a couple of hours ago and then noticed it never posted for some reason so here I go again!!! Ive really enjoyed having alot of free time. These past few days have been very relaxing. I like dusseldorf and cologne the best out of all the german cities weve been to. Berlin is just like any other big city.

Im excited to go home and share all the things Ive learned here. Im not looking forward to the flight, but atleast some of us are on the same plane.

Today we went to an awesome art museum and saw some famous works. I love the crepes!!! Im thankful for getting to know everyone and I hope we will keep in touch. Im going to miss everyone. Be safe tomorrow!!!

tourist

I thoroughly love being the tourist with the wandering eyes. The camera in one hand and the map in the other. Its fantastic. I have taken so many sights and moments and tours and monuments and views in. I have stored a lot away to my memory bank while I have some pictures of other events. Its all wonderful and I can't get enough of it. I wish the time here were not over so quickly. But all good things must come to an end. Nevertheless I will always remember my time in Germany in the year of our Lord 2007 with all thine fellow ags! And I don't think it could have been any better.

friends

I am belated at the friends I have made on this trip. Not just casual friendships, but the ones that will continue far after we get home to the splendid cll st! I am so excited. It is a once in a lifetime opportunity to go on this trip and true friendships were made during the process. Not just the casual "I am hanging out with you because my other friends aren't here". And I really like how things have turned out. I can't wait to see how these friendships develop. Its going to be great.

Berlin

We finally made it to the capital city of Germany: Berlin. We took a lovely bike tour around the city, and while we were not able to see everything, I absolutely loved being on the bikes. I have missed doing physical activity while I have been here in Germany. We have been walking everywhere, don't get me wrong, but we haven't been exercising exactly. So the bike tour was fun; our tour guide was interesting because he travels so much with his work (giving bike tours is his summer job.).

What I really enjoyed in Berlin however, was going up into the glass dome of the parliament building. We went up there at dusk when the sun was just setting and the clouds were still on fire from the sun. The breeze at the top of the building felt amazing, and the view was fabulous. From the top of the glass dome you could see the entire city, the tops of roofs and the occasional peaking church spire. One of my favorite things is being in nature, and while the city is man made, the wind and the sun up there made the city feel calm (like nature). I really enjoyed that.

We did see parts of the wall, we went to check point charlie and saw them selling "pieces of the wall" - I am skeptical as to whether they were actual pieces of the wall or just pieces of concrete.

My prominade around the city took me to the Tier Garden, a beautiful place to sit and blog. However, I wanted to mention briefly here at the end that there were some really cool global stone in an exhibit here in the park. One stone from every continent. It was pretty cool.

Debunking the myths

I will now attempt to summarize my findings of the German culture as of this point.I have been here for about 12 weeks. I have seen and heard much, that both confirms and completely changes my opinions of Germany and Germans. These explanations are of course only my opinions and previous thoughts about Germany before I got here and pertaining to where I have been and what I have done...take them with a grain of salt.

.Myth 1: Germany is in Europe, therefore it is more dangerous than the United States.

Before I left I had to attend a few "Safety While Abroad" seminars and if anything these made me more paranoid than I should have been. Every country is going to have its dangerous people and criminals, that unfortunately is inevitable in today's society. However, I have observed daily in Germany, only events which make me feel that much safer when walking or taking a bus home at night. I won't go as far as to say that the Germans are naive about safety but looking around, one might think that nothing bad ever happens. I have seen on multiple occasions, children I would gauge as around 10-14 travel with a friend of the same age alone on the subway system. This has been both during the day and in the evening. I personally don't think this is a lack of parental concern, but rather a trust of the German people that has over the years never been betrayed. Every now and then I will attempt to read a German newspaper. I have not once seen on the first few pages anything about a murder, robbery, or other aggravated crime. Surely, these things occur but the media in Germany don't feel the need to publicize every wrongdoing that unfortunately happens. I have also noticed that the police here seem to be less anxious when talking to or approaching people. If they need to tell a beggar or homeless person to leave they seem to do so as one would ask a child to do something. As far as pickpockets go, I have never had any apprehensions as to keeping my wallet in my sidepocket. I am not so bold as to keep it in backpocket, but most Germans I have seen do so. I cannot say that Germany is a safer place without fear of having to eat my own words, but I can say that I in no way feel more threatened or anxious here than I do in the United States.

Myth 2: The Germans are a cold and somewhat unfriendly people concerned only with business.

This statement has 2 different parts, one of which is true, the other false. The Germans are not friendly when it comes to business. They aren't unfriendly but they will not waste their time talking about the weather or the local sports team at a place of business. They will not hesitate to do so in the home, but at work it is all work and no play. There have been exceptions to this generalization to both extremes. My family and I were fortunate enough to have a very genuinely nice waiter at a Beer garden who all but made the night for us. Conversely, I have heard a waiter ask "Why do you say please? I don't have time for that sh&%." to which the customer promptly answered "Fine, A beer as%*(le." The germans are very concerned with efficiency and will do all to maintain schedules, from street construction to a timetable for a project at a processing plant. HOwever, I have found the Germans to be a very friendly people if you take the time to really talk to them. They are more than willing to teach you and listen while you struggle with a sentence and then compliment you before correcting you. SO basically, don't expect a German to go out of the way during business hours to make your day better (if one honestly needed help, they would of course oblige, but priority 1 is efficiency). But talk to a german when they aren't busy with work and they will laugh and joke and compliment the entire time.

Myth 3: The second world war is taboo.

This myth is false. They have no problem talking about post war reconstruction or anything historical having to do with the Nazi party or the times during the war. Now of course, one cannot call a German a "Nazi" and expect them to not be upset, but if one has a legitimate question about anything concerning the war, the Germans are more than happy to answer. I have also heard the war brought up between two Germans, so they don't only speak about it when asked about it. As long as one maintains a serious attitude and doesn't make any unnecessary and rude quips, it can flow as part of normal conversation.

Myth 4: Beer and Alcohol are consumed like water. Because the drinking age is lowered, binge drinking isnt as much of a problem.

The Germans do drink more than the Americans. However, most of this is in the form of wine or beer at dinner. Germans do not forego water in order to drink beer however. On the contrary they are very proud of their water with carbonation and drink more water than Americans do as well. What they substitute for beer and alcohol, isn't water, it's coke or other sodas. Coke and Sprite are generally as expensive as a glass of wine or small beer. Sometimes, the germans will compromise and drink a "Radler" which is sprite and an ale beer or some other variation of beer mixed with a soda. As far as the attitude about drinking goes, the Germans are generally just as concerned. I have met many germans, all over 18 that think that the drinking age should be raised. They believe 16 is just too young and I must agree. While there are alot of individuals who drink responsibly young, there are quite a few who don't. I have seen 16 or 17 year olds sit at a beer garden and have one beer, and I have also seen 16 or 17 year olds bring a couple bottles on a subway station and drink them there (drinking in public is legal almost everywhere, I have yet to see a drinking forbidden sign). AS far as binge drinking goes, I can imagine that it is about the same. I have seen as many drunk people here as I have seen in College Station. However, the laws against drinking are much more stringent here. The responsiobility lies with the individual. Drinking and driving with any amount is illegal. I have heard that you may have a reading of .02, which is four times lower than the U.S. Needless to say, One drink will probably put a person close to if not over this level. They take their drinking very seriously. Most people if they must drive home do not drink anything. If one is caught drinking and driving, they receive points on their license plus a fine. When a certain amount of points is obtained, they lose their license. So while they may have the choice to drink and drive, they don't.

Goodbye Dusseldorf

A few days ago we left Dusseldorf for the last time (on this adventure at least). I spent the last weekend of the trip in Dusseldorf, which was really nice and relaxing. It was nice to be in a stable place for a little while and not travel. I was able to experience the city at my own pace; I went out into the old town and read by the river and then met up with some of the other guys and we found some live bands along the river. It was a really relaxing weekend, a perfect goodbye to the city. It was also really nice to see the family a bit more on the weekend.

Our last day in the city was spent writing. It may sound extremely unfortunate that we were not able to party or go out on the last day, but in all honesty it felt extremely good to actually have to think. The whole research and writing process made me feel so productive, and it felt good.

We had an excellent last few days, and while it was sad to leave the host family, we could not have left the city on a better note.

Das Bier

Well as the proram comes to an end I feel it is time to elaborate on that one German experience that everyone always talks about: beer. The germans do love their beer, that definitely isn't a false stereotype. The beer is also, in general, better than the beer I have tried in the states. However, I have also had the worst beer I have ever tasted here in Deutschland. My frequent beer tasting has made me very picky but I also am beginning to appreciate the different beers. I found that I am a fan of the pils type, although I also enjoy lagers and darker beers. Beer tastes a lot better from a keg from the brewery 5 minutes away than from a can. My favorite beers from germany will have to be schluessel alt, franciscaner, and radeberger. The worst beer I've ever had, was called rauchbier which translates literally into snoke beer. The malt is passed over smoke sometime during the brewing process which leads to a distinct and disgusting taste of smoke with every sip. I have heard people say that they can't drink us beer after coming from germany but I doubt that will be the case. I think that I will just have to throw out the extra dollars for something that tastes a little better...

Leaving Berlin on Saturday...

And i do not want to go home. I miss my family and friends and I really want to see them, but at this point, I am not ready for a return to reality. We have done some studying, but for the most part it has felt like a five week vacation that I don't want to end. If my family were to all jump on a plane and visit me for a week, I would have no problem staying for a couple more months.

On tuesday in Berlin we arrived and went on a bike tour of the city. Its a whole different experience being able to see the history that took the city instead of only hearing about it. The remnants of the wall are scattered throughout the city, a constant reminder of their recent history. The Jewish memorial, a maze of concrete blocks, was impressive in that it conveyed its message well: a feeling of isolation and helplessness when walking through it. Today we're going to the Jewish museum and I don't know what to expect, so we'll see...

This is probably my last post in Germany. Tonight we have our going away party and most people are leaving tommorrow morning. I've had a great time in europe; these 5 weeks sure flew by...

Gone to Texas or Stabbing Westward (like the band) take your pick.

So headed back to the west on Saturday, back to the big land of Texas, the country of English, English speakers (not the Großebritania speakers), to the land of good steaks, Mexican food, free refills, trucks, big yards, big roads, big people (not excited about that one), and my car. oh to be able to drive again. I dont know why it is we miss things like that, i mean i am not desperate to get home in anyway, i love travelling, absolutely love differnt societies and cultures, but i guess it is that we have grown up with it, i have spent all my life living in Texas and as humans, as Americans, or as ethnocentric Texans whatever it is, we feel a slight superiority and wonder how people live like this. but its wonderful here, it really is, there are big differences but we are in the civilized world and life thrives here, there is nothing wrong with this place it is just different, i enjoy the food (the little fast food pasta place down the road is such a great idea, healthy, quick cheap and really authentic and lecker. but i have always had reverse culture shock to a degree when going home, especially when i have learned so much about history, medicine, and culture as with this trip. it will be hard to get back into the ordinary life and quite dificult to see things the same again, and impossible to ever be the same. I like this place, and whether i ever come back or not is not the point of this trip, it is how i have changed, that i have changed, and that i take a global persepective from this trip and an interest in the world, politics, society, different cultures, and the dynamic aspects of this world. everything is changing around the world. we think that in America there are big generational gaps because our parents cant work computers and our grandparents were alive in the depression. but here and even more so around the world things are modernizing fast, from one generation to the next it could be; subsistence farming to information technology, from poverty in a shante, to successful in a flat everywhere that the government and society allow social movement people can change their stars and affect their fate. nothing is perfect, no government is perfect, Germany (unlike my host Mom says) is not MORE perfect than America, we are all humans, they are all governments and life is just life, poverty will always exist, war will always exist, there will always be unemployment, horrible living conditions, and starvation. that is not a pessimistic view it is a view of history. the citiyens during the Pax Romana thought they would last forever and never hunger, fear, or war. the Citizens of the third reicht believed it would last for 100 years before the war broke out. and here we are, citizens of a modern world where democracy reigns (abit like Greece hmm?) and attempts are being made to stamp out war forever (the aim of the second World War) but we are moving towards conflict with many contries ( America, the UN, and the EU) and we are not living in a perfect World, not even close. But what shocks me are the claims for diplomatic resolutions to foreign conflicts. so while people fight and kill their own contrymen, genocide and famine reigns, the politicians sit and talk. the governments lie, nothing is resolved and fighting continues. I have no answers, conservative, liberal, republican, or democrat no one can say what is right, but believe that to rate an American soldiers life or a UN peace keepers life above the lives of an "uncivilized civilization" is not right, and cant be right. we are to let nations, people, or radical groups kill eachother while we talk? we can do good in these contries, we did good by South Korea and it is an amazing place, we left Vietnam and it locked in communism and poverty, so there is good to be done. at what cost i have no answers, but ctiticizing American politics from an isolationistic stance while claiming the inhumanity of the American's actions is strange and foreign to me, and i think a bit hypocritical. But anyways im hungry, ciao.

outdoor cafes

I know I kind of hit on this at my goodbye to Duesseldorf but I can't get over the outdoor street side cafes. I love Europe's ability to mix city with nature. A park hidden in the middle of the city, or flowers or a green lawn of a church, or the canals. Our cities are filthy.. No exceptions worth noting. The weather is exceptional and every element comes together to create a sum greater than the parts and its pure bliss. I am a christian and not completely sure how that is relevant other than I have grown spiritually within myself.. In a Zen kind of way and just gotten in touch with that around me and am just at peace with everything. That's what this trip has done for me. Its allowed me to step away from medical school and stress of moving, chores for parents, and obligations of back home. It has allowed me to stay low and just be me. I am in my own little corner of the world and its magnificent!

misconceptions about berlin

Ok so maybe I was mistaken about Berlin. Minus the bees which are constantly harassing me (and I am both allergic and afraid) I am doing good. I like Berlin. Its turned out to be a better experience than I had thought going into it. I like the swamp! Lol. I was really excited about the atmosphere and history in Munchen. What I have come to realize is that each and every city has its own uniqueness to offer and it can all be great! I like the canals and the importance that Berlin holds to Germany. The hotel arrangements are great. And I like the nightlife. The canals fascinate me. I think this is a great ending to an even better life experience.

Ich ben kine Berliner

so yes i am not a citizen of Berlin, i hopes that what i just said and that it is more appropriate than "bis morgen schön," though i do love that saying. but Berlin is such a wonderful city, and seeing it onthe bike tour was such a great way, it is so thick with history and conflict. The Jewish memorial was so fitting and such a great tribute, though you can never make a tribute in anyway it is a great place to realize the isolation of those in concentration camps and things. The BrandenBerg gate was everything that i thought it would be and just a really impressive monument and i understand why such great history has taken place particularly there. But other than those two things we saw on the bike tour, the zoo we went to in our free time was really impressive, i think it was better than the yoo in Köhl though the animals didnt look as happy and might not have had as much room to run around and feel free but the giraffes had a taj mahal type palace area and it was really a neat place, and some interesting species as well. Last night seeing the parliament building was really impressive, offering us great views of the city around us and just how low the buildings are, the charlité and the DB building being the tallest i saw, but how spread out and large the city is for haveing about half as many people as just the Manhattan, i would like to see the comparison of populationand area between the two, but anyways this city is unique in alot of ways and will always be affected by the wall and the soviet policies that took place for almost 50 years here. but it is a great place for a capital and much more fitting for Germany than Bonn in my opinion. It is a bit symbolic of how Germany has to deal with the past but still look on to the future with it behind them, as the wall runs right BEHIND the parliament building and the governmental buildings span both sides, so i like the architecture here and the symbolism that soaks everything around here, even the Hbf. which is apparently haunted or ruined. 17 people stabbed opening night, a major girder fell off first storm, the windows crack and shatter in the wind, only one bathroom and not enough room for long trains to stay under cover, especially in winter when it gets cold. hmph i only have to go through there once more, good thing! Well Berlin i hope to see you again someday but for now "bis morgen schön" and cheers mate.

trier

Last weekend I went to Trier and it was great. I was able to see roman church, amphitheater, roman bridge, and city gate. The history of the town is splendid and it is one of the oldest towns in Germany. I think the Germans are very lucky to claim that town and share in its history. The city square was great, live music, and splendid beer. And of course, I squeezed in my people watching! The train ride was the most scenic ride I have taken in the past 6 weeks. I marveled at the Mossel river valley with all its wineries and hay fields. I wish I could spend more time there.

Thoughts on the trip.

now that we are in Berlin i think i can adequately report on my feelings of this whole trip and the German people in gerneral, and i hope with no political insertions other than that pink song about the president is absolutely worthless, hypocritical, and disappointing. But as for the trip A+ all the way around! i really think that everything has been wonderful, taken care of for us and perfectly smooth, it has been great to not have to worry about transportation and organiying tours on our own, but it has also been combined with a great deal of freedom on the weekends, which i love. i absolutely love the ability to travel on my own and have the freedom and responsibility to find somewhere to sleep and the adventure of just being out in the world on my own. but as for during the week you can not have 23 individuals on their own running around so the scheduling has been good as for that. like everytime we have to wait for a train or miss a schedule in anyway our AIB get nervous that we will get ancy or upset and tries to make everything right, but trust me we dont mind waiting and understand fully. Other than that the German culture is wonderful, absolutley wonderful, though i dont like not being able to cross the streets when you want, i am able to stand it now and wait, they do not seem as rushed as us Americans even though they keep tight schedules, we speed everywhere and walk quickly especially in New York or any major population center, but here in berlin it is not so much. but that is saved for the berlin post later. German in general is fun and structured and just cool, so i will definately be coming back, maybe to see my host family, maybe to see nurnberg or munchen but we will see. saturday i leave this place and go back to the usual, back to America but i will be changed. A different and more complete understanding and view of history along with a great appreciation for this place and what they have dealt with in the past 100, 200, 300 years. Also the presentation yesterday was incredibly interesting, what a neat man Wirchow was, it really makes me want to read his book, and be a more rounded person, not just interested in medicine but also activive in politics and society and history and the human condition of the world. just like the heart of darkness makes you examine the human condition on this planet so do things like dachau and Wirchovs view on health as a right and responsibility of those inclinded. well cheers, i will miss this place but cant stay, and i will go back to the ordinary life in CStat but will not be the same.

Our stay in Berlin, Farewell

On Tuesday afternoon, we arrived in Berlin and had a pretty fun bike tour. My favorite part was probably the memorial. According to our guide, the concrete blocks were constructed to capture the feeling of being lost, something many of the holocaust victims probably felt during and after the war.

Tuesday night ended with a nice excursion to a local bar. The bar was interesting, due to the stock market beer pricing system. Each beer purchased affected the price of the beer in the subsequent round. Since nearly 20 of us were having drinks at the bar, we affected the beers in each round fairly significantly.

On Wednesday, we took had a lecture on Virchow in the academic hospital area. I enjoyed looking at the heart specimens in the preservation gallery, because the use of cardiac devices in some of the specimens. Devices, such as pacmakers and VADs, were shown on certain diseased hearts.

Since we were given the rest of the day to do as we please, a small group of us students went to the Berlin zoo. Although the selection at the Berlin zoo was better, I think (in my opinion) that the Köln zoo had better accomodations for the animals, and thus a better environment to witness the animals.

At the moment, my thoughts concerning the future are somewhat focused on the train strike. Apparently, the strike began this morning, and I am worried my trip to Brussels tomorrow will be sporadic (at best). I have no way to communicate with my grandparents in Brussels as well, so the situation will be interesting. However, the farewell dinner tonight will be fun, and I will miss everyone in the program. I hope that our group can have reunions once we return to College Station!

Tschüs, Deutschland!

This is the end...

Athough not my last day in Europe, today is the end of our program. We have approximately 5 hours left with our beloved blackberrys. Then we give them back to Dr. Wasser, or... We are suppose to give them back. Laying here on my hotel bed in Berlin, I keep reflecting back upon my experiences. I've seen more in these past 5 weeks than most people will see in their lifetimes. For this I am grateful, yet almost greedy because I want to see more. I want to continue to travel to see and experience more of the world. In today's age, the world is no longer a giant planet but just a few hours on a plane. I keep thinking of all the sites I've seen and my cultural endeavors in the last several weeks.

On Tuesday, we had an interesting bike tour with a Dutch tour guide named Hans. He took us around Berlin, and showed us several interesting sites and monuments that had to do with WWII. Out of all of our guided tours, the Berlin bike tour and Munich tour were my favorite. The guides were probably what made the tours better. Hans joked about how the Dutch used to own the Americas, and that the U.S. was little Holland. We all laughed... He also said if the Dutch hadn't sold New Amsterdam the U.S. would have been a better place. Maybe? Man, I love that country.

The time has come, and I am definitely ready to head home. I prepared myself to be away for as long as I have, but it is time for me to be back in Texas. I miss my dog, my family, my friends, mexican food, my bar, my house, driving, the lake, tv, movies, healthy food, cooking, my bed, steak, sleeping in, ketchup, being able to get somewhere in less than 30 minutes, not having to walk everwhere, air conditioning, girls that don't pretend they don't speak English, music that's not techno, regular milk, and ice. It's going to be good to get back home and be able to relax. I will probably head back to the CS as soon as we get into Houston. Well, after I go eat Mexican with my family. Maybe hit up the bar where I work if it's not too late. That is if I'm still able to stay awake after the flight... Man that's going to suck. I like flying, but twelve hours on a plane is a long time.

Man, I love this country...

Im getting anxious to go home, but at the same time I dont want to. I love it here and cant wait to come back. I hope we can all stay in touch and continue to hang out.

Berlin seems to me to be just like any other big city. Dusseldorf and cologne have been my favorite cities in germany. They are more unique and seem to have more history.
Im looking forward to the dinner tonight and all being together for the last time. This trip has been amazing and has helped me to be more open minded. Ive learned so much history and cant wait to go home and share what all we have learned. I hope everyone has a safe trip home and have a good semester!!! Ive enjoyed meeting all of you!

So, this trip has really flown by fast. I can't believe that tomorrow is the final full day. I'm really excited about going on top of the dome and being able to see a more aerial view of Berlin. It was really sad saying bye to Steffi at the train station. My host family goodbye was really awkward. She shook my hand and that was pretty much it. We didn't get very close at all, because we had very different schedules, and she didn't choose to include us in any family activities. So when I was home for Sunday afternoons, she was off with her family and left us dinner in the kitchen. I was I had more of a relationship with her than that of a hotel clerk. Oh well, it was a learning experience nonetheless. My relationship with her, or lack thereof, taught me to be pretty independent in how to get about the city and what to do in Dusseldorf. I really liked Dusseldorf, after traveling to other cities in Germany and the rest of Europe, I realize how modern and fun it is. Berlin is also really interesting. I never really appreciated how big of a deal the Berlin Wall was before this trip. I mean we talked about it briefly in my high school history classes, but I never really understood what a big deal it was. I never understood how it divided family and friends. The Museum of Communism in Prague also helped me understand this a little bit. I don't know if I'll ever be able to comprehend how isolated someone must feel living in a Communist system, never being able to confide in friends and family out of fear of being spied upon by the government. This trip has also made me really grateful for what I have in America. I never really had a sense of home in Texas, mainly because I hadn't traveled for more than a week outside of the area. This trip has really shown me that no matter where I'll end up living in life, Texas is my home, where I grew up. I really find that interesting, because I have honestly never felt a sense of "home" before. Well, we're about to leave for the dome so I'll be posting tomorrow for my final post of the program!

Berlin, the last excursion

So we are now in Berlin and only have one full day left. Yesterday the group took a bike tour. I really enjoyed it because it was fun and we got to see a few sights we may not have noticed on our own. The city seems as one how we see it today. It is weird to think that only 18 years ago, it was split in half. The wall going up must have been terrifying. People had to make the decision to flee quickly before it was too late and the windows were blocked and the wall constructed. On the tour, the group rode to the Jewish memorial. It was different than most memorials I have ever seen. I probably would have just thought it a park area if we hadn't been told about it. That may have been part of the artist's intention.

Well, today I we have visited the pathology exhihbits at the nearby university, and I visited the zoo. I really liked the hearts with medical devices implanted in them. The birth deffects were a little disturbing to me though. At the zoo, I saw Knut, the baby polar bear that is not such a baby anymore. He was a little dissapointing. He was pretty big and didn't do too much. I also saw hippos, and they were pretty cool.

So far, I really like Berlin. It is a lot different than Munich as everyone has said. It is a modern city and there are lots of cool structures to look at. It has a pretty big media tower like the Rheinturm in Dusseldorf. The media towers seem to be pretty commonplace in Germany.

Tonight, a few of us are going out to a club called the matrix for dancing. I am excited. I heard it even has a pool inside. Tomorrow, I need to make sure I find me some currywurst before I leave. Peace.

Today we spent some time at the Charite museum. We got a lecture about Virchow first, then went to see the collection of preserved body parts, organs, and fetuses. It was really neat seeing some of the diseases and deformities that I have heard of before in real life. Then there were some that I had not heard of before, such as the mega colon. It was enormous! Hard to believe that something that big could come out of a man that was apparently not so big. That must have been awful for him. Once I got to the end where all the fetuses were, though, I had had enough. You can only look at that kind of stuff for so long no matter how interesting it is.
The rest of the day we had off, something that I think everyone appreaciated. We have been on the go for five weeks, so it was nice to have time to take it easy for a while. I went with a group to the zoo. We saw Knut! He's not a little cub anymore but was still super cute. There were a lot of baby animals actually, like a baby rhino and a baby hippo. I was surprised how small they could be.
Tomorrow is our last day. It's hard to believe. I am not ready to go home yet. Sure I miss some things, like free refills, free water, free bathrooms, ice, and ceiling fans, but I think I have actually adjusted quite well and have learned to live without all those little comodities that I used to take for granted. I guess it will be nice to have them again though.
I am going to miss the culture here that I have grown to love. It's going to be weird hearing english everywhere and having people smile and say hello to me on the streets. I never really liked that, mainly because I always feel obligated to smile and say hi back, which makes me feel so... Fake? Superficial? I think you understand what I am trying to say. You don't have to put on a mask here in Germany. If you chose not to go around with a bright cheery smile on your face all the time, people aren't going to bother you and ask you if anything's wrong with you or think you are cold.
I am also going to miss the train system here! And the backeries! And the wonderful wonderful eis!
I will be back, though. Hopefully sooner than I think.

Last night I actually slept for almost eight hours. It was great. Yesterday we had a bike tour of berlin. There is so much complicated history here. It is a really unique city that is still evolving since the wall. I am really excited that we have time on our own today and tomorrow to roam around berlin as we wish. Its the perfect thing to do on the last week when eveyone is a little worn by tours and travelling in a group of twenty. I can tell everyone is a little anxious to get home. Before I came, I thought I would be so devastated to leave germany, but someone told me that people are usually ready to come home by the end of the program. I didn't believe it then, but now I understand. This program has been amazing, but I'm ready to be somewhere familiar and stable agaiin. We've all started talking about things we can't wait to get back to: ice, our cars, ac, ceiling fans, english, chicken, drink refills, mexican food, more space.... I'm sure I'll have a similar list for germany once I get back - like brotchen and dunkel weisse! Of course I don't really have to go home quite yet. I'm travelling in italy after the program with my sisters, but it is still near the end for me in germany and with my host family. We'll try to make the most out of tonight with the group. A few people want to go to some outrageous dance club. Apparently germans have some strange dance moves that I'll have to see for myself...

This weekend was our last free travel weekend. We went to Paris, which was on the top of my list of places to go. I had high expectations and I was not dissapointed! I loved Paris! It was just so rich with culture and there was so much to see. We spent a few hours in the Louvre, and that was absolutely wonderful. I had always wanted to visit the Louvre ever since I learned so much about it in my art magnet classes in middle school. When I saw that glass pyramid I was overcome with this feeling, I can't really explain it. It was surreal. I was in disbelief that I was actually there, finally. Then inside seeing all the famous paintings that I had only seen in textbooks. Wow.
Seeing the Eiffel tower was also surreal.I loved the way it glittered at the top of the hour. The view from the 2nd floor was spectacular, especially since it was night and all the buildings were lit up.
I was not pleased with our hotel though. It was so far our of the city and not in a particularly good area. Juvisy... Never go there.
The public transportation system was also something I was not thrilled with.
Monday was spent finishing up our research papers, which took me longer than expected because I was using a mac. The AIB needs to invest in PCs!!
It's strange how time flies. We are on our last week here in Deutschland. Today we took an ICE train to Berlin and did a bike tour. I really enjoyed that because not only did our guide do a great job, but riding the bikes was fun and all the stuff about the DDR was really neat to see. I love how they have that line of cobblestone around the city where the wall was. It's crazy to think about how recent it was that it happened. Everything we have been seeing up to this point has been from WWII or hundreds of years old, and the fall of soviet Berlin was just 17 years ago.
I'm looking foward to to medical history museum tomorrow and all the free time we have! It will be nice to just take it easy for a bit!

Adios Dusseldorf

Well, we've left Dusseldorf and I'm kind of sad. We told our host mom goodbye and hugged and thanked her for everything this morning, and she told us we could come visit. I like Dusseldorf a lot but I don't know if I'll be back. We'll just have to see where life takes me. It was definitely a little difficult on the tram ride this morning with all our luggage. I was surprised when a lady helped Michelle get her bag on the tram, and she and another man also helped her get her stuff off at the train station. It was sad leaving Steffi and Lars too at the train station. I wish I could've got to know both of them better, but I still remember meeting them the first day when I got to the AIB and getting to have lunch with all them since I got there pretty early. I was nervous when I first got there, but they were so friendly and all helped us so much.

Yesterday was pretty relaxing. After we got done at the AIB we went to the bakery and sandwich place near the AIB that we all decided we were going to miss a lot. Then we went out to the Aldstadt and Konigsalle for the last time to get some mustard, which is really my only souvenir from Dusseldorf, besides lots of great memories. We had a pretty special dinner for our last night with our host mom. We had smoked salmon, some sort of fried potato that reminded me of a hash brown, and chocolate mousse and ice cream for dessert. My host mom also gave me two full glasses of wine, which was a little too much and made me really tired. So we finished packing and went to bed pretty early. I am really excited about Berlin, and then I will be so happy to get on my flight home. I just hope I survive the bike tour today!

Off to Berlin

We just left Dusseldorf and are on our way to Berlin. I am excited about going to Berlin but am sad to leave Dusseldorf. I had such a good time here. I think that my host family played a huge part in my experience. They were so loving and caring. When we were gone on the weekends, they would send us emails to our blackberries just to check in on us. I felt very comfortable at my house in Dusseldorf. Last night, I got kind of sad once I had packed and my room was empty. I have started to call this home and now we are leaving. Last night after dinner we had the German version of Champagne. Our mom gave us 2 of the recipes and then our dad drew pictures on the paper for us. He does illustrations and advertisements. They also gave us a version of The Frog Prince that they created. Our dad did the illustrations and our mom wrote a note at the end. I am very thankful to have gotten such a loving family. I am looking forward to seeing my family in several days.

Bye Bye Dusseldorf

We are on the train on the way to Berlin. It is a bittersweet feeling, I am very excited to see Berlin, but a large part of me is sad to leave Dusseldorf. I already miss my host family and it was hard to say goodbye. Yesterday and this morning left me feeling sad knowing it was the last time at the AIB, and my last time to walk down the Rgein, or through Nordpark which was my favorite place in the city. I took a blanket and laid in the sun there yesterday and took a nap and enjoyed the time. Our family was very special. Harald, our host dad, is an artist and he and Sibylle illustrated their own copy of "The Forgprince." They gave hanna and I each a copy. Sibylle said her great-grandfather's sisters used to tell stories with the Grimm brothers so that it has been passed down in her family. It was a really special and personal present, and I will miss them dearly. I am looking forward to the bike tour tonight and hope the rain will hold out until tomorrow. I can't believe this is the last few days, I'm sure they will fly by, but hopefully be as memorable as the rest of the trip has been!