Study Abroad trip final thoughts

I have been back in the states now for about 6 weeks, and I have had a lot of time to think back and reflect on my time in Europe. By the time I barely made my flight back to America I was ready to be back home. I was ready for the warmer weather and all the other things I missed about home.
In the time I have been home I have slowly been making comparisons to the life over there and to life back home. The first noticeable difference between Germany and Texas is the lack of public transportation. The system in Germany was very efficient and seemed to get everyone where they needed to go without too many problems. In Texas this kind of system in my opinion wouldn't work on a large scale. It works decent enough on a small scale and a good example is the university bus system. To simply put it the state is just too large for there to be an effective train system. I found it kind of funny that some of the people we met there found 2 and a half hours to be a long drive ( the time it takes for me to go from College Station to my hometown).
The most noticeable difference between Texas and Germany was obviously the weather. With the exception of the first few days in Bonn the temperatures were below freezing and there was snow everywhere. I got pretty good at dressing for the cold and walking in the snow. For about 3 days the snow was cool and then it go to the point were it was slight annoying. I understood how much more difficult having to deal with snow all the time can make things. Then again the culture over there is used to colder winters and they know how to deal with everything. I'm sure after about 3 days they would get pretty tired of the Texas summer heat. The other day it actually snowed here in College Station. I didn't have the same reaction that everyone else in the city did. It wasn't as big of deal for me since I in snow for 3 weeks.
The three weeks I spent in Europe was an amazing experience, its not too often you get the chance totally immerse yourself in another culture and see things from another viewpoint. I had a great time while I was over there and I do home to be lucky enough to return one day, maybe this time in the summer. To all the students who are reading this and trying to decide if they want go abroad. I would say do it. You never know when you may get an opportunity like this and it is worth everyminute.

Post-Trip

It's been a little over a month since the end of the trip, and it took a little while to get back into the groove of being in school and the new sleeping schedule. I find myself a little nostalgic of the trip, but I really am glad to be back in the United States, back to a home and free water. I would definitely love to go back to Germany sometime soon, but I would much rather it be a situation where I could spend more time in one place and really get to know it.

I feel like I have learned so much from this trip, least of which is an appreciation for Europe, especially Germany. There were several situations in which I found myself wondering how I could have been so narrow-minded in the past regarding foreign views and concerns, but every time I learned more about the situations surrounding Germany and everything the country went through. The stereotype that often comes with Germany is truly sad, and in retrospect I can easily see that the whole thing is far from the truth. The entire trip, I was always met with hospitality, and never the hostility that others may expect.

Not only that, but the trip has inspired me to take so many more trips out of the country, the first of which, I hope, will be to Italy within the next year or so. I've already gotten the Rosetta stone for Italian and I plan on signing up for classes next semester to start learning as much as I can. Language is so beautiful and diverse that I would feel ignorant not to learn as many as possible. Already a bilingual, I feel the task would be a little easier, but I know that it won't be a cakewalk, and I cannot wait to get started.

The program has taught me so much about respect for other countries, for other cultures, for other languages, and especially for other people in general. I had a lot of fun and made so many memories. I'm really glad I went and I know that the whole thing will change my life forever.

Back in Texas

While it was GREAT to return to Texas weather, I wish I could have stayed in Europe longer. Even though it is currently snowing, I know spring will get her much sooner than in Germany, and we’ve had some really pretty days. It was really hard to leave Europe when I didn’t know when I could go back again. When I started the program, I thought this might be my only chance to see Europe, or at least Germany. However, I am now certain that I will return; I just don’t know when. The logistics of another trip are a little daunting. I don’t know when I have the time or money to go back. I would really like to learn a foreign language so I could live over there. I am much more interested in taking an overseas job now or going for a year between undergrad and graduate school.

Almost every day, something happens that reminds me of my time abroad. I love Germany! Every day was an adventure. I liked experiencing snow for the first time. However, I missed seeing the sun. The public transportation was really convenient. When I returned to the states, I enjoyed driving my truck at first, but now it’s a pain to have to drive everywhere. Also, people in college station cannot drive as well as the people on the autobahn. I don’t know why we can’t drive like that. You can only pass on the left and then you get over. It’s so easy! Oh, well. I’m glad I get to cook my own food now. The hardest and most tiring part of the program was eating out every meal.

Hopefully I'll be back soon!