Back in the Grand Ole' State

It's definitely strange being back in the land where trains are somewhat of a nuisance, rather than something that can easily take you and your friends across the country for weekend travels. I remember getting into my own car as I was picked up from the airport thinking, "this is so strange to be in a vehicle that isn't a cab, and it has air conditioning, because it's 100 degrees outside!" Hearing so many English speakers (even though I only ever met probably 2 Germans that didn't speak English) made me double-take several times in the DFW airport upon my arrival back in the states, and it has made me realize how much I take advantage of speaking English. So many Americans, including myself, never bother, because they may not need, to learn another language besides the one they speak natively. I've learned from spending my summer abroad that knowing at least one other language is infinitely beneficial for not only verbally communicating with someone from a different country. Knowing someone else language allows you to reach a person beyond the superficial level and understand a culture different from your own in ways that may never be possible, otherwise. Given another opportunity to travel as I have this past summer, I would take that chance again every time. The risks about my traveling were a large part of what made it so fun, and the benefits, in my opinion, are almost immediate and numerous. There is almost no other proper way to teach yourself about a culture that doesn't originate your home nation without living for some time in that other culture. People who see and spend conversations with travelers in their community are almost always more than welcoming to outsiders, especially when you take the time to show you want to learn about who the people are, rather than focusing on what tourists usually see.

Don't get me wrong; the sights are amazing! It's really easy for me to say that my favorite parts were visiting Switzerland and Prague on the free weekends. It's easy to tell what answers people are looking for when they ask how my summer was, and for most, I will simply answer superficially with the most fun weekends when we traveled to beautiful and exciting places. Some of my favorite moments were in Switzerland; going up Mt. Pilatus in Luzern, canyoning in Interlaken, riding the scenic train through the mountains, paddle-boarding on Lake Thun in Interlaken. I can't forget those and others like them, but some of the most interesting stuff to me was somewhat academic. Being able to see surgeries in person, conversing with doctors in Hannover, seeing them interact with their patients, and things like this were experiences I will scarcely forget. I love being back with long-time friends in College Station, but nothing could replace the experiences I had in Europe this summer. The differences in interacting with German society have made me so much more aware of my own habits that used to seem so normal. Also, I have grown to appreciate the German beer much more than American beer, but this summer was beyond anything senses can describe.