Brexit and Germanentry (Hahaha)

Coming in live from my Aunt's house in good ole' Bethnal Green (a hip little area in London):

Finally. I have stuffed my bags with as much as I can possibly carry without paying outrageous fees, and, after much stress over check ins and packing, I can relax before my early 7 AM flight. After an eventful three weeks in my lovely London amongst other places, this next journey seems... Right. I've been to several countries in my short twenty one years but I've never been anywhere on my own. This new journey is a completely new experience for me, and I'm beyond ready. The thrill of a new city must be that much more exciting when you're on your own. 
Of course there are some concerns: my main one probably being the language barrier. While I've attempted to sit down and learn a few phrases so that I don't come across as a rude American, they just don't sound quite as right when paired with my southern Texas accent and hint of English tone. After my recent experience in Italy, I've learned that gestures and smiles are key when you don't speak the language. I'm a little nervous because the woman in my host family said that she doesn't speak very good English, but I'm sure we will figure it out. Another concern I have is missing my dog. It probably sounds silly but my pup Milo is my world and I've already been away from him for three weeks so far! I get lots of updates but I definitely miss him the most out of everyone and everything back in the States. 
The last thing I'm concerned about- and am concerned about every time I travel- is how people view America and Americans. It saddens me to hear people's views on my country and saddens me even more that sometimes, I don't know what to say to defend my country against their criticism. However, I haven't been to Germany before so hopefully there are some positive views I just haven't heard yet. 

So, to recap: Nervous? A little. Ready? Absolutely. 

See you guys across the pond! 

Kendra 

Thank Goodness for DFW Wifi!

As I sit alone in DFW awaiting my first of two flights, my nerves are finally starting to settle.  The hardest part is over - saying goodbye to my family.  Now I can focus on all the fun we're about to have!  In the months leading up to this day, I had almost forgotten about the "study" part of this study abroad journey, but I am actually looking forward to the classes we'll be taking and learning about the ancient medical history and culture of Germany.  I am most excited about the tours we'll be taking, the new friendships that will be formed, and all of the beautiful scenes we'll be a part of.  I expect to return home with a greater appreciation for taking time for myself and slowing down to enjoy God's beautiful creation around us.  As I stated in my application essay, I believe that now is the time in my life to take advantage of all the world has to offer.  There is no greater way to learn than through experience, and that is just what we're going to do.  We're going to encounter so many new experiences and embrace our independence.

I have so many questions swirling in my head.  These questions mainly revolve around traveling via train between countries on our free weekends.  I also wonder if my host family will be able to understand me through my thick East Texas accent.  I am just itching to be there already and to get this adventure started!  I'm anxious to see how communicating with everyone back home will work.  I also can't wait to see what our living situation will look like and how adventurous I will be with trying new foods.  Hopefully all my worries and questions will be resolved in just a few days!

"Auf Wiedersehen" for now!  I'll see y'all in Germany!

Last Minute

It's midnight and my flight leaves in 12 hours. As my departure date crept closer and closer, I think I have been in denial that I am really leaving everything that I know to live with complete strangers in a foreign country. At first I was really nervous about living with people I didn't know, but now that Megan and I are going to be with the same family, I know I will be able to adjust better. I have been preparing for weeks, buying extra camera batteries, adapters, a tiny first aid kit, and even a small gift for my host family that I hope will be well received. But, I have never been out of the country so I have no clue what to expect. I've always wanted to travel the world, but I never imagined I would have this kind of opportunity during college. I'm so incredibly excited about the program to learn how medical practices, technology, and healthcare systems have developed throughout history. I know we have class from around 10 to 3:30 every day, but hopefully there will be time to get to know my host family, Bonn, and the locals.

I'm mostly worried about communication, sticking out of the crowd with my accent, and traveling on the weekends. I've learned a few words here and there, but not enough that I would be confident talking to a stranger. Thankfully, we will have a German class! As for weekend traveling, we have Prague, Barcelona, several places in Switzerland, Amsterdam, and Bruges all planned out so now it's smooth sailing. Hopefully once we arrive we will get a full schedule for our trips and classes.

I can't believe I will be in Germany tomorrow!

Auf Wiedersehen,

Chey

Tomorrow is the big day!

Well, tomorrow is the day I will be boarding a plane and flying across the ocean to a place I've only ever dreamed of getting to visit. I can't believe it is already here and time to leave. For as long as I can remember, I've wanted to go to Europe, explore the culture, taste the different foods and see all the history that has helped shape the country we live in today.

Packing has been difficult since it is such a long trip and we aren't exactly sure how the weather will be. I've had to pack and unpack and move things around. I still don't feel like I'm going to have everything I need, but I'm sure most people are that way. The language definitely is a concern for me as studying the handbook has been a challenge. Hopefully, it's easier to pick up words once I am there and around it more. I'm also nervous about traveling while there because I am not really used to a bus or train system (besides the buses on campus).

I look forward to traveling and seeing and learning as much as I can while we are there. This should be the experience of a lifetime and I definitely want to make the most of it. The architecture looks astounding from pictures I have seen so I am thrilled to see that in person. Overall, I look forward to gaining a new understanding of a culture different than our own and growing as a person because of the things I will see and learn.

See you soon Bonn!

One day away!

Studying abroad was something I knew I wanted to do going into college, but I didn't know when, where, or how.  I love to learn about different cultures, people and of course food.  This obviously means I was born to study abroad. Right? Since being accepted into this program I have nonstop been reading travel books and googling places to go and things to do in Germany and the surrounding countries.  I have seen so many pictures but I know that actually being there will far surpass what the pictures and websites showed.

I didn't really get nervous about the program until the first meeting when I realized all the free weekends and planning/independence that entailed.  I thought to myself I don't even know anyone going on this trip how am I supposed to plan and be prepared for these weekends before I get there?  Thank the Lord I have those weekends planned out, know where I will be sleeping, and who I will be going with.  It's a good thing too since I fly to Germany tomorrow!

Going into the program I have to remind myself this is a study abroad and not just a vacation, but I really am excited to learn about medicine in Europe.  I don't exactly know what the school aspect will look like, since much of it will be spent out seeing things and not in a classroom.   But, that is what will make this study abroad so fun. There is so much history and I know even after 5 weeks there will still be so much I didn't get the chance to see or learn about.  I hope that by the end of the trip Germany and this study abroad group will be a home away from home.  I am looking forward to making so many funny and probably embarrassing memories with everyone.  Also hoping I survive the biking tours with my subpar skills.

Until Germany,
Megs

So much to do, so little time!

I don't think my brain has wrapped around the fact that I will be overseas for about a month in a few days. Yes, I've made arrangements for my hedgehog to be well taken care of by one of my friends. Yes, I've bought extra batteries for my phone and have invested money into buying adapters and other useful gadgets that will make my stay comfortable, but I don't think I'm yet prepared for the language barrier that so many of my friends that have lived in Germany have warned me about.

So far, I've done my best to work through German grammar and vocabulary books every single day, and I've made some effort to learn proverbs and other cultural aspects about the country, which has actually been pretty fun to look up and research.  My hope is that my host family will be helpful into getting me into the 'mindset' of the language, so that I can enjoy my time in Germany. Because, at the end of the day, I'd really like to talk to the locals and not feel like such an outsider.

Other than that, I'm excited for the classes that the program has to offer and all the amazing places that we get to travel to while we're there. I'm still a little confused on how the school schedule will work, but I feel like that is a detail that can easily be handed out in a packet or announced when we're all together. I'm really excited to meet my host family, I've never had younger siblings, so having two in my host family will really be an interesting experience for me.

Hopefully, I can find a happy balance between school and enjoying the country. I'm in a study abroad program, so the focus is to learn, but I still want to explore because its been one of my dreams to travel and study in Germany.

But until I get on the flight to Germany, I'll just have to worry about making sure everything is washed and packed, and that my moody hedgehog doesn't try to make an escape into the unknown.
 Until then!

-Ash

Almost Here!

It's almost finally here!

It still really hasn't set in that I'm leaving but I guess the stress of packing is a good sign.  I'm so excited to see the history and culture of these countries!  For being a huge history nerd, seeing the actual places that inspired such changes will be an experience that I will never forget.

I'm mostly worried about traveling on the weekends with just us few girls!  However, we have planned everything out and I know it'll be a blast.  My second worry, is forgetting something but I have come to realize that it is an inevitable event.  Picking up a few german words for me has been quite difficult because my Texas accent just does not work well together.  I'm hoping that I can manage though!

My boss is from Germany so she's been sure to give me a list of things that I must do and try.  I'm definitely going to be keeping an open mind and experience as much as I can!  I'm not sure when I'll ever have the chance again to visit Europe so my available memory space in my phone will probably diminish quite a bit!

Only 5 more days!

I Leave Tomorrow!!

My mom and I are traveling before my program officially starts and we leave for Berlin from Houston early tomorrow morning. I'm so excited to do a little acclimating before my program starts as well as get a whole week with my mom before I'll be gone all summer!

I'm really looking forward to this trip and I honestly have no clue what to expect. I've never been abroad before and definitely have never been on such a long plane ride so everything is going to be brand new. I'm very excited to see what we will learn in the classroom, meet my host family (even if they haven't emailed Shelby and I back yet haha), and really get to know everyone on this trip. I like that there's not too many of us, I feel that lets us all get to know each other well over the course of the program. I am also really looking forward to the weekend trips. We have so much great stuff planned out - like Munich, Salzburg, Paris, Hamburg, and so much more. Its great that we are given the freedom to have these weekends be our own - even if it's a little intimidating!

I am a little nervous to be traveling during the weekends with just a few of us girls. But we have everything planned to a tee so well all be totally fine! Getting to know each new city, the transportation, and how to communicate is going to be such an experience and I'm just so ready to get it all started.

It's crazy to think that I leave tomorrow. We've been planning and preparing for this for months but it has always seemed so far away...

I couldn't be more excited to take on this summer and really can't wait to be in Bonn with the whole group!!

One more day until I'm in Germany & a little over one week until I'm in Bonn!

M

Less than two weeks out

The fact that I'm crossing the Atlantic in less than 10 days still doesn’t feel real to me yet. I’ve done my fair share of traveling in the US, but visiting New York and California is nowhere close to the same level as what we’ll be doing this summer. I can hardly fathom crossing a state boundary in anything under 6 hours, much less a nation’s border. I remember when I went up to visit my grandfather in Long Island, New York, and was amazed by how old everything seemed… Most of that was made no earlier than the 17th or 18th centuries. I’m sure I will spend a good portion of my time looking in shock at buildings constructed 600-700 years earlier than that.

I’m sure I’ll become acutely aware of my Texan accent as well as the lack of Texas barbecue over the next month. I think I’m most nervous about having to rely on trains and buses to get around the region as I’ve only used a subway twice in my life. However, I’m incredibly excited for this chance to see more of the world with my own eyes rather than through photos taken by others. I can hardly wait to get to meet my host family, who have already promised to show me some of their favorite places in the region around Bonn. I’m excited to get to know a group of fellow Aggies over the next month, and I’m looking forward to learning more about myself and challenging myself to take advantage of these opportunities being given to me. I hope to experience authentic foods over there instead of relying on the chains also found here and I am cautiously optimistic about my ability to learn enough German to “get by.” I’m also curious to see how the beer in Germany fares in comparison with its reputation.

I’m also glad that I’m coming over as part of a study abroad. Instead of simply being a tourist, I can experience a more realistic perspective of German life. In addition, I’ll get to learn about the history of medicine where it actually happened. As a bit of a classical music nerd, I’m really looking forward to see where the new Neurophysiology of Music course takes us.

Overall, I’m a little bit nervous about leaving my comfortable, safe place here in Texas, but my excitement about this opportunity is continually growing stronger as it approaches. See you soon, Bonn!