Update on life

I have currently been here for about half a week and I feel like I have already done so much. The flight wasn't as bad as I expected but it still brought on some unwanted jet-lag. When we arrived, we waited at the airport for what seemed like forever which was probably caused by the crazy anticipation of what was to come. After a long, but scenic bus ride, we finally ended up at my host family's house where we were warmly greeted with open arms and endless trays of German food and drink. My host parents have been some of the most caring and loving people that I could have asked for and I couldn't imagine anything better. The first day of classes was an exciting one because it fully revealed what we have gotten ourselves in to and I definitely do not regret it. Dr. Wasser and Dr. Waltz did a great job at presenting the subject matter in a way that deeply sparks my passion for medicine and my excitement to further educate myself on these fields of study. It still hasn't sunk in yet that I'm learning what I love in Germany because never in my lifetime would I have ever thought I would get this opportunity. So far literally everywhere I've travelled has been almost like a dream because of the surreal beauty that surrounds me. From the european style homes to the millions of trees casting a shadow over me, I honestly can't get enough of it. For example, today I had the opportunity to venture out to the seven mountains to go on a scenic hike along the mountains that line the Rhein River. On the top of one of the mountains was a gorgeous castle and some ruins that we visited. The views from these landmarks were absolutely breathtaking and although hundreds of pictures were taken, no picture could do justice to the true, natural beauty that we were witnessing. Lastly, amidst all the beauty, we have encountered a few minor problems in the foreign country. First, of course, is the language barrier. From trying to order food to trying to read important signs, its been a struggle not being fluent in Deutsch. However it's a challenge that I am up for and willing to improve at. The second complication is the transportation, however slowly but surely, we're piecing it all together. For example, tonight while trying to get home, we got on a bus that went the opposite way of our home and ending up wasting an hour. The good part is that at least we know what not to do for future reference. In conclusion, this week has been delightfully eventful and makes me even more excited for the weeks to come, lessons to learn, and deeper friendships to form.