Final Blog

After Germany, I continued my wild adventure in Europe and headed to London. I landed without a problem and immediately rushed into a large group of people trying to get train tickets into the city. I finally grabbed my things and jumped on the first train, which took an hour to get into the city. As I walked out of the train station, I became surrounded by other people speaking English and felt as if I was home but without being in America. My hostel was located directly in the middle of a park, which was quite hard to find honestly. I checked into my room and realized very quickly that London is not cheap. My good friend Alexa flew from her study abroad in Barcelona and met me at the hostel where we then decided to head out to get lunch. She decided Nando's would be the restaurant of choice since it was supposedly Nial Horan's favorite restaurant. We split a chicken meal, and it was bigger than either of us expected but so so good. We then decided to head into the heart of London, where all the iconic tourist spots were. Little to our knowledge it was the gay pride parade that week, which meant that thousands of people were gathering in the city and all the streets would be shut down. It was quite overwhelming but at the same time very cool to see all the people from around the world coming together to celebrate. We were able to see the London Eye, Big Ben, the Millenial Bridge, and so much more. We ended up at a pub and got to talk about our different study abroad experiences. We both agreed there's a large difference between Europe and America, from the people to the food there was so much we discussed. We then headed back to the hostel and decided to get up early to hit the city some more. We spent the day continuing to see different structures, and whenever we saw something we wanted to spend time looking at, we would stop and appreciate it. Eventually, we ended up at a free salsa dancing class and watched as all these different people danced their hearts out in front of hundreds of people. We headed towards a famous Irish Pub and began to watch the Women's World Cup between America and the Netherlands. I ended up talking to a woman who was celebrating her birthday and moved from Virginia to London to marry her husband. The game got very intense as both sides of the match were in the room, but the United States pulled out a win and we all celebrated. Alexa eventually left to go to the airport for her flight, and I headed to dinner by myself. I somehow ended up in the Chinatown of London and made my way into a sushi bar with a conveyer belt that went past you. I decided to grab a few different rolls and headed back to the hostel for an early sleep. I woke up pretty early and began to pack my things. I then headed to the airport, where I checked my bag in and began to wait for my parents and sister. After an hour, the security doors opened, and I got to see my family! My mom started crying, and I held back tears, but it was so good to see them all again. We then headed to our taxi and went to Windsor Castle. We had a four-hour-long tour that let us go into the buildings and learn the purpose of the rooms. After the tour, we got some traditional food and then headed back to the airport where we all took naps and showers. At about seven we boarded our flight and got to fly first class, which was very nice since it was a twelve hour-long flight. I instantly fell asleep and woke up the next morning in none other than Johannesburg. My family and I unboarded met our guide and began our journey through South Africa. We immediately went into a van that took us to the Apartheid Museum, which gave us all an insight into the history of South Africa to the present day. The amount of violence and discrimination that occurred in a place only twenty years ago astounded me. We spent a large amount of time learning how the government manipulated the laws and people to take control of the majority of black people living there. After the tour, we went to a traditional South African lunch, where I made the mistake of trying everything. I grabbed a spoonful of Tripe which I later found out was lamb intestine and my oh my it smelled terrible. I felt horrible for not wanting to eat it, so I covered it in mash potatoes. As we ate, multiple groups of singers would come up to the side of the restaurant and perform for all the customers. We all knew it was only to get money, but it was quite a spectacle, and every single individual could sing amazingly. After lunch, we walked to Nelson Mandela's house, where we had a tour. During the tour, we got to see all his awards and see bullet holes in the walls of the house. We also got to hear the stories of Mandela and what his daily life entailed. After lunch, we were all exhausted from the flight, so we headed back to the hotel where we took a nap before dinner. Once we woke up, we headed downstairs to find the rest of my family, all twenty-six of them, sitting at dinner. It was so good to hug everyone and begin catching up with them on what they had been doing. come up to the side of the restaurant and perform for all the customers. We all knew it was only to get money, but it was quite a spectacle, and every single individual could sing amazingly. After lunch, we walked to Nelson Mandela's house, where we had a tour. During the tour, we got to see all his awards and see bullet holes in the walls of the house. We also got to hear the stories of Mandela and what his daily life entailed. After lunch, we were all exhausted from the flight, so we headed back to the hotel where we took a nap before dinner. Once we woke up, we headed downstairs to find the rest of my family, all twenty-six of them, sitting at dinner. It was so good to hug everyone and begin catching up with them on what they had been doing.The next morning we grabbed our bags and headed back into the airport. We were taken to a separate security system and climbed into one of the smallest airplanes I've ever sat in. Within 45 minutes we landed in Botswana and went through customs which was one person standing there asking us questions. No later than fifteen minutes after we landed, we climbed onto another plane that was even smaller than before with only six-seat total. We began to descend into the Okavango Delta and landed on a dirt airstrip as we flew over a herd of elephants. As we hopped out of the plane, we were greeted with multiple guides and their jeeps who threw our luggage into one truck and helped us onto our jeep. We then started driving through the brush where we got to start seeing different animals such as impalas, zebra, and baboons. Pulling around the corner, we approached are the first camp called Chiefs Camp, which is situated on Chief's Island. During the rainy season, the entire camp gets surrounded by water and is known as the sacred hunting grounds of the local tribe's chiefs. We stayed in Chief's Camp for about four days and got to see almost every single animal imaginable. Once again we packed up our belongings and headed to the dirt tarmac where another small plane awaited us. We said our goodbyes to the staff at Chief's and jumped into our tiny plane. In little than fifteen minutes, we landed at our next camp, which was called Vumbura Plains. This camp was much different than the last camp in terms of the location on the delta. It was set on the edge of the delta, so the amount of water and diversity of animals was very different. We already began seeing a larger variety of land and water-based animals in large quantities. As we unpacked our things at camp, an elephant came up to the back porch, literally within two feet of our pool. Already shocked, we were then told our safari was going to begin in twenty minutes. We headed to the jeeps and soon we were on our way. Without warning our guide floored the jeep going faster than we ever had before. We had been told at Chief's camp to duck for branches or hold on, but this was a whole new experience. Diving, bouncing, and sweating, we found ourselves in the middle of an African Wild Dog Hunt, chasing the dogs as they ran after an impala. As soon as we found them, we lost them in the brush, but soon we got a call that a wild dog had just made a kill on its own, which was unheard of. Pulling up to another jeep, we witnessed the fresh-killed being eaten by an overly tired panting dog. Our guide explained the dog would finish eating and then get the rest of the pack and sure enough after a few minutes, the dog ran off. We assumed the dog would return, but minutes went by without a sound. Soon we turned around, and we saw the whole pack running in the opposite direction. Without hesitation, our guide pushed on the gas pedal, and we were off chasing the pack again. We circled back and forth and lost the dogs again but would occasionally see glimpses of them running through the trees. As we made a u-turn, we were face to face with a huge herd of impala as they jumped over our hood and almost hit our car. Suddenly without anyone realizing a wild dog sprinted after them barely a foot away from our car. We then chased once again after the dog and kept watching him chase, stop, pant and chase again. At this point, we realized he was having fun and wasn't trying to kill anything. After about thirty minutes of chasing the dog, we got a call that there was a leopard spotting and instantly started driving towards the sighting. We came around the corner and almost ran straight into a huge herd of African Cape Buffalo. They weren't thrilled not only because of us but because of something else, and we assumed it was the leopard. As we came around the herd, we saw a large number of bushes and one large tree in the center of the bushes. We started to hear what sounded like thunder but then turned into a scene out of Jurrasic Park. The amount of noise was terrible and could be felt in my chest. I immediately realized it was a herd of angry elephants chasing something, and then we heard a jeep driving away. All of a sudden, a huge herd of elephants stampeded through the bushes and completely coupled all the bushes. We backed up and went around the Cape Buffalo and then came back to the tree. As we approached, we saw the leopard in the tree and then suddenly a second leopard appeared, a much larger, more aggressive one. It snarled at the first leopard hopped down the tree and ran off. Then a hyena appeared underneath the tree, and the first jeep returned. My cousins, who were in the first jeep, explained that two hyenas were laying underneath the tree waiting for the first leopard to drop any food. The first leopard was a female that had pulled up an entire impala which was dangling from a tree limb. The hyenas were waiting underneath the tree for any scraps to fall. My cousins explained that the wild dog we saw chasing the impala appeared earlier and started to get into a fight with the hyena. They had followed the leopard into the tree and were waiting to see what would happen. Soon a herd of elephants appeared a not only saw the hyena and wild dogs fighting but also could smell the leopard in the tree. Soon the elephants got extremely mad because they felt their young were in danger. They then began to pursue after the hyena and wild dog and were getting closer to the jeep. At first, the guide was about to leave but then spotted a second leopard which was even rarer. They then decided to stay for a bit longer until the wild dog began to use the jeep as a barrier between it and the hyena. The elephants then associated the jeep with the predators and began to charge. The jeep then backed up and drove for ten minutes as it got chased by the elephants. After hearing the story, we were all shocked at what had happened, and only on the first night. For the next three days, we had such an amazing experience with more adventures and sightings than we could ever imagine. Sooner than we realized our time in Botswana was coming to a close. We spent numerous nights exchanging stories with our family and getting to catch up with one another. We already had begun discussing our next family reunion and how excited we all were to see each other again. The next day my immediate family and I took our bags to the jeep one final time. We eventually got settled into a bigger, more commercial plane with about twenty other people. We ended up each getting our row and enjoyed the scenery of the South African mountains. Within two hours, we landed in Cape Town, where we met our next guide, Steven. Our guide took us straight to our hotel, which was completely beautiful; every floor was dedicated to a different decade of South African history with different artifacts as decorations on the wall. The people working there were accommodating and helped us with every single thing we needed. Eventually, we decided to go to dinner, which was sushi restaurant five minutes away from our hotel. The restaurant was located on the Waterfront, which was known as the up and coming shopping area. My sister, dad, and I decided to get sushi, and since my mom doesn't like sushi, she thought it would be a good idea to get prawns. As she ate her prawns, her face slowly became red, and she started to have to take pauses. We realized that her prawns were super spicy, and she was trying not to say anything. Normally she would eat off our plates, but since she hates sushi, she had no escape route. We finished our meals except for my mom, who at this point, had ordered rice, mash potatoes, and bread to help with the spice. We laughed for the rest of the night and headed back home with full stomachs except for my mom, of course. The next day we woke up and headed to a coffee shop that was famous for its old-fashion coffee bagging. We then spent part of our day learning about the apartheid not only with black people but also the Muslim community. We got to go to a famous street where we tried traditional foods and went to a world-famous spice shop. We then went to a jewelry store where they sold tanzanite and ended the day with a walk on the beach. The next day we got to go to the Botanical gardens and spent all day seeing the beautiful countryside. One night we went to a famous restaurant in Cape Town and got to try different types of food through an eight-course dinner meal and then went and listened to a live band at a bar. One day we decided we wanted to go to the island where Mandela stayed while being prosecuted. Unfortunately, the island closed due to bad weather. To our surprise, Christi Brand was waiting downstairs for us and had breakfast with us as he discussed his relationship with Mandela. Christi Brand was Mandela's prison guard and was the only person who was invited to his private funeral, which wasn't family. We spent a few hours with Brand learning how he came from a small farm to now having a world-renowned book and an incredible friendship with someone who changed the world. The next day we went to see the African penguins and go to the Cape of Good Hope. The water was beautiful, and there were people from all over the world. One day we also got to go to the hospital where the first successful human heart transplant in the world took place. While we began our tour, we all talked about where each person had traveled from. Every single group was from different countries, all doctors, nurses, or in the medical field who were there to learn about history at the hospital. The rest of our time in Cape Town was filled with so many other adventures from private picnics to Rugby games to even Great White Shark cage diving. After four days, we headed to the wine country where we stayed on a working farm that had a Dutch influence. We learned all the history of how French people were brought by a South African during the French war between Protestants and Catholics to grow wine. We also got to learn about a Cheetah Outreach program that trains dogs to defend livestock so that ranchers won't shoot cheetahs. We spent most of our time on wine tastings and learning about the rich history that took place throughout South Africa. After three days we finally headed back to Cape Town where we said our final goodbye to Steven. We finally boarded our plane and took another 12-hour flight to London. Once we landed, we had four hours to shower and change and then headed on our final flight to Austin. After ten hours or so, we finally touched the ground and took our first steps back in the United States. I was suddenly overwhelmed with the amount of familiarity I had and realized that I was back in my city. Once we got home, I was met by my dogs who were so beyond excited to see not only me but also my whole family. For the next three days, I struggled so very hard to recover from the jetlag I had gained over the last nine weeks. After about a week, I then began to feel back to normal. I started noticing things I didn't notice before and highly appreciated air conditioning. From all my traveling, I started to realize that there were common things among all the places I had been. The cultures that live within every shop, every city, every country, every continent, all came from the people that lived their not the places we were. The people I met were always more than happy to tell me their story or to talk about their home. I have expanded my perspective on the idea of what makes people happy. I always say that people who have less materialistic things are usually happier, but over and over again, I have found that people's passions, their loves, their ambitions is what makes them happy. Every place I have been too the people who seem the happiest are the ones that surround themselves with other people that make them happy. I have come to realize that history also repeats itself and the best thing any person can do in this world while we are living on it is to exert kindness. Of course, kindness is hard in the face of conflict, but by being kinder one day at a time, it can make people see that we're all so much more similar than we think we are. I have loved spending time in both Europe and Africa, gaining so much information not only educationally by through my experiences as well. I can't express how amazing this trip was and how much I will miss the little walk back to my host moms house in Roisdorf. I hope that everyone who also goes on the trip pushes themselves to go out of their comfort level and for the sake of stress, don't panic every time your train doesn't show up late.

When can I go back?

I can’t believe that the summer has already come and gone. It truly went by so quickly and now I am thinking when can I go back to Germany. This experience was literally one of the best experiences of my life and it changed me for the better. I learned so many life lessons and gained/improved so many skills.

When I got home after being out of the country for 7 weeks, I had a new-found confidence in myself. I was not the only one who noticed either, my friends and family also made comments. Abroad, I learned how to be more independent, which allowed me to fully see that I am capable of doing things on my own. I have always been able to do things for myself but I could always count on my family to help whenever I needed. Abroad I was truly on my own, I was able to make my own choices and learn from my mistakes or be happy for my successes.

 I traveled most weekends and got to see multiple different cultures and cities. I learned how to adapt in an unusual environment especially in places where English was not the native language. I truly loved Germany, I loved hearing the language, I loved learning about the history not only from class but also from my amazing host family. I was so surprised how comfortable I ended up being in their home especially given how nervous I was at the beginning of the trip. They were so welcoming and treated my roommate and myself with compassion and like we were part of the family. I miss getting to sit out in their garden and have a glass of wine with them. We could sit out there for hours and talk. Looking back, I couldn’t imagine any other way to live on the trip. I’m so glad I didn’t get scared away from living with a host family because they were truly people to look up to and learn from.  

In addition to all the fun activities and excursions we went on, I also really enjoyed the lectures. I learned a lot of new things in both classes and both were very interesting. One of the best parts of the lectures and informational excursions, was how passionate Dr. Wasser was. I couldn’t imagine any other prof doing some of the things he did for us to make the experience more fun. Dr. Wasser was also so passionate about everything he taught and he knew so much. I so thoroughly enjoyed the entire experience I wish I could go again. The program was amazing and all I expected it to be and more. I hope it continues for a very long time so that people can experience the self-growth just like I believe everyone in the program did.   

Back to Reality

The final blog post. I think I have been putting off writing this last post because the finality that comes with it is a little sad. It's the last nail in the coffin to the end of my study abroad experience. At the same time though, I have realized that my experience doesn't really ever end. I am constantly seeing things that remind me of Bonn or using the things I learned abroad in my daily life. It feels like so long ago that I was  roaming the streets of Germany and seeing brand new things all around me. We saw so much and I learned so much in those 6 weeks, that sometimes when I think about it now it seems so unreal. Before this trip, I never would have thought that I would spend 4 days biking around an island or jumping into the North Sea. It never would have crossed my mind to hike a mud flat or hop on a random train hoping it would take me in the right direction. That is what was so special about this trip. It introduced me to so many incredible experiences and so many amazing people that if I said I wasn't a different person after it I would be lying. So without further ado here are just a few of the many things that I have learned on this trip.

Okay yeah I miss pistazie

1. Seize the day and search for opportunities. I learned about this trip from an email that Dr. Wasser sent to all A&M students and it peaked my interest, so I went to the informational. Then all of a sudden I was signed up to study abroad and it was the best decision I've ever made. What I've learned from this trip is that there are opportunities for experiences like this everywhere, but you just have to go for them. Sometimes you need to go searching for them too, but we have unlimited access with the internet right at our fingertips. I've started to live in a mindset where if something interests me, I am going to go for it and explore it. There is no point in missing out on opportunities and letting them pass by.
2. Be adaptable. (Stuff happens... its all about how you react to it) A lot of crazy things happened while I was abroad, but I have noticed that the biggest thing that affected how the events played out was how I reacted to them. It is so important to be adaptable when things don't go according to plan. Embrace the chaos that comes with unpredictability because you never know what good things are going to come out of it. You never know who you are going to meet or what you are going to witness. I am a strong believer that everything happens for a reason so when stuff happens, see it in a different light than a negative one.
3. Be in the moment. Life is short. It is especially way too short to spend moments looking at a screen. I have learned how important it is to have a certain kind of intentionality in all the conversations you have and the experiences you have. There is something special in everything you do. The part I missed the most about being aboard was the novelty. Everything was so cool and I was in a mindset where every single thing was amazing. I am eating gelato in Bonn. How cool?? Now that I am back here things seem bland, but in the past week I have been trying to take a step back and think about the things I am grateful for here.

Missed Aggie Football

4. Go explore. Seriously. Go outside and do something crazy. The other day I went to a 6:30 am sunrise yoga class in the Gardens because I was missing Tai Chi. It was great. Just because you aren't in a different country right now, doesn't mean there aren't cool things to go do. Go lay out in a field because you want to. Hammock in the academic plaza. Spend time enjoying yourself.
5. Be a worldly person. This was the biggest thing I realized I was lacking when I went abroad. I knew next to nothing about what was going on in the world, let alone in my own country. So look at the news and be aware. Keep learning everyday, be open to new ideas and thoughts, and form your own opinions on different matters.

On the second to last day in Berlin, I started crying. I still really don't know why. I think I was overwhelmed. I had just had the best 6 weeks of my life where I learned so much and it was about to be over. I also think I was afraid that the person I had become while I was abroad was going to be gone once I crossed back into Texas. Abroad, I was spontaneous and felt like I was on top of the world. I could hop on a train by myself and be fine. I had this immense confidence in myself and my capabilities. I think I was afraid that I would lose all of it the second I stepped foot on the plane. When I came back though, it was still there. The biggest change I went through this summer was gaining a different kind of independence. It's one thing being two and a half hours away from home in college and saying you are independent, but there is a whole other kind of independence when you are across the world in a different time zone with brand new people surrounding you, having to figure out your way. I still have that confidence in my abilities and I know that anything I set my mind on I can accomplish.

Berlin was good to me

I still miss Germany, but she will always be with me. The things I learned while over there and the experiences I had are forever. Okay Dusseldorf Digest, this is the last post from me. If you are reading this, take the chance and study abroad. Go on your own hero's journey and trust me, you will never regret it.

Tschss,

Suji Dalal

Alright, Let’s Do This One Last Time

When I received the email saying it was time to write the final post, it felt like no time had passed since the trip ended. I’ve pretty much been busy every day after we said our goodbyes in Berlin. Instead of directly coming back to the United States, I visited Venice, Rome, Florence, London and Paris and then made my way home. About a week later, I moved back to College Station and started Resident Advisor training. The past few weeks have been a blur of presentations, team-building exercises, and residents checking in.

I’ve felt so rushed lately, I haven’t even thought to look back and reflect on my summer abroad. When I force myself to think What was the most transformative part of the trip? How was I changed? and other deep questions, I can’t really seem to find an answer. I know that I am now more appreciative of certain aspects of the US, like tap water being free, pirating videos, and air conditioning.

Though, there are some things I miss about Bonn and Germany. In Texas, everything is so far away. No stores are as conveniently close as the Haribo store was to my host home. Sales tax has always confused me, but it does so even more now that I know the benefits of the euro.

I remember some of the course work we did and the sites we visited, but most of my memories are the random, daily experiences of life abroad. One of my favorite memories was the last night in Berlin when the belly dancing show turned into a full-on dance party. Some things that I thought were terrible don’t seem too bad now (however, I still remember how cold my feet were on the mud flats).

Even though I don’t feel like I’ve changed a lot, my friends often tell me to stop talking about Europe. Things are back to normal here in College Station, and I’ve only seen a handful of people from the trip. It’s weird how I spent every day for those six weeks with a group of people, but don’t hang out with them now. I guess, overall, what I am most grateful for is the friends I made this summer and the time I spent with them.

To anyone reading this in preparation for their own study abroad, I have three pieces of advice:

1. Nothing will go exactly as planned, and that’s OK.
2. Believe in yourself. You may be nervous about going to a new place, but when the moment comes, you’ll find the confidence you need.
3. Buckle your seatbelt, because a trip with Dr. Wasser and Professor Waltz will be one hell of a ride.

At the end of the road (Plus a note to future bloggers)

As I write this post I'm back in College Station, sitting at the Evans Library and trying to put my thoughts on this entire experience into words.

I honestly didn't know what to expect when I signed up for this program, or even when I stepped onto the plane heading for Frankfurt. Despite the program meetings and the mentions of The Hero's Journey, and the testimonials that the experience really would affect us as people, I'm not sure if I really got it. If you'd asked me what I expected, I would have probably said that it seemed like it would just be a cool, fun time, like a long vacation with some bonus classes and learning. It sounded right up my alley, but I wasn't expecting to walk away feeling any different.

I'm happy to say that I was incorrect.

On our very last day in Berlin, as Dr. Wasser was giving us a pep talk before heading back into the real world, he told about how all of this is preparing us for great things, that the things we learn and do now will build the foundation for who we are years from now, and to remember, "when the student is ready, the teacher will appear." Almost everyone in the restaurant was tipsy, and I think the speech got the whole room collectively a bit teary-eyed, but I think it was really accurate summary of what I feel like I took away from this program.

I've always sort of believed there are turning points in people's lives. Not necessarily big ones, and not necessarily good or bad, but still days, weeks, or even years that profoundly affect the rest of our lives. Maybe it's the right timing, or the right people, or just being twenty years old without a fully developed brain and different neuroplasticity or whatever, or some combination of all of that, but I believe the six weeks I spent on this program were exactly what I needed, exactly when I needed it in my life. I couldn't have told you beforehand, or maybe even during, but I think that's the way these things work. I was ready, and the teacher appeared.

To be fair, it's only been a month and a half after getting back, so I won't be able to tell how much of this will stay with me over the course of my life. I guess I won't really know until I'm thirty or forty or fifty and looking back on this time of my life. However, I have a feeling that it will. I think just  knowing that I've stepped out of my comfort zone and left the relative safety of routine behind before, and that it was great, helps make it easier to do so again when I need to. I think that's something that I have to remember.

When I lost my mom at the end of 2018, it felt like I'd been thrown into a new future without any agency or preparation. Now, approaching a year later, I think I can say that I still feel like I'm charting a future I don''t entirely know, but I'm doing it on my terms, and I'm confident I have the skills to make it a good one.

Now the rest of this post, I wanted to address to anyone else on any future program who, like me, went and looked at all the old student's blog posts before writing their first one themselves.

Hey there! You might not know it yet, and you might not believe me, but you're in for more than just classes and travel. I'm still not sure I have the words entirely to explain it, but Dr.Wasser's Hero's Journey lecture will probably put it better than I can. He's really not exaggerating (at least that much.) My advice to anyone about to head out as a part of this program is, whenever you encounter something new, open your heart to it. Make friends with all of your classmates. Eat lots of gelato, because I already miss the frequency of gelato shops in Germany, and its the best euro twenty you'll ever spend. Make yourself wake up in the morning to do beach exercise, and don't be afraid to run into the North Sea, it's warmer than you think! Try a banana weisen, I know it sounds weird but just trust me. Take lots of pictures, but don't worry too much about getting the perfect angle. Sit at a cafe. Find a good sunset to watch. Have fun looking at all the beautiful dogs everywhere in Germany and pet some wandering cats, if that's your thing. Bring a good raincoat to Nordeney (I'm serious about this one!!) and make sure to try the mud treatment, it's worth the minor self-consciousness. Go to a carnival, and ride every ride you can.

Lastly, find something new to fall in love with everyday. This one will be easy.

I'm so thankful I got to be a part of this trip, and I think I'll always remember it fondly.

Signing off for the last time,
Melissa

Signing off...

It's the third day of my Junior year and I'm sitting here writing this blog post, wondering how time has flown by so quickly since our last day in Berlin. To be honest, I've been putting off writing this last post because it seems so final; like I'm letting go of all of the experiences and memories from my study abroad. For several weeks after I returned home from Bonn, I felt empowered but also unsatisfied. I was so happy so see my family and friends, but I couldn't help but feel like something was missing. Life back in Texas seemed so bland and unfamiliar. Life in Germany seemed so far away and intangible. I felt like I had all of this new knowledge, but nothing to do with it. I had the urge to always be doing something - traveling, eating out with friends, exploring new things, and learning. Yet it seemed like life at home didn't offer as many opportunities for these things as life in Germany did.

As the summer went on and I thought about my trip more, my attitude changed completely. After much reflection, I decided to start using all of the knowledge I had learned to better myself and others. I'm now adjusted again to my normal life at home, but not a day goes by where I don't think about my time in Bonn. I now have a new perspective on life, relationships, political issues, food and beer preferences (most importantly), and more. I wanted to share six things I've learned to anyone that may be looking into this program.

1. Step outside your comfort zone.
If study abroad is something that interests you but makes you slightly uncomfortable, do it! I was so nervous to be in a foreign country for six weeks living with a host family whom I had only met over email. Looking back, I can say it was one of the best decisions I ever made. This decision led to many other opportunities to step outside my comfort zone. During the program, I tried new foods, attempted to use my broken German, made friends that I wouldn't have met if it weren't for study abroad, traveled to new places, rode a bike for the first time in ten years, and so much more. It was through these experiences that I grew and learned. By going out into the unknown, we come back as a better, stronger, wiser person.

2. Read the news. 
Read the news. Watch the news. Pay attention to the news. Know your history. I cannot stress this enough. This is one of the largest ways my study abroad has impacted me. Before the program, I hardly ever clicked on news articles. I just skimmed over headlines and assumed that I knew enough to keep me informed. Boy was I ill-prepared for when many Europeans asked me about political or social issues my own country was facing. At one point, my host mom said to me "I can guarantee you that I know a lot more about what's going on in your country than you know." She was right. Coming back, I downloaded several different news apps, started to read as many news articles as I could, listened to NPR everyday, and talked about the news with my parents and friends. I realized the value of knowing what's happening not only in my own country, but all around the world.

3. Never stop learning.
Listen to your teachers, professors, mentors, peers, etc. Truly be interested in listening to what they have to say. Ask lots of questions. We only have one life on this earth, so learn as much about it as you can. Learn about people, history, scientific advancements, politics. It is our duty to stay educated both inside and outside of school. After the trip, I have tried to listen to at least one educational podcast a day. It is so easy to learn this way. I like to listen to them while I'm driving, cleaning, getting ready, and exercising. I would like to thank Dr. Wasser and Professor Waltz for being such great professors. They were so eager to answer any questions that we had, and truly wanted to enrich us with knowledge. I seriously have never learned so much in six weeks. Not only did I learn about history of medicine and neurophysiology of music, I learned about culture, food, healthcare systems, thalasso therapy, world history, tai chi, and classical music. And I also learned a heck of a lot about myself.

4. Respect others.
Nothing teaches you more about other cultures than traveling. Although Western Europe is somewhat similar to the United States, there were still some cultural differences that threw me off at first. Respecting others and accepting their differences is such an important skill. The first time I jaywalked in Germany, I was scowled at and yelled at by this one man. Although I had no idea what he was saying, it didn't sound too nice. Although I was quite offended and shocked at first that some stranger was yelling at me for simply crossing the street, I quickly realized that it is rude in Germany to jaywalk. Although it seems strange to us, the Germans are very orderly and stick to their rules, so it was no surprise that I got dirty looks when jaywalking. In cases like this, it is important to realize the cultural and social differences between you and other people. This was only one example, but I could name off so many other times when I encountered someone that was different than me. We need to learn how to respect others that have a different set of values, ideas, and morals than our own.

5. Sleep when you're dead.
This is something that was repeated by Dr. Wasser, Waltz, and Alexa. I have never been too big on staying up late and waking up early. This changed real quick. After waking up at 3:30 am to catch a flight to Vienna, staying out late exploring different cities, and skipping a little sleep to have great conversations with friends, I can say that a little lack of sleep won't hurt you. It was through these late nights and early mornings that some of my best relationships and memories were formed. Study abroad is exhausting, but the reward is so worth it. Not a lot of people have the opportunity to study abroad in college, so take every opportunity you can to embrace it and enjoy it. You'll find some time later on to catch up on sleep!

6. Study Abroad!
This experience has taught me so much and continues to impact me everyday. I know that the memories and relationships formed on this trip will last a lifetime. I cannot wait to go back and visit Germany in the future, and I plan on staying in touch with my host family (they were absolutely amazing). If you're thinking about studying abroad but you're a little hesitant, go for it. It will be one of the most valuable things you do during your college career. Meet new people, travel with your peers, and be open to learning.

Last hike with our host parents

Auf wiedersehen (for the last time).

Week 6,7,8..... The final trip.

Well, it seems that my journey is finally coming to an end. The last week in Germany was a week I will forever cherish. I spent my last two days with my host mom enjoying homemade German food and spending some more hours talking about the future. Wednesday morning she brought me to the train station and gave me a present from her family to me. We said our goodbyes and were sad that I wouldn't be at dinner that night. We then headed to Berlin for our final excursion before the end of the abroad. We arrived at our hotel and then headed to lunch. I then proceeded to visit a local grocery store and somehow ended up ruining my coffee by putting salt instead of sugar into my cup. We all then headed to the hospital, where we got to learn more history of German medicine and got to see their collection of different body parts. We then went on a city tour with Ryan and got to see how much of Berlin had become a city-wide museum commemorating all the victims of World War 2. It was quite impressive that the city has become such a vast place of remembrance for their history. We then ended the night with a late dinner and went straight to bed.
The next day we had the incredible experience of getting split into smaller groups to go on different tours. Our tour guide was a Syrian refugee who took us to specific landmarks such as the Berlin Wall and Checkpoint Charlie. He then began to explain the similarities between his person persecution in Syria and the persecution that took place in Berlin. We further learned the history of Syria and how our guide made his way to Berlin. We then had a traditional Syrian lunch and headed back to the hotel where we finished a powerpoint for the overall day. Later that night, we learned from each group and got to see what they experienced during their day. There was so much information I learned from each different presentation. I was quite fascinated to hear the experiences from different types of perspectives on how they view Berlin. I took away a lesson from each guide and was so glad I got to learn from people who live their lives differently than my own. After we had our presentation with My Berlin Day, I headed back to the hotel and went back to bed. The final day we woke up bright and early and led to Sachsenhausen. This tour was probably the saddest tour we had gone on throughout our whole study abroad. It was apparent that we all had become deeply impacted by the reality of what had occurred at Sachsenhausen. We learned how prisoners lived in the camp, including experiments the doctors performed during their time there. After a few hours of walking through the actual grounds, we headed back into Berlin and got lunch before going back to our last tour. We then visited the House of Music and had the best time hearing all sorts of instruments from different places and centuries played in person. Our guide taught us how instruments have changed over time and the difference between the materials used. After the tour, we headed back to the hotel, where we packed our luggage and got ready for the farewell dinner. At the dinner, we all told stories of our favorite memories and how much we had enjoyed our time studying abroad. We ended the night we a belly dance performance that ended with everyone joining in. As the music lowered and everyone started gathering their stuff, we all began to hug goodbye. For some reason, I began to cry, and so did everyone else as we realized we would probably never be in Europe again with all of us present. It was bittersweet, but we all also realized that we did go to the same school and we were all going to see each other again. That night I headed back to my hotel room, packed all my things, and fell fast asleep to be later woken up by the 4 am an alarm for my taxi. I finally made it to my terminal at the airport and said my final goodbyes to Germany as I headed out for my next adventure.

the journey has officially come to an end

            This trip was full of memories and experiences that I will cherish for my entire life. I've been home seven weeks now, and I still feel myself wishing I was back in Germany and getting to experience the whole thing all over again. I have officially become the girl who often starts stories with "This one time on my study abroad..." and I'm not even sorry about it. Every time I meet someone with a science major, I promote this trip.

still miss Heidi Klum

                   Before I decided I wanted to go on this trip, I was hesitant. I didn't know anyone who was going, which terrified me, and I was nervous about going with BIMS when my major is animal science. I am so glad I took the leap and decided to go on the trip anyway. I made some amazing friends and getting to hang out with them back in College Station makes me feel like Germany isn't really that far away.

also Paris was SO FUN

           I learned so much from my experiences on this trip, and I fully believe that they changed me as a person. Immersing yourself in a completely different culture for six weeks really changes your outlook on life. I still miss hearing the German language, which I never thought I would say because I used to always think it was a super harsh sounding language. I miss being able to go wherever I wanted to go on the weekends (even though I still want to sue Deutsche Bahn for emotional distress). I miss the amazing food (especially the cheese wieners from Vienna), and I'm proud to say I tried so many different foods from so many different cultures, which I don't know if I would have been as open to trying if it hadn't been for this trip (I now find myself craving Syrian food). I also am now able to semi-confidently ride a bike, so I'm glad I have that skill if I ever need it. Because of this trip, I am now also not afraid of traveling alone. Before Germany, the thought of being alone on a plane frightened me, but now I feel 100% comfortable with it. This trip also gave me an idea of what I want to do with my life, which I am eternally grateful for. While I definitely still miss Germany, I am also so happy to be home. I miss my cat, my family, my friends, AC, and my car. This trip also definitely helped me feel more comfortable to the idea of me permanently living somewhere in Europe, and I've spent these past weeks trying to get one of my friends to take that leap with me after graduation.

I learned staring at human surgeries actually didn't make me pass out

                Thank you again to my parents for allowing me to experience the summer of a lifetime. I am so grateful for all the help you provided me with. To any prospective student reading this debating if they should take the leap, do it! You'll meet amazing people and have experiences you'll cherish forever. Auf wiedersehen, Germany!

me n the crew at tacos :')