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 :')

Final Thoughts

Since coming back to the States, I have been in a daze that I am only starting to shake off. It has felt like nothing in my day to day life could ever compare to the beauty and wonder of Europe and the amazing things I got to see every day. My experiences in Germany and Europe as a whole can only be described as some of the best times of my life. Every day was a new adventure and I think I can honestly say that I was taught something new every single day, whether it was a new part of a Tai Chi sequence, new academic material, another German word, how to use another form of transportation, or a different way of looking at the world. This program had so much to offer, and it affected me in ways that are still manifesting now.

The first thing I learned after the program: change creeps up on you. I didn't feel like I was changing throughout the program, at least not in any way that would be immediately perceptible from looking at me. However, that was not the case. The minute my family saw me back on Houston ground, they instantly told me that something about me was different- the way I looked (my tan), the way I carried myself, the look in my eye. And that really got me thinking- had I really changed? After I started talking to them about all of my experiences and the things I learned, I realized that I truly was different, particularly in the way I thought about things.

For example, this program helped me to get drastically better at entertaining ideas or other ways of life that I might normally have rejected in a normal, every day setting. For example, public transportation. Here in Texas, we love our cars and are generally not used to public transportation, so I did not think much of it. However, after depending on public transportation, and seeing it used in an extremely successful way across Europe, I gained a deep appreciation for a good train or bus system.

This experience also ended up giving me a pretty big confidence boost, and helped me come out of my shell a bit, which was quite unexpected. I am normally a very reserved person, not prone to taking many chances. However, now any time I doubt myself now, or feel the urge to back away from something new, I think to myself that if I could figure out how to traverse a foreign city using transportation I'm not used to, and find a place to stay in a foreign country, I can do anything. This program was big in taking me outside my comfort zone- something I do not do very often at all. It got me more comfortable in being outside my comfort zone and being more easy going. Life can be an exciting adventure no matter if you're in Prague, Czechoslovakia, or College Station, Texas. 

This experience also changed my view of the world. I was amazed at how many similarities I found between cultures, instead of the vast differences I expected; I didn't think about how seeing people go about their everyday lives in a different country would affect me before starting this program. Since I had always dreamed of going to Europe, I think I had this silly and unrealistic view of how Europeans lived- that somehow there lifestyle would be perfectly ideal and better than the American lifestyle. But, after about a week of living in Germany, I found that it was not that different from how we Americans live, in fact, it even felt mundane at times, which was shocking.  Everyone still meets for coffee, goes to the neighborhood pool, has dinner with their family, and goes to work or school. In just about every country I visited, I somehow managed to interact or find a connection with at least one of its residents. This helped realize that people are people, no matter where they are from or what language they speak. We all want the same general things out of life, and that made the world feel a lot smaller to me.

Finally, something huge I took out of this trip was the friendships I made. It was wonderful to be surrounded by so many great people, and to have peers to lean on when difficult situations arose, or when everything felt too foreign. And now that I am back in school and seeing many of the familiar faces in my classes, it is like we have brought our experiences in Germany back to Texas. I will never forget the experiences I had and the friendships I made during this program. I can confidently say that when I am older and looking back to what shaped me as a person, this experience will be at the top of the list. 

The Long Haul

I’ve been back in the U.S. for 43 days now, and I can’t decide if I miss Europe or not. On one hand, I miss the bathroom stall doors that didn’t have cracks and being able to travel anywhere cool on the weekend. On the other… well I don’t think I can ever live again without AC and my own car. Although the public transportation was wonderful in Europe, I like being on my own schedule and going wherever I want when I feel like it. But I wouldn’t trade this experience for anything and I’m grateful for the 2 months I spent there. 

When I arrived back, the next day I had an early morning shift for work. So I was tired and jet lagged, but I found myself being more decisive in decision making and relying less on other people to lead. On the trip, I didn’t make that many friends and that lead to me depending on myself to pick and choose how I want to spend my free time. I didn’t have the luxury of having people to pitch in ideas or someone making the decision to go somewhere, I had to make quick decisions to go left when everyone was going right. And it lead to me having a lot of introspection of what I liked and didn’t like. But more often than not, I was trying out new experiences that I wouldn’t have gotten surrounded by a group of people. On Norderney, after freezing on the mud flats for 2 hours, I made my way as fast as possible back to the hostel and then to the Bade Haus. If I had waited for people, I would have been freezing for hours more. I wouldn’t have gotten to experience the all female sauna and participated in a löyly ceremony. Coming home to my management job where everyone looked to everyone else for decision making, it had me taking action and completing tasks faster. My employees were happier because they had a more solid sense of direction and their time was not wasted in the summer heat. 

Recently I visited my friend in Houston for a weekend of fun before school started. Her family was very nice but very conservative. Her dad and I got into a conversation about the German healthcare system, and I’m sure Dr. Wasser would be mortified as to how I presented it. I did my best to explained why I liked the system so much and how it worked, but I couldn’t do the system justice and her dad tore my argument to pieces. My one point of pride is that I would state a fact and he would do silent for a few minutes googling it on his phone until he was deep into the search results, finding some obscure article that refuted that fact. Although the conversation was frustrating, it reinforced my view that most Americans, specifically the older generations, do not have the same compassion and vision the younger do of a public health system. Yes we would have to pay higher taxes, and possibly never reap the benefits, but millions of Americans overall would be better off for it and would strengthen our country. I wish I had my notes in front of me during this discussion with him, but even then I don’t think he would have been convinced that the German system is miles better than our greedy, fractured and leaky American mess. Maybe Dr. Wasser could’ve made a dent in his mind. 

All in all, my bank account was lightened while my mind was weighted down with a whole new way of thinking. Not weighted down with stress, but knowledge of a wider world that is growing and changing with every new person that experiences it. 

Trip Takeaways

The six weeks since I got back from the trip were very strange, especially compared to the trip itself. Settling in to a comfortable routine to prepare for the school year at home was a refreshing change, despite being a lot less exciting than rushing around Europe, The last three weeks were spent at College Station, preparing a new class of freshman for the trials of their fish year. This was an exhausting period of time, with early mornings and late nights and long days spent in the Texas sun.

Being back in the States has given me a little bit of time to process everything that I did in Europe. I totaled seven countries in the six weeks of the trip, and I feel like every place I went taught me something different, and that there was a lesson to be learned from every culture and people that I saw.

Brussels showed me how being open to visitors and willing to adopt multiple languages can create a city and country that is welcoming and diverse, with an inclusive mindset being key there.

In Paris, I learned what it felt like to be actively disliked by the majority of people. I felt their discrimination against Americans, and I saw firsthand what idealism, extreme wealth, and a touch of corruption can turn a city into (Versailles was the best example).

The Irish demonstrated an incredible degree of openness and friendliness. Dublin was this beautiful bastion of welcoming smiles and good times, enabled by hard workers and cold drinks. I've never been to a place so upbeat and open.

Amsterdam helped me appreciate a lesson my old friend had taught me, that taking life too seriously is the fastest way to make yourself miserable. Being flexible and able to adapt, to change plans, helped me enjoy the city both times I went, once with friends and once on my own to fly home.

Austria gave me the perspective that death can be welcomed, and that even grim ideas can be appreciated, even celebrated, to help bolster spirits when things get tough. The Viener's take on death has allowed them to take the biggest fears of most people and turn them into an iconic part of their culture.

Going to Prague lent me a new perspective on urban environments, and the beauty of architecture. I also took away an open-mindedness thanks to the compression of huge numbers of people around me through all parts of my visit to Prague.

Last but not least, Germany and her people gave me many lessons. Austerity in living, both in plainness and seriousness. Being open to new people and languages and foods and lifestyles. A serious dedication to what is better for the environment, from recycling to public transit. However, my favorite thing about the Germans is the genuine nature of their interactions. The respect of being on time and the honesty of every conversation was amazing, and probably the thing I miss most of all.

I hope that I remember all of these lessons, and apply them in my life from this summer forward. I want these experiences to improve me, and to better inform me as I press forward in my life and make decisions and have influence on people as a leader and learner.

Bye Bye Duesseldorf Digest

It’s crazy that we’ve already been back for 7 weeks. When I went to the first informational meeting about this trip and heard the former students talking about how life changing it was, I didn’t really believe them. It all sounded a little cheesy and cliche. But now that I’ve experienced it for myself, I can wholeheartedly say that they were SO RIGHT! This experience was nothing short of life changing. I really do feel like I’m a different person, for the better.

 First, I’m much more independent. Even though I’ve been an “adult” for three years, I’ve never had the same freedom that I’ve had when I was in Europe. I could pick up and travel to a different country every weekend, and no one could tell me no. Having this amount of freedom forced me to gain a new level of maturity. When something went wrong, I couldn’t immediately call my parents for help. I learned to think critically and problem solve both on my own and with others. Learning how to solve these problems gave me confidence that I’m capable of handling tough situations on my own. 

Second, I’m more sensitive to social and cultural differences. Immersing yourself in a totally different world for 6 weeks is a really great way to develop an appreciation for and learn from someone else’s way of life. Getting to live with a host family and adapt to their way of living taught me to be more flexible and open minded. I learned that just because something is different than what I’m used to doesn’t mean its bad or wrong, it’s just different. And a lot of times different can be good! 

I’m really having trouble putting my thoughts about this experience into words. It’s truly indescribable and one of the best decisions I have ever made. To any prospective students reading this, if you have even the slightest inkling of interest in this trip, GO. Don’t let fear keep you from the experience of a life time. I learned so much, grew as a person, made memories that I’ll have forever and met some really amazing people. I’m so grateful I had this opportunity and can’t recommend it highly enough to future students.

This is it...

 

My family dropping me off
at the airport in Austin

Wow. I can't believe that this is it. That the greatest experience of my life has now been over for 7 weeks now and has been 6 weeks since I came back to the United States. Hearing everyone talk about how life changing this trip was supposed to be, I really didn't understand what could be so life altering. I thought there was no way doing this could actually change the person I am, but boy was I wrong. The first change came with learning how to live with roommates. I am an only child and even when I started college, I have always lived by myself in a studio apartment. Now all of a sudden I had to share a house with 5 strangers (our 3 host family members and my 2 roommates). I was never used to leaning on others for walking home, leaving to travel, or just when we were going to eat dinner. I also never got the opportunity to just walk out of my bedroom door and have 2 people within steps to joke with, laugh with, and live with. I am now a much more considerate person especially after learning how to talk out a shower schedule and ask before just going down and using the shower. Now I am back in my studio apartment, actually missing having someone to talk to whenever and having the comfort of knowing there is someone right there with me.
   

Bonn BBQ

      The biggest change, in my opinion, that happened was when I learned how to appreciate my family and friends and no longer take time with them for granted. Having been away from my family during the school year was so nice for me cause I just spent the last 18 years of my life with my parents. I had their sole attention for my whole life due to being an only child so I really enjoyed my freedom at college. The one thing I looked forward to though was my summers. That was guaranteed time with my family that would cure whatever homesickness I had. Boy do I take every opportunity I can to call and see my parents and fiancée. I have never missed my family more than being across an ocean with an international cell phone plan that didn't allow phone calls and only allowed text messaging. I had to wait until I had wifi access to make free messenger calls and the time difference between here and there made it virtually impossible to talk to my family during the week. My entire attitude towards my family changed and I am forever grateful for that cause now my family and I are closer than ever. It was also quite literally life changing because I realized I never wanted to spend that much time without my boyfriend, and apparently he felt the same way because he flew over to Austria with my mom and dad to visit my great aunt for the first time (for me, my dad, and him). Before I knew it, he was down on one knee proposing in the town my family is from. So thanks to this study abroad, I left with a fiancée. Anyways back on track, I cherish time with my family so much more thanks to this trip.

Interlaken, Switzerland on top of
Heidi Klum (Harderkulm)

     Another big change is the way I view any new person that I meet or see on campus or anything. I had a bit of a negative preconception coming into Germany that my mom had told me about from her experience being in Germany 24 years ago. She had a lot of bad experiences with Germans pretending that they didn't speak English, until she brought her mom (my grandma) over to translate and then the Germans would pop right out and speak clear English even though they had just told my mom that they didn't speak or understand English. I was very nervous and scared coming in that I didn't know any German and that every native there would be mean to me and I would hate it there. But that was another thing I was so incredibly wrong about that. Actually being in Germany really changed my perspective on that. There's only 2-3 times the entire 6 weeks I was there where a native got frustrated with me because I couldn't speak their language. But they were never rude or mean, they were just a little frustrated and snippy, which is understandable. I definitely get frustrated really easy when people here don't understand me when I feel I am speaking so clearly. I am more patient than ever when people may not understand me the first time or maybe even the second time. I know now after this experience that I need to slow down and appreciate the diversity we have here and welcome those who wish to experience what we get to experience. I loved seeing the excitement in some of the natives faces when I would at least attempt to learn and communicate with them in German. It just made me more excited to learn the language. And shockingly a lot of them wanted to practice their English so I didn't have to worry or stress about pronouncing something wrong or messing up my words.

Shadowing at the Clinic

Seeing my family for the first time in Austria
after 6 weeks

     This was by far one of the best experiences of my life. I feel like I have learned so much about the world when I have really only visited 2 countries on this trip. I even got clarity on the medical profession I want to go in to. For as long as I can remember, I wanted to be an orthopedic surgeon. Now, I am looking into surgical technician programs for when I graduate. I learned about this while shadowing at the clinic in Germany. That was one of the best experiences and it was really life changing because it has now set me on a different career path. A surgery tech gets to assist before, during, and after surgery and gets to be in a bunch of different surgeries in different departments. My favorite thing about the clinic was getting to be in 3 completely different surgeries in a matter of 5 hours. My life has definitely changed after that. I learned so much about the history, the culture, but most importantly, I learned the most about myself. I was so scared to begin this journey on my own, but now it just makes me want to go out and travel more. Heck I might even go down to Costa Rica for the Christmas break for a few days cause I still have the travel bug. I am so ready for more life altering experiences whether they're good, bad, or both. I am forever grateful for this trip, and I am so excited about the great friends that I found on this trip. #Gayrats4life

Before the classical concert with
the fam

Annnd, we’re back..

Reverse-culture shock is definitely a thing. It’s only been 2 and a half weeks since I’ve been back in the states and there are so many things I miss. I miss my hos mom more than anything. Christiane SPOILED me and I appreciate her more than ever. I miss hearing German. I never knew hearing a language I didn’t understand would ever feel like a safety blanket, but it does now. I miss seeing history on every street you all down. I miss the friends I made in Germany. BUT, I am also glad to be in the states, I just don’t feel comfortable calling either place home. My heart is in both places. I’m glad I’m near family though. And I’m so beyond thankful for ice and free refills.

There are some things I implemented into my everyday life in Germany that I hope to continue in America. First: recycling. I see now more than ever how waisteful of a country the US is. I bought bins for my house and set up a system like the one I was already send to in Germany. I have a bin for plastic, paper, (I added glass), metal, and residual. I may not make that much of a difference in the grand scheme of America, but hopefully I can encourage others to start doing their part also. I also have started taking my own bags to the grocery store. I have them and didn't really use them before I went to Germany, but now I will! I keep them in my car and everything. Going along with producing less waist, paper bags instead of baggie for lunch is so much better for the environment and such an easy switch. I’ve been wrapping my sandwiches for lunch in paper and I feel so environmentally counsious! Finally, in the future, I want to have a garden. My host parents did and fresh ingredients really do taste differently. I also had less digestion issues and I think that had a lot to do with the lack of processed foods I ate.

Lastly, since I’ve been back, I had a nephew born and got to spend an entire week with the ‘lil man! He’s the most perfect human on Earth. While I’m happy that I got to be here for that and see my family and friends, I still miss Germany and the lifestyle I had abroad. I learned so much and it definitely changed my outlook on the world. I’m not worried though, because I know I will be back. Who knows, maybe it will be with a husband and kids some day, or maybe a vacation with my brothers and sisters. It doesn’t mater, because the German culture has influenced my life and will always be a part of who I am.

My Street: Plitersdorferstrasse

My home away from home

Tye Dodd Davis.

The most beautiful baby boy ever!

I had to show him off! I’m a proud aunt!!