Two weeks and counting

As the time to leave nears, I am a little nervous. Four months is a long time to be in a different country. I think that some of my nervousness is excitement about the prospect of learning about a new culture. I believe that when a person grows there is often times a feeling of discomfort or anxiety associated with it, but I am looking forward to this growth opportunity. The language will be different, the food will be different, but will the people be different? I've always thought that people across the world are basically the same, and this will be the first opportunity that I have to find out first hand. I think it will be exciting to "learn" a new language, experience new foods, but most of all learn about the people that live there. I am very interested to see the landscape, the variety of plants, and the architecture, but I am most interested in seeing the things that are the same.  I am certain that when I arrive my anxieties will disappear and my expectations will be exceeded, and I cannot wait to see what the semester has in store for me.

Here we go

I honestly don't know what to expect. I know that I love Europe (this will be my fifth time there), but I have never stayed for longer than about two weeks. I am excited for the opportunity to learn in such a hands-on way, while also being given the opportunity to explore much of Western Europe on my own time. I am a self-diagnosed sufferer of the famous "Wonderlust." I have an innate need to see the entire world and experience everything it has to offer me, so I am more than excited about this opportunity. I have been introduced to Bavarian culture, being from a small German town in South Texas, as well as traveling Bavaria, but I have never met a Northern German. I am interested to learn the differences as well as similarities. While talking to a foreign exchange student from France this week at my work I asked her, "what is the biggest difference between Europe and here?" Her reply was simple: "everything here is so big, while everything back home is so small." This intrigued me. I was hoping she wasn't talking about our waistbands considering we are the fattest country in the world. I am also interested in how this trip will change me, I hope it will really bring into perspective the bigger things in life. I want to help people; I want to travel; I want to help people while I travel. I hope this is just my first shot at learning the many cultures of the world.

P.S. sorry for being so sappy... I'm usually not this bad.

Let It Begin

We'll be taking off in about 4 weeks now, and I'm so pumped! I honestly don't know what to expect when we get there at all. I can't wait to meet my host family and get to know them. I also can't wait to try all the delicious new food! I don't have any expectations going in; I'm just free lancing it and ready for a great time. The culture in Germany will undoubtedly be different than our sheltered bubble in College Station, but enjoyment comes from trying different things. The one thing I am worried about, however, is the language barrier. Germany is a very well developed country and most germans do speak english; however, I wish to not look like we don't know any German or any German culture. But to tell the truth, I don't know any German or any German culture. The Germans will be more than happy to teach us I'm sure. Bonn looks like a beautiful city via Google images, but I am ready for the real thing. I also hope it snows a solid amount while we are there! Although, maybe it could just snow when we want it to and then we can tell the weather to warm up and get back to our Texas comfort. Besides the language difference, my only other main concern is the weather. Even though I don't even know what's going to hit us weather-wise while we're over there, I know we will not be ready for whatever it has in store for us. I have most definitely never experienced anything like a German winter before. For the most part, however, I am extremely excited and ready to touch our wheels down in Bonn! I'm so pumped for this semester!