Kendrick, If You're Reading This, Write Your Blog Post

Twenty five students. Eight countries. Four months. One program.

When people ask what my favorite part of the trip was, I often hesitate.  How can I select a single moment when I have so many fantastic memories to choose from? I usually end up describing something big, such as hiking past numerous "Proceed at Your Own Risk" signs, trying to get the best view of Neuschwanstein Castle; or our time biking around Paris, surviving by the grace of God; or strolling through the Roman Forum, mixing our dust with that of one of the most fabled civilizations of our world; or weaving through rows of the most beautiful tulips in the internationally renowned Keukenhof gardens. Yet there were so many more underlying moments that bound the trip together in a way that only those who went on it will fully appreciate.  It takes too long to describe the daily trips to Rewe (the local grocery store) for the salad bar and 59 cent espressos (much needed most days), or the endless games of concentration waiting for buses in Heidelberg, or freezing our toes off in Cologne while admiring the city's incredible cathedral, or ice skating in what has to be the greatest rink ever, or running a half marathon along the Rhine River and throughout the city of Bonn, or participating in the International Big Event, or watching a seven-hour surgery in a German clinic, or seeing an American movie in a bread-factory-turned-movie-theater.  There are thousands of things I wish I could convey to people about the trip to make them understand how much of an impact it has had on me, but instead I just smile and say I had the most amazing time.  

Briefly above, I mentioned traveling with friends. I had made some of these friends the semester prior to our trip, but most were made during our time in Germany.  I could not have asked for a better group of people to spend four months in a foreign country with. Take, for instance, our bus ride from the Frankfurt Airport: I distinctly remember Kendrick got us practicing the German numbers 1-10, and while I'm not sure we ever even made it to ten or if any of said numbers were correctly pronounced, we sure did have a lot of fun trying. In a similar fashion, our engineering classes strengthened our relationships. Defying the common assumption that studying abroad guarantees you a 4.0, we put a lot of effort into our classwork and also our design project for a German biotech company.  Many days started at 8am and would end just in time to catch the last bus home for the night, usually around midnight.  Yet through it all, we were able to maintain the thrill of living in a foreign country, our sense of humor and, surprisingly, our grades. 

The more I talk about the program and all we were able to do, see, and experience during our four months abroad, the more I realize how much of the program relied on the incredible expertise of Dr. Jeremy Wasser, who headed the Germany Biosciences Program.  Some might argue he had occasional help from a certain Dr. Schnoebel, but regardless this trip truly would not have been the same without him. If there ever was an honorary German, it would be Dr. Wasser; he has a complete grasp of the German customs, songs of old, and style.  More importantly, he loves what he teaches and he did a phenomenal job of presenting it to us students. Some of the best trips of the program, those to Vienna and Paris (ft. slight deviations to Beaune and Colmar), drew heavily on information presented by Dr. Wasser in lecture. He taught from the textbook, from experience, and from his own personal studies - a combination which provided a robust learning environment for all. Dr. Wasser is hands-down one of the best professors I've ever had, and I could not imagine the program without him.

At the beginning of this post, I described a few highlights from many of our trips. The more obvious experiences of the trip can be found detailed in previous blog posts and seen in pictures; however, the more subtle reminders of my time abroad have evolved since I have returned. My sense of direction has improved, and I am more likely to strike out on my own; my understanding, though still quite basic, of European languages has increased; my ability to plan trips thoroughly and research modes/routes of transportation used in other places has gotten dramatically better; my awareness of cultural similarities and differences has increased, as well as the history contributing to many countries' perspectives on a host of issues; last but certainly not least, I have developed a sincere appreciation for German meats and pastries, French bread and wine, and Italian coffee and gelato.

One of the most interesting aspects of my trip centered around the US elections that had just taken place.  Since the news was fresh on everyone's minds, I came to hear many opinions from Europeans of various nationalities on the state of not only American politics, but European politics and the relations between the two. Traveling throughout the continent, I also came to appreciate the size of the United States compared to that of its European counterparts. Many of the most prominent countries in the world fit inside the great state of Texas. I believe this is often lost on many Americans. Yes, our country has problems but, in my humble opinion, we tend to overlook how incredible it is that our country is made up of so many cultures and how that has become our strength rather than our weakness. 

Twenty five students. Eight countries. Four months. One program.

Countless memories.

A Dream that Became Reality - A Retrospective View

I could start with the typically cliché, I miss Germany and there's not a day that goes by that I don't think about something that occurred during the time I spent there, which of course is all true, or I could tell you about the dream I had that became reality.

Every since my first taste of Europe back during my sophomore year of high school, I knew I would find myself across the ocean again. And I ended up venturing back twice before I started college, but my biggest dream was to be able to truly study abroad for a semester. This dream became a reality with the journey I just took to Germany for four months.

It's not everyday you can turn your dreams into reality and be able to live and experience them full heartedly. Germany is a part of my life that I will never forget, despite the fact that having been back for about two months now, it feels as though the whole trip was a dream. But then I see a picture, or remember a moment and know, it was not a dream. It was my reality.

From this trip I learned a great deal about the world and the people who live in it. I took the path down the hero's journey and prevailed. Sure I brought back many trinkets and photographs of my experiences but the greatest treasure had to be the people, the experiences, and the memories I get to cherish. Each person I met along the way has taught me something, either small or large, positive or negative. One of the most influential people, besides my professors, who I saw practically everyday all day, was my host mother. From her I learned to find joy in the small things in life. For her, she loved nature, birds, and plants and the joy that would radiate from her when she saw new flower bloom in her garden, or when we went on runs, and she got to show me a new plant or bird species, was contagious. I couldn't help but always smile and also find the joy in the little things. She was someone I could talk to and connect with, and I am extremely thankful for having her as my host mother. No one else could have compared.

The new friends I made on this trip are irreplaceable. We will forever be connected by this experience, and maybe not all of us got along at times, but I feel this trip brought us together, creating a small family. It saddens me to know, we all now have to follow or own paths and won't be spending every waking moment with one another, but that won't stop us from rekindling the bond we have created through our study abroad experiences. Each person had taught me a lesson on the trip and I will remember each and every person without a doubt.

As for the traveling I got to do, there is nothing like being able to hop on a bus, train, tram, or subway and go anywhere. There's a certain freedom you feel when the world is your limit and all it takes is a couple of train rides to get there. Sadly, the US has failed in the department of public transportation and cross country transportation. Today I spent thirty minutes waiting in the heat for a bus to take me home from the grocery store. I don't own a car so getting around had become a real struggle in College Station. I no longer have the freedom to travel where I want, when I want. I am limited to my own two feet and the occasional bus. While in Germany I was free. I ended up traveling to seven countries and twenty-four cities, something that could have been possible here in Texas if there was a system in place that would allow me to do so.

I have to say, as of lately I've been craving German food. I could really use a currywurst or pom doner at times. At some point this summer, I plan on replicating currywurst. Wish me luck. The food I got to try has influenced me in the kitchen. I've learned about new ways to prepare certain meals either from my host mother or from the various foods I tried while traveling all around. I truly miss European food.

My dream had become a reality and now feels as though it was a dream. I'm back in College Station trying to survive through summer school and part me feels like this is the break and I will be returning to Germany again, but then I realize, come this fall, I won't be going back. I will be here at Texas A&M for the rest of my undergrad years. It saddens me to think about this, fore I want to travel more and experience what else this world has to offer. Eventually, I'll make my way across the water again, either for vacation, a job, or medical school. Through this experience I have learned more about myself and feel as though it has changed me in a way. I can't explain fully how this so, but there is something that feels different. Only time will tell what this transformation truly is.

I know for a fact, that traveling is a part of me I can't abandon that. I am back in reality and am ready to push forward so that one day, I may return to Europe again, but sometimes I can't help but think, was that the reality and this is the dream? Who knows.

nicht zuletzt

Time flies pretty fast. If you were to ask me a year ago or that in college that I would be studying abroad and that Bonn is my favorite city in the world. I would have severely doubted you. I thought college was just a bunch of steps you take to move on and go with life. Studying abroad in Germany was definitely my favorite semester in college, and I would repeat it again infinitely. It gave me a new mindset on how to view the world and how the world is becoming interconnected. America is known to be an economic superpower and cultural superpower and don't seem to pay attention as much as people pay attention to American politics. But events in other countries especially in Europe changes our outlook. In a integrated economy a economic/ political event in Europe will affect what happens in the United States and the world. How Germany handles healthcare and education policy has some elements the United States can adopt. I loved going into the hospital and shadowing doctors and asking them about healthcare delivery in Germany. It was quite interesting to understand how medical malpractice insurance worked in Germany vs the United States. I also liked how they tackled energy and environmental policy. I enjoyed the recycling system and their investment in public transportation. That was something i really missed when I was in Germany. I enjoyed the vibe of a European city also. Being able to walk around the city in Bonn compared to college station. I enjoyed walking around Freidensplatz and Munsterplatz near all the food trucks and food vendors. I brought a new world view and solutions i think we can use to address issues that are facing the United States and the world. I think we need a more sophisticated recycling policy like the Germans. I think we need a form of Krankenkasse in the United States. Germany has got it right with non-profit insurance companies and a universal mandate for health insurance coverage. It showed a good balance between competition in the marketplace and having equity in health insurance coverage. I miss the turkish food especially the falafel I had in Berlin. I never thought of Germany as a place to permanently settle and live. But my study abroad experience is making me being a resident of Deutschland.
I also enjoyed the classes that I took especially the history of medicine. It was awesome to have visiting Vienna and France as part of our class. It enhances the curriculum of classes with hands on experience. I hope we can bring this approach to college classes in the United States. With all that said I am signing off for the last time.

Tschüss

Raju Rebbapragada 

Retrospective Blog

Well it's been two months, a week, and four days since I've come back from Germany and I have a constant mix of emotions about being back. I'm glad to be reunited with family and friends and I'm glad to have my car back so I can come and go as I please (instead of always checking on tram times) but most of all I am extremely sad that my study abroad experience is over. Living in Germany was a dream of mine that I had no idea I'd have the opportunity to take and right about now I'd do just about anything to rewind time and go back to January 11th to when it all began.

Often times, I go through all of the pictures I took while abroad with friends of mine and am soon overcome by a sense of nostalgia. From Karneval, to the Vienna and Paris Excursions, and all the little mini weekend trips we took to different cities, I can honestly say that those will probably be the best five months of my life. I'd like to also add that I was extremely fortunate to have been surrounded by such a great group of people while abroad, without whom I would have never been able to make some of the greatest memories ever. I remember showing up to Bonn on the first day, and walking for what seemed like half an hour (I was still a lazy American at the time) to the AIB and my only friend at the time was Angelica. Before taking this hero's journey, I was somewhat of an introvert and overall a pretty shy person. I was extremely lucky to have Angelica by my side because I honestly didn't know if I was capable of moving across the globe on my own but now that I have, I'm confident that I can. Also, I'm really glad that I decided to put myself out there to try and make new friends because it paid off! Ever since my first trip to Köln with Claire, Maggie, Rachel, James, Nathan, Kanci, and Kenneth, I have gotten better at talking to new people which was a huge obstacle I had to overcome.

On top of all of the trips and vacations I got to partake in while overseas, I'd say that another great aspect that I wouldn't trade for the world is being able to experience a classroom environment where the student to teacher ratio was so small. It also helped that Dr. Wasser and Madeleine were AWESOME. They honestly made learning fun again which is an aspect of education that kind of gets lost when a person reaches the university level. Other people who have studied abroad normally say "There's not much study in study abroad" but let me be the first to say, as a biomedical engineer, this just simply isn't true!! It took a lot of time management to plan everything out from an academic point and still be able to squeeze in trips and although sometimes the stress was REAL, I wouldn't have changed it for the world!

Since being back, without any exaggeration, I have convinced two other friends to study abroad in the fall! One of them was extremely scared to do so especially with some of the events that took place recently in the UK, but I convinced them that this is a journey everyone should take and to say no in the face of terrorism would give those terrorists more power than they already have.

I have also kept in touch with my host family whom I miss dearly. My host sister and her boyfriend have had several concerts (they are singers--on the rise!!) since I've been away and I wish I could have been there to support them. Most of all I miss my host parents who I can say, with confidence, are some of the nicest people in the world. It takes alot of courage to open up your house to a new group of students every year and they do it so well! I can't wait for the day when I save up enough money to go back and visit them again!

Growing up, I was always convinced that I was going to just stay in Texas and grow old here (even though it is so dang hot) . However as great as Texas is, my study abroad experience has taught me that there is SO much more the world has to offer. I have become a travel fanatic and am constantly looking for my next escape. I will say that I seriously can't wait to go back to college station this fall and be reunited with all of my friends that I made while abroad and I'm excited to see how the new and improved Austin makes it through his junior year of college!

I want to give a great big THANK YOU to everyone that went on the trip, as well as the faculty,  because each and every one of you has seriously changed my life for the better. You guys ROCK!!!

Retrospective Post-Germany

It's been over two months since I've been back in America, and I still miss Europe every single day. This blog post is definitely the most difficult to write because I have so much to say, and I feel like once I post this, my study abroad experience will actually be over.  It's hard to describe how much I learned, experienced, and grew while living in Europe.  My time there was unbelievable, and I would go back in a second if I could.  Before I started to write this, I reread my very first blog post.  This was my concluding paragraph:

"Some of my goals this semester are to become comfortable traveling in foreign countries, become more independent, succeed in my classes, make new friends, try new food and other cultural activities, and learn some German.  I am sure this semester will be my favorite semester of college, so I am going to make the most of my time in Germany.  Next blog post I write I'll be there!"

Let's see if I reached those goals: Become comfortable traveling in foreign countries?  Definitely.  Over the course of the four months I spent in Europe, I visited nine different countries: Germany (obviously), Austria, the Czech Republic, France, Ireland, Portugal, Spain, Belgium, and the Netherlands.  Thinking back, I am blown away by how much of Europe I was able to see.  I have so many amazing memories from this past semester of college, and all of them are in foreign countries!  I am also astonished that when I remember Germany, I don't feel like it was one of the "foreign countries" I visited.  It felt like home.  Hopping from country to country and then returning to Bonn felt like coming home.  I love that I can say there is a city which is not in America that feels like home to me.  So I would say, yes, I do feel comfortable traveling in foreign countries now.

Become more independent?  For sure.  When I describe my travels to family and friends who ask, I am sometimes taken aback when I remember - wait - we planned all of those trips by ourselves.  A bunch of college students.  Booking trains, buses, and planes in foreign countries.  As weekend trips, no less!  When I first signed up for this study abroad, I assumed that the coordinators would help us or give direction on how to get around Europe - and don't get me wrong, everyone was very helpful - but the thing is, we didn't really need it.  We decided where we wanted to go, searched Hostelworld and GoEuro, booked everything we needed for a weekend, and went!  It didn't take long at all to realize, hey, we can do this.  It registered for me after I got back to America how independent I really was in Europe and how much I've grown.

Succeed in my classes?  Well, for the most part... I suppose it depends on how you define "succeed."  Did I get a 4.0?  No.  Did I learn more than I have any other semester of college so far?  Yes.  The out-of-the-classroom experiences I had, such as watching surgeries at the Bonn Uniklinik and working on the enmodes biomedical design project, were once in a lifetime college learning experiences.  Figuring out how to travel and live in a foreign country gave me more confidence and experience and real-world learning than a classroom ever could.  Did I form bonds with my instructors that enabled me to learn more and easier than in College Station?  Yes.  I am so grateful to Dr. Wasser and Madeleine for the academic and emotional support they gave all of us.  If there was ever a problem with anything - classes, enmodes project, host-family, traveling, you get sick and can't read the German on the medicine you just bought - they were ready and willing to help.  So, did I succeed in my classes?  Yes. I made decent grades and learned more about the world and myself than I have to date.

Make new friends?  Wow, yes.  I already miss everyone so much.  The people on this trip were all so unique, kind, and fun to be around.  By the end, I formed true friendships.  Living with Claire was great.  I reminisce on the dinners we had together at home and masses we went to in our neighborhood.  I'm so glad we ended up living with the same host family!  The engineers got incredibly close - getting to AIB as soon as it opened and staying until midnight studying.  I loved having a tight-knit friend group in my major to study with - it made the intense stresses of school bearable!  I also cherish the friendships I made with the BIMS (and biology, you too Ethan) students.  One of my favorite parts of the entire trip was getting to know the girls I went on Spring Break with.  Clare, Sarahi, and I went to mass at Fatima together.  Stephanie brought me water when I was throwing up in Barcelona from a stomach bug.  We all made tacos together at our Airbnb and couldn't decide if the meat was cooked or not because it wasn't like American ground beef and then talked for hours.  I am surprised by how close I got with so many of the wonderful people on this trip.

Try new food, cultural activities, and learn some German?  Food: of course.  One of my favorite parts of traveling is trying new food!  Cultural activities: I don't think I realized when I wrote that particular goal that this whole experience was one giant immersion of culture.  Living with a host family, being surrounded by foreign languages, visiting countless museums, interacting with people from around the world - all of this contributed to a culture-filled semester abroad.  Learning German, or lack thereof I should say, is probably my biggest regret of the trip.  I learned a handful of phrases, but I never really gave it my all to learning German because I was focused on my other classes, and almost everyone in big European cities speaks English so well.  This was probably my only regret of the trip.  I am happy with the balance of prioritizing school and travel I did, and I wouldn't really change anything.

Some final thoughts before I end this novel of a blog post:  First of all, I love Europe, and I could see myself living there again short-term in the future.  My time living in another country did make me appreciate America more, though.  I kept a running tally of points for Europe vs. America during my study abroad.  The total came out to be 5-6, America.  (I mean America had to win; I'm a patriot.)  Europe is much older, which lends itself to incredible history, art, and cobblestone streets (1).  It has widespread public transportation, which I found to be hugely convenient (2).  The architecture of Europe is stunning (3).  While in Bonn, after the first couple weeks of novelty wore off, I tried to remind myself to look up at the buildings and not just hurry to AIB and to look out the bus window as I rode over the Rhine twice a day, everyday, for four months.  Europe as a continent is so easy to travel because of the proximity of countries (4).  Europe is so Catholic (5).  Being Catholic, I appreciated this because I got to go to mass in five different languages and visit dozens of breath-taking cathedrals - another one of my favorite parts of traveling.  America has - get this - FREE WATER (1).  Which leads to my next point, free bathrooms (2)!  I still do not understand why every restaurant in Europe charge 3 euros for a tiny bottle of water or why I had to spare change to go to a bathroom while traveling.  America has bigger kitchens and, well, everything (3).  Although a tiny kitchen with a tiny refrigerator hidden as a cabinet is cute, it is not conducive to cooking or storing food in a refrigerator...good thing it's cold enough in Germany not to need to.  America has microwaves and dryers (4).  I never realized I took these appliances for granted.  America does not have a smoking culture like Europe (5).  I mean for being "healthy" people they sure do smoke a lot.  Finally, America has good ol' democracy and capitalism (6).  While there are certain benefits to the German/European government systems, I'm still a fan of America's.  So, America narrowly beats out Europe.

These are just a couple of the things I learned and experiences I had during my life-changing study abroad.  None of them would have been possible if my parent hadn't have said yes and paid for this trip.  I sincerely thank you Mom and Dad for allowing me to leave for four months to live in a foreign country and experience the world.  I am forever grateful.

I was completely correct when I assumed this would be my favorite semester of college, because it was.  This trip changed me.  For the better.

Am I a Hero Yet?

Before I get started, I want to say if you are reading this and have the option of going on this trip! GO, It was by far one of the best decisions of my life, if not then the best. Now on another note:

Well guys,

It's over. An let me tell you I have made some friends that I will remember for a lifetime! And I have a few stories that my family and my kids will definitely appreciate for a laugh. It was ALL an adventure, looking back, I wish I could go back!

From the chipping of teeth in N8schidt, to the not so nice cab stories in Rome, to the crying as I look at my taxi pull up in front of me to go to the airport, it was all so different.

I cannot believe its over, I cant believe there's no more Backwerk and AIB, no more catching trains in the middle of the night! HAHA I am just really at a loss for words!

I'm not sure of what to say, or how to end this, it was a 15 week long journey that ended too soon. Too soon for me to come back to an actual scholastic semester that is slowly driving me crazy. Too soon to leave vacation, and new friends, and one euro gelato cones, and snowball fights, and endless traveling.

I thank everyone who actually liked me enough to put up with me, even more so those who still put up with me now that they don't have to anymore

It was a nice run guys, it was amazing! I wish I had more to say, or could think of more to say. The Bonn Voyage was a nice one, but we're all still heroes in our own stories.

You made it through a semester over seas with all new things, and new people, and for that you were brave. You laughed with people and talked with people you had never known and for that you're silly and charismatic. You learned to love people you may never see again, or well some of us did anyways and that means you have a big heart. You were a big boy or a big girl and handled your own problems on your own, and for that you're forgiving. In my book that makes you a hero, and if you ever have a down day,  you remember that.

Even if you weren't your own hero to you, you embarked on this heroes journey and you finished it, so to me you're a hero, one of the 30+ heroes that I met in four months, and I will never ever forget you friend, maybe just your last name LOL.




  
Don't count yourself out just yet, you made it, you may just have a little more growing to do is all, but believe in yourself, because I always will! 





NOW, ENOUGH of that sappy bull, when are we all hitting up NORTHGATE TOGETHER, when is everybody legal, man we have to get the gang back together, its time for a reunion! I need a date to mark on my calendar!

Kidding, nah I am serious, if you have my number don't hesitate to use it for anything, no matter what or when! From one hero to another, now I am flying away! 

All Said & Done

Ich liebe dich, Deutschland

All said & done... taking the leap in going on a journey that took to me across the world was one of the best decisions I have ever made.

My experience last semester was time I will always treasure. It feels like it was yesterday I received Dr. Wasser's email about prospects for a Germany trip in the spring semester. I can't believe that was a year ago! I remember I was so nervous because I didn't know anyone, I didn't know any German, and it would be so far away from my family. But all of the awesome memories and experiences I got definitely outweighed the bad. Who gets to say that they were emerged into an entirely different culture for five months? (& I'm still in awe that it went by so fast)

I would highly recommend this trip to anyone who wants the best opportunity of a lifetime!

(To this day, I find myself saying "Entschuldigen" when I bump into someone.)

Final Blog

            Life is definitely a lot different after coming back. A week after returning, I got to walk the stage for my bachelor’s degree with Alexa. It’s amazing to think that I’ve been friends with people in different countries. This trip has made it easier to expand my horizons and now I’m even considering graduate schools outside of Texas (which I would have never done before).

It feels like we got back a long time ago, but it’s only been two months back. I can’t believe I used to walk around Germany like it wasn’t a big deal. I always had a fear of being abroad because I didn’t know if I’d be able to adapt, but I feel like it took me longer to adjust being back to the US than it did to be over there. I don’t remember everything that happened while abroad, but some stuff comes back to me in pieces.

I remember:

• Getting a pretzel from BackWerk every day.
• Taking a boat tour and eating giant pancakes in Amsterdam.
• Getting sick in Vienna and staying sick for three weeks.
• Struggling to get up the hundreds of steps in Prague because I felt like I had the knees of an elderly woman.
• Walking through a small local market square in Luxembourg with Michelle.
• Seeing Big Ben from the top of the London Eye.
• Falling off my bike in Paris and getting a new scar on my right knee.
• Throwing pennies in the fountain behind St. Patrick’s Cathedral with Clare and Stephenie.
• Singing 500 miles with Rachel in Lisbon.
• Laying on a beach in Barcelona during spring break.
• Bike riding through Brugge and drinking some of the best hot chocolate in the world there.
• Playing concentration in the museums in Berlin.
•  Attending mass in the Koln Dom.

            Europe used to feel so far away, but when I hear about it in the news I feel more connected and more involved. I got the chance to visit 11 countries and now I know a little more about life outside of the United States.

                        I am so grateful to Dr. Wasser for being there for us the entire semester and being the best professor that we could have possibly had. We had several lectures with him every single day and they never got boring. This was an incredible opportunity and I’m grateful to have gotten this chance. It was truly the best way to finish my undergraduate career and I am definitely missing everybody right now.         

Tldr; save the bees.

The Hero's Journey Still Continues

    While I was in Germany I felt myself changing. I became more confident, and proud of who I am. I learned what kind of people I want in my life, and who I want to be. I experienced so many new things everyday. I now have a favorite kind of cheese, tea, and pastry. I had gained an independence that I hadn't had before, but I also developed an need for a strong support system as well. My week of solo travel after the program was over really showed me that I capable of taking care of myself, and talking with strangers. I made friends with people even if it was only for a day. I saw so many wonderful places I never thought I would get to see. I even gained new skills, and knowledge that aren't related to school but help make my life interesting. I became comfortable enough to tease an anesthesiologist while shadowing at the hospital. I also began overcoming my fear of heights.

    When people ask what I did in Germany besides travel I start telling them about my classes. Honestly, I could just talk about that for just as long as my travels. I have never been as impressed with how much someone cared about my education. I have learned so much important history that I never knew was important. Dr. Wasser really brought to life so many things for us. There will always be Dr. Schnabel, Brother Jeremy, and so many more memories with me. I now have a very deep interest in Physiology, which has led me to sign up for more classes on the subject. The fact that we got to work on our design project is an opportunity I will always treasure. I would have never done anything like that in a million years. I am so incredibly proud of the work that we did, and how each of us grew in some way while working on it. I became comfortable enough to tease an anesthesiologist while shadowing at the hospital. My experience at the hospital was absolutely amazing and made me rethink my wish to become a veterinarian.    
 
  I miss Germany so much. I miss stopping at a bakery on my way to class. I miss so many special things about Germany. I also miss seeing the same wonderful people everyday. They always had a way to make me smile everyday, which for me is very special. Since I have been back from Germany I have had a number of really difficult things happen to me. A portion of my support system collapsed and crushed me. I am fighting everyday to climb out from underneath the rubble. What helps is remembering how much for the better I have changed while in Germany, all the wonderful things I saw and did, and all the truly amazing people I came to know. Our Journeys are not over yet, the challenges are merely different.

Retrospective: Fragile Bones, Enduring Experiences

            I have been back in the States for two months and five days and yet it still feels like I just came home. Sometimes the monotony of being back in El Paso will make it feel like I dreamed the whole spring semester but then I just look at my leg and my scar reminds me it all really happened! I have had time to tell family and friends all about my last semester which, in turn, allows me to relive all of my experiences. I wouldn’t say I’m stuck in the past though, if anything I use the memories and knowledge I gained in Germany to work harder and be better as a whole.

   

When I got back on the 9^th of May, I was too tired from the flight to talk much about my experiences. My mom, her fiancée, and I left to College Station the next day and on that 11 hour drive I pretty much talked the whole way, telling them about how exactly I broke my leg and all the adventures I had and all the things I had learned. I was able to reunite with old friends and coworkers in College Station and even better, I got to graduate alongside Sarahi. The whole time we were together, Germany constantly came up as did different memories. We celebrated that night and ran into Clare which made it feel like we were back in Europe. Unfortunately, my time in College Station was soon over and after stopping in Austin for a couple of days, I returned to El Paso with a diploma but still feeling like the exact same person. I spent the next couple of weeks relaxing, trying to adjust to the scorching dry heat of the desert, and visiting family. I grew really restless and decided I needed to find something to do with my time and hopefully earn money to replenish my severely depleted bank account. I soon started volunteering at a veterinary clinic I had volunteered at a couple of years ago and found two small jobs working for United States Customs and Border Protection and babysitting the kids of one of the veterinarians at the clinic. It has kept me busy but in between all the bustle, I’ve had time to really think about everything I experienced abroad.

The first of many graduations!

             The main thing that surprised me about my semester abroad was the realization that breaking my leg was the best thing that could have possibly happened to me. If I hadn’t broken my leg, I never would’ve gotten to truly experience Bonn. A lot of people traveled whenever they could but since I couldn’t travel solo I stayed in Bonn and got to appreciate just how beautiful it was. My numerous trips to the hospital allowed me to grow quite familiar with the area along the route and I always noticed new things. It was on one of these trips back to my apartment from the hospital that the thought, “I could see myself living here one day”, popped into my head while I was looking out the window. I was totally caught off guard. I had never even considered that idea and for it to be so prominent in my mind after only being in Bonn for about a month was eye opening. I also got to form friendships with so many people. I got to know a lot of the student workers since they took me to some of my hospital appointments and they were all kind, funny, and just great people. I got to know Nick and realized how lucky I was to be surrounded by people who cared. I got to know Dr. Burger, my amazing surgeon, and to me he became my German grandpa. I got to know some of the other hospital staff like the receptionist, x-ray technicians, nurses, and the kind lady who brought me my meals when I was in the hospital. Even though I left my host parents about a month into the trip, I have stayed in touch with them and miss them dearly. I also became really close with my classmates and TAs and saw what wonderful people they were. I consider myself incredibly lucky to have been able to form so many relationships with people. This event changed me in more ways than one and knowing I have a network of support and friends in Bonn as well as in College Station was the best thing that could’ve happened to me and I owe all of that to my leg.

What my cool scar looks like now

My leg is back to normal....kind of

The main and most obvious transformation is of course my leg. It still looks different to me and I feel like the shadows of all the bruising I had are still there. The most important transformations I experienced though were not physical. I believe my overall experience abroad cemented the idea I always had of myself of being able to deal with adversity. The first real night in Bonn I got lost on the bus and had to figure out my way back without the use of my phone since it was close to dying. I didn’t freak out though and after wandering around while it was snowing I eventually found my way back on the bus and got home. I think I also did a pretty good job of handling the whole broken leg situation which was probably the most challenging experience I’ve ever faced. I had to learn how to use crutches and do everyday activities using one leg and the limited use of my hands since they were always holding the crutches. I am pretty independent and had to learn how to ask for help. I realize now though that it’s okay to ask for help and that there are times when not asking for help is actually the weaker decision. This trip also increased confidence in myself and made me truly appreciate my positive outlook on things. I’ve always known that shit happens but I know now that I can deal with anything because of my personality and the innate kindness in people which I experienced through my classmates, professors, and AIB.

The “boon” I brought back with me varies. I of course have my awesome scar from surgery but also have the less pleasant side effects of my injury. My leg occasionally hurts especially on the opposite side of the injury site. I still can’t run very well but I have managed to do some easy hikes. I can now stand for long periods of time but when I get home from the clinic I usually need to rest my leg. I still have physical therapy with my uncle so it’ll only get better.  The other boon I came back with were the amazing friendships I made on the trip. I also brought back a lifetime of memories and experiences that influence the way I see and interact with the world. I have learned to appreciate the big exciting moments in life but also the smaller moments of spending time with family and friends. I also brought back with me a newfound appreciation for the human body. It was crazy that I had to essentially learn how to walk again once I got off the crutches. I had to rebuild all the muscle in my leg that had atrophied and I feel like it’s back to normal. I’ll never take walking or being able to stand for granted again and I wake up every day happy and thankful that I don’t need those crutches for the rest of my life.

First hike on my new leg!

                Not only was a semester abroad the best way to finish my undergraduate degree, it was, to this day, the best thing I’ve ever done in my life. I’m incredibly grateful I got to see and experience so much. Even with my injury I was able to travel to 8 different countries, Germany, the Netherlands, Austria, France, Belgium, Ireland, England, and Italy, and countless cities. I formed friendships I truly believe will last a lifetime and got the motivation to one day live in Germany. None of that would’ve been possible without the amazing people on the trip. I can never say it enough, but a million thanks to AIB, my classmates, Kristin, Dr. Wasser, the student workers, and Nick. They all took such great care of me and I’m forever indebted to them for working with me and allowing me to partake on the incredible journey that it was. Vielen Dank!

The best group of people in the world!!

THE LAST BLOG

Coming home was probably the longest feeling day I have ever encountered. Austin and I traveled for about 32 hours and it was terrible. We got home around midnight and I figured I would sleep all day the next day but I was up at about 7 in the morning and I was ready to go. I had no jet lag or anything and it was great! I felt very odd coming back home… Of course I was happy to see my family, but I felt some sort of sadness because I was no longer living with my host mom. It made me feel so sad because I know she is now home by herself. I would do anything just to go back and sit and have a meal with her again. Now and then she will text me to tell me about the weather over there and how she misses me. When she does this I get overwhelmed with sadness all over again.

Germany was such an amazing experience that I am so incredibly happy that took advantage of. It completely changed my view of the world. Here in America it’s as if they want the rest of the world to look like a terrible place. I had no desire to travel anywhere. I am so thankful that Austin talked me into doing it. Now I want to go and see everything. I just recently got back from Panama in Central America and it was also amazing. The people were so friendly and they are so grateful for all that they have. I love that I am getting the privilege to see different cultures and learn so much. Next year I am hoping to visit Spain and maybe the Philippines. I love telling people about all of our trips and different experiences and showing pictures. The happiness is at an all time high whenever I see anything German in America. I miss it so much. I wish I could just take my family and friends and move them to Europe. Germany was that push that I needed so that I could get a little taste and now traveling is my new addiction.

Wishing I was still in Germany

Everyone always asks me, "How was Germany?" and all that I conjure up to say is "Amazing." Every single time that it what I say. I've found this is the easiest response for people, because if I tell them how Germany really was they will get so tired of hearing me talk that they will hate me. I have never had a better and more fun experience than what I had in Germany. I always knew that I loved traveling and wanted to see the world, but sorry mom and dad, you paid for a trip that makes me never want to go home again.

While there were many experiences in Germany and throughout Europe that in themselves were spectacular, it was the everlasting impression they made me that really matters. I learned to have a greater appreciation of art and music that I had never had. I found out my favorite artist wasn't really my favorite but I just didn't know any better. I was more adventurous when it came to trying new things and being bold. I saw that the human body does have limits and we shouldn't push them. I realized that even if something seems crazy, or you don't think you have the money, you should always do it because the regret of not doing something is much more to bare. I learned that you don't have to understand the language that people are speaking to make a connection and feel something from them. And I learned that throughout everything, the people that you are surrounded by make the most difference in the experience you are having.

I was lucky enough to be surrounded by an incredible group of friends and the most amazing host family I could've ever asked for while I was in Germany. It was the strong support system that I think everyone needs to be able to travel halfway around the world and truly enjoy the experience. I always had people to talk to and spend time with. My host family was so kind to me and so accepting, they did anything they could to help me at all times, even getting up and driving me and my friends to the train station at 6 in the morning. It was so much more than I could've ever asked for and I will forever be appreciative of them. My friends, oh my goodness, while I was in Germany I met the biggest, most fun loving group of nerds I could've ever asked for. I didn't expect the friends that I would make in Germany to get super close but I was wrong. We were a huge loving family and tried to help each other in any possible. I spent many days at the AIB from around 7 in the morning to around 11 at night and everyone else was there too. We worked together and it made all the time we had to spend on school work seem a little more manageable.

A lot of times after I answer the first question, it is followed up by "Would you go back?" and sometimes I have to hold my tongue a little to keep from hurting peoples' feelings. I would have never came home if that would've been an option. And I would get on the first plane I could today if it didn't seem so unreasonable. I loved the country and loved the people. I am already planning a trip back for next summer but I know it won't be enough. I am going to live over there one day, I don't know if it will be in Germany, maybe somewhere slightly warmer but I really want to fully immerse myself in the culture someday.

Can I go back now?

It's been over a month since I returned from study abroad and I miss it almost every single day.  When people ask me how my last semester was it is much harder than I expected to explain to them what an amazing experience it was. I can show them pictures and tell them some of the amazing things I got to see and places I got to go. Like getting to spend a week in Paris eating lots of macaroons, going to the Eiffel Tower almost every day and visiting the Louvre. Or going to Belgium and only eating Belgian fries and chocolate all day.  Or going to Italy and seeing the statue of David and the Colosseum and eating my weight in pasta. But even telling them all these things can't fully explain how much I got out of this experience.

Since being back in America I miss a lot of the things from Europe including the public transportation, travelling every weekend to amazing places and being able to legally drink.  But I also took back some great things.  I've become much more independent and confident in my ability to travel alone.  My sense of direction has improved greatly from navigating new cities every weekend and I no longer have to use Siri everywhere I go.  I've become much more open minded and adventurous when trying new things, especially strange foods.  And even though it's cheesy, I have so many great new friends.

All in all I have no regrets about going on this study abroad and would do it again in a heartbeat if I could. Before going I was so nervous about leaving all my friends and family for a whole semester and was worried about all the things I would miss at home.  But in the end I gained so much more by going.  I looked in to going on another study abroad next spring but my parents quickly shut that down :(. But I hope to go back to Europe soon and explore all the places I still haven't been (maybe as a TA for this program after graduation??).  In the end I would 100% recommend this program to any student and if I could give them one piece of advice I would say take it seriously when they say to pack a days worth of clothes and toiletries in a carry on bag because the airline really might lose your suitcase and then you will be very sad. (but even that won't ruin your trip I promise)

In A Nutshell

During the spring semester, I had one of the best experiences of my life where I grew as a person in both academics and knowledge of the world. I am so grateful for the opportunity to study in Germany and recommend it to anyone who is interested in studying abroad. What attracted me the most to this program was the promise of working with a company to design a medical device, and although it was difficult, I am proud that I pushed myself to take the opportunity to step outside my comfort zone. At the beginning of the semester, I was nervous about how I would survive in a foreign country, but I soon realized that there was nothing to fear. I noticed how much more independent I was becoming by living on my own with a host family. The host family I was with was incredibly helpful and kind, which made my daily life so much easier. What surprised me the most while I was abroad was the ease of public transportation. Whether it was a bus, train, or subway, I could get from my house to my destination which made traveling from place to place a breeze. This also meant that the transportation pass we received at the beginning of the semester is worth more than gold. I am also glad that we could travel over the weekends to visit other cities and countries in Europe. It has broadened my idea of society and culture in these other countries getting me one step closer to my final goal of being a world citizen. I also appreciate the physiology and history of medicine courses taught by Dr. Wasser which explained procedures, instruments, and medicines that we got to see on our excursions to other cities and the Uniklinikum in Bonn. One of the most notable memory I have of this trip was when I was speaking with another student as she looked across the Charles Bridge, in Prague, and mentioned how far we are from home. I turned to her and said that the goal of this trip is to make the world our home, and after this study abroad experience I think that I did accomplish that goal.

My Final Post

Man... It is difficult to believe that I’ve been home for over two months now. I mean what a bizarre feeling. The whole experience changed me in so many ways that have only become evident after returning home. So here I am, back to “normal” life, but I’m no longer “normal.” I see the world in a different light now and have a drive in me that I did not have before, but I’ll get to that later. I think this may be best started by recounting some significant “landmarks” throughout my journey this last semester. The whole thing taught me an astonishing amount of lessons about both myself as well as those around me and how I deal with those relationships.

I remember arriving to the Houston airport later than I had intended like it was just yesterday. I was supposed to meet up with a group of friends on the same flight, but I had overslept a little due to putting off packing my bags until the night before my departure. So there I was hurrying through the airport, bag in tow, anxiously looking for my friends who already headed to security. If this doesn’t paint a picture of my character prior to this journey, then I’m not sure what will. Before this whole thing, I was disorganized, procrastinated, and not entirely motivated, but I sure was stubborn. This tendency to procrastinate continued to follow me well into the semester and honestly hurt me in more ways than one, but I learned.

After I landed in Frankfurt, the rest of the time went pretty smoothly. I socialized with my peers and some of the AIB staff. We shuttled back to Bonn where we began to be acquainted with the area and culture. When nighttime came around, I had already met my host family, been taken to their house, and unpacked my belongings. At that time, my host family thought it to be a good idea (and it was) to show me how to work the bus system around Bonn, so my host dad tasked my host brother (16) to take me on the buses. Mind you, I have nearly no sense of direction and would often have a hard time speaking up when I had a concern. Fast forward to when we are actually on the second bus that night. So at a certain stop, my host brother tells me that he is getting off here and tells me that I need to get off in three stops. Instead of clarifying, I just accepted his directions and figured that I’d find my way. Unfortunately, I counted the stop we were just pulling into, so I ended up getting off at Bertha von Suttner Platz bus stop instead of Konrad Adeneur Platz. That’s the difference of being on one side of the Rhine vs. the other. So I remembered earlier that I was supposed to look for the church tower and the house was right behind it, but I found the wrong church and ended up getting lost. On top of all this, I had no wallet or working phone on me, so I was solidly lost. I wandered around the area, making sure not to wander too far from the stop and I by chance stumbled upon the AIB. I took shelter under the covering at the front of the building from the misty night to gather my thoughts. I then realized that I had written down important phone numbers in my phone just in case, so I walked up and down the street until I found someone who spoke English so I could borrow there phone to get ahold of someone so that I could get home. I learned several survival skills for traveling that night, but the most important lesson was that about myself. It became more evident that I really need to learn to speak up when necessary and that my voice does matter.

Honestly, if I listed here each thing I learned about myself, others, and everything in between here, I would literally be writing a self-help genre novel. So let’s condense all that into this paragraph. The next couple lessons had to do with dynamics between peers and I and this lasted throughout the semester. These lessons ranged from working on the Enmodes project to just nailing down a plan of action for excursions and trips. My personality varies so much from everyone else’s that I found myself becoming frustrated and just going with the flow rather than voicing my own preferences or trying to mediate between others. I’m all about communication, but I really gave up on myself at certain points and that only ever made things worse. So it may have taken me the entire Journey, but I discovered my “boon” of the whole thing to be self-worth. To be honest, if that was the whole purpose of this journey (it most definitely wasn’t), then it was all worth it. Not only do I tend to value my own desires a little more, but I also value others more than before. In reality, this whole thing we call life is just one big “group project” and we are all on the same team. The goal and the journey is all love and nothing less.

The relationships that I built with faculty, peers, and random acquaintances this last semester are each and individually unique and I will always cherish them. This whole journey for me was just one big journey of learning the dynamics of value. This one concept holds so much weight in so many different ways in not only individuals, but in various cultures. I love that. Thank you all for everything. It does not matter if we argued half the time, rarely talked, or did practically everything together—you know who you are. Thank you for it all. And to those few who helped me get over some really rough stuff that was going on back home while we were over there, you’re some of the best friends a man could ever ask for.

Thanks and God Bless,

Michael J. Florer

P.S. If you are reading this and are considering going, do it. If you have any questions, do not hesitate to text me at 979-451-9882. Just let me know that you read this post.

Retrospective Blog Post

It has now been over two months since I returned to Texas from Germany. Looking back, I still can't believe all of the amazing places I went during my semester abroad. This was my first time in Europe, and I visited countries I thought I would only see in my dreams. I visited eight countries in total, including Germany, Austria, France, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Belgium, and the United Kingdom. I have never had the opportunity to travel like this, and I miss Europe already. I definitely want to go back someday.

Now that I am home, it is nice to see my parents and my cat, but I do miss my host family and their cat back in Germany. I predicted that I would find it difficult to be stuck back in the middle of nowhere again after traveling across Europe for four months. At this point, I have settled back into my small town routine and I'm just ready to go back to College Station.

My favorite part of the experience was being immersed in the culture. I miss riding the subway, navigating the streets of Bonn, and attempting to order food in German. (I only wish I could have become more fluent. I'm afraid that I might forget a lot of what I learned, so I'm using the Duolingo app to refresh my memory.) I also miss the bakeries, the chocolate croissants, and all of the Nutella-flavored foods that Germany had to offer. (My favorite being the ice cream, or Eis.)

Ultimately, I am so glad I decided to study abroad. I learned so much about the German culture and about myself. Before, I wouldn't have called myself adventurous, but I feel like this trip has instilled in me a feeling of wanderlust that I never even knew I had. It feels so surreal; coming from such a small town, I would have never believed that I would one day be able to explore the world like I did. I now have memories that will last a lifetime, and I hope that one day I can travel the world again. I would recommend this experience to anyone, even someone as introverted as me. I learned how to get out of my comfort zone and adapt to new situations, while also making some new friends along the way. It may sound cliché, but this really was the most amazing experience I have ever had in my entire life.

Final Blog

Having been back for about half the summer now, I've fallen back into the routine days of College Station life. Looking back, I can't believe how normal it felt to be living day to day life in Germany. The whole thing feels like it was a dream, a quick experience but filled with so so much. I've got to say, I really miss it. Being back home is relieving in ways, and in a lot of ways I'm thankful to be home again. But I definitely miss Bonn and everything that came with it, especially the Doner.

This experience really gave me a freedom unlike anything I've ever had before. Being able to travel, interact with locals from all over, and really just figure out how to handle each new city I went to was such an incredible experience. I thought I had a pretty good perspective on cultures of the world and how things worked, but after experiencing so many different lifestyles and countries, I've learned so much more. The most impactful experience for me by far was my Spring Break. My solo adventure. That week I spent with just me and my backpack, exploring Denmark and Norway with no real objectives other than to enjoy myself and explore. That's my favorite way to travel, and I'm so glad I got to do it.

I definitely plan to go back someday. This trip really reignited my fire to travel the world. I can't wait to return to these places I've already experienced. But more than that, I can't wait to explore new places that I've yet to visit. The world is a much smaller place once you've gotten to see more of it. Foreign countries feel much less foreign. If I had to name one "boon" from the trip I really don't think I could, because the trip changed so many things about me as a person. The Hero's journey was truly one to never forget, and I don't plan for it to be my last.

Post departure

Well I have gotten use to life back at home, but I do miss germany and a lot of their customs I had gotten so used to.

Things I miss

• Rewe 
• Doner (not nearly as much as I missed breakfast tacos)
• Nick's beitiful features
• Kolsch- even sion kolsh (ew)
• Having a close relationship with an awesome prof like dr.wasser
• Back werk chocolate milk
• Train and subway system
• Wearing my favorite hoodie a majority of the week
• The fresh bread
• Gelato
• Traveling 
• Not sweating if I go outside
• Dr. Wasser
• Cheap travel
• Not Nicole 😉
• The herbal essence 
• Rewe had this veggie mix in the frozen isle. Yes,  I still think about it sometimes
• I don't miss excessive mayo use
• Rhinlust 
• Being on the Rhine 
• My host family's dog, Tequila 
• Going out with everyone
• I guess I made friends with some of y'all... I might miss y'all😈
• Cheap wine prices😩 €3 a bottle can never be beat

Things I'm happy to be home for

• Breakfast tacos
• My family
• Phone service
• Not missing my train home
• My dog
• A large bed
• Hot showers
• Not hanging my laundry in the basement (not having crusty clothes) 
• Driving 
• Cheeseburgers
• Margaritas
• Seeing the sun most of the time
• A rec membership to work off the kolsch bod
• BBQ
• Chips and salsa
• Being able to leave home with out a jacket
• Wearing shorts
• Reasonably priced avacados

Another list of random statements. 

It's weird not to recycle anymore. 

I most definitely miss everybody on the trip and I would do it again if I could. 

I hope Dr. Wasser had the best wedding ever and I congratulate him for getting married! 

I wish I would have made it to the sauna in Germany. 

Final "Retrospective" Blog Post: "There and Back Again"

There and Back Again

By John Kyle Cooper

It has almost been two and a half months since I flew back to the United States from Germany. During the first few weeks in Texas, I experienced both a prominent culture and weather shock. I felt a need to eat a frozen treat every hour of the day in order to regulate my body temperature (it was insane to be freezing while wearing a jacket in Frankfurt, Germany and walk off the plane into a wall of humidity in Houston, Texas). The first place I chose to eat at was Rudy’s (which was probably one of the weirdest experiences I’ve ever had in my life). Everything was very different and it almost felt as if I had stepped into another world (it was very “un-German”) (the ribs were good though). After a nice meal at Rudy’s I proceeded to ride back to Waco in the car with my father (then I proceeded to go into a coma until we arrived at home) (international flights…I was able to watch 3 movies on that 9 hour flight though).

[Okay so after a couple of weeks spent back home I was able to tell some of my many stories that I had accrued throughout the Spring semester, which brought up memories that made me extremely sentimental.] During many moments of the day, I would think of something that reminded me of a certain time in Germany (I then would go deep into thought and wonder what I would be doing if I still living in Germany).

I miss a lot of things in Germany. One of the things I miss the most is the Bäckerei (Bakery). [Okay there are bakeries here in Texas, but they are not as prevalent and aren’t as good] [there is nothing like a large Voigt choco-croissant mit einem Kaffee]. So far I have not found anything that compares to a good German Bäckerei.

After missing a lot and remembering a lot, I started reflecting a lot. The more I told my stories to my family and friends, the more I realized the magnitude of my adventures. It’s not commonplace to one day pick up your bags and travel to Southern Germany for a weekend or travel to Hungary for a weekend. I traveled to 9 countries in the span of a semester! THAT’S INSANE. The amount of worldly exposure I had was unprecedented to any previous event in my life. After traveling this much, I believe I have ruined my outlook on world travel because I may not be able to travel that much again in my life (we’ll see). Experiencing the culture in these different countries has changed the way I think about others and my own self. This has sparked an interest in learning other’s languages [I believe by learning another language you gain a new piece of yourself that is almost tied to that language’s culture (it is important to have a friend that speaks the language well) (Luckily I have a few) (One of my German friends from Siegburg will be visiting College Station this month!)].

Recently, I caught up with a good friend of mine, who (at the end of our meeting) told me that I “had not changed at all”. I was disheartened by this comment because my main goal when beginning the Spring trip was to come back a new person (a changed man [if you will]). However, I thought about how I had interacted with my friend and I came to the conclusion: no matter where I go, my innate behavior will not fade away (I am still Kyle Cooper); however, the stories I tell, the people I meet, and the knowledge those people give me will stay with me and ( I believe) over time I begin to shape myself into who I want to be (from what I see and who I meet).

“The Hero’s Journey”, I certainly was inspired by Dr. Wasser’s lectures over this topic and I genuinely believe it is an important process in every human-being’s life. One must embark on an adventure one day — one must leave their hobbit-hole to find a stolen treasure — one must overcome their fears to become feared — one must leave Tatooine, in order to train under a Jedi Master to fight against the Dark Side ( ;) ). These examples are very exaggerated, but they seamlessly apply to our lives on this earth. These examples should inspire us to leave our comfort zone and try new things - meet new people - (travel to different lands [ a little extreme ]).

I want to end my post with the “boon” that I brought back from my “Hero’s Journey”: “Don’t hold back”. I found that the best moments I had during my adventures were times where I decided to do something even if I thought it was “out of my comfort zone”. I encourage those in new places and new lands to try things that are different, because they open your eyes to the unknown. This philosophy made my adventures “greater” and I hope that adopting this mentality will do the same for those going off on their own journey.

I would like to thank Kristin, Nick, Madeline, and the minions (Nathan and Nicole) for a wonderful semester full of fun times. Furthermore, I would like to thank Dr. Wasser for everything he does to make this program so great and inspiring. It will take a lifetime for the moments of my Sophomore Spring semester to fade from my memory.

Recap!

When I was abroad, I experienced more in one month than I do in an entire semester in College Station. I’ll do my best to recap the most important things!

I think the thing that surprises me the most about my time abroad is that I ended up feeling so close to literally every single person in the program. I’ve been on trips like this before, and cliques are a natural part of these kinds of social situations. However, I would feel comfortable in a one-on-one situation with every single person in the program. I am not exaggerating when I say that I adore each one of them.

As the weeks pass, I’ve been realizing the ways in which this semester has changed me personally. I’m much more comfortable with traveling, whether it be flying alone with a summer’s worth of belongings or taking the metro all over D.C., my home for the summer. I’m more laid back and kinder to myself when things go wrong, as they did so often as we tried to navigate new places and adapt to life in a foreign country. I also have a new understanding that the world is a lot bigger and more varied than I originally realized. Most importantly, I’d like to think of myself as a pretty adaptable person now- something that I definitely could not say before. I have consistently struggled to adjust to new situations throughout my life, which was one of the reasons I pushed myself to go on this trip. This summer, I became comfortable with my life and internship in Washington, D.C., much faster than I have adjusted to any new situation in my life. This is something that I’ve always wanted to address in myself, and I am so glad that living in Germany helped me to improve myself in that way.

There is something about seeing some of the most significant and iconic places in the world that changes you. There were multiple times on the trip when I was completely in awe, overjoyed, blown away- running down the mountain of the Cinderella castle, taking in London from Trafalgar Square with my cousin, standing beneath the Arc de Triomphe at night. We have traveled more than the vast majority of people in the world, which is not a privilege that I take lightly, nor something that I ever really planned to do. This year, I have been to 11 countries- the U.S., Germany, the Netherlands, Austria, the Czech Republic, France, Ireland, Portugal, Spain, the United Kingdom, and Mexico. When my friends ask me if I was sad to miss out on an entire semester on campus, I know that that couldn’t be further from the truth. I can’t imagine having missed out on this, and I’m so thankful that I managed to have this once in a lifetime opportunity. 

The World Traveler

        As soon as I arrived back in Texas I realized I had a new nickname assigned to me "The World Traveler". I was not upset by the nickname in any means it was actually quite fitting. While abroad I got to see ten different countries and to many cities to count.
        Looking back on the study abroad I am blown away how it truly did change my life. I have noticed many differences since I have been home. I would say that I am a million times more adaptable to situations. I use to be the person who would get so upset and worked up when plans just didn't go as I wanted them to. However, while abroad I sure learned that sometimes plans change (a lot of the time actually), but you just have to remain calm and find alternatives.
        Another aspect where I have noticed I am different is the fact that I see the beauty in things I have overlooked for so long. While abroad I was able to see the most incredible things like the Eiffel Tower, Mont Blanc (the tallest mountain in Europe), snowfall in Vienna, and so many others. I have lived in San Antonio for 21 years now and have completely overlooked how beautiful it is also. I was driving through downtown the other day and was blown away by the architecture of all the old buildings and churches, of course they have nothing on the Koln cathedral, but I was still in utter shock. I truly feel now that I am a tourist everywhere I go. I take everything in instead of just driving by and not taking in how incredible things are.
         One of my main worries of my study abroad was that when I would return home everything would be so different with my family and friends and that I would have missed out on so much. Although I will say I did miss out on a couple things like birthdays, Easter, and some other family events when I returned home not much had changed. I easily fell back in my routines here and my family was still in theres. I was excited to see all my friends, but I was even more excited to tell everyone of the friends I have gained. Everyone on this study abroad truly impacted me and my life in one way or another. I was truly blessed to get to know and love every single person. I was worried that I would go on this trip not knowing anyone and end up not getting close or gaining friendships with anyone, but that was the complete opposite. Now that I find myself home I am missing my family that I left in Germany and constantly thinking back to all the fun memories that were made there.
          The one thing I am most grateful for was the ability to learn some German. I had told my grandpa who has been on hospice since the trip that he had to wait till I got home so we could talk in German together. Well he did and we sure did have a nice conversation in German and I could tell it sure made his heart happy. Of course we had to sing Jesus Loves Me a million times in German too. Even yesterday at his funeral I knew he was smiling down as me and some of the others in the congregation sang Jesus Loves Me in German. Although I can't say I am fluent by any means in German I sure did learn enough to get me by.
         Looking back on the semester I am so glad I decided to take this hero's journey. I am surprised how much it has changed me and shaped me into the person I now am two months from returning. I am no longer afraid of change I now embrace it and take it by the horns. I can now say that I am no longer as dependent on others because I found that I can believe in myself and that I can get by on my own. I now have a pair of glasses that see the world for what it is and not just ones that don't stop and see the beauty in this place. I now completely have a new found respect for individuals who are visiting or moving to a foreign country. Most importantly I am now a different person and a better one at that thanks to this incredible journey.