Retrospective

I think the best representation of how I feel about the program now that I've returned home is my continuing reluctance to write this post. Writing this post feels like an admission that the program really is over, and I must acknowledge that I'm home now despite how much I'd rather be back. It was funny because I know Dr. Wasser said that when we returned we likely wouldn't be able to shut up about our experiences, but it honestly took me some time after I got back to be able to talk freely about the program because reflecting upon it just made me so sad that it was over. The prospect of writing this has left me feeling much the same. 

Since returning to the States I’ve found myself seeking out experiences to trick myself into feeling like I’m back in Bonn. I’ve discovered there are a couple places in town where one can get imported Kӧlsch for instance. I’ve also taken to watching everything I possibly can in German. Netflix has German dubs for essentially all its originals and I found the actual German show Dark, or maybe Dunkel, which I love. It is helping me maintain my skill in German though, which is good because I don’t want to lose that before I go back again. I’ve also kept in touch with my host mother, Rosi. She helps me with my German as well, although writing with her can be difficult as she’s old and not great with technology. When she messages there’s no punctuation, so I must try to figure out where each sentence begins and ends. I don’t mind though, she’s sweet to continue to help me with my German, and it honestly probably helps my understanding more anyways to have to break it down like that.

Something I hadn’t expected about returning to classes at A&M was how weird the class environment feels now. It’s the strangest thing to me to go to a class and have most of the people in the room be complete strangers, even if that’s what I did for several semesters before Germany. It also feels like among the students there is a less earnest desire to learn the material presented than there was among us in the program, but maybe that was just my perception and not the reality abroad. I’ve also got to get used to not being able to get as much 1-on-1 time with my professors again.

I think the thing I miss most about Germany is the culture. It’s so different from here but I feel like it’s so much more earnest. In the States there is a social obligation to be nice in such superficial ways; asking strangers about their day, smiling at passersby, etc. In Germany the cultural norms tend far more towards courtesy than niceties; being quiet on public transportation, giving pedestrians right-of-way, and especially their famous punctuality. This difference just makes Germans feel so much nicer than Americans. Their passing kindnesses are much more genuine, and far less emotionally draining to participate in.

The biggest takeaway from this, I miss the hell out of Germany, Bonn in particular, and I can’t wait to go back. Which I absolutely will, maybe as a TA, hopefully as a graduate student at a German university. Then I can visit Rosi as well!

Retrospective Blog Post

My experiences in the study abroad were great and life changing. I was able to explore different cultures and cities and try many different foods. I was humbled by the great culture of Europe and am continuing to be impacted being back home. I was sad and excited to be coming back home but I was looking forward to telling all my friends and family about my journey.

Being back home was another shell shock for me. I quickly became home sick from my wonderful and prosperous home in Germany. So many things were different for me, ranging from transportation, recycling, weather and my long missed friends that I had made in my time in Germany. Despite my homesickness, I was able to become a more cultural and educated person through the study abroad experience and believe everyone should have this experience to become a more well-rounded person. 

All in all, my experiences were life changing and even after two months of coming back home I am still changing. I continue to compare things around me to those that I had seen in Europe. It was almost as if I had explored a different world. I lived my best life in Germany and had some of the most craziest and fun experiences. Would I do it all over again? You bet. 

And so it ends: Return to the Ordinary

Where do I even begin…. Living and studying in Germany surpassed my expectations by far. I never expected over 4 months’ time to pass so quickly. Coming into the program, I had high hopes for the semester, as my sister participated in the same program 2 years earlier. She graduated in May; out of all her semesters of college, she views her time abroad as the best.

Before studying abroad, I felt like I was in a rut. I’d grown tired of my classes, the campus, and seeing a lot of the same people from high school. I didn’t share many interests with my classmates or sorority sisters. Life in College Station seemed repetitive, boring, and safe. I was eager for change. When the opportunity came, I didn’t hesitate to sign up for the Germany Bioscience semester. I hoped to make friends, maintain my grades, explore Europe, and learn more about myself. I accomplished all these things and more.

One of my favorite things about this program was the people. Everyone had the same lust for adventure and desire to try new things as me. Some of the students I never would have met if I hadn’t gone to Germany. I looked forward to going to school and seeing everyone every day. Traveling with my friends was always fun. Even if a trip was terribly planned, the company made the trip enjoyable. I have so many happy, exciting, hilarious, wild, and sometimes reckless memories from all our adventures. Like the time we nearly missed our bus to the airport in Budapest, or waking up at the crack of dawn to hike to Buda castle to see what turned out to be a crappy sunrise, or losing our tour group in the Natural History museum in Vienna, and dancing around Beuel on the first day of Karneval, and the ping pong tournaments between Enmodes work, and hiking 7 miles with our duffel bags in Sorrento, and sprinting between platforms to catch five different trains to Amsterdam, and paddle boating around Rheinaue park, and running through pouring rain in Zagreb, and every meal we ate at Gaffel am Dom. The memories go on and on and on. I am so happy I was able to share all those experiences with some amazing friends.

Of course, I must mention the study aspect of study abroad. Classes at the AIB were pleasant and engaging. For one thing, the student to teacher ratio was much smaller, making the classroom a more personal environment. Our professors and classmates wanted everyone to succeed. We were all motivated to study to make time for travel. The History of Medicine class exposed me to a lot of information about the origins and progression of medicine. It also fostered a sense of appreciation for modern medicine and fascination with older practices, especially after seeing the Narrenturm and Josephinum. Working with Enmodes for our design project helped me grow as a biomedical engineer. It was the first “real world” project I have worked on. I learned how to approach ideating solutions and that there are many aspects to consider before developing a solution. The Enmodes project strengthened my leadership skills and taught me what I could contribute to my team. Before Germany, I didn’t have a definite idea of where I wanted to go with my career; however, shadowing doctors at the uniklinik and touring the biomedical engineering institute revealed to me that I want to study medicine and become a surgeon.

You can learn a lot by living in a different culture. The language they speak, the foods they eat, the way they dress, the way they interact with others, the transportation they use, and their political views can be different. I spent most of my childhood living in Shanghai, China. I grew up being an outsider in a foreign country and had been exposed to different cultures from a young age. I learned not to be afraid of differences, but instead to appreciate and learn from them. Living in foreign countries has shown me that there is more than one way to do things. Just because we do something a particular way does not mean it’s the only correct way. A few things I appreciated about the culture in Bonn were public transportation, bike lanes, recycling, reusable grocery bags, and bakeries. Unfortunately, I didn’t pick up much German over my time there, but enough to order beer and sing “Viva Colonia.” I hope to continue learning German in the future, and maybe one day call Germany home.

I have loved traveling for as long as I can remember. Germany is so central, which made traveling to other countries a breeze; it was the perfect location to call home. I was able to explore a lot of Europe, while staying on track with school. In total, I visited 10 countries: Germany, Austria, Hungary, France, Spain, Italy, Turkey, Netherlands, Denmark, and Croatia… (I count it as 12 though, because I had a layover in Portugal, and I spent a weekend in Mallorca :) I don’t think I will have the opportunity to travel this much again for a long time. Now that I’m back in the States, I miss being someplace new and exciting almost every weekend. I find myself reminiscing about all the new places I saw, great food I ate, catchy songs I heard, and incredible experiences I had.

Being on my own for four months taught me a lot about myself. I became more independent from my family. I was always so occupied with school, travel, friends, and my host family that I never really felt homesick. There was always something to be looking forward to, whether it was hanging out with friends, travel plans, or just coming home to chat with my host family. I enjoyed living with my host family. They were welcoming, generous, and fun to be around. By the end of the semester, they felt like family, and saying goodbye was hard.  My time in Germany was by far the happiest semester I’ve had. I felt like there was always judgement from my peers in College Station, but in Germany I could be myself and feel accepted.

Looking back, I realize how lucky I am to have been able to participate in a program like this. I made great friends and connected with my host family. I traveled more than most get to in a lifetime. I made memories that will last forever. And lastly, I found a home away from home. Thanks to Dr. Wasser and everyone else who made this trip possible. I am a better person because of it.

Reflection Post

After leaving Germany for some time now, I can reflect on all that I have learned. It was a great experience, one that brought a lot of practical changes to myself. The biggest change that in my daily life is my newfound need to wake up early. Everyday now I always wake up at 7 in the morning. I learned that if I did not have consistency in my morning routine, I had the tendency to fall asleep in situations that I should be focusing. I was really surprised that this changed happened to me. Throughout my life, I have always slept in for hours, always craving that extra hour of sleep. Now I always feel refreshed when I wake up earlier and able to start my day sooner. Additionally, I think I became a lot better at communicating with people from different backgrounds. While I have travelled to many different places in the world, staying in Germany for such an extensive time really helped me talk to people in a more concise and straightforward manner. One thing I found really surprising, however, was how easy it was to communicate with the German locals. Even if they were not great at speaking English, I was always able to get my points across and understand what they had to say to me. I grew a lot when it comes to travel. Before travelling to Germany, I had never gone on an airport by myself. I would always travel with different family members, never really paying attention to how I get around or how to buy the tickets in the first place. Now I have a much greater understanding on effective travelling, I think that I have become quite skilled in the art of sleeping on an airplane floor. Now that my family will be traveling throughout Europe, I will actually be able to lead our trips and show all the different sights to see. Travelling to Europe gave me a new desire to always be doing something. While studying abroad, I really did not have time to just sit around and relax. There was always some way to fill the time. I never felt like I did absolutely nothing in any day on my trip. When I got back to Houston, however, I would sometimes feel bored. Now I have started picking up old hobbies to stay engaged, such as playing musical instruments. Finally, I was able to meet a lot of new friends and people to keep in touch with in Europe and back home. I am sure these will be great connections that I will be keep for a long time.

Overall, I would say my trip abroad was a great success. I was able to grow as an individual and learn all about the world around me. I was able to develop many great habits that will shape my future in a positive manner. Thanks to everyone who was able to make my trip a success, from everyone working with the AIB to my friends and family back home who pushed me to study abroad.

Home Sweet Home

My mom told me when I left that I would come home with a new appreciation for the way we live in Texas, USA. Well, as moms usually are, she was right. It’s been a little less than two months since my time in Germany ended, which is crazy to think about.  Two months ago I was across the Atlantic hopping to a different country every weekend.  I have to say, I miss the adventures already, but I am so very happy to be home.  

May 10, 2018 — Flying back to Texas

From the moment I got to the airport in Roma I felt more at ease and excited to be traveling somewhere than I had in months. That’s saying something considering all the places I’ve ventured to. The difference this time is that my excitement isn’t due to venturing into the unknown; rather, I’m venturing back to what I’ve known for 22 years. I'm going home. 

Getting on the plane for a 12 hour flight seemed a bit daunting, but as soon as the captain said “Welcome aboard, y’all” I knew I was going to the right place. I was hugged, welcomed, smiled at — and not just by the one flight attendant who I surprisingly knew! When the drink cart came around, I was able to order water without being asked if I wanted “still” or sparkling. I could ask questions and actually have a conversation with people who weren’t directly related to me. I had my mom and dad and brother with me so I could talk and laugh and lean on someone when I needed to take a nap. 12 hours is a long time to be on a plane but it’s been the best plane ride I’ve ever been on.  

Mexican food. That is the very first planned thing the whole family is doing once we get back home. We have a local joint that my parents visit often and always take me and my brother to when we are in town. After such a long time away from home and a seemingly endless flight, going out for Tex-Mex is just what a native Texan does. 

I’ve already expressed to my mom how hungry I am for healthy food and a better diet plan. …Which will start tomorrow, after we get Mexican food. The amount of potatoes and sausage (mostly glorified hot dogs tbh) I’ve consumed in the past four months is unreal, not to mention that I probably ate two or three full pizzas total, by myself, and can easily claim about 5 bottles of wine during the one week we spent in Italy. I am literally craving mixed greens and carrots and spinach and grilled chicken and overall just healthier meals. I’m also super excited to have a full kitchen at my disposal with a large selection of spices, ingredients that I am familiar with and can understand pricing of, and people who share my tastes and will encourage me to experiment while I cook healthy meals. 

I am also looking forward to seeing all the people I’ve been out of touch with for the past four months. Even when I’m in College Station for a typical semester, it’s difficult keeping up with people I don’t see on a regular basis. Being halfway around the world has made it seriously hard for me to keep up, even with people I absolutely love talking to. Which is why, after getting Mexican food with the family, I’m heading straight to my favorite dance hall to see my dance fam. My favorite past time is Two-Stepping and West Coast Swing, and after a four month dancing drought I cannot wait to be back on the floor with the people who make home feel like Home!  I am also fortunate to have a core group of people I can confidently say will all be my friends for the rest of my life, who unwaveringly kept in touch with me even though they all lead super busy lives in crazy hard majors. We are already planning a summer reunion so we can share our adventures since December.  

June 25, 2018

So many people have asked me what my favorite part was of studying abroad, and it's always hard to sum up everything I experienced.  So here are some of my absolute HIGHLIGHTS:

• Traveling!!!  Traveling around Europe is honestly so easy and affordable!!  But, if you think about it, the entire continent isn’t too much bigger than Texas itself, so it makes sense that going from country to country doesn’t take much time.  I traveled to 8 different countries in the span of four months, which is absolutely insane, and I loved every minute of it.  The pictures don’t do the beautiful things I saw justice, and the memories and friendships I made on these trips are just as wonderful.  Traveling certainly brought me and my adventure buddies closer and I can’t say how happy I am to have had people who love exploring as much as I do!  Some pictures from my absolute favorite places in the world are at the bottom!!
• Real-World Biotech Collaboration Experience: My main reason for studying abroad, specifically in the Biosciences program, was the research project with Enmodes.  I want to work with surgical biotechnology, and getting to work with an established company on a real world problem definitely increased my interest in the field and allowed me to apply what I learned in anatomy and was currently learning in physiology.  Presenting our final design concepts to Enmodes was also a great experience.  It helped me hone my communication and presentation skills and I felt very accomplished at the end of everything.  Like any group project we faced frustrations and setbacks, but our final design was well-received and I was really proud of how it turned out.  I was hoping to have a little more interaction with the company than we did, but it was still an eyeopening experience.
• Best Prof Ever!!  Another thing that made this trip wonderful was that we had the best professor ever as our program leader.  Dr Wasser is an infinite font of knowledge and taught all of his classes extremely well.  Whenever we had concerns about a class, host-home life, or traveling he was always available and willing to help.  He cares about us so much it hurts.  He certainly made my experience abroad one to remember.  
• Friendships: I was also really happy to have met such stellar people.  Some of my favorite nights were those when I met up with a few friends to cook dinner and watch movies and just hang out outside of school.  But I also found people who loved to hike and explore and be outside just as much as I do!  I really think having the right people makes any experience SO much more enjoyable.  

But, of course, there was some homesickness involved too, as you could probably tell from my May 10 part.  There really were some THINGS I MISSED SO SO MUCH and wish I'd had with me during those four months: my friends from back home, the amazing Texas BBQ and sufficient FREE ice water during meals, my parents and my Little Guy (of course there's a mention of my kitty), and my car and the freedom it provides.  I have happily shifted back to regular life in suburbia.  My mom says seem more appreciative of our way of life at home than I was before I left.  I’m definitely more appreciative of the way we eat and the options we have, but I am very thankful that my parents allowed me this opportunity.  I have so many memories that I can look back on for the rest of my life.  I will miss all the adventures of traveling, but I am very glad to be home.

First day in Germany, spent tasting wine at Mayschosser Weinkeller

Mayschosser, Deutschland

Kölner Dom

Köln, Deutschland

Sunset at Schönbrunn Palace

Vienna, Austria

Neuschwanstein (Cinderella Castle)

Füssen, Deutschland

Eiffel Tower in the Rain

Paris, France

Eiffel Tower in the Dark

Paris, France

Iconic bridge with iconic boat and iconic painted houses

Porto, Portugal

Parque Natural da Ribeira dos Caldeiroes

Sao Miguel, Azores, Portugal

On top of the world...

Sao Miguel, Azores, Portugal

Volcanic beach Mosteiros

Sao Miguel, Azores, Portugal

Our train got stuck because it snowed so heavily...

Zurich, Switzerland

Clearing Skies after Surprise Hail Attack

Zurich, Switzerland

We met the entire band WALK THE MOON!!!

Köln, Deutschland

Ruins of one of the many castles along the Rhine

Bonn, Deutschland

Berg Eltz

Wierschem, Deutschland

Casually in my shorts in the snow by the Swiss Alps

Luzerne, Switzerland

View from the top of Mount Pilatus

Luzerne, Switzerland

Mount Pilatus from the middle of Lake Luzerne (it was cold)

Luzerne, Switzerland

Last time on the Rhine, Farewell Cruise

Many Towns in Deutschland

Germany COME BACKKKK

    Upon getting back to the US I have noticed a huge difference in recycling. Sure I was like yeah we don't recycle but gosh never even thought at how much we don't recycle. I was throwing away a container and was like first off the recycle bin is an extra 30 feet away, I don't know if this is recyclable and if the last little bit of food was fine to leave in the container. Before the trip I would have been like eh and thrown it right there and then but haha I was like not this time and was like for Germany.

     Gosh I miss it, I loved how we could just feel free to travel wherever on days like today. Instead I'm going to a job and doing classes and so scared if I leave I'll never come back. I've noticed that I have calmed down a bit more and found myself feeling a bit more secure which wasn't what I was expecting. I don't mind doing chores as much as I used to but studying is really hard to start again (some things never change). I've discovered that I can do more stuff in a day then I thought before. For instance I work up a decent time today, went to class, worked out, did some homework, relaxed a bit, doing some more homework, probably start up another hobby here in a minute, go to work, and then probably do something nice tonight. It's funny how when you barely have anything going on the day seems so short but once you throw in a few things to look forward to the days seem a lot longer.

    One of the biggest things I miss about Germany was being really close to friends, like everyday we were doing something and I will be the first to state that I had second feelings about that in the moment, but looking back I've realized that it was refreshing to make solid friendships that I can count on at any moment in time. I hope these friendships last a lifetime because when you find people you can respect and trust it makes life a lot easier and happier. So here's a shout out to the Germany crew!!

    Another aspect I've noticed that I believe I've changed in is I'm more patient with people then I was before. I know I haven't been the best at patience and probably still have a long way to go. I just feel like I've taken a step in the right direction and hope to continue walking that way. A couple of people have helped me with that and I know it's taken time but I hope they see my progress and don't give up on me. It's funny, I think one of the biggest learning curves for me was not learning the new material (definitely a big one), not figuring out how to get around, not figuring out the language, but figuring out how I belong in the group and how I get along with people. So I have learned a lot of social cues but still have a lot more to learn and I would say that has been one of my biggest growth points in my life.

    Once again, I do want to show my appreciation of the program and Dr. Wasser, Romi, my host family, and the AIB staff. Thank you so much, and I hope to see y'all soon!

Frieden!!

I would call it Life Changing

Hallo for the very last time!

I think this blog will be easy to write because lately, it’s been hitting me that I am no longer in Germany and it really hurts. Although a lot of the same people will be coming back to College Station with me in the fall, I miss all the other things like my host family, the huge floor in the attic that I was lucky enough to call my room, the city, and the period of self-growth that was part of this Hero’s Journey.

Before coming to Germany, I’ll admit that I felt a bit lost. I was looking into transferring schools, I felt that the job I had been at for 2 years was boring and not something I was passionate about, and that my friends just didn’t have the same lust for adventure and change as I did. But then I went to Germany and all these feelings went away. I was in a place where I was truly happy and it made waking up everyday something to be excited about. I had so much energy that even on the “boring” days of going to class, I was still having a great time. I cannot recall a single moment of being in Germany where I felt like I did not feel at home and was lacking happiness. Every day felt absolutely perfect.

Coming back to College Station was difficult, for sure. I went back to the same stressful job, saw the same old friends from high school, and moved back into the same tiny apartment. It was like nothing had changed around me, but I, myself, felt like a completely different person. This was the hardest part about coming back. Everything felt so similar and mundane, that it felt like my whole experience in Germany was just a dream. But every day, I am thankful that I got to live out this dream, because it was truly the best time of my life so far.

I reflect on my time in Germany every day. When I’m in the car listening to music and a song pops up that I first heard of in Europe, it brings me back to sitting on the 66 tram and listening to the song while gazing out of the window at the Rhine River. Other days I think of my host family and so I text them to catch up and see how they are doing. They have a lot of big plans to travel and they said it was because of me. I told them how great Budapest was after I had visited and now they are visiting in July- I was ecstatic to hear I had made a mark on them and influenced them even after I had left.

I remember being in class and being captivated learning about physiology and how the body works and actually asking questions which I never used to do. I also remember Hilde teaching us German numbers and making us march around the classroom singing silly songs and the day that it first snowed outside and everyone was late to class. All of these experiences that are so seemingly normal compared to all of the traveling that took place, yet they are memories that stand out to me and leave me feeling happy and astoundingly grateful for my time abroad.

Now that I am back, I have already found a new job that brings me bliss. It is a job that I had planned on getting while abroad which is working at a coffee shop. I thought that while I am young, I would like to do things that make me Happy and being bored or hating a job, yet being so common in society today, is unnecessary. It is our own choice what we decide to do with our lives and we miss out on happy experiences thinking they will come in the future. We should strive for them now.

Germany also opened my eyes to so many other options for what to do next. I never really knew what I wanted after I graduated from A&M, I just knew that I didn’t want to stay where I was. I had plans to move back to England, but now I want to start my own life in Deutschland. I have plans to apply for an internship at Bayer and apply to other graduate school programs in the country. I am so excited that I finally found a place that feels exciting and empowers me to work hard and be my own person that I feel this last year gives me something to look forward to in the future but I also know that I have things to look forward to in the here and now.

To describe in a few words how this study abroad trip to Germany was for me, I would call it Life Changing. I have never felt so passionate about an experience in my life and so grateful for all of the memories and friends that I made while I was there. I continue to talk with so many of the students from the trip every day like Lexie, Kate and Mitchell, and even have plans to live with Austin and Katie next year, which I couldn’t be more thrilled for. I would even say I have made some of my best friends studying abroad. I know I also made life-long friendships with my host family as well, who I know I will undoubtedly see again in the near future, and other people from around the world whom I met on weekend trips to other countries. It’s absolutely amazing!

 I know if I go back to Germany it will be a different experience, but I am so ready to start my adult life somewhere new and wonderful, that I will be eager to work hard every day and make sure I can stay there. As for plans past the next 5 years, I will go where life takes me. I’d love to travel more of my favorite continent and go back to visit Budapest and Croatia, but I am completely satisfied with how my life is shaping up at this point in time and I have all of that to thank to this semester abroad and A&M university for helping me get there. I know many other universities do not give the same kind of financial aid to their students for opportunities abroad, and I certainly could not have done it on my own. For that, I am truly grateful. 

Vielen Dank, Germany. You were my dream come true. Thank you for giving my life a new sense of purpose and opening up my heart to new things and I look forward to seeing you once again. And Vielen Dank to everyone who added to my amazing experience abroad like Dr. Wasser, my host family, and all the new faces I met along the way. It was all the great people who surrounded me that made being in the beautiful country and traveling that incredible continent even more magnificent. Even though the Hero's Journey in Germany this semester has ended, it feels like the good stuff is only just beginning and I can’t wait to see what my future will bring J

Tschüss ♡ 

Party in the U...K + Auf Wiedersehen || May 29, 2018

After I left Ghana I headed to London for about two days. The day I arrived I met Nam, who was staying in the same room as me in the hostel. I went around with him and another guy he'd met earlier in the day, Ted. It turns out we were all from Texas and it was everyone's first day in London which is a funny coincidence. They were both really nice and I was super glad to have some other y'all users around. We travelled around quite a bit--from Tower Bridge and along the river Thames over to Hyde Park and Kensington Gardens. And after that of course we had to finish off the day with some fish and chips at a pub. The next day I went off to explore by myself, me and my headphones against the world. I feel like I walked the entire city that day. A few of my favorite things were Trafalgar Square (Allee, Carah, and I got yelled at for climbing the lion statues there senior year of high school. Good times, good times), Guildhall Art Gallery (nothing too extravagant but some really nice pieces and admission was free), and the Museum of London (also free admission). I headed to Kings Cross early the next morning, snapped a quick picture of platform 9 and added my own 3/4 onto the end, and was soon on my way to Edinburgh, Scotland.

I stayed in Edinburgh for the rest of my time in Europe because I was on yet another study abroad--an engineering ethics minimester. Obviously I loved the Germany program more than this one just because I had so much more time to connect with the surroundings as well as my classmates, but I had a great time in Scotland and met a lot of sweet people as well. I'm not sure I ever quite got used to people driving on the left hand side of the roads, but other than that life there was much the same as in Germany anyway, except the locals were definitely nicer. 

What I did/takeaways:

• After classes we had the afternoons free so I was able to make my way through most of the museums and sights to see pretty easily. I highly recommend the National Museum of Scotland, and the Scottish National Gallery is home to probably the best collection I've ever seen (and both are free). Also for a good view Arthur's seat is the place to go. It's a short hike and definitely worth it. 
• We had a few class excursions to Edinburgh Castle, Holyrood Palace, and Real Mary King's Close. The last was definitely my favorite although they were all worth doing. We had one excursion outside of Edinburgh where we went to Aberdeen to visit Halliburton. There we got a look at how concrete is developed and then later how it is used in oil drilling. I thought it was pretty interesting and I liked the workers that were speaking with us. 
• I took two day trips through a company called Rabbies. On the first one I saw the Kelpies (giant horse head statues), Loch Lomond, and Stirling Castle. The second took me and some friends to a couple small cities (Kelso and Dunbar), across the border into England, and to Alnwick Castle (aka Harry Potter castle!!). I definitely recommend both of them or if you don't like guided tours you should at least make sure to drive out through the countryside. And seek out some hairy coos!! I never actually saw any myself but that's just about my only regret. 
• I also attended my first (non high school) musical ever. A group of us went to see Wicked and I absolutely loved it! (Defying gravity is a true anthem and now my motivational go-to). And the next week I saw the RNSO (Royal National Scottish Orchestra) perform Planets which was super duper good as well! And one of the smaller pieces they played beforehand featured a tuba soloist. A really good tuba soloist!! Backed up by a really good orchestra!! My mind was blown. 
•  I really enjoyed the class itself, it wasn't an overload of work and it really made you consider how you could handle difficult situations better. We were given a lot of real life scenarios to think about and although it's frustrating that there's never really a correct way to solve any of them, it's interesting to see how everyone has a different take on each issue. 
• As for pubs and restaurants and things--Caley Picture House is absolutely gorgeous (converted from a theater), Bread Meats Bread is excellent for satisfying a poutine craving, Elephant house for Harry Potter fans and yummy cake, Hoot the Redeemer definitely worth a hunt, and of course finding a place with a pub quiz is a must do. Also, try IRN BRU. Best selling soda in Scotland!

From Edinburgh I flew to Frankfurt (round trip tickets suck so I couldn't change where I left from) and the next day, I flew back to Houston. So, that's a wrap on both Scotland and the rest of Europe (for now).

May 29

Here I am, sitting outside my gate in Frankfurt, waiting for a flight, again. Only this time it's a much more bitter sweet experience. Despite thoroughly enjoying all of my travels after the program, I've been ready to return home. [Aaand just as I was writing that I was randomly selected for a security check, or should I more accurately say Margaret Chen Smith was? The guy who was looking at my passport saw my Deutschland visa and asked, "Oh, do you speak German?" and he was so disappointed when I said no. You and me both, buddy, you and me both.] But back to the point, I've been ready to go home for a couple of weeks now, but as I sit here about to board I find that I'd very much like to stay. The UK was much easier to live in language barrier wise, but it just didn't feel like home. Coming back to Frankfurt for a short 12 hours, being surrounded by German and being lost when people try to talk to me? Yeah, it's a little stressful, but it's somewhat normalized and just feels... right. I'm going to miss that. I'm going to miss a lot of things. But I know I'll return one day so I'll just give a final see-you-later to all of my favorite German things and be happy I was able to snag one last bag of butterkeks on my way out.