Week 2

Week two in Germany was great! Since last week was just syllabus week, getting over the jetlag and getting settled in Bonn, we were actually able to get into our coursework. I realized that studying abroad would prompt a different kind of work ethic that most students are used to back at a home campus. Since we have to make time for program trips and excursions, a lot of our classes are crammed into longer days. At the same time, I had some classes more frequently such as Systems and Circuits four out of the 5 days of the week. This was especially tough on us since we had a quiz EVERY class day, so we really had to be on top of studying once we got home in the evening. This was more stressful in my opinion but was totally worth it since we were able to visit Cologne (Koln) on Wednesday. The city was so beautiful, we were given a great tour by a guide with a great sense of humor, and above all we were able to witness Cologne Cathedral. I was blown away by the history and attention to detail involved and was completely awestruck. I look forward to visiting again during Carneval, one of the biggest celebrations that everyone gets involved in; even my host mom who has been attending practices for a performance she's participating in. In addition to the trip to Cologne, the AIB organized a group hike that many of our host families participated in. Even though the temperature in Germany is a lot lower than Texas, it still felt great to be outdoors, see the city, and be treated to sandwiches, cake, coffee, and mulled wine! I look forward to what this next week could bring!