Big things take time to digest - studying abroad in Germany has been no exception to this. So while it may be surprising to some, it is not surprising to me that writing a final reflection on time spent there has taken 5 months of thinking about in order to write.
Prior to studying abroad in Germany I had lived overseas before. I had traveled solo internationally before for long amounts of time on-end. I had been in uncomfortable and unfamiliar places far away from home before. I left Texas fully convinced Germany would be no different than the countless other times I had done that same exact thing. I could not have been more wrong. If you can't recall be sure to check out my initial post regarding 'being the other'.
There were many key takeaways from that experience. Some of which were mundane in the sense that they were to be expected and therefore perhaps considered normal and therefore deemed boring. I'll spare you the repetition on those revelations although I find normal rarely equates to boring. Anyways...
What surprised me most now about this trip since being back is the way in which I interact with people and my surroundings now. After being in Germany and seeing first hand the displacement and broken homes caused by the Ukrainian refugee crisis... suddenly problems in my life like not being able to find parking on campus minutes before an exam suddenly seems small and unimportant. Things have certainly been put in to perspective. I often find myself appreciating the little things and finding joy in the ordinary more than I used to. I've become acutely aware of how much I have taken for granted in life - things like insulated walls and thick socks for example haha.
I've also become a more understanding and empathetic person. I listen more and make less assumptions. After being exposed to so many different types of people and different backgrounds so routinely while in Germany such a global perspective has heightened my awareness of people's sensitivities even here in Texas. It's made me a better leader, a better follower, and perhaps most importantly a better friend.
From before we even left we were often told "this will be a transformative experience" at first, if i'm being entirely honest, I doubted the phrase a little. But now after being back for 5 months you are dang right, it is simply transformative. Everyone ought to get comfortable with being uncomfortable - study abroad is the perfect way to do just that. The growth you reap as a result pays back in dividends greater than you'd ever imagine.
Saying I'm eager to go back soon would be a drastic understatement.
