Endlich!
Finally spring has arrived in Germany! Woohoo! As promised, an actual post about Germany!
A quick update:
1) I have two-and-a-half months until I come back home.
2) I am currently on my first day of "Osterferien" (Easter Break).
3) it's confirmed I will be going to visit Dredsen over break, Poland in May, and I may be having an opportunity to go to Paris.
4) Apparently sunshine in Germany isn't a myth.
So where to begin? right now I am in the "homestretch" part of my exchange, from what I gather, I will be doing a lot of sightseeing, outdoor recreation, and partying as the well gets brighter and warmer. I am pretty excited, but reaching this milestone in my exchange has forced me to meditate on how exactly I feel about being almost finished, to be going home to family and friends, and to finally say goodbye to Germany. To be honest, I will be happy to leave, not because I hate it here or that I have had a bad exchange experience, but the closer I get to the deadline of departure, the more I realize "it's time" to leave, it's time to go back home to my country, my people, and my family. My reasoning behind this is, through living in Germany, I have discovered how lucky I be an American, this exchange has proven to me that no matter how my personality, beliefs, or worldview may change, I will also be proud of where I come from. Also, one of the reasons I signed up for this exchange was the homecoming, the though that I had gone out somewhere and done something most wouldn't do, and then return into my family and friend' welcoming arms. It is a feeling I am sure will be something I will never forget.
Germany it's self is a wonderful country, despite all the things I found uncomfortable or intimidating, Germany is home to wonderful people, culture, and even most of it's history can be viewed in a good light. But most of all, the land itself is just plain beautiful, I often finding myself wishing that America's open spaces and Germany's natural beauty could be combined, forming something resembling Toilken's Middle Earth. I am going to miss it.
In conclusion, I know I have enough time to really sink my teeth into my exchange, to really do dumb, crazy, adventurous things, and to be able to forge even more great relationships with the people of Germany than I already have.
P.S - Apparently people actually read this, even some who are trying to be in the CBYX program next year, so if you are one of those people, here is a quote for you:
"Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover." - Mark Twain
