Final blog
As I write this blog, I am facing my final challenge of this long, adventurous semester. So while I spend my last few hours here in Germany, hoping to make my connecting flight home, as my first flight was delayed a little, I am able to do some reflecting and write this final blog before I am back home.
So first, I would like to reflect on my proudest moment this semester, which actually happened very close to the end of the semester. I was walking in an S-Bahn station and saw an old German couple looking confusedly at a map. I asked them if they needed help finding where to go, and then I was able to show them the way. And afterwards, the old German lady thanked me and said that she is my Oma now. I was proud for many reasons, first that I was able to do it all in German, and also that I had learned Berlin enough to be able to show them the way.
Secondly, I was thinking if there was anything that I could have done differently. Honestly, I am very content with how the semester went. However, maybe I would have been honest with myself from the start and would have known that I would have needed another bag coming home. Instead, I waited until the last day to get a second one after finding my bag was 10KG overweight, and that was quite stressful.
Thirdly, I was imagining all the customs or habits that I might bring back with me. Mostly I know that I will probably keep saying some of the phrases that I have picked up here, such as “Keine Ahnung” which means I have no clue. I also hope to bring gardening back with me. Many Germans have a garden, just a small one on their balcony or in the back yard, and I really like that idea. One thing I will not be bringing back with me is air drying clothes. They feel really weird, especially towels, when they are air dried vs using a dryer.
I am grateful for a lot of things in my study abroad experience. I am very thankful for my hosts, Elvira and Attila. They made my experience so great. I loved being able to speak German with them and learning from their experiences. They also cooked me really yummy food, which I enjoyed. Overall, I would say that staying with a host family was the best way to live abroad. Another thing I am thankful for is how much I was able to travel. I saw so many cool and new places, and did it all with my friends Caleb and Reba! The last thing I am thankful for, which also ties in with how I saw God’s hand during this semester, is that I am still safe and sound. Being abroad is always risky business, and I am thankful that I know God is watching over me.
Not often on this journey, but a couple of times, I found myself in a less than desirable position and felt a little unsafe as to where I was. However, every time afterwards, I was thankful knowing that the Lord was with me and grateful that he kept me safe.
Sorry for the interruption.
But I would like to inform you that I have successfully overcome my final challenge of study abroad; after taking two buses, two trains, and four planes, I am finally home. The whole thing took 32 hours. But never the less, my bags did not come with me. Hopefully, I get them back soon.
Also on study abroad, I experienced some unexpected blessings. Number 1 being how closely I grew together and learned about the friends I was traveling with. Study abroad really allowed me to have more conversations and a much deeper understanding of my friends that I would not have had going to school with them regularly. I really think that even though study abroad is over and I will no longer be as close with them as I was on study abroad, I really believe these connections will last. Surprise blessing number 2 was that I was exposed to so many different ideas; both from german culture and from other Americans in the FU-Best classes. I really feel that these ideas opened my eyes to how people not in my circles view the world. I think that while my own opinion hasn’t changed much, with this new knowledge, in the future I will be able to more effectively share the gospel with people of these views.
Finally, I’d like to give advice to the future students of the MLC study abroad program. While they might be able to find advice here and there in my previous blogs, I’d like to give my pinnacle number 1 recommendation. That is, to bring friends. On the one hand, a lot of people think that studying abroad is an opportunity to go on your own adventure. These people might think that they will meet tons of wonderful new people and have a great time exploring. While this is a possibility, I’d assert that it is a rare one. Often talking to my host, she commented on how many past students didn’t do much besides come home from school and watch Netflix in their room. So I pose the question: what did they do on study abroad that they couldn’t have done at home? I also talked to other students doing study abroad who came by themselves, and they talked about 1 of 3 things: not doing much, traveling alone, or not liking the people that they met while on study abroad. I systematically avoided all three of these problems by having two friends with me. Just like new people, you don’t always like your friends, but you always love them. Two friends meant that I always had something better to do than stayin my room. One of my favorite restaurants in Berlin, a make-your-own ramen place, was only found because of one of my friends. In addition, I would have never found some of the coolest cocktail bars in Germany if I didn’t have friends to go with. Traveling with two friends, ones I plan to keep in contact with, made every weekend trip carry more meaning because I did it with other people that are dear to me. I look forward to laughing over these memories with them in 10 years.
I am so happy that I chose to do study abroad. It was 183% worth it. And I’m so thankful to everyone who made it possible. Between my teachers and staff at MLC, who encouraged me and helped coordinate it, my host family, who willingly accepted me at their house, and God, who kept me safe, my parents, who came out to visit me, and finally, I’d like to thank my friends, who it wouldn’t of been the same without.
My Friends