Halfway Done???

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I can not believe I am writing this blog post right now. Looking back at my experience so far, I am overwhelmed with good memories, ones that I’ll cherish forever.  Not only have I pushed myself out of my comfort zone and tried new things, but I have learned so much about myself. If you ever find yourself traveling abroad, especially if it’s solo, you are going to learn SO much about yourself. You’ll figure out how to navigate your feelings better, and get a clearer understanding of who you are as a person. I came into this experience of study abroad fairly comfortable and confident with myself, but, wow, has this experience taught me so many things, and these are things that I would never have found out about myself if I had stayed where I was.

During your time traveling, I’ve found it’s so important to take time to experience things for yourself. Slow down, process, and cherish every moment. Day in and day out, I feel very blessed to be able to be here studying in Germany.

When I first arrived, I gave myself some goals to try and improve. I feel like I have made the most progress on speaking German and really taking time to slow down and appreciate moments.

It’s crazy how helpful and beneficial being in Germany has been for improving speaking German. It definitely makes a world of a difference to be able to learn it in the morning and immediately be able to speak it with locals the rest of the day. On that same note, I am really proud of how my confidence in approaching German people to speak with them has improved. That was a dream of mine, and it is awesome to see it become more of a reality every day.

Looking ahead to this next final part of my semester,  I hope to keep improving this even more. I would also like to maintain a better sleep schedule, fingers crossed, as well as make sure I’m eating breakfast every day (food is fuel!). Getting enough sleep is not only essential for brain function, but it also helps keep you healthy and gives your body time to recover, which, as Berlin starts to get colder and more rainy as we approach winter, is something my body desperately needs. As for breakfast, it’s important for me to eat something, even if it’s not a lot. No one wants to have a rumbling stomach in their morning German class 😉

All in all, my opinion of German culture remains high. They have surprised me though! After being here for several months, I do not find them cold or uninviting at all. In fact, I have been treated with so much hospitality that I wish to carry that mindset, how to host and treat others with hospitality back with me to the US. If you take the time to talk to and get to know a German, they are so friendly and welcoming. Before I arrived, I had only learned that the Germans were a “cold” culture, but I do not believe that to be the case. As a whole, they may be more reserved, yes, but I have had too many lovely conversations with Germans to label them as “cold.” This factor has helped me greatly improve my confidence in approaching people, which was a major goal of mine coming to study abroad.

I hope everyone at home is doing well! I miss all of you so much!

Tschüss!

(Below is a panoramic view of Berlin in fall and a picture of my chai, which I have started making as a nice warm treat as the weather begins to get colder.)

Books, Bratwurst, and Balance

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I’m going to be real, studying at first was… intimidating. I remember the first day I actually walked onto campus for my first class. Brand new faces, teachers, and classes awaited me, and I found myself anxious during my 40 minute commute to campus. Will I be able to sit through the three hour long classes? Would I get along with the other people in my classes? Would I be able to keep up in the German class I got placed into?  All of these thoughts circled my brain as I sat and contemplatively looked at the window of the bus.

That day, when I arrived at Freie Universität (FU), the university I go to here in Berlin, I settled into my classes, and when they were over, took a big breath. Relief. I knew I was going to be fine, and it was also good to know that I liked the classes I picked. Even the German class I got placed into was very fun.

All of the classes I take here have relatively small class sizes, usually around 10-15 students, and so we are able to have a lot of group discussions, and some classes even have us present to the rest of the class as well. There isn’t a lot of homework given. Most of our grades are centered around participation and major projects like papers, presentations, and tests.

The only class I have every day is German class, and that is by far my favorite class. Not only do I think my grammatical knowledge has grown, but I think I’ve become way more comfortable speaking German as well. It’s really fun to be able to learn the language in the morning and then go and use what I learned the rest of the day. It almost feels as though every day I add a new tool to my “language” toolbox.

Another aspect of classes that I enjoy is the field trips. It is unbelievably cool to just have German class walking around a section of Berlin, and learning and actually seeing what you’re learning about right in front of you. Quick tip, if you like field trips and are considering doing study abroad, take Art and Dictatorship for one of your courses. The professor who teaches that class LOVES to take field trips and I have gotten to see so many amazing landmarks with that class.

As the months move on and I reflect on my time in Germany thus far, studying here has been unlike any other form of education I’ve ever had. It’s been amazing trying to soak up everything I can because it has been such an amazing experience. Despite my initial fear of the three hour long classes, I have come to enjoy my time in those classes. Although, I do think my levels of concentration and focus have increased, which is a good thing. Coming back to America, the classes will seem so short now 😉

Thank you to everyone who has kept me in their prayers throughout my time here. I just finished my midterms today, which means I am officially half way through with my program here. It really does feel like time has FLOWN by, and I can’t wait to see what awaits me the rest of the semester.

Bis später!

(These are some pics from the latest field trip I had with my German class. We went to the Siegessäule “Victory Column” on this nice typical cloudy Berlin day.)

  

Home Away From Home

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Having a host family in Germany was something that before I arrived made me both very excited and nervous. Would they like me? Would I like them? Would they be friendly? Would they want to spend time with me?

However, after spending a little over a month with them so far, I can happily say that having a host family was one of the best decisions of my study abroad experience. As soon as I arrived I was greeted by my host mother, who gave me a hug and welcomed me into her home. Soon enough, I found myself settling in and spending time with them at meals and when I was at their house.

Their flat/apartment is in a well kept building about 25 minutes from the city center by train. I often enjoy taking that train to the city center and walking around, not to a specific place but just because I can. I still find it hard to believe when I round the corner coming out of the underground train station and see the Brandenburg Gate right there in front of me. At my host family’s house, I also have my own room and bathroom which is really nice. Pictured above is my room. Having that space to myself has been really awesome, and is something that I definitely would not have gotten if I had done a dorm type living arrangement.

Another thing that I think is awesome is breakfast and dinner. Both of those are covered by my host family, and not having that extra stress of having to find meals has been very useful and beneficial. (And they make really good food too!)

On a somewhat related note, something I’ve taken away from these experiences, especially around meals, is the way they have dinner. Having that time and really intentionally slowing down has been really nice for me. My host family makes a big point to be present in the moment during these times and everyone genuinely shares how their day was. At first, I was nervous for when I’d have to share my day (partially because I’d be saying it in German) but they those moments have quickly become some of my favorite and are a great way to practice my German in what is a very safe space.

Overall, I really enjoy my living arrangements and host family. There are many aspects of their life that I admire. Dinner has quickly become a highlight of my day because I get to sit and talk with my host family. It’s really nice that they are very invested in how my day was and are willing to help me with any questions I have. Having that family feel is another thing I really appreciate.

I have a host brother (18) and a host sister (22) who are both close in age to me, so talking with them feels very natural and I have really enjoyed getting to know them. I hope to continue spending time with them and getting to know them.

First Impressions…

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I made it across the ocean!

Now, as I write this, I’ve spent some time here in Germany and can confidently say that if I did have any fears, they are gone now. My host family is very nice and I enjoy my classes.

When I first arrived, I got off the plane and had to find the train that would take me to my host family’s house. The public transportation is amazing here in Berlin, and in Germany.

When I first pulled around the corner to my host family’s house, I was a little nervous, only because I wanted to make a good first impression. These are the people that I’ll be spending the next months with. However, those nerves quickly went away as I approached their house, and my host mom was waiting to help me with my bags. However, something happened that caught me completely off guard. The first thing my host mom did was give me a hug! I feel like we are always told that Germans are a colder culture, and so getting a hug was not something I expected. Yet, I haven’t felt like Germans or cold or unwelcoming at all during my time here so far. I’m really thankful for my host family, and am so glad that I chose to get a host family. If you’re going back and forth between having a host family and not having one, I would definitely recommend it! My favorite part is getting to have dinner with them. For dinner, they usually sit together and talk about their day, and I look forward to sharing my day with them every day (auf Deutsch!).

As for classes, I’m happy that I’m enjoying them, but I’m finding the 3 hour long class periods to be hard to adjust to. The longest class period I had before this was an hour and a half and now each of mine are double that. I think I am slowly getting used to them. It’ll just take time.

I’ve also gotten to try a lot of food so far, another thing I was really looking forward to. Currywurst is still my favorite, but I will say that Döner is getting up there in my list of favorites. I’m finding that one of my favorite things to do after my morning class is find a new currywurst place to try. There are so many of them! Eis is also really good. It’s gelato, but the Germans call it Eis. So, if you’re a sugar lover like me, there’s plenty of Eis to try in the city.

I hope we keep the current weather for as long as possible. I know that soon the rainy side of Berlin will start to show, but right now I am very content with the warm sunny days. I’ve heard it doesn’t really snow a lot, but it does get cold and rainy.

Lastly, another big thing that happened for me over here just recently was my 21st birthday, and I got to spend it in Paris. I found it hard to be so far away from my family, but thankfully we have phones, so that made it much easier.

I can’t wait to experience the rest of study abroad and see what adventures await me!

Berlin Bound

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In just a few days, I’ll be boarding a plane to Berlin, and it still doesn’t feel real. This is something I’ve looked forward to for so long, and now it’s just a few days away…

Right now, floor space in my room is nonexistent. Piles of clothes, a suitcase, and way too many things I think I need to bring take up all of the space in my room and my brain. What does one pack for a semester abroad?

I’ve wanted to study abroad for a while, and Berlin always stood out to me. It’s a city with so much history and culture, but also a place that feels alive and creative. From the food to the art and music scene, it’s the kind of place that seems like it has something new to discover around every corner. That’s what makes me so excited to spend a semester there.

At the same time, I know it won’t all be easy. Here at home, I know my routines. I set the same alarm every morning, know how to get to class without even thinking, and who to text when I need to hang out. In Berlin, all of that will be different. I’ll have to figure out the train system, order food in German, and adjust to living in a place I’ve never been before. That’s a little scary, but I think that’s also the point.

One of the biggest reasons I chose to study abroad is to challenge myself. I want to step out of what’s comfortable and see how I grow. I want to explore new places, try new foods, and experience as much as possible. I want to meet as many new people as I can and gain some new friends. I know I’ll miss home sometimes, and I know there will be moments where I feel out of place. But I’m hoping those moments will teach me just as much as the fun ones.

I’ve been thinking about some goals for myself while I’m abroad. I’d love to improve my German, and become a better communicator. I want to meet new people and build friendships that I couldn’t have had if I stayed here. And I want to take time to slow down and notice little things like how a street feels in the morning, or what makes Berlin different from anywhere else I’ve been.

Right now, though, I’m still writing this from my room, excited, ready, and happy. I’m still packing, still saying my goodbyes, and still imagining what it will all be like. I hope that as I write my last blog for this study abroad experience that I’ll be able to look back on this post and see how far I’ve come. Soon enough, I’ll actually be there, writing from Berlin instead of about it. But for now, I’m just grateful for the chance to go and excited to see what’s waiting for me on the other side of the flight.

Tschüss!