Berlin Bound
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!