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This past weekend I had the privilege of taking part in a famed European WELS retreat in the city of Heidelberg which is where, as many of my faithful readers probably already know, Luther had the even more famed disputation. Regardless of how many disputations were held in Heidelberg, the WELS retreat was an undisputed success. A conglomeration of believers from across Germany and beyond joined together for a weekend of fellowship and worship. With representation from both the WELS and ELFK (Evangelisch-Lutherische Freikirche) the small Jugendherberge in which we stayed was full of familiar faces. The Balge siblings, Phil and Martha, were able to attend and provided some much-needed familiarity in this long stretch of being away from not only America but MLC. Included in those familiar faces was LPS Grad, Ella Brandt, and Logan and Louisa Pankow, who have become good friends in this short time in Germany. Among these familiar faces, however, were strewn several WELS connections. The WELS connections were soon forgotten, however, as we were all able to connect over the weekend through a series of icebreakers the first evening which had a strange amount of references to a “certain college in smalltown Minnesota which shall not be named”. Fellowship like this is something that was something I had never thought would be missed so dearly after an extended period of time in a foreign country. I learned many things over the weekend, but first and foremost I learned that fellowship is a necessary nourishment for the Christian. The opportunity to exchange stories and forge new memories with a uniquely familiar group of people in an unfamiliar place is something I know that I will cherish for a long time.

However, it was not only Christian fellowship that bonded all of us together. The sect of younger folk who attended the conference was able to spend the day together in Heidelberg, which provided the unique opportunity to exchange our struggles, triumphs, and experiences in a country that was relatively new to all of us (except for Louisa ;). Despite each of our unique situations, we all had similar experiences. Each of us had a different story to tell, but a similar outlook on our time here. Phil, au pairing for the year/Martha, attending University in Mainz/ Ella, taking the year off/ and Logan and Louisa, attending the Seminary in Leipzig and going to nursing school, respectively, each had different experiences and yet similar conclusions as David and I. It is crazy that all of us were products of Lutheran High Schools and somehow found our way to Germany through different avenues. If you had told me a year ago, that I would be at a café in Heidelberg lauding over the German public transportation system as compared to other European countries with that particular group of people, I would not have believed you. Studying abroad has offered so much more than I had expected it to. My expectations consisted of European travel and German language learning, but now I know there is so much more to studying abroad than that. Connecting with people so accurately in a foreign country has been a major surprise for me in my journeys.

Not only in Heidelberg has the connecting been surprising. While discussing over the dinner table at my host family, with members at the ELFK church in Berlin, or even with other students in the program, there is a sense of comradery. There certainly is a great support system here in Germany through the connections that I have been blessed to make. Friendships and memories have been forged, especially with regard to the conference in Heidelberg, and that is undisputed.

I can’t believe that my experience in Berlin is already halfway through! Today, during dinner, Fe, one of my hosts, commented “Wie Zeit rennt!” (“How time flies!”) and I couldn’t agree more. My weeks in Berlin have fructified so many benefits, and in this week’s edition, I will perspicaciously look back on my time to catalog my progress in my goals, expectations, and even insights. I feel satisfied with my experience so far this semester, and with everything that has come from it, whether it be improved German-speaking skills or a wider scope of cultural experiences. I believe that the goal in which I’ve made the most progress is my German-speaking skills which is evident in my classes and my daily discussion with my host family. I remember barely following the conversations with my host family during the first couple of weeks here, but now I’ve been able to track the majority of the conversation and even respond appropriately. In addition to the practical and grammatical skills that I’m gaining in the classroom, Fe has been teaching me more idiomatic German through everyday speaking. I have an ongoing list compiled, and it’s only a matter of time before I add them to an Anki Deck (@deandanell). My efforts outside the classroom have been lacking, however, which is something I hope to change upon my return from Midterm break. With so much to visit and experience in not only Berlin but also throughout Europe, I find it hard to make time for additional efforts for German learning. Regardless, I feel a major improvement in that aspect of life in Berlin.

Speaking of improvements, I could definitely improve on my drive to step outside my comfort zone. I have spent a lot of time with MLC grads (@ Phil Balge and Logan Pankow), which I love, but creating individual experiences in a foreign setting is beneficial. This past weekend David, Phil, Logan, and I had the opportunity to visit Hamburg and enjoy the sights of a traditional harbor city. However, the entire time we stuck together in the city. This may be something that I can improve on in the second half of my time in Europe. With my German-speaking skills and branching out, I also want to improve my confidence in the country itself. I feel a need to confidently go about my time in Europe without worrying about whether I’m making the most of my time or not. This seems to be an issue for the first semester. I’ve caught myself worrying about the nitty-gritty details of life in Europe a couple of times. Those are the major three areas that I would like to see improvement in this semester.

Improvements are all well and good, but there have been several surprises that I’ve experienced while in Germany. The focus on environmental issues especially with waste is in sharp contrast with the American system. There is more than just your basic trash and recycling bin, and it has been something to adjust to quite regularly. There also seems to be a gap in fashion trends between America and Europe. I’ve noticed many trends that would not necessarily be prevalent in the United States. My conception of basic European has definitely evolved over the course of this semester and I hope to develop a more mature view of other cultures. Other than that, I guess have not much more to add as I prep for my Midterm Break. Until next time! Tschüss!