First Impressions…
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!
First impressions of Berlin
I’ve been here now for a few weeks and am definitely getting settled in. Berlin is a very multi cultural city and just walking around I hear many other languages than German. Not all of Germany is like this though. On a short weekend trip to Leipzig and Chemnitz I very much felt more surrounded by ethnically German people. Everywhere in Germany I have been so far has been nice and welcoming which is nice because my street feels familiar and a little bit like home.
My host family has been very influential in my acclamation to Berlin. They are very welcoming and make me breakfast and dinner (They even baked me a Birthday cake!). They are also super helpful in telling me where to go to find things whether it be necessities like soap or activities and sight seeing.
In Berlin there is so much to see. The zoo is very old in a good way and quite unique with location in the city. Classic monuments are fun to see like the Brandenburg gate, Berliner Dome and also the Tv Tower. Plus there is tons of history to dig in especially pertaining to WWII and the ensuing division of the country and the Cold War. I am excited to go see some more Berlin throughout the semester, and the school will take me on excursions as well to see and learn more.
Another thing to get used to is the food. In Berlin two types of food are very popular and easy to find: Curry and Döner. Curry is a sausage with fries ketchup mayo and curry powder. Döner is meat carved from a vertical rotisserie put with salad and sauces on a flatbread. For me these are both tasty lunch options. Although in Berlin the typical German heavy food is not as prolific like it is in other areas, but I’m still excited to try those too.
Another thing I noticed right away that I like is the train system in Berlin. It is super easy for me to travel and get to places usually whenever I want. But sometimes the train is a super far walk or a long wait so at these moments I miss my car. However being able to not have to focus on driving but still getting places is quite nice. My school here in Berlin has equipped me with public transportation passes and later in the semester it will cover all of Germany. I am really looking forward to that so I can get around even more.
Over all I think Berlin is a very nice city and I am glad I chose to study here. I have already experienced so much but still have a lot of things to see and to do. I’m glad that the program I am in nurtures adventure and exploration through host families and excursion, so that I can grow and learn from the new place I am living in. All in all the first impressions have been great!
I’ve arrived – Paul Wagner
Impressive Impressions
To everybody who is scared to study abroad, whether that’s because it’s too far, or you’ve never left America, or you don’t know the language, DO IT! As someone who had never left America before three weeks ago, I did not know how much this opportunity would affect me.
My flight here was beautiful. I had a layover in Iceland and got to see part of that beautiful country. It was the last time I’ll be driving a car for the next three months.
Arriving in Germany was a bit tough on the first day. I was very tired and had about five hours of sleep after being up for 48 hours. However, I don’t think I’ll forget walking into my Host Family‘s house for the first time and thinking; okay, so this is home now.
Host families are awesome because they make delicious dinners for you and talk to you about so many world experiences you didn’t even know existed in America. I have yet to share much about myself, but it’s funny to hear some of their opinions because, of course, they’re different than mine.
Different doesn’t mean wrong. One big difference I have learned is that Germany is very green. And that has taken some getting used to. My house doesn’t have a dryer because the air can dry my clothes without using energy. Plastic is a no-go in my Family‘s house. Natural light is always best, and it’s great when you remember to unplug things from the wall.
By no means or any of these things bad. In fact, their focus is to make the world better! It just takes some getting used to!
One of the biggest differences in my day-to-day life is public transport. It takes me roughly 50 minutes to get to school from my house. I first hop on the S1 Train before changing to a bus to get to school. That’s much different than my 4 minute walk to class from Augustana.
When this public transport works, I love it! All the architecture out the window is breathtaking. AND, the train is quickly becoming my decompression time from my German classes I take. It’s especially good for people watching, which is great when you’re trying to learn more about people.
When the public transportation system does not work, it is terrible. Twice so far I missed a bus or train that has added a good hour to my journeys. And I’m sure that these mess ups will continue to happen, but to anyone considering going, the trains and buses run exactly as they should 99% of the time.
One of the things that I absolutely love is that most days I get out of school around noon. Berlin has lots to do. I’ve gone down to the Brandenburg Tor, eaten my share of curry wurst and döner kebab, met friends for beers, which I don’t usually do, and, most importantly, talked to native German speakers.
The first week I arrived, my host family’s apartment building had a backyard grill out. I got to sit and have a picnic with eight people I would have never had the opportunity to meet. They were so kind to let me try speaking German, and, in return they got to practice some English too.
Before I left for study abroad, I was so nervous. But now that I’ve been here, Berlin is quickly becoming a second home. I went away for the weekend to see a new town and when Sunday night came rolling around I just wanted to see Berlin.
I’m sure there are many more things for me to explore and many more people for me to meet before this adventure is done.
Till next time,
Reba
Blog #1 Pre-departure, Goals, and Expectations
In just a few days, the countdown ends, my plane takes off, and the adventure officially begins. On August 31st, I’ll land at Shannon Airport in Ireland, with classes starting shortly after on September 8th.
There will no doubt be highs and lows along the way, but I’m incredibly excited to share this journey with you. Stay tuned for more updates on my Irish adventure!
Last semester, at the end of my pre-departure class, we were challenged to write down our expectations and goals as we prepared for this experience. It was a meaningful way to reflect on what lies ahead—and now, it’s almost here.
Expectations of Myself:
I expect to talk with close friends and family about the ebb and flow of new experiences and being away from the most familiar people and places.
I expect to learn about the Irish culture and how it differs from mine.
Expectations of the Worldstrides Study Abroad Program and the University of Limerick:
I expect the program to communicate with me and share announcements or updates about the excursions.
I expect the program to be prepared at my arrival, provide me with the information I need, and support me in obtaining the necessary credentials for entry.
Apprehensions:
How will the 6-hour time difference affect communications with those back home?
Will this trip be everything I imagined since I started planning in the spring of 2023?
Goals for the Semester:
I want to leave my comfort zone and still be okay being uncomfortable.
I want this experience to enrich my connections with the people at home.
Music has played a significant role in my life. I am a consumer of music, not a composer. It has the power to transport us, to stir memories, and even to lift the soul in praise to the Lord.
The more music you listen to, the more you begin to understand your tastes—what moves and doesn’t. You come to expect a particular style from musicians, and when you press play, you expect a song to play based on the title listed.
For the past two years, ever since the planning began, I’ve been arranging an Irish music playlist—filled with popular tunes, film soundtracks, and personal favorites. As I share this journey with you, I’ll include a link to a song with each post. It might be a track I simply love, or it may connect to a place I’ve visited or a moment from this semester—like today’s selection.
So for now, I’ll leave you with An Irish Blessing…
May the road rise to meet you
May the wind be at your back
May the sun shine warm upon your face
May the rain fall softly on your fields
And until we meet again
May you keep safe
in the gentle loving arms of God.
https://youtu.be/5mtR9qoISPU?si=_Rm8FBxknmeMCPiZ
Blog 1 – Awaiting Finding Myself
Hey friends!
My name is Katie Gilkey, and I am about to leave the United States to study abroad in Limerick, Ireland, for one semester! There are so many emotions and exciting things to prepare for at the moment. Through this blog, I hope to share with you what I am experiencing and help you to be a part of my adventures along the way! Thank you for being here and reading what I have to say!
First things first…something that I hold in high regard is to keep a positive attitude, even when things are challenging! So to help overcome this, I gratitude every day. This means that I find things throughout the day that I am grateful for in order to keep a more positive attitude – gratitude!
Three things I am grateful for:
- Family and Friends (and their constant love and support).
- Technology (to help me stay connected to people all over the world).
- The Sun (it is warm and always makes me happier).
Last semester, I took a pre-departure class where we examined ourselves and constantly thought of goals to help guide our experiences while being abroad! I want to share with you what some of my goals and expectations are prior to leaving in one week!
Two expectations I have for myself during this semester:
- Improving my cross-cultural communication skills.
- Learning how to live in the moment, to “just be”.
I have had many previous opportunities and experiences to travel around the world and I always come to the conclusion that I love seeing the way different cultures communicate! It is important to me to accept, love, and cherish the beauty of the way people express themselves in a variety of ways including body language, facial expressions, movement, and language itself. As a result of focusing on my cross-cultural communication skills, I hope to communicate God’s love to all people more effectively!
Living in the moment. A hard task living in a “doing” culture. We are always busy and seem to always have something planned, every second of the day. I am looking forward to having a change of pace while living abroad, one that may give me an ideal opportunity to “just be” and live in the moment. I love to give myself to people all the time, but I am finding that it is important for me to begin caring for myself better so that I may care for others more! Therefore, I want to set better boundaries for myself in order to accomplish well-rounded mental, physical, spiritual, and emotional health and well-being.
Two expectations I have for the program:
- To gain a deeper understanding and appreciation for how other cultures learn.
- To be provided experiences that I can cherish forever.
Taking classes at MLC and spending time in classrooms has provided me with a vast perspective on the intricacies of how people learn. God is so amazing that every person would be created uniquely, including a unique brain with a unique sense of learning. I am excited to witness for myself the way in which classes are taught to meet the needs of various types of learning in another country. My classes will not only provide me with lifelong memories, but the experiences, excursions, and opportunities that arise will undoubtedly become close to my heart and an integral part of my personal growth.
Two goals I hope to achieve by the end of this experience:
- To have a basic knowledge of Irish music and dance.
- To be more confident in being comfortable with the uncomfortable.
I have always identified myself as a dancer. The joy that I experience when I move my body is unmatched. Unfortunately, I am currently going through a time of growth as I am no longer able to dance the way I once did due to some medical situations. However, I have been able to take a step back and learn to appreciate how different people move. All people move in some capacity, and the way in which people move communicates many things about their culture, their perspectives, and their personality! It is fascinating to ponder, and I am enthused to have the opportunity to be exposed to the way the Irish move their bodies!
Earlier this summer, I was thinking about how I have grown as a person by having to travel back and forth across the country to attend school. It crossed my mind how traveling in my hometown seems almost effortless, easy, and completely and utterly comfortable. I barely have to think about how to get somewhere. But while I was driving down a country road in a different state, it dawned on me how uncomfortable (compared to home) it is to be traveling in a place that is unfamiliar. Depending on who you are and the experiences you have had, this can be a daunting thing to think about. I realized that I felt lucky to have had opportunities to be introduced to uncomfortable situations, and I pray for many more moments of uncomfortability that will eventually lead to learning and growth.
I believe that my greatest challenge will be:
- To overcome adversity with resilience, patience, grace, and love.
Adversity is everywhere. Difficulties arise daily, whether that be someone struggling with a particular sin, a relationship that is on the fritz, or a particular nagging negative thought that seems to weigh you down effortlessly. However, there are some particular characteristics that are needed to overcome this adversity. Tenacity, grit, determination, perseverance, strength, forbearance, and love are just to name a few. But ultimately, Christ is at the center of these characteristics. He is our rock, strength, and shield with his mercies and grace new every morning. What a blessing it is that we can rely on Him freely, and I seek to overcome the challenge of putting my faith over my fears in every situation.
Life is like a box of chocolates; you never know what you are going to get. Sometimes things are happy and wonderful and sometimes life is downright hard. However, in every situation that passes through our threshold of life lived, there are always new perspectives to be gleaned!
Highlights of my time preparing for Ireland include:
- Purchasing new luggage
- Thinking about what is to come and how to pack for a variety of experiences
- Meeting my University of Limerick buddy (Her name is Izzy!)
- Spending special time with friends before leaving
- Welcoming everyone back to the MLC campus as an RA
- Writing this blog
Low-lights of my time preparing for Ireland include:
- Being unsure of what to expect and packing accordingly
- Feeling lots of emotions about leaving my friends in my Senior year
- Living out of a suitcase for two weeks before going to Ireland
- Missing family and friends
Learned Insights from the Low-lights:
- Nothing is permanent; this is temporary and not my forever.
- Being unsure of things can present an opportunity for low expectations and great surprises when I arrive.
- By feeling lots of emotions, it means that I deeply care about everyone in my life and every aspect of my life. This is a blessing that God would give me so many things to miss and love so dearly.
- Living out of a suitcase for extended periods of time helps to give us perspective on the blessings of consistency and routines in our lives!
Scripture that has been close to my heart this week in my preparations:
- Romans 12:12 – “Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.”
- Psalms 119:105 – “Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path.”
- Matthew 5:16 – “In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.”
With that, this is what has been on my heart and on my mind while preparing myself to leave in one week! I pray that the Lord blesses you in all that you do and that you continue to live your life, “all to the glory of God” (1 Corinthians 10:31)!
Joyful thoughts in Christ,
Katie Gilkey
