Juni

It’s starting to feel like the end of the semester and everyone around me seems to be working hard and reflecting on how they feel about still being abroad. I definitely came with the intention of viewing this like a trial period, to see if I’d like to return and stay/study here for an extended period of time. At the moment, I can wholeheartedly say yes, but I’m unsure if that’s just because my routine here has become very normal. However, I don’t really miss America in general. Part of this probably stems from the fact that Germany isn’t all that different in terms of fundamental ways of living (food, apartment, grocery shopping). I’d also guess that I’m somewhat used to keeping in touch with my family from afar, so it’s fairly irrelevant whether I’m 2 hours away or across the ocean. Certainly I miss my friends, but I almost wish they were here in Tübingen, instead of wishing I was in America with them. And I really miss my dog, even more than I knew I would.

That said, I’m really excited to return to Mount Holyoke specifically, because Tübingen classes, while similar, have different standards and less work (which is fun until you’re worried you’ve forgotten how to write). I’ve noticed here how appreciative I am of what my MHC classes have taught me and how I can apply my writing skills.

Lately I have been noticing that I’m better at standing up for myself (in German, no less)! I got overcharged for nectarines and went back and talked to the information desk, which resulted in my money being returned. Instead of giving up when I lost my student ID card, I went around and asked at desks in the library until I found it. I recently went to Freiburg for the day by myself and talked to new people. None of this would have been possible for me the first time I went to Germany. I feel like the girl on month 3 of her study abroad program in this Chris Fleming video. Grüß Gott! Radler ist kein Alkohol!

June has been pretty laid back in terms of travel for me; the only major trip has been to the Donautal with StudIT, which was great. I highly recommend signing up for their emails so you know which trips you should keep an eye out for. It was the perfect amount of time to spend on an outdoors trip, not too exhausting, but definitely an adventure. We hiked among and around cliffs and then the next day canoed 21 kilometers! Our canoe only flipped once (more than some you may say, but an achievement none the less). And we got to enjoy a German breakfast spread staying at the hostel, which I’m always thankful for.  I’d also highly recommend the Schloss Sigmaringen! It was the first furnished castle I’d been to here and just as opulent as you’d expect.

In June I also did a day of solo travel to Freiburg on the day of their CSD. It was a cool realization that when traveling on your own, you’re the only one voting on the decisions! After so much group travel it was really different, even if only for a day. I went to the Alter Friedhof to visit the famous ‘schlafende Schöne aus Stein’, got ice cream, hung out in Platz der Alter Synagogue and talked to a few Freiburg students, one of whom was from Brazil and the other from Germany. The Freiburg library was a beautiful and comfy place to relax and charge my phone before my FlixBus back that night.

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