Freiburg

For 15 years I have started school in late August, had a break from late December to January, and then enjoyed my summer vacation starting in May. But Germany has pulled an ol’ switcharoo on me! My program in Freiburg, Germany doesn’t start until February 26th, and it ends in late June…this means that for about two months, I will be basking in the glory that is the limbo of winter break. By “glory” I really mean many anxious thoughts about traveling logistics and learning fun German words like schmökern, which means “to bury oneself in a book” – another thing I’ve been doing quite a lot of with my free time. I really am grateful for the weeks I have before the program begins. It gives me a chance to conduct some solid research about Freiburg. I’m trying to learn a bit more about current politics in Germany, but I also find it comforting to know fun little details like what the weather will be like (it’s the sunniest city in Germany!), places to hike in the Black Forest (I found some very scenic pictures), and if I’ll see cute dogs at parks (most likely)!

I keep trying to picture what my life will be like in Germany. Will I successfully rent a charming little bike that can take me around the city? What will the people I live with be like? How much of my hard earned money will I shamelessly spend on tasty bread? (Answer: probably more than I should.) I would be a sneaky liar if I said I wasn’t nervous to depart on this journey and have my questions answered. Truthfully, I am super excited and exceptionally terrified. I’ve been told these feelings are “normal” and “to be expected,” but that does not make the terrified part of me feel any better. There are inevitable challenges that I will learn from one way or another. My German language skills have a ways to go, so conversing with native speakers will undoubtedly be a memorable experience. Also, how the train system works? We don’t have the whole public transportation thing nailed down in Wyoming yet so that’s going to be a new one for me…

What does seem to help calm my nerves a bit is reminding myself that the things I have been afraid of in the past turned out to be life-changing experiences that I wouldn’t trade for the world. Like going to college a couple states away where I didn’t know anyone or anything. Doing that made me learn about myself in ways I never would have otherwise, and I believe that studying abroad offers similar benefits. I feel extraordinarily privileged to have this opportunity to travel and learn. When I think about studying abroad, I think about practicing independence and forging genuine connections with people who have similar interests and goals. How exciting is that! So I look forward to the challenges, because they mean that I am doing something that is important to me.

This past Christmas was no typical Christmas. Rather than waking up and opening presents with my beloved family, we slung our suitcases into the car and took a nine hour drive down to Miami where we hopped on our flight to Budapest. Since arriving in Europe on the 26th, I have traveled to Budapest, Vienna, Innsbruck, Munich, Palermo and Tunis.

It has been a wild ride traveling with my family- family trips are never without hiccups considering everyone in a 6 person group, no matter how easy going and accommodating, has slightly different priorities. However, I cherish those hiccups more than anything because they have led to endless laughter, the kind of laughter that makes you feel like you're in the gym working towards a six pack. Needless to say, the experiences we had were breathtaking, thought-provoking, one-of-a-kind and exploratory, both extrinsically and intrinsically. 

Intrinsically, I have been able to self-assess. I am more than eager to begin my journey studying abroad, but it is a big transition to travel alone rather than travel with my favorite people. Traveling has been a part of me since I was brought into this world, but this moment, the moment of stepping away and exploring on my own, is a big step. But definitely a step I am ready to take. The best part of it all is that I know I will be able to find another family within my program that will make me laugh and love every moment the same way. When I embarked on this journey, I was one of six. Now, I have only myself to continue exploring the continent of Europe and myself.