Well I was really horrible about keeping up with this blog and letting everyone know what I was up to. This will probably be the very last blog that I write and like most people, I am going to try to reflect upon my time in Germany.
It is difficult to put into words how meaningful these past five months have been for me. I have been able to see a great deal of Europe and experience living in a foreign country for an extended period of time. The people that I have had the chance to meet are some of the greatest people and I feel so honored to have had this opportunity. When I first left in February I was so nervous and worried about whether or not I would enjoy Freiburg, meet people that I liked, and if I would be able to handle being so far away from home for such a long time. Leaving Indiana and my family and friends, I thought would be one of the hardest things I had ever had to do. Well I never would have guessed that leaving Freiburg and the people there was going to be even harder.
The time I spent in Freiburg allowed me to grow as a person so much. I have learned that I am capable of doing so many things on my own. I can survive in a foreign country on my own, I can travel alone, and I can figure my way out through new cities whether I know the language or not. Doing things in the US are going to seem so simple all because it's in English. I feel like I can do almost anything any more and that is the most empowering feeling ever!
The people that I met in Freiburg came from a variety of different backgrounds and we learned a lot from each other (at least I learned a lot from them). I now have reasons to see America since we are all so spread out. After seeing so much of Europe, I realized how little of America I have seen and now I just want to do more traveling around the US and the rest of the world.
My last few months in Freiburg were fun filled and so memorable. I spent my first 4th of July outside of the US and I have to say I have never had more patriotism. We went all out with a flag cake, tons of food, swimming in Seepark, and plenty of excitement throughout the night. It was so great and the most memorable 4th I have ever had. After that amazing start to July, I did a little more traveling in Prague and Venice. Both of those trips were so much fun and I'm so glad that I went even though I had tons of work to do.
All of the people I met helped to make the last week in Freiburg really memorable. We made sure to live it up that last week and spend as much time together as we could. Eventually we had to face the facts and start to say good-bye. Mitch was the first of our little group to leave and it was a tearful one. Thanks to Todd for getting stuck on the train without a ticket and the panic that ensued, we were able to laugh and not cry too much when Mitch left. That last night was hard as we watched our last sunset, ate our last meal, and drank our last German beer together. We enjoyed each other's company though, as much as possible and hugged and said our good-byes.
Arriving back in the US was culture shock. I knew that it would be different and it would take some time to readjust, but I never thought it would be like this. I have been a pretty emotional wreck this past week and things are slowly getting back to normal. I miss Freiburg and I miss the people from Freiburg. I can't thank everyone enough for giving me such great memories and for helping me become the person I am now. I have changed and it's been for the better. I have a new outlook on life and without this trip I wouldn't be the person I am now.
If you read this I give you credit and that was my cliched wrap-up of my time in Freibug and my huge plug to study abroad.
