Brot and buildings
One thing that has amazed me during my stay over here is how hospitable Germans are. I had the opportunity to stay with several different families on my trip and noticed right away that Berliners are, on the whole, grateful, giving and easy-going people. One of the other reasons I've enjoyed Berlin is because of how much the country's history is tied up in the city. I have enjoyed visiting many of the museums and historical landmarks here and have been amazed with the architectural style of Berlin. Every house or building seems to be different and unique. I've also grown to love the food, with the traditional meal of bratwurst and sauerkraut - as well as the fresh bread we have each night - becoming one of my favorite things to eat. I really hope to return to Germany to continue my education.
Loving the lederhosen
When I told my friends and family back home in Minnesota that I was going to go to school in Rheinbach, a city just outside of Bonn, they all jokingly asked if I was going to have to wear lederhosen. Well, little did they know ... . Germany's Karneval season goes from Nov. 11 until Ash Wednesday, with the last week featuring huge parades, special music and costumes. My host family are huge Karneval fans, and they wanted me to take part, so we made the trip to Cologne and bought a traditional German costume for me. While wearing lederhosen, a plaid shirt, a felt hat and knee-high socks, I collected tons of gummy bears, met a real Karneval prince and had an amazing time. That week - as well as attending soccer games, traveling around the country and just going to school - has given my exchange trip a special brillance.
A view from outside
Being an American in Berlin has given me the opportunity to look at my country from the outside. While here, I've read a lot about immigration issues, a topic that both Germany and the United States are dealing with. It's been very interesting to see how Germany deals with Turkish immigrants, a political situation that is similar to Hispanic immigration in the United States. Germany is not traditionally an immigration country, though, so people here view the situation differently than in the melting pot of the United States. This trip has helped give me a new perspective on my home country.
It's a whole new world
It wasn't until I looked out of the plane window in Tulsa, Okla., and saw my parents waving good-bye that I realized how big of a thing it would be to live in a foreign country for a year. It was my first time out of America, and I came here not speaking a word of German. I didn't think I would be accepted for the program, only finding out about it the day before the deadline. The most adrenaline I've ever had running through my body was when we landed in Frankfurt and I saw weird-looking roofs, different from anything we had back home. It's strange to think how familiar those houses look now.
