I’ve waited until the last possible moment to write this blog post. I was waiting for a time when I felt relaxed, inspired and motivated to write about my upcoming journey, but that moment never really came. I’ve been so busy working and packing and getting all sorts of things ready and now here I am, at the gate, ready to depart from Florida to Germany. It wasn’t until now that it has finally hit me that I’m leaving.
This isn’t the first time I’ve ever done this. I actually studied abroad in Germany for my entire senior year of high school about three years ago. As opposed to the first time, I now know German relatively well, I know how the trains work and I’ve experienced the culture shock once before. This makes things easier but it definitely doesn’t completely erase all of the nerves and excitement that I feel. I have lived comfortably between my parents home in Clearwater, Fl and my dorm room at Rollins for the past three years and so this is quite a big change for me. I have gotten so used to the convenience of America and speaking the same language as everyone and now I’m going back to a foreign country where public transportation, bikes and walking are my only means of getting around and German is my only hope for communication. All of this is nerve-wracking to me when I have gotten so comfortable with driving my own car everywhere, socializing with all my sorority sisters and learning in my favorite classes at Rollins, in ENGLISH. This time, I know what I’m in for but perhaps that just makes it even more scary. I’m also a huge worrier, I may not show all of the anxiety I create inside but it’s there, giving me stomach aches and making me shake. I do however, have a big sense of adventure. I love meeting new people and learning new things. I’m also in a very historically important country for what I do best, music. For this reason, I am very excited to study, see concerts and operas, visit historical places and simply experience!
Now I live, travel, learn and experience whatever it is Germany has to show me this time around now that I’m older, more mature and educated!