In a matter of three days I will be in my last month of studying abroad. I must admit, the change I have seen myself have with how I perceived my host country is interesting. For the longest time I talked about studying abroad in Germany and while I do not regret my time here by any means, I have learned that if I were to live abroad, Germany would not be the place.
It is beautiful here and the amount of history here is incredible. But I think Germany is still in a state of mourning from the WW’s they endured. I will never personally understand the heartache Germans feel about their history. They have gone through a lot and through my Art in Germany course this semester I have learned that there a lot of sculptures, museums, public artwork that are a constant reminder of the Holocaust and WW2. So I get it, more so from a personal experience, moving on is hard.
However, if there is anything I have learned since the beginning of my time here is that change and moving on is essential in the progressing of life itself. Prior to coming here there were a lot of aspects of myself that I thought to be set in stone. Now, December is right around the corner and the amount of peace I feel in my heart, the amount of smiles I have shared, and the quietness in my mind has all increased. Without having studied abroad I would currently be battling the same self-doubt, judging the world as a whole, and worrying only about myself.
I cannot share that I have learned much academically since being here, except that the US is quite a nosy country and that the EU has some agriculture issues as well as immigration. But what I can share with those who consider studying abroad or are abroad and for some reason read this is this, do it. Study abroad and let the months carry on as they are supposed to. There have been days where I stayed in bed and days where I am gone from 6am to 10pm. When I started this journey I thought each day would be filled with a new experience. Instead I learned to take care of myself and to enjoy my time on this planet at my own pace and in my own ways.
Trust yourself and if you do not yet, learn to do so. Travel while here, even if that means you go home in debt and broke. I cannot express all that I have learned from other countries and cultures by pushing myself to trust random strangers. Travel on your own once or twice to really see what you are made of and then take a few trips with friends you made here. Maybe find the love of your life abroad or a group of friends that you see sitting around a fireplace later on in life.
I am ready to go home in the sense that i want to finish college and begin my life. But I am not ready to leave the culture and history in the EU. I have grown so much since coming here and while I know some of me will revert upon being home again, I will not be the same woman.
So thank you Rollins College and Jacobs University. You have given me the opportunity to find myself. Helped me realize that academics are not the only measurement of intelligence. That though each human being is different in their own ways, we are the same in regard to fundamental human characteristics. My time here might be ending, but a whole new life has been opened up for me.
Farewell Bremen, Germany.