48 hours from now, I will be on a plane flying across the ocean and back to my familiar American lifestyle. This trip has been a really extraordinary experience. Academically, my German has (at least from my perspective) improved and I don’t feel so “deer caught in the headlights” when I’m going about daily life. The streets are familiar now, and the decorated building facades seem so normal and almost un-noteworthy. Yesterday I went again to the market (as per Wednesday tradition) and I felt a tinge of sadness realizing that it might be the last time. So of course, with that mind-set, I bought a delicious freshly-made waffle topped with strawberries, whipped cream, and chocolate sauce.
Over the past weekend, the Rollins students and our lovely professor all traveled down into the south of Germany to visit our beloved friend, Luisa, in her hometown of Freiburg. Though smaller than Muenster, Freiburg exuded the southern German charm. We explored the city’s medieval history with a guided tour and walked among the old city. Bordering the cobblestone streets were small channels of water that were once used to help wash waste out of the city, and now are predominantly gutters for rainwater. Our tour guide mentioned to us that if a non-Freiburger accidentally falls into the “little brook”, they are fated to marry a Freiburger and take up residence in Freiburg (we were careful of not falling in, but the city is so quaint and beautiful, I probably wouldn’t have minded a quick swim…).
Later, we took a ride to the top of a mountain in the Black Forest via gondolas. Though it was misty and rainy most of the day, it was still incredible to watch the dark green foliage pass on either side of the windows as the gondolas slowly climbed up the wire to the top of the mountain. Freiburg is now one of my favorite destinations and I hope I can visit again!
I don’t know how to fully describe what a journey this has been. I’ve never been “on my own” this far from home for this long. Although I don’t feel “different,” I’m sure that when I return to America, I will not be the same person I was when I left. So thank you, Muenster, for teaching me so much and allowing me grow. This isn’t the end of the journey. This is just the beginning.