From the beginning of my study abroad trip to Germany for German Language and Culture, things were not going how I expected. Prior to this trip, I had never left the US, so I was determined to make myself as prepared as possible before I left. The weeks before my trip I bought luggage, clothes, and travel supplies, and I did lots of research on Freiburg, the city I am studying in. However, as soon as I left for the airport, I got a notification that my flight was canceled. Though I began to panic, in the 45 minute drive to the airport I was able to rebook for a separate flight that was leaving in an hour. Luckily, I was able to board that plane, and I made it to Germany on time to meet my group for the night in Stuttgart. This beginning to my trip proved that even though you can do everything in your power to prepare for a trip, there is always something unexpected that requires you to adapt.
The next morning further proved this point when we missed a connecting train due to a delay and were stuck at a random train station for over an hour. However, we safely made it to Freiburg and quickly got settled in. The first thing to surprise me in Germany was Ruhezeit, or quiet hours. On Sundays and every other day past 10pm, there are rules that prohibit excess noise, so many people use Sundays to stay inside and rest. Since we arrived on a Sunday, everything in the city was quiet and the streets were practically empty. Although we needed some extra supplies and food for the week, all grocery stores were closed so we had to wait for Monday morning. While this feature of German culture was not a huge difference, it was an immediate shock that caused us to adapt our behavior to the local schedule. Over the next month, I expect to run into many such differences and culture shocks, and I hope to be able to adjust to them over time.
On my arrival in Germany, I had so many questions, emotions, and goals for the month that we are here. My main goal for the trip is to improve my German skills and interact with locals to gain confidence and experience. After a few days of classes and being immersed in a German-speaking city, I can already hear improvements in my German, and I have gained the confidence to communicate in restaurants, stores, and on the street. For the next three weeks, I hope to keep improving and to meet new people who I can practice German with. When I landed in Germany, I was very nervous and excited for the new experience. After settling in for a few days, the nervous energy is mostly gone, but I am still incredibly excited to see everything Freiburg and Germany has to offer. Now, it is time for me to explore the city and find some Döner Kebab to eat! Until next time!