Germany was a success!
This trip was life-changing for me in more ways than one. I met new friends, gained new experiences, and gained a new goal.
To begin, working with the students of Augsburg was a one in a lifetime opportunity to meet new people, without that introduction, it would be difficult to meet people internationally. I gained a group of friends, that I had so much fun with. We did things like explore the city, try new food, and even battle at bowling. Now, about three weeks out from the trip, we are still active in group chats, as well as individual communication. Many of us also added one another on social media, such as instagram, to keep a connection.
Next, I was able to explore the beautiful country of Germany in so many ways. The city of Augsburg was one I can see revisiting in the future. It is easy to navigate and travel to further areas without being in the hustle and bustle of a big city. Augsburg is filled with history and beautiful architecture, which was wonderful to explore in the free afternoons. Having the chance to go on outings such as Oberammergau and Walhalla was amazing. Traveling up to the Neuschweinstein Castle was like looking at something out of a postcard. Experiences like these are thing I may not have thought, or even known, to go on a trip I planned. As much as the fun activities, the company visits were also enlightening. I got to experience large scale facilities, and think about what environment I would want to work in. Visiting Audi was so interesting and opened my eyes to the possibility of working within the auto industry.
Lastly, I gained a new goal, to travel more! I have always dreamed of traveling internationally, and this was my first experience. It opened my eyes to the beauty and culture of different countries. This trip offered me the chance to say I have now been to two countries with our day-trip to Salzburg, Austria. I am already beginning to think about a trip back to Germany, specifically focusing on Munich. Munich was a city filled with culture and people, which I would love to explore more. I really want to visit the MUCA and maybe even learn to surf so i can jump in the canal.
While I can say I got a bit stressed on the trip, looking back, I cannot say I would change much. The first day was especially exhausting based on the travel, but I got to explore the city more than if I just passed out at the hotel. Speaking of the hotel, that was quite the experience. I really enjoyed the complimentary breakfast in the early mornings, but the room was quite rough. It was tight quarters, thankfully I was very close with my roommate prior. Sadly, air condition is not really in existence, so the nights were spent with the window wide open. Overall, the hotel was good, but i do not miss the lack of cool air!
To wrap it up, Germany is an experience that I would recommend to anyone that can. This trip offered me life-changing experiences and people that I will never forget!
Ciao 🙂