Today was super laid back, it was a day to prep for our big presentation with our groups of American and German students.

I found that this was one of the days I got to most experience what it could be like to live and work in Germany. I started the day with some breakfast in the hotel and then me and my group headed over to the University of Augsburg to meet with our German group-mates. It was cool to figure out the train route and the timing for meeting them, as well as riding it in just a group of 4. I got a taste of figuring transportation out for myself.

Once we got to the University, we found the rest of our team and got to work. We worked on our individual slides for about 3 hours, and then decided we were at a good stopping point. It was nice being in person for a bit to give quick feedback on everyones parts. After we were done, we grabbed some lunch at Mensa, and then headed our separate ways. We agreed to finish our parts and practice later that night.

I took the train back by myself, and then headed back to the hotel to relax for a bit. After about an hour, I got back to work, and practiced my part of the presentation. With my friends still working on the project with their teams, I was on my own for dinner.

I packed a bag with a book and some headphones and went out to explore the city in search of some food. I walked around for about an hour and a half, just exploring the backstreets and small neighborhoods around before settling on a place for dinner. I ended up going to City Doner and had a delicious meal. It was simple, I got a doner pita wrap and a piece of baklava. I sat outside read my book and people watch for a couple hours and then headed back to the hotel.

Something that stuck out to me in my time throughout the city was the interactions between parent and child. Parents are much more relaxed with their children, and let them walk and run around the city at a much younger age than I feel I see in America. The relation between older children and their parents is also much closer and comfortable. I saw many teenagers holding hands or walking super close to the parent, compared to American culture where teens often want distance from their parents. It was a positive difference, and something I wish I saw more of in the US.

I really enjoyed getting a bit of alone time and exploring the city. I got to see a glimpse of traveling on my own, which is something I have been wanting to start for a long time.