After landing in Munich early this morning, we made our way to Augsburg and kicked off the trip right away with a walking tour of the city. Despite the jet lag, it felt great to stretch our legs and take in the historic streets and architecture. I even got to reconnect with a German student I had previously met at Pitt, which made the day feel even more special.

During our first lunch break, I tried Spezi for the first time—a mix of cola and orange soda that’s surprisingly good. It’s definitely something I’ll be drinking again while I’m here.

Later in the afternoon, we had a more in-depth tour of Augsburg. Two things that stood out were the city’s beautiful canals and the Fuggerei—the world’s oldest public housing complex, which is still in use today.

We ended the night with dinner and a chance to get to know more of the German students. It’s already been a full day, and I’m looking forward to everything we’ll experience over the next two weeks.