After much anticipation, the day finally arrived… I got to sleep in Towers for the first time! Check that off my bucket list. Tower A had very spacious rooms and a perfectly sized twin bed just for me. This was also my first time sleeping with a roommate in college, since I have only ever lived in apartment-style housing. I would rate my night in Towers a 10/10, minus the below-freezing room temperatures. Despite the cold, it was fun getting to experience a different side of campus life and spend more time with everyone before the trip officially began. We spent a few hours talking, organizing our luggage, and getting excited about everything we were about to experience together in Germany.
The next morning, a few others from the group and I stopped at Starbucks for a quick bite and some caffeine. Then, we loaded the bus, and headed to the airport! For a group of 20 people, the travel day ran very smoothly. We checked our bags, each crossing our fingers when our bags hit the scale. I strangely like airports. There is something exciting about everyone rushing around, announcements playing over the speakers, and anticipation for the trip building.
We took the first plane to Newark, New Jersey, which was one of the smallest planes I’ve ever flown on. I felt like a speck of dust being blown around in the wind. There, we had a layover before our long-haul flight to Munich. During the layover, we played card games, read books, watched Netflix shows, and grabbed food while waiting to board. Everyone was trying to stay awake before the overnight flight ahead. Our plane to Munich was much larger than the plane to Newark, which gave me a sense of comfort. The flight was smoother, we were served dinner, and there was also a screen for entertainment. After eating dinner, I pulled down my sleeping mask and the next thing I knew we touched down in Germany.
Looking ahead, I am most excited to bond with the German students and explore Augsburg with my peers. I am also excited to hear about different perspectives on global economy and politics, and learning about German culture firsthand.