When we finally got off the plane, I couldn’t believe that we were actually in Germany! The sun was shining through the windows of the airport which helped my body adjust to the time difference. The first unexpected event was having to go through two separate lines for customs. The second line was so long, and after a long travel day, it was our final test before grabbing our luggage and finding Dr. Feick. I was able to get a coffee and do a quick refresh in the bathroom which made me feel a lot better.
We waited outside to find our bus driver and the fresh air felt so nice. I slept for most of the hour and a half ride to Augsburg, but as we got closer to the hotel, I started to pay closer attention to the area we’ll be living in for the next two weeks. I immediately felt the small-town charm of Augsburg and was pleasantly surprised by how green everything was.
Elisabeth welcomed us to the hotel and got us set up with our bus passes and lunch tickets. We briefly went over our itinerary and basic expectations for the trip, and then we left our luggage to start a two hour walking tour of Augsburg. At this point I was feeling pretty exhausted, but I did my best to take in as much of the sights we were seeing. Learning about the Fugger family before the trip provided some context to the history of the town.
My favorite part of the tour was learning about and visiting the Fuggerei housing. For being so rich and powerful, I find it surprising that nearly free housing was a part of the family’s agenda for the city of Augsburg. I appreciate how it is available to anyone struggling financially and how it motivates people to get back on their feet. Fugger’s impact is felt everywhere in the city as every major landmark was commissioned by him or built in his honor.
The highlight of the day was going to dinner and meeting the German students!! They helped us translate the menu and order our first meal! I tried my first schnitzel and German version of Fanta and loved both! I really enjoyed talking with the girls at my table and comparing our different backgrounds and learning about German culture. I didn’t know there would also be exchange students in our program, so it was a fun surprise to meet girls from Spain and Brazil as well!
One question I have about Augsburg is if the campus of the University of Augsburg will be different or similar to a typical college campus in the United States. I can’t wait to find out tomorrow during our first full day in Germany!