From the buildup all the way to the 15 hour travel day to Munich from Pittsburgh, this trip already felt different than trips I have taken in the past. For those who do not know, I traveled to Tanzania in Africa with my family in the summer of 2019, and if you think 15 hours of travel is a lot, Tanzania was around 21 in total. So, this trip relates to the long travel filled with excitement and anxiousness, as well as having to adjust to a new environment. However, that was with my family, people I have been around my whole life and a trip that was more centered around having fun and trying new things. The Augsburg trip immediately felt different due to the strong professional and educational focus, as well as embarking on a journey with my fellow classmates that I haven’t been around much at all. In a way, I was sort of doing this on my own, so navigating that has already been a huge challenge. 

The trip itself was filled with excitement and exhaustion. Flying from Pittsburgh to Munich with a 3 hour layover in Newark made the journey very long, but also made the arrival in Munich feel very rewarding. I thought the airport experience was great for the group, as it gave us all a chance to get to know each other a little better before arriving. In Pittsburgh, we played cards with each other which was a great way to pass time while also getting to bond with one another. I thought the trip from Pittsburgh to Newark was a great bonding experience with such a short ride and I really got to know Ella a lot better. The layover in Newark was a good chance to regroup, get something to eat and prepare ourselves for the 8 hour trip to Munich. My only problem with Newark however was that I spent 22 dollars on a little burger and fries which was not ideal. The flight to Munich was fine, I didn’t get much sleep but I did watch Good Fellas for the first time. I also thought the chicken curry served on the airplane was surprisingly good and much better than the food I had on my flight to Tanzania, which was almost inedible. 

What I’m most looking forward to is getting a closer look at the German Automotive industry and understanding why it is so respected globally. Visiting companies and seeing operations first hand will be much different than learning about it in our lectures. Another part of the program I am excited about is meeting the German students from the University of Augsburg as well as getting closer with the students in our group. Working with students from another country is such a unique opportunity to gain a different perspective and help make the experience more interactive and meaningful.