Saturday morning came much quicker than any of us wanted it to. Before I knew it, we were packing our suitcases and getting breakfast one last time before heading out of Augsburg to begin the long trip home. At that point, my suitcase was packed with souvenirs, clothes, and so many memories from the past two weeks that it honestly did not feel real the trip was already ending.
The airport process leaving Germany actually went pretty smoothly. After already going through international travel once when arriving in Germany, everything felt much less intimidating this time around. Even though the travel day was long and exhausting, I think everyone was mostly running on little sleep and pure exhaustion by that point. The flight home definitely felt different than the flight to Germany. On the way there, everyone was excited and full of anticipation because we had no idea what to expect from the experience ahead. On the flight home, the energy was much quieter because I think we were all reflecting on how much had happened over the course of the trip.
The most stressful part of the day was definitely our layover in Washington, D.C.. Getting through customs and immigration was honestly crazy because of how long and packed all the lines were. At one point, it felt like we were barely moving, and everyone started getting nervous about making our second flight home to Pittsburgh. After finally getting through customs, we still had to recheck our bags and go back through security again before making it to our gate. Somehow, we still managed to make the flight.
On the flight from D.C. back to Pittsburgh, I ended up sitting next to Jack, which honestly felt like a full-circle moment because I also sat next to him on our second flight to Germany at the very beginning of the trip. It was funny realizing how much had happened between those two flights. What started as excitement and nerves heading to Germany had turned into reflection and exhaustion on the way home.
During the flight back, I spent a lot of time thinking about everything we experienced throughout the program. It is hard to believe how much we fit into just two weeks. We visited companies like BMW, Audi, and KUKA while also exploring cities, castles, historical landmarks, and even another country. Looking back, one of the biggest things I gained from this experience was confidence. At the beginning of the trip, navigating trains, public transportation, and a new country felt overwhelming at times. By the end, those things started feeling natural and much less intimidating.
There are definitely things I will miss about Germany, especially the walkable cities, public transportation, mountain views, and slower pace of life. At the same time, I was excited to see my family again and finally sleep in my own bed. Looking back now, this trip was so much more than just a study abroad program. It challenged me academically, professionally, and personally while giving me memories I know I will carry with me for a very long time.
