When choosing a D-term trip, I did not want simply a two-week vacation or a tour of a country. I wanted to truly experience the life and culture of the location I planned on visiting and the German trip fit right into that category. I heard great things about the program from previous students, so that's what pushed me. Even disregarding the fact that my roommate and good friend is joining me on the trip, I definitely felt confident that I was going to learn a great deal about the culture while also having a tremendous amount of fun.
I have to be honest and state that I really do not know a whole lot about Germany at all and have no family history or anything like that... which makes this trip a great opportunity to learn! Everything on this trip sounded interesting so far; from the model concentration camp in Sachsenhausen to the Wittenburg monastery, there seems to be plenty of opportunities to really experience what life is really like in German culture. I also am not any expert on architecture, but the buildings we took a look at in our first meeting really caught my eye. Despite my usual disinterest in government, I am really excited to visit the Budestag government building in Berlin. The description of the design such that visitors can view the parliament room from above is fascinating and intrigues me on what the reason behind this design might be.
Another aspect of the trip that I am excited for is the lengthy meals. I have always heard about various cultures in Europe and how meals can often last 5-6 hours or more which sounds insane compared to the United States' fast-pace lifestyle. Sometimes, the American way of eating can be very impersonal and rushed. Something tells me that we might have a thing or two to learn from the Germans. The idea of sitting down and being able to enjoy the discussion and socializing is something I am looking forward to.
I also simply have to mention how excited I am to have those opportunities to explore the city sites such as Berlin and Dresden. The fact that there will often be opportunities where we have the freedom and responsibility to navigate ourselves through some of these locations makes me feel that this trip was the right choice. Some of the most unique experiences I had on my D-term trip to China were simply from walking around downtown. I am curious what types of things I might see and learn exploring coffee shops, breweries, and city life in general. I believe this trip will provide us all with an opportunity to grow and learn and I hope that we can all bring a bit of German influence back with us.
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| Budestag Government Building in Berlin |
Another aspect of the trip that I am excited for is the lengthy meals. I have always heard about various cultures in Europe and how meals can often last 5-6 hours or more which sounds insane compared to the United States' fast-pace lifestyle. Sometimes, the American way of eating can be very impersonal and rushed. Something tells me that we might have a thing or two to learn from the Germans. The idea of sitting down and being able to enjoy the discussion and socializing is something I am looking forward to.
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| Scenic picture of Berlin |
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| View of Dresden |
