Howdy!!
I am most excited about the travel opportunities that the trip offers! We could go to Prague, Dublin, Copenhagen, there are so many possibilities. I'm also very excited to learn German, even at the basic level. My mom studied in Bonn for a year in high school and used to be fluent in German. She's not anymore, but she has been helping me with my accent as I work through my Rosetta Stone and Duolingo.
I expect the most challenging part of this trip will be burnout. We're doing so many things, which is awesome, but it's all happening in less than six weeks. I know my own social battery will struggle to keep up, and we're all going to be exhausted by the end.
During the trip, I think American (and Texan) is a prominent label we're all going to get. As foreigners, there is a certain amount we are going to stand out no matter what, dressing differently, not speaking German, etc. I want to make sure that I am open to any and all cultural expectations, especially with my host family, so that I can be as respectful as I can. In addition to that, Americans don't have a great rep, and I don't want to be a representation of the negative stereotypes that many countries have for us. For example, Americans are thought to be terrible at geography, so I think people would be surprised to learn that I can name all 195 countries on earth (I had a lot of spare time last summer). Hopefully, other people, and our host families, will be open to getting to know me and our group as individuals, and not just labels.
As I've been preparing for the trip, I've been feeling very restless. There hasn't been much to do at home while preparing for the trip, so every day feels like 1oo years. I started packing already, and I'm halfway through reading our German history book just to fill the time. I'm so grateful and excited to have this opportunity, and I just want it to get started.
There are a lot of things I'm hoping to get out of the program; I want to have a good time, to make great new relationships, and to learn as much as possible about a new culture. We have 5 weeks to absorb as much as is physically possible, and I want to take advantage of all of it.
Hi Samantha! I'm also super excited about the travel opportunities, everyone keeps telling me about all the things to do there. I have definitely worried about if my host family will think that I fall into any of the negative stereotypes of Americans. The fact that you can name all of the countries is extremely impressive! I love the idea of taking advantage of every experience possible, and I'm looking forward to sharing this trip with you!
ReplyDeleteHey Sam, I totally understand the social burnout. Part of the thing that I am most excited for, however, is doing this trip all together. My hope is that the friendships we make with each other will help mitigate the burnout in the final stretch. Along the lines of the stereotypes, you could not be more right. It's super impressive that you can name all the countries and I am glad we have an American like you representing us on the front lines. While these last few weeks have been restless for most of us, the wait is almost over. Your desire to soak up the culture as much as possible permeates through your whole post. It's inspiring to me that you have the desire to make the most of these 6 weeks. I feel that if we all have that attitude, we'll all have a trip to remember. Looking forward to doing this experience together!
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