1: Week 1 Reflection (Abby Burgett)

1: Week 1 Reflection (Abby Burgett)

Although my journey to Germany did not exactly go as planned, my first week here has been an amazing experience. From the moment I arrived in Bonn my host mom has welcomed me into her home with open arms. Being welcomed into such a lovely home with my own room, home cooked meals, and friendly conversation has made Bonn feel like a home already. 

I am so thankful for my lovely host mom who has opened up her home for me to live in for a few weeks. She has two younger daughters who, despite not being there all the time, have been so much fun to hang out with. They have two super cute bunnies who are out roaming the house most of the time which is entertaining to watch. Her home is located near the Rhine allowing me to go on walks/runs around the lake which is a beautiful way for me to get some much needed "me time". I also got really lucky that she is an extremely good cook so I have thoroughly enjoyed all of my meals she has made for me. 

The sun setting at 10pm is really amazing, but it has been a struggle trying to go to sleep early. When the sun is still up I have a hard time wanting to go to sleep or even lay in bed. Sleeping with the window open for the fresh air also makes it impossible for me use the black out curtain they have. Luckily this isn't a problem for me most nights, but it just means I might not get an opportunity to catch up on my sleep while I am here. 

Although we have already taken multiple exciting trips and explored the city of Bonn, my favorite part of this trip so far has been getting to know the people I am traveling with. I feel as if we have easily gotten pretty close over this short time. This being one of my worries before the trip has made me so thankful for this group. Being surrounded by people who I did not know before this and who have all come from very different places is very exciting. The friendships I have formed during the beginning of this trip have made everything we have done entertaining. 

Through my time here I have learned how to deal with uncomfortable situations. Not everything works out the way it was planned and things come up, so it has been important to find ways to deal with these things. Being able to do this is a life skill that I am glad I have been able to continue to strengthen.