Coming back to the States has felt odd, especially since I had to get right back into the swing of things with my sorority, other organizations, and my classes. It was weird to think about how all of my friends were doing so many things over the summer while I was gone and I had this once in a lifetime experience without them that left me just sitting in Texas not feeling like I could quite describe just how great of a time I had. I also didn't really want to be that kind of study abroad person that came back and only talked about their program, so I tried not to talk about it too much.
I haven't noticed too much of a difference in myself, but I do think it has made me more curious to explore other cultures at a deeper level than I had before. I've listened to music from different places I've been like Germany and Japan and have even found myself on a side of TikTok that shows trends happening in Germany, even though I'm no longer physically there. It makes me miss being there and all of the great memories I made while there. I miss the weather, especially since it is so hot here, and I miss my walk from my host family's house to the bus or tram where I got to see the morning fog and hear the sheep that were just behind their backyard. I have a greater interest in fresh produce and the preparation of my food, probably due to the amount of care and interest my host mom had towards cooking. She would talk a lot about how much she loves food and cooking, and I think this really stuck with me.
Taking the bus makes me think of Bonn, where I'll sit sometimes and think about how only a couple months ago I would sit in a similar spot on a different bus, listening to my music as usual, but I was in Germany heading to one of Dr. Wasser's lectures. It seems so strange how time passes and we take these mundane moments that aren't even the most exciting memories and let them sit with us for so long. It's made me pensive and more open to these small moments that I can appreciate more, cherishing the time I have left at A&M and the experiences I have with friends before we no longer have much time to do so or are separated by work or school. If I could change anything about my experience in Germany, it would be to make my stay longer and have my friends join me to receive the same unforgettable experience I got. I hope one day I'll be able to return, and maybe with a little more knowledge of the language to truly immerse myself.
Hey Olivia! I have felt the same way on the bus, just thinking of DB. Our public transport and theirs are very different but a bus is a bus lol. I also totally feel not wanting to be “that” person who talks about their study abroad experience all the time, but still thinking about it a lot. I can’t wait to get back to Germany, and I hope we both get to make more memories there!
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