At the beginning of the year everyone started to pick and
choose who they would host, while I just sat around looking at the hustle.
Then, one day, Frau Asch told me that I have a chance of going even if I did
not host anyone. I was really happy, but it was a tough decision that I had to
make with my parents. The trip is a long one and I did not want to rush, but I
eventually agreed. In the earlier months, when the German were here at school,
I did not think about the trip at all. I was too preoccupied with school and I
really did not know what to expect considering the fact I have never really
seen Europe. However, I was not nervous about communication because I had
already taken two years of German and could get by with simple language. I was
nervous about our group though; I did not know most of them and I was nervous
about how the traveling part of the trip would unfold to be. But, I did not
think of these things until the plane ride: I was too preoccupied. But, I was
very prepared to come to Germany considering the fact Frau Asch took entire
class periods talking Willow, Jena, and I about Germany and what to expect. In
that sense I was prepared, but the before trip excitement, or nervousness,
never kicked in. I was completely mellow about the entire trip, even when I met
my host and her family.
When we finally arrived in Germany, I was completely
neutral: neither excited nor nervous. Then when I met my host, Lisa Fassbender
whom I did not recognize, I was still not excited or nervous I was just tired.
I had no trouble communicating with her or her mother, but her father spoke
little English so I had to use German around him. I was fun, putting my two
years of German to use. When I got to see Germany; the farmland, the sites, and
the cities, I was honestly surprised at how beautiful it all was. There was
lots of farmland and the cities, especially Munich and Nuremburg, were also
beautiful. My personal favorite city that we visited was Berlin. I never
expected it to be so spacious as well, Frau Asch had described to be very
crowded, which the cities and towns were. Then the school was more like a college
than a high school: Kids come and go, they have different schedules each day,
and everything is so lax. Even though I got to use my German, I was unable to
understand most of what everyone was saying. They spoke very fast and it was
hard to follow so I just let my mind wander. Mixing in with the Herman culture
by going to their folk festivals and living in their homes was probably the
best part of the entire trip. We got to make new friends and see true Germany:
I can’t wait to impress Frau Asch.
The trip itself was great, but now that I think about it
there were many things that really changed me. I was able to make new friends
in our American group which was surprising, but they all turned out to be great
people. I will miss this group of people and hanging out with them: talking,
making jokes, and just having fun all around Germany. I will miss this group
and I will miss my host family as well: though Lisa and I did not make a
life-long relationship we did enjoy each other’s company. It was fun hanging
out with her and going around Munich. Other than missing this group and host
family I do realize that my understanding of Germany, Germans, and Europe has
completely changed than it was before. Before this trip I did not know what to
expect of Germany, but now I know that Germany is a great country, besides I
learned new German words that I can use in my own life now. It was a great
learning experience and it definitely worth going on.
In the end I learned more than I ever thought I would, made
many new friends, and became a certified traveler in Europe. Thanks to Mr.
Mobini’s training I am now a certified traveler that can make her way around
Europe. Not only that I also have a host family whom I can always got to if I
ever go back to Germany again. Though I did not cry, or become emotional, I
will miss Germany. Tschuss Deutschland! -
Karanjot Gill
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