by Johnathon Goode| Summer 2024 |
Participating in Study Abroad has helped me become a more responsible adult with more compassion for others. Socially, I have found Germans to be very cold to strangers but extremely jovial with their friends and family, which is something I think we as Americans could learn from. I encountered God during the experience through the relationships I have formed and the conversations I have been blessed with. In the future, I will take in daily moments and value the time I spend with others more, because of this experience.
One of the largest changes I experienced when arriving in Germany was that the students were responsible for purchasing and preparing all of their meals. I have always been fond of cooking, but having to cook all of my own meals taught me how to prioritize my time and how to pick food that will be nutritious. Another developing experience for me was planning a trip to Austria with nine other people and personally being responsible for purchasing train tickets for the group. I was also responsible for directing the group where to go when switching trains during connections. Both of these experiences made me realize that taking care of my health and being organized will help me be able to help others.
A habit I learned from the Germans is how they interact with strangers. Germans often do not acknowledge strangers at all on the street. This is in contrast to the smiles and nods we as Americans are used to giving. However, Germans are extremely fond of the people they know. Seeing people playing games in parks or even couples exhibiting public displays of affection is very common. I believe that we could learn from this practice in the US, as we tend to be more focused on what strangers think about us and care very little about the opinions of those close to us. Perhaps we would be more socially fulfilled if we followed the German social practice.
I have experienced God on this trip through the many conversations I have had on this trip, and learning about the different experiences and beliefs that my classmates have regarding Christianity. One of my classmates has an extremely close family and has experienced direction from the Lord, while another has not experienced many positive experiences with the church but still chooses to believe. Having these conversations allowed me to reflect on my own relationship with Jesus and recognize that every Christian has their own journey to pursue in life and are at different places in their walk with Christ.
Being on study abroad has helped me be kinder to others, as I have seen my classmates struggle with different issues throughout the trip. Some people are good at planning travel, but not at cooking, while others can prepare food well but not navigate. Study abroad has shown me how to be more empathetic toward others while not compromising my own beliefs and pushed me to grow my own understanding of the Bible and Christianity. In the future, I hope to take my time with others less for granted, as seeing how quickly this trip has gone by has shown me how valuable getting to know others is.
