When people ask me how study abroad was or what my favorite part was, I often do not know what to say to them. I did so many different things in a single semester and learned so much – how could I possibly even begin to explain such a life-changing experience? The answer is that it is impossible to do that. But one thing is certain. Study-abroad was life-changing, and I am a better person today because of it. I will be grateful for the rest of my life that God gave me this amazing opportunity.
I studied abroad in Leipzig, Germany with nineteen other students and a couple of professors. Naturally, I took classes and continued in my studies – but the trip was so much more than that. I lived in Europe for almost four months and traveled to several countries around the continent. I saw modern cities, tiny villages, monuments, ancient ruins, mountains, oceans, and more. I worshipped God in different languages with other cultures. I learned a year’s worth of German. Most importantly, I made memories and friends to last a lifetime.
Day-to-day life in Germany was exhilarating. The food was delicious, the people were charming, and the pace of life was slower and more intentional. I grew to love public transportation, as well as walking everywhere. During the week I had classes – including German – along with the rest of my coursework. I loved learning abroad because it was not contained to the classroom. We often went to museums, visited German companies, and took day and weekend trips for class.
On the weekends I traveled – both on class trips and free travel weekends. I greatly enjoyed both types of trips. Class trips were fun because everyone was there and we created special memories to share. Free travel weekends were memorable as well because I was able to experience traveling with smaller groups of people in different countries of our choosing.
Study abroad taught me to be more accepting of people. My fellow students played a big part in this. As one student said, the people you study abroad with are like family. You do not get to pick and choose who you go with, you are forced to live together, you learn to find common ground, and over time you grow to love the people in the group for who they are – regardless of their differences. During my time abroad, I learned to challenge stereotypes of people, places, and things. The German way versus the American way is different – but it is not better or worse, it is just different! Despite lingual and cultural differences, people are much more similar than we realize. My worldview was certainly broadened, and I am grateful for it.
My encouragement to the reader is this: say yes to opportunities that others pass up. Do different things that challenge and grow you. Do not let the fear of missing out keep you from doing something life-changing. Take the leap of faith. Take my advice – you will thank yourself one day that you did.
