[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.16″ min_height=”992.9px” custom_margin=”-43px||-75px|||” custom_padding=”6px||4px|||” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_row column_structure=”3_4,1_4″ _builder_version=”4.17.6″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_column type=”3_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.17.6″ _module_preset=”default” custom_margin=”|36px||||” custom_padding=”||0px|||” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”]<\/p>\n
Studying abroad in Germany has taught me so many important things. One of the most important lessons I have learned while being here is to slow down and enjoy the little moments in life. I have come to appreciate so many things about Germany\u2019s culture and way of life, but the one that stands out to me the most is how they have learned to truly rest. In America, our society pushes the idea of constant productivity. This is not the case in Germany. I have learned to enjoy just sitting in the park to enjoy the sunshine, walking around the city, and just observing the world around me. I have noticed that Germans separate their careers from the rest of their lives instead of interweaving the two. This allows them to truly rest and not worry about what they need to achieve next. I really appreciate this way of living and hope to incorporate this way of thinking into my life when I get back to the United States.<\/span><\/p>\n Another important lesson I have learned while studying abroad is that even though the language barrier can be intimidating at first, it is ok to mess up and try again. I have gained so much more confidence through struggling with the language barrier. At first, I was scared to speak the little amount of German I knew because I thought it probably sounded awful to native speakers. As time has gone on, however, I have learned that Germans are very gracious with the language barrier and really try to work with you. It also helps that many people speak English and do not seem bothered to switch to English if necessary. At first, I was grateful when people would switch to immediately speaking English with me, but now I am sad when they do. I have come to love struggling through conversations in order to improve my German even the slightest bit that I can. Having this language barrier has taught me that it does not matter what others think of you in a singular moment of the day. I have learned that I will probably embarrass myself by either not understanding the customs or the language so I might as well not care and try my best anyway. Ultimately, it is not that big of a deal if you embarrass yourself in some small amount. I have learned to not take myself too seriously in Germany but also to have more confidence. I can always learn something new with each encounter I have and even look forward to them even though I might embarrass myself.<\/span><\/p>\n Another thing I have learned while living in Germany is to be more independent. I do not like to spend time by myself but have been encouraged to do so. Living with 12 other people can be challenging at times, so we are all encouraged to spend some time by ourselves. This has been difficult for me to do since I am not always comfortable being by myself. I have gone on a few walks by myself and have learned how to be content being by myself. This might seem like such a simple thing to learn but it has been a significant lesson for me. Germans are very independent, almost to a fault, but seeing how independent others are has taught me how to be alone as well.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.17.6″ _module_preset=”default” custom_margin=”||20px|||” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content” sticky_enabled=”0″]<\/p>\n Featured Photo: For one of our travel weekends, we went to Berchtesgaden, a town in the state of Bavaria. During this trip, we got to see the Alps and even went to Austria!<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/blogs.acu.edu\/honorscollege\/files\/2023\/01\/Noelle-Hess-Spring-22-Leipzig-1-Noelle-Hess-1-scaled.jpg” title_text=”Noelle Hess Spring 22 Leipzig 1 – Noelle Hess (1)” _builder_version=”4.17.6″ _module_preset=”default” width=”100%” min_height=”302.6px” custom_margin=”-9px||1px|0px||” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.17.6″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”]<\/p>\n This picture is from when we went to the Panometer<\/em>, a museum in Leipzig. The museum was showing what it was like to be in a garden from various perspectives. It was one of my favorite places I’ve been in Leipzig! <\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row column_structure=”1_3,1_3,1_3″ _builder_version=”4.17.6″ _module_preset=”default” min_height=”396.4px” custom_margin=”|auto|-23px|auto|false|false” custom_padding=”||17px||false|false” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content” sticky_enabled=”0″][et_pb_column type=”1_3″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/blogs.acu.edu\/honorscollege\/files\/2023\/01\/Noelle-Hess-Spring-22-Leipzig-3-Noelle-Hess-2.jpg” title_text=”Noelle Hess Spring 22 Leipzig 3 – Noelle Hess (2)” align=”center” _builder_version=”4.17.6″ _module_preset=”default” width=”96.4%” custom_margin=”|139px|1px|||” custom_padding=”|0px|0px|||” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.17.6″ _module_preset=”default” min_height=”29.6px” custom_margin=”4px|||||” custom_padding=”3px|7px||||” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”]<\/p>\n For Spring Break, I got to go to Italy! We went to Florence, Pisa, Cinque Terra, and Rome!! This is in front of the Duomo in Florence, which is a beautiful Cathedral in the center of the city.<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column _builder_version=”4.17.6″ _module_preset=”default” type=”1_3″ theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/blogs.acu.edu\/honorscollege\/files\/2023\/01\/Noelle-Hess-Spring-22-Leipzig-4-Noelle-Hess-3.jpg” _builder_version=”4.17.6″ _module_preset=”default” theme_builder_area=”post_content” title_text=”Noelle Hess Spring 22 Leipzig 4 – Noelle Hess (3)” hover_enabled=”0″ sticky_enabled=”0″ custom_margin=”|-15px|-2px|||” width=”87.9%” custom_padding=”|0px||||”][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.17.6″ _module_preset=”default” theme_builder_area=”post_content” hover_enabled=”0″ sticky_enabled=”0″ custom_padding=”4px|||||” width=”88.4%”]<\/p>\n Erin and I danced on Charles Bridge in Prague to the live music that was being played. <\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_3″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/blogs.acu.edu\/honorscollege\/files\/2023\/01\/Noelle-Hess-Spring-22-Leipzig-5-Noelle-Hess-1.png” title_text=”Noelle Hess Spring 22 Leipzig 5 – Noelle Hess (1)” align=”center” _builder_version=”4.17.6″ _module_preset=”default” custom_margin=”||5px|||” custom_padding=”|||6px||” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.17.6″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content” custom_padding=”||1px|||”]<\/p>\n This picture was taken in front of the Leipzig university building. It is such a beautiful building with an interesting mix of classic and modern architecture.<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Studying abroad in Germany has taught me so many important things. One of the most important lessons I have learned while being here is to slow down and enjoy the little moments in life. I have come to appreciate so many things about Germany\u2019s culture and way of life, but the one that stands out to me the most is how they have learned to truly rest.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":18033,"featured_media":6020,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"on","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"1080","footnotes":""},"categories":[67],"tags":[22860,497,8232,496],"class_list":["post-6016","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-blog","tag-acu-honors","tag-germany","tag-leipzig","tag-study-abroad"],"yoast_head":"\n