I have officially made it to Germany, and the journey here tested my independence, adaptability, and problem-solving skills in ways I did not fully expect. Traveling internationally for the first time was already intimidating, but doing so with three connecting flights, each with only about an hour between them, made it even more stressful (not my best planning decision). After nearly 18 hours of overnight travel, I finally landed in Berlin, running mostly on adrenaline and a strong sense of excitement mixed with exhaustion.
Now that I am wrapping up my first full week, I can confidently say this experience has been unlike anything I imagined. Academically, I knew the coursework would be demanding and emotionally heavy, since the class focuses on the Holocaust and American involvement in Germany throughout the rise and fall of Hitler’s regime. Visiting museums and historical sites has felt like a double-edged sword. While I deeply value the opportunity to learn and engage with this history, places like Sachsenhausen Concentration Camp and the Topography of Terror were unsettling and emotionally difficult to experience in person.
Socially, my experience has been completely different from what I expected. Coming into the program without having spoken to any of the other students beforehand, I assumed I would keep to myself and focus mostly on coursework. Instead, on my very first day, I instantly connected with two other girls, and we have been inseparable ever since. As the week progressed, what I thought would be a quiet, coursework-focused program quickly turned into a very social experience. My classmates and I spend the days exploring Berlin together and the nights in group study sessions, often all crammed into one room to review readings, watch assigned movies, and help each other with our work.
Beyond academics and social life within the program, I have also started to immerse myself in German culture. I’ve had long conversations with several German women I have met here about the differences between life in the United States and Germany. We discussed education, social norms, freedoms, politics, and everyday expectations, which was incredibly eye-opening. Hearing how Germans view the U.S. in such an honest and uncensored way was something I had never experienced before. When they asked if I had felt culture shock, I realized I really hadn’t. I’ve approached this experience with an open mind and a genuine curiosity, which has helped me feel comfortable embracing the differences rather than being overwhelmed by them.
As I wrap up my first week, I also can’t ignore how much this experience has expanded my comfort zone when it comes to food. In just a short time, I’ve tried Vietnamese, traditional German, Indian, Turkish, and Japanese cuisine. Growing up in the U.S., I rarely ventured outside familiar foods, so this has been a fun and meaningful way to push myself. Overall, this experience has encouraged me to say yes to new opportunities and fully immerse myself while I’m here. I’m currently planning a potential trip to France during a free weekend with one of the girls I met here, so next week may include exploring an entirely new country outside of the program.