Week #15 in Germany (Memories from 2010)

I rang in the New Year in Spain with my former boyfriend, his family and his friends in Jerez de la Frontera. We stayed at a party until about 7 in the morning. Six days later, we celebrated Dia de los Reyes, the day that celebrates when the three Kings visited baby Jesus. I came back to the States to start the last semester of my undergraduate career and to have a week long celebration of my birthday. I celebrated by going to the movies, going to restaurants and going to the bars on Dickson Street. My birthday was on a Friday, and the next day, I went to the baby shower for my good friend Holly. I had a rough patch with my best friend Amber, but we were able to work through everything and I went to visit her in Iowa with my other best friend Brandon the last weekend of January. That was a wonderful weekend for me. I found out that I had made it into the second round for the Fulbright scholarship, I got to spend quality time with my two best friends, and I was the first to know that my two best friends were now a couple.

In February, Holly's baby girl, Madeleine, was born. I started working at WOW Japanese Bistro on Super Bowl Sunday. It was my first job as a server and it was definitely a life experience. I spent most of the month anxiously anticipating letters from Fulbright that never came. The end of the month, I went to visit my good friend Ashley in Ohio. It was quite an enjoyable 3-day weekend. We went to an indoor water park, I went to my first (and probably last) hockey game, I saw a snow-blower for the first time in my life, and experienced the deliciousness of Chipotle. This was also the weekend that Ashley and I decided to go on a European adventure together in the summer.

The first few weeks of March seemed to drag by in a blur of classes and papers and work. I was busy counting down the days to Spring Break, when I would return to Spain. It was the two year anniversary with my ex. Just before I left, my roommate had an appendicitis, so I spent all my extra time at the hospital and taking care of her. When I finally left for Spain, it was with a heavy heart, because I still hadn't heard anything from Fulbright. By this point, I assumed that no news was bad news.

The first few days of April were pretty intense for me. I was sitting in Taco Bell, I think, with my best friend Brandon, when my dad called me to tell me I had mail from Fulbright. After the first few words he read, I screamed with joy. I didn't care if everyone was staring at me. My dream had come true. For three years I had the goal of becoming a Fulbright scholar, and it was finally happening. The following Sunday was Easter and also my first night working my new job as an overnight/drunk rush weekend server at Sunrise Cafe. The next day, I broke up with my boyfriend. At the time, I knew it was the right thing to do, but it was challenging to explain the reasons. I came up with a lot of reasons for everyone who asked, but I think the long and short of it is that we were different people from two years prior. When you're young, you change a lot. If you're with someone and want to stay with that person, you have to change with that person. But I changed on my own, and I think for the better. The rest of April was a stressful mess of preparing for Fulbright, finishing essays, finishing my semester and undergraduate career, preparing for my Eurotrip, working, and trying to live a little.

With May came a mixture of so many feelings. Anticipation, stress, joy, happiness, relief and others that I can't even describe. I remember watching my dad graduate college when I was a little girl, and I remember wondering if I ever would be able to do the same thing. It was a long and challenging road, but I had finally made it. It was one of the proudest days of my life, I only wish my whole family could have shared it with me. After graduation, I worked as much as possible to try to save for my trip through Europe and my life in Germany.

In June, I was trying to figure out where to live in Germany and also plan all the details for the Eurotrip. At the end of the month, I was moving everything into my parent's house and trying to get as much in order as possible. After my trip, I would only have 3 weeks to prepare for Germany. I was starting to feel the stress of it all and trying to just keep swimming.

July was the month I had been so excited about, the month of my trip through Europe with my friend Ashley. We had planned on going to Spain, Italy, Greece, Austria, Czech Republic, Germany, France, U.K. and Ireland. Unfortunately, it didn't go as smoothly as planned. There were a mixture of complications. Some were my fault, some were circumstance and some were just bad luck. We were together in Madrid, Barcelona, Le Mans and Paris. After Paris, Ashley had to go home. I was left alone, with a train ticket to Vienna and no energy for constructive thought. The majority of the train ride, I was crying and clueless as to what I should do. All I knew, was that I had to make it to Dublin in three weeks so I could go home. Luckily, the Couch Surfing community saved me. When I got to Vienna, I met up with my host, Stefan, who then invited me to a CS party. At the party, I met with other CSers who were planning on going to Prague, and invited me along. So, after three great days in Vienna, I went in the world's smallest car to Prague with three other people. I don't know how we managed to fit all our luggage and our bodies into that car, but it was an epic road trip. After Prague, I spent about a week in Graz with my friend Ines. I was so grateful to her for being very flexible with my schedule. Next, I went on to Munich and stayed the night with another awesome CSer, Nicklaus. Then, I returned to Le Mans, to my friends Julien and Maud. They saved me in so many ways. Between them and the CSers, my trip wasn't as much of a disaster as it could have been. I was able to make it to my plane from Paris to London, where I met with more amazing people. Emma and Dan took me in on very short notice, and made my stay in London very memorable.

Finally, it was August and I was heading to Dublin for the last part of my trip. Once again, there were CSers who made my stay there great, but I was ready to get home. It had been an exciting month and I felt like a stronger, more resourceful person, but traveling can be so exhausting, especially when you don't know when you're next meal will be or where you'll be sleeping next. From Dublin, I went to Philadelphia to stay with my grandma a few days. I finally made it back to Arkansas, and started working at McDonald's for my last three weeks before going to Germany.

The first few days of September were my last few days in the U.S. I was beginning to question and doubt all my decisions. Was I really able to live in a foreign country for nearly a year? Whether I was ready or not, the day finally came for me to go to the airport and leave for Germany. I don't think I've ever felt more sick in my life than I did on the way to the airport. My nerves were eating at my stomach, but I managed to keep everything down. But once I arrived in Chicago, while I was waiting for my flight, a resolve came over me, and I knew I was ready for anything. The rest of September, I was just getting adjusted to living in a new place, learning my new school and colleagues, and fighting off the small pangs of homesickness.

In October, I started my main responsibility of conversation groups at school and I was also able to start building personal relationships. September had been a pretty lonely time for me, but in October I was able to meet new people to spend time with. I also met my partner, Mehmet. It was quite fast and unexpected. I didn't want anything serious while I was here in Germany, but it happened. And I couldn't be happier. I also decided to apply for a position with City Year in Washington, D.C. for next year.

By November, I was starting to really feel acclimated. Of course there were things I missed from back home, but not as much as I had in the beginning. It helped that I was developing strong relationships with people who I could rely on. I had Mehmet, and I had my good friend Daniela, and I had my mentor Christine, and I had several colleagues at work who I could talk to. I turned in my City Year application the second week of November and a week later had an interview. A few days later I was informed that I made it to the second interview and I was so excited. At the end of November, we spent the day in Strasbourg. It was great to be able to take a day trip and go to another country. Thanksgiving came and went, and even though I insisted on having a bigger dinner, I didn't miss home as much as I thought I would.

December started with my second interview with City Year. I felt very confident, but I was still very nervous. If I got the position, then I would know what I'm doing with my life until summer 2012. If I didn't get the position, then I would have to figure out what to do and where to go come June. I finished the conversation groups and started working in classrooms, which will be my main responsibility until further notice. After sixteen long and stressful days, I finally heard from City Year. I got the position to mentor and tutor for them in D.C. next year.


December isn't over yet, but so far this has been one of the best and most memorable years of my life. There were plenty of challenges, but I wouldn't be as strong without working through those complications. I'm looking forward to celebrating Christmas here in Germany with my partner, Mehmet, and I also am excited about ringing in the New Year here. After this year, I can't wait to see what 2011 has in store for me.