45 CBYXers on arrival + 45 CBYXers on departure + 3 Teamers on arrival + 5 Teamers on departure + 3 from Julia Littlefield +10 group hugs + 538 random hugs throughout the seminar = 649 hugs *minimum*
Pretty much, we're huggy people.
For the first time since we left the States, we got to see one of our favorite people - Julia Littlefield! She (an alumnus of CBYX and the head of the CIEE branch of the program State-side) flew to Germany to visit her old host family before coming to spend four days with us.
Kaitlyn and I set out on a quest to get a picture with every teamer (and even Julia Littlefield). I think we've succeeded.
So after our discovery, and after looking at English books for a good ten minutes, we headed on to Starbucks. Naturally, the same thing that always happens, happened. We were speaking German to the barista, but of course, he started speaking English to us. Then the other baristas joined in and were asking us where we were from. They started singing "Sweet Home Alabama" after Sarah said she was an Alabamian. The baristas were all so nice and even decorated my coffee cup for me, making it extra-special. |
(Click on a photo below to make it bigger)
Mikayla and I had a bit of time to kill before our train left so we found our way to a coffee shop in town. We got many strange looks on the way because we were speaking English and dragging our luggage. Finally, it was time to board our train and by sheer happenstance, four of our teamers were riding the train before us... that was delayed by fifteen minutes and caused them to ride with us. Two of them split off from us at our next stop since they were headed a different direction, but Sarah and Sarah rode the next two trains with us. Of course, they got off way before I made it to Passau, but it was just nice to have even more company. By the end of the night, Mikayla and I were laughing hysterically for no apparent reason. I finally got home around 11 pm, but the entire trip was so worth the long-distance traveling and lack of sleep.
Mid-year was one of those trips that I will never ever forget! I'm so thankful for all the great memories and friendships that I've made in Germany and I can't wait to see what the rest of my year has to offer!
CBYX, my beloved program, is undergoing some budget cuts. This is so unfortunate because since 1983, this scholarship has allowed millions of students to experience a whole new world and gain a bigger perspective while only having to pay for living expenses. These budget cuts will not be affecting me this year or, thanks to the German Bundestag, next year's students. However, the budget may get cut up to 50%, meaning that almost anything could happen. They could accept 125 students instead of 250. They could give half scholarships to 250 students. Or the program could end all together. Please support my friends and I, as well as our beloved organization and future participants by signing this online petition. I hope that generations to come will have the same opportunity that I have had this year! Foreign exchange is the future! #SaveCBYX
Sign here: http://savecbyx.org
Thank you in advance for your support!
Lyndee