This past Wednesday, I lugged my small suitcase to the Hauptbahnhof (train station) and sat in two trains with my friend Mikayla for a total of about 7 hours. We finally made it to our Ziel (destination): Berlin! As we made our way to the Youth Hostel, we ran into a few other friends and as we walked into the Hostel, there was already a huge reunion happening complete with lots of hugs and dinner conversations.
This whole weekend (Wednesday to Sunday) was all about reflection, realization and preparation.
During each seminar, we've talked about three things: where we've been, where we are, and where we're going. We reflected a lot about our year here. About leaving our American lives behind, integrating into German society, falling in love with Germany, being challenged, growing, making friends and about how far we've come.
We have truly come very very far. We were very lucky this weekend because not only did we attend a celebration at the US Embassy in Berlin and met the US Ambassador to Germany, we also sat in on a Bundestag (parliament) session, met Bundestag members including the Bundestag President, AND we met Chancellor Angela Merkel (aka the most powerful woman in the world). THEN, one of my friends, James, performed for Angela Merkel! Watch it below!
I don't think that any amount of preparation will accurately prepare me for leaving my home, my family and my best friends to go back to my home, my family and my best friends. Either way, I have to get on that plane in two short days that'll whisk me back to America.
This last week has been extremely busy with packing, weighing, repacking, saying goodbye and just enjoying my last little bit here.
On Wednesday, my friends and I went out to eat together for my going away party. It was great just to spend time with them! On Thursday, I visited my American friend, his German wife and their two daughters. We had dinner together and laughed and I read the girls a story before I had to say goodbye to them. Today, my friends surprised me with some gifts in class and then lured me back to Passau this evening and had a surprise going-away party for me! We had a blast and it was so bitter sweet! I keep pinching myself thinking about how lucky I am that it's so hard to say goodbye!
Liebe, Lyndee