While being abroad, I realized that I am more capable and independent than I previously thought. Even though I did learn how to effectively work with my nineteen other classmates (a very diverse group), I learned more about how I can personally be more confident travelling abroad and that I am capable of coping with many challenging situations. Before the trip I had never been to Europe. I was initially worried about flying to Germany alone, but I had no issues with my flights throughout the entire trip, showing me that it is easier than I thought to visit other countries. My navigational skills improved dramatically as well. The longer we stayed in Berlin and Leiden, the easier it got for me to understand the metro system and the individual cities.
I loved learning about the history of each city. In Berlin, I was able to broaden my understanding of World War II and the GDR regime by visiting many famous museums, such as the Memorial for the Murdered Jews of Europe and the Stasi Museum. It was inspiring to see how resilient Germans are and how Berliners continue to rebuild even after such a traumatic past. I appreciate how The Netherlands is such a liberated country. Even if I did not fully understand all of their cultural values, it was inspiring to see how the Dutch citizens are able to truly make their country the way they want it. I loved seeing the diversity of the citizens in every country as well.
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| An Evening at the Eiffel Tower! |
One of my favorite memories from the trip was when a small group of the class and I went to Paris for the weekend and had a dinner picnic at the Eiffel tower. I also loved biking around Kinderdijk in The Netherlands, as the scenery around me that day truly encapsulated Holland’s beauty. It was a carefree day.
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| Dr. Oberman and I at Kinderdijk! |
By Rachel Boullion
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