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Published: March 22nd 2008
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It's 4 am and I can't sleep. My body clock is a little off right now. This is my first night in Germany and we're six hours ahead of Rochester, MI. I went to bed at 9 PM, which is like going to bed at 3 PM according to what I'm used to. Because the flight was overnight, I didn't get very much sleep last night but instantly fell asleep on my new dorm room bed with its' huge squishy pillow and top sheet-less European style.
Now I am halfway around the world, sitting in a kitchen that I share with seventeen other students on my floor. They come from all over (many of them) and seem really friendly. I can't wait to get to know them and their culture better. So far I've met Manny from Italy, Ada from Great Britain and Fabian from Germany. Manny and Fabian have dark hair and warm smiles. I caught them watching some "Ice Skating with the Stars" type of show. Ada was watching her dishes and joined in the show and our conversation. It's exam time around here and they needed a break from studying. Ada is dark skinned with beautiful braids,
a fun accent, a short skirt and tights combo, and purple eyeliner. We connected because she loves to explore and travel too.
My adventure that has brought me to where I am sitting at the moment, started at 6:30 AM in Rochester, MI. Mom took me to the airport where we could say a quick "good bye" before the whirlwind began.
I am so thankful for all the love and support they've given me in preparing for the trip and every other situation that comes our way. God has blessed me so very much.
Once I took off from Rochester and arrived in Chicago without a hitch, I had 5 1/2 hours to fill before my group flight to Munich left. I lugged my two fifty-pound bags and twenty-five pound backpack at least a quarter mile around the airport to find my next check-in point. On four hours of sleep this felt like a long journey. When I arrived at the check-in all I could think about was getting rid of the bags, but I couldn't because the desk didn't open for another hour and a half! I took a snack break, freshened up in the bathroom
and before I knew it was in line. In line with me was an extremely nice young woman from Germany who aupairs in Chicago. She was just at the airport to see off her mother who had just visited her for a couple weeks. As we talked I realized that her mom didn't speak any English; she'd just smile and nod and communicate a bit through her daughter's translation. It made me wonder what my next four months would feel like. I'd better open my German dictionary soon!!
After I checked in and chatted it up with a chipper airline desk attendant, I found my terminal then went off for a leisurely lunch I had packed and a good read. Many interesting people came and went from the tables and chairs around me. I wondered about where they were going and what they'd do when they got there. I can't wait to get to know a wide variety of people this semester. From the other Valpo students to people from around the globe. I have much to learn and experience.
The flight from Chicago to Munich, Germany, was very impressive. The flight attendants were busy bees! Constantly walking
around with trays of water, juices and various other drinks. It was the first time I'd seen such a free flow of drinks, not to mention complementary beer and wine--which a few of my fellow classmates took advantage of even in the wee hours of the night and morning.
The food was pretty nice. For dinner I got hot teryaki chicken mixed with soft veggies and white rice. In addition, a hard roll, cheese, some strange (not so great) potato salad completed the meal which was topped off by a small square of cherry-coconut cheesecake. Just when we thought the service was over for a bit, the attendants buzzed through with bottle of wines and then a few minutes later, coffee. I passed on both.
For the next four hours I tried to sleep while movies played. Then breakfast came. I think they were trying to make the trip go by quicker by bringing out a constant flow of treats. There was fresh fruit (awesome), a granola bar, cheese and a roll. I was beginning to pick up on some trends...cheese, bread and beer/wine. I dunked my granola bar in my coffee conceding to trying to wake up
a bit as the flight was winding down.
Throughout the trip the map of where we were on the globe would pop up. The entire last hour and a half of the flight my seat buddy, Jordan, and I watched the map and looked at the lights of the cities below. The first real area I laid eyes on was London, which was bright and lit up even in the early hours of the morning. We talked about the adventures ahead.
The sites, sounds, tastes, people, beauty of God's design in nature and man's in architecture of the historic cities are all things I can't wait to see up close in this European adventure.
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