6/11/08
The end is near ...
Again, where has the time gone? It seems like every day is shorter than the one before, and before I know it, I'm in the (almost) middle of June! So here is an update on life the past month:
It has been beautiful outside, classes are going good, and I'm doing everything in my power to enjoy every last minute in Germany while I can. At the end of May, DAAD held a meeting for a section of scholarship holders in Aachen, and I went, not really with any expectations, but ended up having the greatest time! I met people from all over the world from Africa to Asia to the British Isles to Mexico, and even someone from good ol' Houston (small world, huh?) It was a wonderful opportunity to put faces with names and get a chance to meet some of the people responsible for giving me this opportunity in Germany. Aachen itself is a beautiful city (I had been there once before), and so the combination of cultural, educational and fun activities they had planned were great. Thank you DAAD!
Direct after Aachen I shot up to Amsterdam to visit a friend from home, took in two days in the Dutch capital (trucking through rain, might I add) before heading back to Mainz. It was a gorgeous city and getting lost wandering along the different canals was by far my favorite part of the exploring. I did fit a lot into the two days though, visiting the Anne Frank House, the Van Gogh museum, Rijksmuseum and a photo exhibition. I have to go back sometime, just unfortunately not on this trip!
Then, the following weekend it was off to Hannover to visit family friends, always a pleasure to be able to do! We even took a day and went to Hamburg, which I fell in love with! I do have to say, however, that I don't know if there is any place in Germany that I'm not in love with. Have you been here? I mean, it's great all around :)
You can probably know now guess what the most exciting and amazing and highlight of June is for me: The European Soccer Championships! My life now consists of sleeping, eating, class and soccer. Between public viewings and fluttering around catching games when we can, it has been so much fun. Germany beat Poland 2:0 on Sunday and plays Croatia tomorrow, so I have my face paint ready and cannot wait. What can I say? I am my father's daughter, the German blood in my veins prevents me from being anything other than a soccer aficionado. The atmosphere and optimism throughout the country is amazing, only time will tell but I'm keeping my fingers crossed they go all the way!
I have only 5 and a half weeks left before heading back to Houston. I can't believe that a year has passed and before long, I'm going to be back to real life. I don't even want to THINK about all of the stuff I'm going to miss here, even though I am excited to get back to my family and friends at home.
5 and a half weeks. And I still have a long list of things to do ... I better get started on that.
(but of course, stay tuned for details on the end of my adventures!)
Posted by
melissa.seuffert
at June 11, 2008 5:17 AM EDT
