My last week in Germany was
super busy. I just had a lot of stuff to do. Saying goodbye was not fun, but it
was also a little weird, because it didn’t feel like I would actually be
leaving. I just kept on having minor freak-outs as I would realize “3 days
left… 2 days left… 1 DAY LEFT?!?!?!?” But I managed to get everything packed
and ready to go in time. I stuffed almost everything into my suitcase, but had
to leave some stuff behind because it would have been too heavy otherwise. When
I got to the airport, I was worried my bag would be too heavy, but it was exactly 23 kilos (50 pounds). VICTORY!
Once again, saying goodbye was hard, I tried my best not to cry. I was rather
successful until I was on the train to Frankfurt ,
because it finally hit me that it was all over.
Chances of seeing all my friends again are slim, and that’s hard.
In Frankfurt ,
I was very happy to see all the American friends that I have met this year.
They cheered me up. It is a mark of how independent I have become that getting
around the Frankfurt airport to the correct
gate was no problem. I know that if I
had been set loose on the airport before this exchange, I would have freeeeeeaked OUT. But I actually quite
enjoyed myself. It was rather liberating to be able to get around by myself.
The 8 hour plane ride was enjoyable as well, if you omit the obnoxious lady who
sat behind me, pounding against the seat back to get the screens to “work” and
putting some nasty feet on MY armrests. But I’m not dwelling on
that. We arrived in DC around 3, which was so EXCITING. We were in AMERICA
again!!! !!!!!!...! My feelings about coming back had been conflicted, but in
that moment, I was so, so happy to be landing in the US of A. We went through
passport control, picked up our bags, and headed our various ways. It was like
stepping back through time, because we went through the area of the airport
that we went through on the way to Germany . It was
interesting to think back on the things I thought and felt as I left, the
nerves, the uncertainty, the utter excitement, and then to contemplate how that
has changed and who I am now. That was only 10 months ago, but so much has
changed since then. I am more confident in myself, more independent, less shy
and ridiculous, and perhaps a bit more mature and experienced. My understanding
of the world, politics, morals/ethics, and myself (amongst so many other things
as well) has grown and changed in ways that would not have been possible if I
had gone directly to college. Some things weren’t easy, but I’m very glad I
went. It wasn’t always what I expected, but it was awesome on so many levels
and I’m so grateful to everyone I met there. It was a great experience.
Then it was time for jetlag and
reverse culture shock. My domestic flights to Kansas
began around 6:30pm (DC time), with a two hour layover in Chicago . I ate while I was there, and
ordering was in and of itself a weird experience. I kept almost speaking German
to the servers there (I was tired, okay!?).
I was a little confused by American money, and couldn’t remember what a nickel
looks like. I bought pizza that was marked under $5 on the sign, but with tax
it was over $5, so when the cashier impatiently asked for more change, I was so confused and it was only after I
walked away that I remembered tax. I finally landed in Kansas
at 11:10pm (Kansas
time). Now people, that may not sound late, but to my body, it was 6:10 IN THE MORNING! Needless to say, I
was exhausted, having had been awake for over 24 hours. But it was great to see
my family again, and especially so because my sister and her family surprised
my parents (I knew about it already, muahaha) at the airport. So we all merrily
stuffed ourselves into the car and headed back to my Kansas home. I kept having minor freak outs.
“Oh my goodness I’m in KANSAS !
Look! Those trees! It’s flat! WALMART! This road is new! Oh my, oh my, I know
this place!” Stuff like that. Then when I actually got to the house, I just
about exploded. Everything was so
familiar, as if I had never left. I marveled at the sight of the large
refrigerator and oven. I turned on a light and freaked out because the switch
was so tiny. Then I was momentarily
confused by the toilet flusher button thing, which I can’t remember the name
of. At first I thought it was a toilet plunger, but that’s something else…
Whatever. And the door knobs and locks are different! AND THERE’S CARPET! And I
realized I didn’t need an adapter anymore to plug stuff in. Then I went to my
room and discovered that I have clothes! I had forgotten about them. And I
swear that my bed is higher than it was 10 months ago. As I finally settled
down in my own bed, I started to cry. I’m not exactly sure why, but I think it
was a lot of pent up emotions. Joy at being in America with friends and family
and “normalcy”; sadness at not being in Germany anymore with friends and the
things I learned and came to love about it; pent up stresses; relief. It was
just bittersweet to be back. More reverse culture shock was to be had the next
day when we made a trip to Walmart. I love Walmart now, there’s such a good
selection of EVERYTHING there all in one
place! Speaking in English with people I knew was no problem, but it was
really weird that people in public and the announcements weren’t in German. I
kept thinking “where’s the German?!” and expecting to hear it.
Life went on, and I had to readjust
to the American way of life, and I got back into my old groove with surprising
ease. I was talking with another CBYXer and we both had that feeling, but
weren’t sure if that was something we wanted. How can things go back to
“normal” after all we’ve experienced in Germany ? I’ve changed, and I don’t want to go back to what was normal 10
months ago. I don’t want to forget all I’ve experienced and learned and how
I’ve changed for the better. But most people don’t understand, because they
still expect me to be the same ol’ person, but with a German accent. But I’m
not the same.
There are times when I’m wondering
where the next flight to Germany
is. Because I miss everything. A LOT . But other
times I’m SO GLAD to be back in America .
Having been away, I have noticed some differences. Americans do waste a lot of
water and energy. The first time I showered, I realized there was no way to
adjust the water pressure (though I loved how big the showers are). And the way
the toilets flush waste water sometimes. And we leave lights, TVs, computers,
fans, etc. on ALL THE TIME. OH! And I don’t need to worry about where I throw
away trash now, but I am still worrying
about it. I threw an apple core away, but didn’t like doing it because it
was the same place where I had thrown some paper and plastic away earlier! The
German side of my brain was yelling at me for not recycling. But what I love about being back in America is I
have realized, we really are very friendly.
People will engage in little, friendly conversations all the time with
strangers. While we were at Walmart, we almost hit carts with other people, and
they were all “oh, I’m so sorry. <insert smile> No please, you first,
etc.” So friendly. If that had happened in Germany … the usual response (if
there was one at all) would not be unfriendly, per se, but just rather distant
and reserved. ‘Tschuldigung, and no eye contact. Also, I love the patriotism of
America .
Driving down one street, I don’t know how
many American flags I saw. We really are proud of our nation in a way that Germany isn’t. Goodness…
there are SO many things
I could comment about that one country does or doesn’t have, but I think I’ll
just leave it at that.
Anyways, it’s great to be back in
‘Merica. I’ve missed it. But I am determined to bring back some of Germany with
me. I’m going to do some German Christmas traditions, and bake and cook German
foods. I have a bread cookbook that I bought in Germany , because I decided I am NOT
going to live without bread again. Because what America has ISN’T bread. I don’t know what it is. But I don’t like it. It
sticks to my teeth and has no flavor and dissolves into mush in my mouth. As I attempted to eat a sandwich (I couldn’t
finish it) I kept thinking “How do we
live like this?!?!” I digress. Basically, I’m not going to forget Germany , and I
hope to go back. I learned so much there and there are plenty of German things
that I can do here. Studying abroad there has influenced me in ways I didn’t
expect, but I’m glad I had the opportunity. I’ve been there, and now I’m back
again. It has been quite a journey (though I am disappointed to say there were
no hobbits, dwarves, or dragons), but now it’s over, and it’s time for the next
great adventure: college!