Emotional Experiences at the Half Way Point

Hey everyone, 

       So while a broad, you will have your ups and downs, your lefts and rights, and everything in between. I have had my own experiences with this and can tell just about anyone that studying abroad will really kick you in the behind. AFS showed us at the very beginning, during our first orientation, what to expect throughout the year. Even though you may think you are strong, or think it will be a breeze, you will still have a subtle and somewhat drawn out realization that things may not seem to be all that spectacular and glimmering. However, when the day comes that you accept the culture, you will love what you learn, and really enjoy being abroad. 

       At the very beginning of this trip, we had an orientation, and at this orientation, they tried to prepare us for what to expect while abroad. They stressed two things at this ordination that would play a big role in our lives during this year abroad. The first: "it is not wrong, it is different." This is one of the hardest things to accept while abroad. The reason to that is that you have grown up only really knowing your own culture. You have lived with your parents and family, who have raised you and shown you how to live. You have gotten along with your friends, and done what you thought was right. When you step into this new world, you do not see everything so clear, it slowly starts to show it's self throughout the time you are here. 

       The second thing AFS showed us was a graph. (See picture. Sorry for how bad the graph looks, I did this in Word.)  Your time starts out here great because everything is new, and that is why you are always happy. You are still somewhat happy when people are not very happy with you or if another somewhat discouraging event happens because it is still new. Around Thanksgiving, you start to realize that something does not seem all that great and you cannot really tell why, but you tend to ignore it because you think it will just go away. Around Christmas, New Year’s, and just a little bit past the holiday season, you are at the hardest time of the trip. You begin to think that not everything is great, that people are somewhat mean, and that nothing you do seems right. Well I had this problem too, and it was a hard time to get through. With the help of my host family and friends, and even just talking a little bit with my friends and family from back home, I managed to pull myself out of this trough and really start to enjoy my time here. I know it may seem impossible to get past this point, but it is. If I was able to do it, then I think just about anyone else can do it too. After you get going back up and your motivation returns, you really start to enjoy your time here. The people, who you thought were somewhat mean, turn out to be the nicest people, and the culture seems like a reality within you. There will still be those hard days, and those most miraculous days, but overall you just really begin to live the culture like your own. These are all the things that I have experienced so far, and as of right now, I am having a blast here in Germany. 

The next downfall on the graph is the downfall of returning. The thought that you will have to leave everyone here, and not be able to see anyone for who knows how long. You also start to panic a little as to how you will get along with your friends from back home, and what all will happen. I am happy to say this has not happened to me yet, but I know it will come. After you realize and accept that you will have to go back home, you start to just have as much fun as you can until that day comes. I am lucky to have another five months before having to go home, but I also realize it has already been five months since I got here. I have had a plethora of experiences, and I know there is a heck of a lot more to learn. I cannot wait for what the next months bring and I know that things will get harder once again, but it is all a part of the experiences and I cannot wait for the next big challenge to present itself.

       I really have to thank my host family and friends here that have supported me in the hardest of times, and I do not know what I could do without them. My host family has become like a second family to me and my friends are the type of friends that I will never forget. I owe everyone here a big thank you for having to put up with me and help me though out the last five months. I hope they continue to be by my side for many, many more adventures to come. 

       I hope this gives everyone a little taste as to what the first part of an exchange year is like. Since I did not talk about what all I did in the past month, I am going to post some pictures of my latest adventures. If you have any questions, comments, or suggestions, please feel free to leave them in the comments below! 

Thanks everyone, 

~Michael Steiner~

Unser Winter Sport Tag. 

In München mit andere Austauschschulen. 

In Nördlingen

 

Ries Krater Museum (In Nördlingen)

ein Mondstein