Frump Abroad

Big Burr 2o14

After over a year of minimal traveling, I have embarked on my first solo missions since returning from Europe a year and a half ago.  For the past few years, I have worked myself extremely hard between school and working various jobs.  I decided after I "graduated" this past May that I would reward myself with a small vacation.  I was gone for nearly two weeks.  I began with a five day visit with Mikey and Rachel in New York.  They showed me around the city and we attempted to fit as much as humanly possible into a short amount of time.  Although I didn't get to see as much as I wanted to, it just means that I will have to go back and revisit (in May for Michael's graduation!!)  After exhausting myself and my hosts, I took a long-ass (excuse my language) bus ride to Pittsburgh, where my aunt and uncle picked me up and brought me to Slippery Rock.  I spent another five or six days with my grandma and aunt and uncle relaxing in paradise.  

Moraine State Park, PA

I will finish uploading pictures and giving them captions at a later time.  

It's my last few hours in Germany and the past few days have been difficult emotionally and mentally.  I had hoped to feel like this but I hadn't necessarily expected to feel like this.  I didn't expect I would become so attached to this city.  I realize that I am lucky to have entered a situation so favorable and experienced something this fantastic.  However, none of these realizations make it easier to leave.  Of course, I have missed my family terribly and often found myself almost desperate for our Skype calls.  I have missed some aspects of the American culture and of course the refills.  Yet, I will miss this country and this city.  I can't say for sure how I have changed, but I know my time here has impacted me greatly.  The people I have opened my eyes to an entire world outside my own and I struggle to think of what my life and thoughts were like before I met them.  

I cannot express how much I will miss the friends I have made here.  I know I will see some of them again in the near future, as plans for visitation have already been set in motion, but I am scared now of a life and daily routine without them.  I have become so accustomed to this social situation where all of your friends live near you and are almost always willing to hang out.  In this world where everything is new for everyone and we all get to experience it together.  Getting to break down barriers of national stereotypes and deciding for ourselves about the relationships we have and the decisions we choose.

I am more than happy to resume living with my parents when I don't have to worry about groceries or making payments for a time.  Although, I must say it has made me grow up and work with many of my anxieties and fears.  I may revert back to my anxiety-plagued existence when I return home but I can now say that I have done it though.

In essence, I have absolutely loved my time in Europe and would do it again in a heartbeat.  This experience has been magical and the people I have met and established friendships with are people I will treasure in my heart forever.  This has been an experience of a lifetime and I am so sad it's over.  I must now try and re-enter a life once lived by a different me.

I can now say:

I walked my ass off (excuse my language) in London, nearly froze to death in Berlin, rode my first big-girl train to Lubeck, had fabulous pork with my family in Rudesheim, had southern food in Berlin (second time), was homeless for a night in Stockholm, got lost in Prague, took a 15 hour bus ride from hell to Krakow, had an international American Independence day, rode another bus for 12+ hours to Munich, took shameless jumping pictures with Theresa in Vienna, had a Justin Guarini look-a-like in Budapest, hiked to the highest point in Zurich.

I improved my German, pierced my ears, celebrated my 21st birthday with friends and family, had my first drink, made friends for life, and fell in love all in and with Hamburg.