This is Really Happening!!

After my graduation party on Sunday, I'm starting to realize that this is actually happening. I really am moving to Germany?! I've been trying to make this adjustment as smoothly as possible by reaching out to fellow Fulbrighters going to Germany through Facebook. I originally set up the page about a month ago and only two other people found it. I was feeling a bit isolated so I reached out to the Fulbright Organization on their Facebook page about two weeks ago informing them that I had made the page if others were looking to join. I hadn't have any others join my page so I figured that there weren't as many Fulbrighters on Facebook.

I'm the Stephanie they're talking about!!!

Yesterday when I logged into Facebook, I had several notifications of people requesting to join my page. I was flabbergasted that people were suddenly joining. This continued through out the day, until the group was up to 20 people. I decided to check out the Fulbright Facebook page. That's when I saw the Fulbright program had promoted my Facebook page. I've been able to find others who will be going to the same orientation as myself and ask questions about different parts of the application process. I'm hoping that more people will find my page and join so I'll be able to meet a few other people before I meet them face-to-face in Germany!

It's Been too Long...

I've been so busy I haven't had much time for posting (my apologies). First off, I've purchased my plane tickets so I can officially say I leave for Germany on August 5th. It's exciting but nerve-wracking when you realize that's less than two months away! With everything that has been going on in the past two weeks, it's easy to forget.

Last year I was awarded an Undergraduate Research Fellowship with the American Society for Microbiology which included a stipend and the opportunity to present my research at their General Meeting in San Francisco, CA. The ASM GM took place June 15th - 19th, and it was quite an experience. While presenting and attending different symposiums was educational, the trip itself was also an opportunity for me to learn and prepare for my move abroad. Here are some things I've learned:

1. Don't be afraid to do things by yourself. You know what you like to do and if no one else wants to do what you want then go ahead and do it anyways. You only get one opportunity so make the most of it. I ended up going on a tour of San Francisco by myself, but it's something that I will not be able to do again any time soon so I seized the moment. People were surprised when I said I was by myself but at least they were willing to take my picture for me. 
2. It's good to be social, but if things seem shady then don't be afraid to get out of a situation. Unless you're like me and get hit on by some guy considerable older than you, and persists throughout your six hour flight. And then offers to drive you to your hotel. In that case, pretend you're asleep and that you're meeting someone at the airport. Then book it off the plane. 
3. Trial and error is a normal part of the adjustment period. For instance, when I got to the hotel I was starving and decided eating at the hotel's restaurant would be best. I ordered salad and fish and chips and spent nearly $23. When they say San Francisco is expensive, they mean it.   Breakfast at the convention center was about $10, a bowl of cereal at the hotel was $7.50, and even ordering the cheapest room service food item ($9 cheesecake) ended up costing me $22!!! Finally I decided to do some exploring and ended up finding a breakfast place where I could get an egg, ham, and cheese sandwich and hot chocolate for under $9 and a pizza place where a slice with a soda was only $3.25. Once you start thinking like the locals, you start to uncover a number of hidden gems. But I'll admit that cheesecake was damn good. 



A local offered to take my picture with the Golden Gate Bridge!

4. If you allow yourself to relax and have fun, even if you are homesick or longing to be somewhere else, time will fly by. It will be difficult at times, but in the end the time seems to slip away from you, whether you want it to or not.

I think that going to San Francisco was like a mini-preparation for Germany. Even though it was only for a few days, I think I was able to take away a number of important lessons that will help me transition to my life in the Black Forest.

Bis später!

My German Bucket List

I've added another tab to my blog! It's entitled "The German Bucket List" and it lists a number of places I want to visit and things I want to do while I'm abroad in Germany. Some of them will be fairly easy while others will take a bit more planning. As I complete these experiences, I will cross them off the list and blog about them (pictures included of course!) Be sure to look at my list and make any suggestions of things I should add!

So Much Paperwork!!

The most difficult part of this process so far is all of this paperwork! I thought the housing lottery was nerve-wracking, but trying to fill out housing paperwork in German when you're not too familiar with the housing system abroad is torturous. So far I've managed to apply for housing and admission to the University of Tübingen. I'm still struggling with the language test; even though I took two semesters of German, the test isn't as straight forward as I am used to. They ask you mainly to complete the words in the sentence, but you're only given the first two or three letters. So if I gave you the English sentence: I w        to th         pa            , you would have to know that the sentence is supposed to say "I went to the park," and not "I went to the palace" or "I went to that park." It's frustrating because you don't want to insult them by guessing but you don't want to leave the entire test blank either. So I've done the most I can and am going to have to send it in.

I'm finding it hard to believe that I will be leaving in two months. It feels like I'm not really going anywhere, just going through the motions but that it's not going to amount to anything. I keep reminding myself that I wouldn't be going through all this work for nothing, that I am in fact going to Germany. It's an unimaginable feeling, to know that you are going to be whisked out of your comfort zone and dropped off into another world so different than your own. I found this quote that I think describes these feelings I'm experiencing perfectly. It says, "Life begins at the end of your comfort zone, " or in German "Das Leben beginnt mit dem Ende der Komfort-Zone." Bis Spater!

Guten tag and Welcome to my Blog!

Guten Tag! I'm excited for all of you to be following me on this year-long journey I will be embarking on in two months. I will be using this blog as a way to keep family and friends up to date on my adventures in the black forest, as well as all of the preparation leading up to my departure. I hope that you enjoy following me on my journey into the Black Forrest, and thank you for joining me!