Die Ende

The summer program in Germany was an incredible experience that I will never forget. I got to experience a new culture, visit beautiful sites all over the country, and learned some valuable lessons along the way.

Taking a class in Germany provided a great environment to take classes in. The Statics and Dynamics course was in no means overwhelming, which allowed for a lot of time to explore Berlin. Berlin also provided many examples to see the topics we learned in action in the “real world.” Many of us would point out trusses all over the city after learning about them in class. The German course was laid back and allowed for us to develop our knowledge of the German language and culture. I still thought my German was terrible, but when I traveled Germany with my family, I could translate signs and understand announcements, realizing I knew more than I thought I did. I was also able to explain cultural things to my family as well.

Although class and the corresponding homework took up much of the week, the weekends and last week were incredible, giving time to explore different cities in Germany. It was incredible to see the rich history of German, seeing the intricate cathedrals often built over 500 years ago and the ancient walls of Rothenburg to Eagle’s Nest (Hitler’s vacation home in the Alps). I was always excited to see the beautiful cathedrals across Germany. My favorite location I visited though was the Leutascher Geisterklamm, a beautiful gorge in southern Germany that screamed the glory of our Creator. Germany was not the only place I was able to visit while on the trip. I also had the incredible opportunity to go to Normandy and visit the beaches where incredibly brave young men laid down their lives in the defense of freedom.

I learned how to navigate a big city. I learned a language enough to talk to police when getting lost in Munich, and I also learned some life lessons. The main thing I learned on this trip was to go with the flow. I love knowing everything that I am doing in a day and sticking with that rigid schedule. However, I thank my classmates for getting me to go out and have fun in Berlin, even if I was worried about homework.

In conclusion, this program was an incredible experience, allowing me to learn more about engineering while experiencing other cultures and visiting many beautiful, historical sites.

Geisterklamm pictured above

 

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