This past week has been nothing short of a whirlwind for me. From adjusting to a new and slightly different culture to getting back into “school mode” to getting the chance to live in community with a bunch of great people, I can honestly say I have yet to be even slightly bored.Furthermore, there have been a few things that I honestly cannot say I saw coming. Germany is a country that I knew had a relatively high tolerance for alcohol, but it is still somewhat jarring to see people out for a walk with open bottles, as that would be frowned upon in the United States. However, despite their penchant for all things beer-related, there are several aspects of Germany that I would not mind taking back home with me. For starters, there is both a dearth of fast food restaurants (I’ve seen two McDonald’s in a week, which might be a record low) but also a plethora of healthier and delicious alternatives such as bakeries and döner stands. Also, Germany has a much more active culture than the US, with many more bikers and runners than I have seen back home.
However, if there is one thing I could take from the US, it would be air-conditioning. Coming from a state where it is normal to turn inside areas into a Arctic-like climate during the summer, the lack of AC here has been unusual, and sometimes uncomfortable.
Despite the lack of air conditioning, I am having a great time here, and would again ask for prayers for endurance, health, and safety for all the members of the trip.