A Long Awaited Taste of Dunedin

A home-cooked Super Bowl, with golf on the side

My grandparents on my Dad's side--Mimi and Papa, as we call them--have been splitting time between Grafton, NY and Dunedin, FL for a long time. And for all this time, no one in my family has been to visit--until this past weekend. I knew that in my road trip south, seeing Mimi and Papa was inevitable, but thanks to the kindness of Kirk at the farm, I was able to sneak out for two days and see them even earlier than I expected. 

As we all know, the Super Bowl was played this past Sunday. Though I can't remember a Super Bowl that I've missed since the beginning of the Patriots' dynasty a dozen years ago, this trip across the state wasn't just about seeing the game. Two weeks working at a farm isn't all that drastic when you think about it, but after a long first week with plenty of ups and downs, it was an incredible feeling to be free again. I was going to Dunedin to relax, enjoy a few meals, and press the reset button before another week of farming. And seeing Mimi and Papa for the first time since August wasn't a bad deal either.

A beach panorama, just for fun

Even though I was only with Mimi and Papa for a night, it was nice to be in a real home again, not just a bunkhouse on the backroads of New Smyrna Beach. They live in a great location. Their home is close to pretty much everything important: the ocean, stores on every street, plenty of golf courses, Spring Training stadiums, and the cities of Tampa and St. Petersburg. Their longtime friends, Don and Lynn Disbrow, lived close as well, and that's where we ventured for Sunday's evening activities. 

The NFL dodged a bullet with this Super Bowl. I was fully content enjoying sandwiches and chicken wings and the conversation, but until the 49ers mounted a big-time second half comeback, the game had all the makings of a big letdown. To make matters worse, I decided to call home at halftime to wish my brother and my aunt Jess happy birthdays, and just after hanging up, the lights went out and we had to wait a whole extra half hour for play to resume. Had I known, I could've called home then!

Papa and I got an early start on Monday morning, but not before Mimi made sure I left with plenty of food. I received enough of their specialty breakfast bars to sustain me for the rest of my farming, plus plenty of snacks for the road. We drove to Westchase Golf Club for a morning with Papa's Monday golf group. At 8:30 sharp the sixty-odd men spread out across the course and begin play. We happened to start on the seventeenth, playing with Papa's friend Bill and another golfer named Chuck Butt. The was nice in a typical Florida fashion--lots of water, houses lining nearly every hole, and plenty of sets of tees to accommodate for the old guys. Some times it's nice to play a round where you can hit four-iron off nearly every tee. I didn't play the best golf of my life, but I didn't let any of the old guys beat me, and my approach on the par three eleventh won me ten dollars in the closest-to-the-pin competition. 

After the long round was over, we dined on the five dollar buffet in the clubhouse, and shortly after I was on the road back east. Saying goodbye was easy; if anything, the visit gave me more motivation to work hard for my second and final week at the farm. It's been a rewarding experience already, and one more week of labor will feel like nothing once I'm free to travel again. I don't want to look at my time in Florida as "two weeks on the farm" and then "two weeks of fun," because I have enjoyed myself here in New Smyrna. That being said, I know that there's so much waiting once the "vacation" begins. 

And one last piece of good news: I heard today that my sister has the good fortune of spending her February school break in Florida with my cousins the Storeys. So, not only do I get to see both of my grandparents, but I also get to spend time with my aunt and uncle, my cousins, and Miranda! And to Sam, who will be taking down Berkshire County competition on the hardwood while we're on the beach in Florida, I'll take you to Germany in a few years. For now, enjoy being a teenager (13 as of yesterday)!

A Second Goodbye; Then Zigzagging Down to Florida

Goodbye to snowy Williamstown

On Saturday I said goodbye to Williamstown again. It felt different this time around. I am ecstatic to be in Florida, but a month down south doesn't quite have the same magnitude as four months in Germany. And everything is just a little bit easier the second time around. This time I had no baggage limit--as long as it all fit in my car. And though I'll be charting unfamiliar territory, I don't have to worry about translating everything I see. It’s an A-to-B trip, a journey with a destination. I know that by the beginning of next week, I need to arrive in New Smyrna Beach, FL--ready to work, but also ready to enjoy the sun and heat in the middle of winter.

My first stop was in Westfield, NJ to visit my close Camp Dudley friend Adam Fraites. His house has often been the site of reunions with my camp buddies, and I always enjoy a weekend living the Jersey lifestyle. I met many of Adam’s Westfield and Pingry friends, ate at places like Chipotle and Bagel Chateau—two dining experiences that don’t exist in Berkshire County, and had the unfortunate privilege of watching my Patriots roll over in the AFC Championship against the Ravens. It was one of the poorest performances from New England that I can remember. I’m spoiled as a Pats fan because I expect a Super Bowl every season, but the reality is that it’s been half of my lifetime since they won a title. And Seattle, my favorite NFC team, failed in a big way last week when they blew a twenty-one point comeback in the last seconds against the Falcons. Thank God hockey is finally back.

But the best part of my time in Westfield was talking about Dudley. If all goes as planned, Adam and I will be leaders this summer at the place we love more than anything. I have a lot planned before then, but no matter what happens in the next segments of my gap year, I have the best job in the world lined up from June to August.

I left New Jersey on Monday morning, but not before stopping at Dick’s Sporting Goods to pick up a new pair of golf shoes. I was hoping my old pair would last through my Florida trip, but when I forgot to pack them, upgrading my golf shoes became a necessity. My old Walter Hagan’s endured four years of rounds and carried me to countless memories. Now I’m excited to have a new pair of Nike’s and to see how many loops they can handle—from Vermont to Florida and beyond.

A dusting of snow in the UPenn freshman quad

The cold spell set in as I drove from New Jersey to Philadelphia. Adam’s dad was out golfing on Sunday morning, and twenty-four hours later it felt like snow was in the air. I met Peter Rogers, another Dudley friend, at UPenn just minutes from the heart of Philly. It was cold when made the (long) walk from my parking space to his quad, but even in the gray January air, the campus still looked majestic. If playing DIII soccer hadn’t been part of my college equation, UPenn would’ve been on my list. (I also would’ve looked at Davidson, and I can’t wait to see the school in a few days. Based on everything I’ve heard, it seems incredible. It’ll be great to see for myself later this week.) Anyway, UPenn really impressed me with its large quads and elaborate academic buildings. Standing at the center of campus, I didn’t feel like I was so close to a major city, but only a few minutes later, the Philadelphia skyline dominated my view.

I wasn’t expecting “Pat’s King of Steaks” quality at the dining hall, but after dinner with a crew of Pete’s pledge brothers, I found myself thinking about the Middlebury food service. Nothing against the mac-n-cheese I had, but I’m glad I’m going to a school with excellent dining options. I loved the Penn dining atmosphere nonetheless, and the best part of the evening was walking outside to find an inch of snow on the ground. And, seeing the reactions of many of Pete’s friends. I know I’ll have classmates next year who have never seen snow, and I can’t wait for the first big storm of the year.

Pat's King of Steaks, with Geno's Steaks in the background--Philly's rival cheesesteak stops

Today I left Philly and let Pete get back to his classes, and though the morning walk to my car was almost unbearably cold, the roads were clear. After crossing back and forth over the upper reaches of the Chesapeake Bay, I entered Delaware and had a straight shot to Lewes (pronounced like Lewis, with two syllables, not one. It’s still a struggle for me, though). Our longtime family friends, the Johnsons, live just minutes from the coast in Lewes, which claims the title of "the first town in the first state." Right now I’m waiting for the boys and Drew to get home from school and sitting with Calvin--a dog who reminds me a lot of Pepper. Outside I can see the windmill turning in the frigid ocean breeze, but no matter the season or temperature, the Lewes shoreline is a beautiful place. 

Dusseldorf and Lofty Expectations

Is it fair to say that one of the highlights of my recent day trip to Dusseldorf was the transfer in Cologne? Let me explain.

Another Fast-Paced Day Trip

I've come to love the freedom and flexibility that comes with sitting down in the evening and pondering the question, "Where to next?" (Don't worry, I'm not day-tripping every day, and I'm certainly not skipping out on my teaching and soccer commitments). Not wanting to waste any of my allotted travel days on my Eurail pass, I decided half a day in Dusseldorf would be a reasonable adventure. 

The waterway separating the streets of the Konigsallee, Dusseldorf's upscale shopping street.
I felt out of place just walking it, and I received glares from security guards as I peered in the windows. 

Before I get to the city, I'll explain what I wrote in the opening line. I had a short transfer in Cologne (one that required some running), but pulling into the Hauptbahnhof we passed fewer than fifty yards from the Cologne Dom. I had researched the famous cathedral, and I've been patient enough to wait for my parents' visit to explore Cologne. Still, as we made the turn and the Dom came into view, I wanted to get out right then and there and cancel my Dusseldorf plans. Luckily I made my connecting train and was soon arriving at my intended destination, but the glimpse of Cologne's greatest monument was something special. My parents and I will make the trip this coming Friday. Seeing the Dom will be even better with them.

Fresh produce at the farmers' market, even in November!

My expectations were not high, and there was no reason for them to be. I was attempting to squeeze in another adventure, with the chance that something memorable might unveil itself during the day. Dusseldorf is a nice city, but I could describe it just like many of the not-so-unique cities in Germany. For example: there's a big street with lots of places to buy things that are way too expensive for my budget; there's a small Altstadt area with cobblestone streets; a river (The Rhine) plays a predominant role in the city's layout; and there are lots of enticing places to eat. It all sounds nice, but nothing about those descriptions make Dusseldorf special.

What did make it special was meeting Kent Shultz, whom I bumped into while grabbing some lunch. I heard him struggling with a waiter who knew little English, and offered my limited assistance. My gesture turned out meaning more than I could have ever expected. Kent explained to me that it was his first time in Europe and that he had only landed in Dusseldorf a few hours ago. I didn't ask what he did or where he went to college (it was pretty clear that he was a fairly recent graduate), but those details didn't matter so much to me. I wanted to know why he was in Dusseldorf, and I soon found out.

Kent is a semi-obsessed home-brewer living in San Diego. He's only been at it for a few years, but he told me he's found a lot of success (with plenty of failures, too). He explained that he's been brewing a lot of English and German style beers, but he'd never traveled to try the authentic product. So, he jumped at the opportunity to spend two weeks in Europe--mostly in England but with a few days in Germany--in attempt to sample brews and learn more about the craft.

He spoke not a word of German, so I told him that though my Deutsch is still poor and my knowledge of Dusseldorf's breweries even poorer, I'd be happy to accompany him during the afternoon visiting the different breweries. I had already passed two that looked authentic--Uerige and Schumacher--so we set off.

A statue outside the Uerige Brewery, with the "U" carved into the base.

I found we complemented each other quite well. With three months of experience, I knew a fair amount about travel in Germany. By now I'm very confident with my navigation skills and understanding of the public transport system. Kent, as this was his first time in Germany, definitely looked a little lost. Once we sat down at a brewery, however, he was in his element. Most of what he said right over my head, but it was a good learning experience listening to someone who could pick up the nuances when comparing the different "altbier" brews. (Altbier is the style specific to Dusseldorf, and the city has four authentic breweries still in operation).

Since I had training back in Bad Homburg that evening, I didn't stay with Kent as long as I would've liked. Still, it was the type of random encounter that I've come to love about traveling in Europe. Meeting Kent made my brief Dusseldorf experience memorable, and that's all I can ask.

Click here to see all of my photos from Dusseldorf.

Back to Bad Homburg, Getting Ready

I passed through Cologne again on my way home. The expectations are certainly high for when I visit the city with my parents. I have high expectations for their entire visit, for that matter. And why wouldn't I? It'll be the first time I've seen them in over three months. By now I'm confident that I can be a decent tour guide as I show them my town, my soccer, my school, and our planned destinations. But no matter what we see and no matter how bad the November weather is, it will be an extraordinary week. We'll be together, in Germany, and we'll all love every minute of it. I'm so thankful that I get to share my life in Germany with them. And I'm not the only one who's excited. Not a day goes by when the Judson kids don't mention my "mommy and daddy" coming. Izzy is convinced that "Miwanda" is coming too--I guess we just have to wait until the Judsons visit Williamstown again. 

A Change in Seasons

It's been an exhilarating and exhausting past six weeks. I'm still not quite caught up with the blog. Scotland was so amazing that I felt each day deserved a lengthy post. I traveled to Nuremberg the week following my trip to the UK, and though I'm jumping ahead a bit with this post, expect something about that weekend soon. 

For now, I want to ramble about my time in Germany and the transformations that I see and feel every day. I've had the grandest of adventures in the past six weeks, and I hope I've documented them to the fullest in the blog. With that, though, comes less time to write about the experience of simply being in a foreign country. To me, that is the most important. 

Germany, Finally a Home

My mindset has changed so much since I first arrived. Everything was new, and I had only the vaguest idea about what was in store for me. I remember walking around Bad Homburg and Frankfurt for the first time. It was the only way to get started on my travel, but I had no idea what I was doing. Then I jumped into longer trips, feeling slightly more comfortable with travel in Germany. Yet I look back now and I laugh at myself, and I realize that I've changed so much. It's all a learning process, and the best way to learn is to throw yourself into something and hope for the best. 

I've watched the summer slide into fall, formed bonds with my family, found friends on my soccer teams, learned the ways of German society, and saw the first glimpses of snow--and only now it feels like Bad Homburg is my home. It's taken me two-and-a-half months and trips all over Germany and to Scotland to truly feel this way about my town. 

As I've transitioned back into by normal soccer and teaching schedule, I'm beginning to see the town differently. I've reached my final phase, my final season, in Bad Homburg. Now when I walk up and down the streets, nothing sets my heart racing. I feel none of the juvenile excitement that often occurred when I first arrived, but despite it all, I love the town more and more every day. Now, instead of trying to see everything, I try to find something new. It's a completely different way of living. When you try to see everything, you miss so much. As I dig deeper, I find the most incredible details. It's taken me a long time to realize that finding is so much more rewarding than seeing. When I return home and think back to my time in Bad Homburg, those moments will stand out the most. 

In these last six weeks, I want to make every day count. I think differently now, and I feel differently. Every day I want to go out of my way to find something new or strengthen a friendship with someone. It's because of this that I know my last stretch in Germany will be spectacular. Though I won't be traveling to Oktoberfest or golfing in Scotland, I have so much still to do. It doesn't have to be big or noteworthy, but if I keep that sense of discovery with me, it will be special. 

And I have plenty to look forward to. My parents arrive two weeks from today, and I'll get to play the role of tour guide during their stay. I'm so glad they're coming at the end of my trip instead of the beginning, because only now do I feel ready to show them everything Bad Homburg and Frankfurt have to offer. We'll take our day trips, too. I'm excited to get back to Heidelberg during the Christmas Market season, and we'll also head up to Cologne, which has been on my bucket list since day one. 

Speaking of Christmas...

Here's a bit of fun to close out the post. This past week was Halloween as everyone knows. Here in Germany it's not quite as big of a deal, but at Accadis all of the kids showed up in costume. Here are a few photos. 

I went into a department store the following day, November 1st, and was surprised by the scenery. I guess since the Germans don't have a Thanksgiving holiday to look forward to, all efforts from the beginning of November onwards are directed towards Christmas. And as I walked around Nuremberg in the snow a week ago, I could feel the faintest Christmas spirit in the air. It is a BIG deal in Germany, and I'm looking forward to the festivities. And who ever complained about an extra month of Christmas Season?

So, check back soon for my post about Nuremberg (an awesome city, I should add). I'm also going to try to write about soccer, teaching, and perhaps add to my LOVE/Hate list. All in good time. 

Looking Forward

"It doesn't get any better than this" 

- Camp Dudley circa 2008, attributed to Mike O'Leary

Out for a family walk on a beautiful day

It's easy to get caught up in the adventure. Now, that is a broad statement; everything that has occurred since I boarded the airplane back in August (seven weeks ago, to be exact) has been an adventure. Breaking it down, each little thing I do here is part of my semester in Germany, which is only part of the journey that is my gap year. 

I feel I have reached an incredibly exciting time in my travels abroad. The exploration so far has been fabulous, and in my next post I want to offer a list of my favorite memories so far. Today, though, I want to update everyone on where I stand and what lies ahead. Now begin the really big adventures. Because I have a long break from teaching and soccer matches, this is my time to see Europe on a grand scale. No, I will not be hopping to and from every major city within 500 miles, but I do have some pretty exciting trips planned. Counting Oktoberfest this past week, I have an journey of some sort penciled into the calendar on every weekend from now until November. Plans can change, of course, but I am confident that these trips will all work out--and all be amazing. 

So, a quick rundown of my jam-packed month of Oktober:

This coming weekend I travel south to Stuttgart to meet up with Dudley contact Blake Little--an American who has been living and teaching in Europe for a half-dozen years. Blake has offered to host me, and we're planning on visiting Stuttgart's Cannstatter Volksfest (the second-largest Oktoberfest celebration in Germany). Even better, on Sunday night Stuttgart plays Leverkusen in a Bundesliga tilt, so we'll be heading to the match. 

Next week I miss my final day of school before the break to meet up with Lukas Ebeler in Hannover. We will spend the later part of the week together and do some traveling via train. Hopefully we'll get to Paris for the weekend, which would be a blast. 

My true personal vacation, though, begins on October 17. First, a small tangent: on Sunday night dinners with my grandparents, we get the question twice a year or so from Babo (John Storey): "If you could go anywhere in the world, where would you choose?" Everyone answers, and we truly can pick anywhere, for any reason. Over the past few years, my choice has remained consistent. Scotland. Or Ireland, perhaps. The reason? Golf. Whether you call it a hobby or a sport, golf is one of my greatest passions. I know more about the history of golf courses and architects than you can imagine, and there's no better place for golf history than the birthplace of the game in Scotland. After a spring and summer packed with plenty of rounds (I think I added seven new courses to my resume), I was completely happy to take half a year off while in Germany and wait until the winter when I'll be heading south. Slowly, though, an idea started to smolder. Through many layers of connections, I contacted a young couple in Edinburgh--Ian and Lauren Clausen. And just like that, things began to fall into place for a getaway to Scotland. 

I reason that I may not have an opportunity to go to Scotland and/or play golf overseas for a long time. Maybe if I like it enough I'll spend a semester abroad in the UK, but for now, this seemed my best chance to fulfill a dream. I fly to Edinburgh via Amsterdam on October 17, and the next morning I have a tee time. I have two rounds slated--first at Gullane and then at North Berwick the next day. Both courses are ranked in Great Britain's Top 100, and the latter is one of the ten best in Scotland. It could be raining sideways, but I know that for two days, I'll be right on the ocean playing some of the oldest links courses in the world. 

I will stay through the weekend, using my time to explore Edinburgh, sample some haggis and single malt, and tune my ears to the Scottish accents. I want to take a train up to St. Andrews and walk around the Old Course (the true home of golf). On Sunday, I have a ticket for a Hearts versus Motherwell Scottish Football match. I'm not going to waste any moment during my time in Scotland, and it's difficult to say that I've ever been more excited about a week of travel. 

October closes out with tentative plans to visit Will Plumb in Prague. Czech Republic's capital is considered one of the coolest cities in post-communist Eastern Europe. I'm looking forward to spending a few nights with him and letting him show me around the city. Plumb rooms with three Middlebury students, so it will be fun to talk with them about my future at college.

It will be quite the month, and though I'm itching for the next adventure, I know the days will fly by. Before I can blink the month will be closing, and I will be settling back into a more normal routine of soccer and teaching. And, Thanksgiving is on the not-so-distant horizon, when my parents are coming to visit for a week. I'm glad that there is still a whole lot to happen before then. I will be finished with most of my travels, and nothing will be showing them around and sharing the stories attached to each place. No matter what, the best part of any adventure is the people, and I'm looking forward to sharing the company of friends and family in my upcoming travels. 

The Beginning

My First (and Hopefully Longest) Post

On the morning of August 17--my first full day in Bad Homburg, Germany--I jogged up a dirt road towards the foothills of the Taunus Mountains, staring at my feet as to avoid the bigger rocks. As I crested the hill, I glanced upwards, and the view was enough to make me stop. From the hill I could see over fields of apple trees, down into the town of Bad Homburg, and far out into the distance where the skyline of Frankfurt rose from the morning haze.

It's moments like these that make me stop and think how lucky I am. I turned back to the dirt road and continued, think-ing how this could have been any run in the Berkshire valleys or Adiron-dack peaks. But I wasn't in Massa-chusetts or New York--I was in Germany.I'd made it to the destination that I'd been talking about and scheming about for months. This felt different; this felt special.

The Planning

During the second semester of my senior year at Mt. Greylock, I looked forward to nothing more than my block seven independent study period. I was creating a "Greylock Gap Year" website, but for every hour of researching, writing, and web designing, I spend twice as many thinking, dreaming, and planning my upcoming year. From sending regular emails across the pond to mapping the dream road trip to calculating estimated expenses, I went about planning my gap year with a whimsical irregularity that made the whole experience fun. 

I always liked the idea of taking a year off between high school and college. I could catch up with my age group, get better at soccer, and have time to create my own adventures. Inspired by Dylan Dethier's golfing escapade across the Lower 48, I envisioned a similarly grand experience that catered to my needs. By senior year I was set on taking a gap year; still, it was difficult to throw myself into preparing for the year before I'd even been accepted to college. It was just before Christmas break when I was assured of future plans, as I got into Middlebury College.  Both the administration and soccer coach at Midd fully supported my decision to defer. From then on I could enjoy my second semester, but I could also keep myself busy with a year's worth of preparation ahead of me. 

Week by week, email by email, plans fell into place. It began with a conversation with the Judson family. Nina, who knew my mother growing up in Williamstown, and Simon, from the UK, lived in Germany with their four kids. Do you like living in Germany? Is there a bed for me for four months? Can I find a soccer team to join? The answers were YES, YES, and YES. Soon I had my plane ticket booked--August 16 to December 16--and I had the first part of my year set in stone.

I began to see my year falling into three separate adventures, sandwiched by two summers at Camp Dudley. Following Germany I wanted to plan a solo road trip heading south, and part three would be the best time to stay with my aunt and uncle Harry and Nellie Scoble in Hamden, CT while I worked. But those details will come later.

As graduation came and went and I left Williamstown for camp, Germany crept closer. It was strange trying to pack up my life and fit it in a suitcase and a backpack. The more I tried to squeeze in, the more fond memories I seemed to leave behind. But I knew that if I kept an open mind, I could make memories during my gap year that would last a lifetime.

Setting Off

Now I have arrived in Germany, and the first leg has begun! Each stage of leaving was hard; first Williamstown, then Dudley, and lastly my family. But every time I felt a pang of sadness rise in my chest, I thought of everyone who had heard my plans and said that I was going to have the time of my life. I thought of my sendoff dinner at Uncle Harry's restaurant, and I knew that before I could blink, I would be back there again for Christmas Eve lunch. 

My plane from JFK was delayed by three hours, but since it was an overnight flight I did not mind. Once we were in the air time flew by. I was able to sleep between dinner and breakfast, and when I was not resting I talked with the traveler seated next to me. She was a college student from Connecticut and was going to Berlin and Copenhagen for a week each before school started. It was nice to hear her perspective, but I was also thankful that I did not have to worry about checking into a hostel right away. I realized that there are so many travelers like her, and very few like me. 

I arrived tired, but walking back from my gate I may have snuck in a casual fist pump. This was actually happen-ing! My host family was waiting--excited and a little confused (at least Alex (4) and Izzy (2)). Immediately I flashed back to memories of my youngest cousins running around wildly at the Storey Farm in Westport. It's not all bad being greeted by screams of excitement. 

Luke (9) and Sebastian (7) helped me move into my room, which has a balcony with views over the rooftops of our Kirdorf village. Everything is a bike ride away--the soccer fields, the schools, the bakery and beer store.

Language will never be a barrier inside the English-speaking Judson household, though I have encountered situations where I need a word or phrase in German and struggle to come up with a response. By being around a new language all day, and by listening, reading, and asking questions, I have no choice but to improve. I've already used much of my limited RosettaStone German knowledge and hope to begin expanding it.

The Road Ahead

I now enter my first full week in Germany. I've been eased into the town, and now I can begin to explore. First it will be Bad Homburg via bus and bicycle, then the city of Frankfurt, and eventually longer train and car trips to major German cities and beyond.

My weeks will not be all travel, however. I'll be playing soccer with the DJK Bad Homburg club five days a weeks. If the level of play is anywhere near the quality of the fields, I'll be completely satisfied. It will be great to meet my teammates and find new friends who can show me around.

I also meet with the Accadis International School about volunteering in the classroom. The school is completely bilingual, and no matter what age group I end up working with, it will be a wonderful opportunity to share what I bring while learning the language. After a few months, I hope to at least be able to walk into a store or restaurant and not have to ask "Sprechen Sie English?"

It will be an unforgettable four months. I can't predict how I'll feel by the end, but I hope to use my time here to the fullest. It's strange to think that I will still have six months left after Germany is over, but those adventures are for other days. For now, I am nothing but excited for what lies ahead.