Settling In

I have now been here over one month, which means I am twenty-five percent done. This is crazy because I feel like I have not been here long at all although I have already experienced so much in the last month. Often, I feel like I am in a dream because people in normal life do not just go to Germany for a weekend or get to walk along a canal in a medieval city twice a week.

This weekend has be absolutely fantastic! Friday night I went with Krissy and my friend Kristen to an Owl City concert. Owl City is an American band who is most famous for their song "Fireflies." They put on a great show and then afterward we waited by their tour bus until they came out and got to meet them and get pictures/autographs. While we waited, we also made friends with a Belgium guy and a French guy. It was really fun getting to know some Europeans and fellow Owl City fans.

After a late night downtown Brussels, we had an early morning bus ride to Cologne, Germany with our Art History class. In Cologne, we had tours of the cathedral, a Roman museum (including looking at the sewers and praetorium), another church, and an art museum. The tours were really interesting and I feel like I learned a lot. Saturday night after a meal at a local German pub, some friends and I went and spent time looking over the Rhine River then ended up at the cathedral where a candlelight vigil was going on. We all lit our own candles and spent some time praying and reflecting. Afterward, Krissy and I had a heart-to-heart about faith and spirituality, something that I have been missing a lot since I have arrived.

The next day, along with tours, we climbed to the top of one of the cathedral towers... 533 steps! After lunch, we drove to Aachen, which used to be the capital of the Frankish empire under Charlemagne. We saw several different relics and even the box where Charlemagne still remains in the cathedral there. On the way back to Belgium, we watch Gladiators. Since then, I have been trying to make up sleep and stay ahead on my readings.

Classes and internship have been going really well. I truly enjoy it all, even if sometimes I feel I am in over my head. I cannot believe that midterms are already three weeks away! I feel like I still have so much to do! This weekend holds a dinner with friends, field trip to Brugge, and a hike in the Ardennes. I feel like my time here is flying by and I really wish it would slow down a bit so I could get some time to rest and be able to take it in. Love and miss you all!