Christmas in Bavaria

From Deggendorf- Final Year

People dream of spending Christmas in Europe- and Bavaria in particular- but for me, it was more of a nightmare. Once the students (and therefore my friends) had left, Deggendorf seemed like a ghost town. As I walked through the town on Christmas day, it was just cold and lifeless. There were very few people out, and the Christmas market was boarded up and ready to be taken down until next year. I knew that spending a Christmas alone would be hard, but when I woke up to thick fog instead of snow, I realized just how much I was missing my usual Colorado Christmas.

After today, I will look back and realize that it was just another day. But the fact that I spent it alone says it all. I need family at Christmas- especially because it is the only holiday have been able t0 celebrate with them in the more recent years.

Deutsch

From Deggendorf- Final Year

I feel accomplished. Like this invisible thing that has been weighing me down has been lifted. Today, I spoke German. Not just spoke, but gave a full twenty minute speech. And I wasn’t nervous. Finally, with just a few months left in Germany, I have overcome my hesitation with speaking German. Of course, this speech was in a German course, so hopefully my newfound confidence will trickle into my everyday life. This feeling is good. This feeling is great. I hab’s g’macht!

Emotions

From Deggendorf- Final Year

I usually hide my emotions- but today I cried. And all it took was clicking “confirm” on my final airline ticket back to Denver from Munich. I can not believe that 7 semesters have gone by this fast. It all seems like a blur. I want to slow down time for my final two months here. I want to savor every moment- every second of every day.

We will be going to all parts of the globe. These times that we have had here will fade, memories will be lost, and new friends will be found. But I don’t want to give this all away. The people I have gotten to know here are some of the most incredible I have met, and they are some of my closest friends.

As I count down the days to graduation, I am also counting down to goodbyes.