Auf Wiedersehen SB!

I'm leaving Germany today flooded with a mix of emotions. I'm so excited to see my friends and family at home and to begin my senior year at TCU. But on the other hand, I hate saying goodbye to my little "earthfaves family" here in Saarbrücken. It's a bittersweet feeling. The only way I can organize my thoughts is into the following three lists:

Things I will not miss:

-Paying to use public toilets
-Bringing an umbrella with me everywhere I go
-Paying for water at restaurants
-The old lady hookers that hang out and smoke cigs all day on my street
-Seeing this message: “Unfortunately, this UMG-music-content is not available in Germany because GEMA has not granted the respective music publishing rights” every time I try to watch a video on YouTube.

-International withdrawal fees, paying for everything with coins and Monopoly bills, and the awful dollar to euro exchange rate!

Things I will miss:

-Sidewalk cafes
-Döner kebab
-The rolling green hills and giant wind turbines of the countryside
-Efficient public transportation
-Zara, Mango, and H&M
-Schoko Brötchen
-Pretty buildings that are older than America itself
-Good German beer
-Being able to walk everywhere
-The charm of small, non-franchised shops and restaurants
-German chocolates
-Hearing “Ach so!” every other word
-My wonderful, funny coworkers (most of all)

Things I most look forward to:

-Sunshine & warm temperatures
-Healthy food options
-Spending some days on the beach with my family
-Catching up with my roommates
-Once again having a microwave, toaster, washer & dryer, dish washing machine, smart phone, and all the other little luxuries that make life convenient.
-Ice cubes—haven’t seen those since I’ve been in Germany.
-And along with that, iced coffee!
-Businesses being open early, late, on Sunday, and even 24/7
-My comfortable bed
-Mexican food
-Driving back to Fort Worth
-My Pandora stations
-Going to TCU football games with all my friends
-Simply being in one place (for a little while at least).


I may be leaving Germany for the summer, but I'll be back one day. I left many cities unexplored such as Munich, Cologne, Düsseldorf, and Hamburg. Today I'm taking the train to Kirn, a bus to Frankfurt, and a flight to Madrid so that I can reunite with some of my favorite earthfaves interns :) 

earthfaves: I love this place.

Internshipin'

Today is the last day of my summer internship. It's hard to imagine how different my life will be when I'm back in Texas a week from now. Some of you may be wondering what exactly I've been doing in Germany for the past three months. Well, I've been a member of the marketing team for a startup website called earthfaves. The website is currently in its beta version and is expected to launch sometime later this fall. Earthfaves is a social network for sharing favorite places and a brand advocacy tool for businesses. The name earthfaves stands for "favorite places on earth," and the website makes it simple to share and discover cool places recommended by only your friends and the people you trust most. And in addition to receiving insiders' tips (or Geheimtipps as we call them at work), you can also get special discounts and offers from the businesses that you recommend. Some of my tasks for the summer included performing a market analysis, developing a social media management strategy, and improving English text for the new homepage. I learned a lot this summer and had a great time along the way. I hope the website will continue to grow and have a long, successful future. Thanks for the good times earthfaves. It's been a memorable summer.

Necco, Youlia, and me

Texas on my Mind

I keep running into little reminders of Texas everywhere I go. Perhaps they are signs that is about time for me to head back where I belong. This summer has been great, just not what I expected. I knew that working abroad would be a different experience from studying abroad, but I never imagined how completely opposite it would be. However, I'm glad that I took this internship opportunity. It took a courage that I did not even know I possessed to leave behind everything familiar at home and fly across the globe to a place where I knew nobody. Had I not taken this chance, I may have always wondered what it was like to live in Germany. 

But the truth is, I feel like a fish out of water here. It's cold and rainy most days, and I just miss the summer weather I used to know, the beach, Mexican food, and my family and friends. Three months (or a quarter of a year really) is a long time to be in one place, when that place isn't home. The grass always seems greener on the other side, even though I know that it is much greener here than in the drought-ridden land I said goodbye to in May. And maybe when I'm back in Sealy sweating in the 100+ degree heat or stressed out of my mind at school in Fort Worth, I'll long for the lazy, grey days in Saarbrücken when I had few responsibilities. But right now, I simply desire to feel the warmth of the sun upon my face, to eat a Chilly Willy snow cone, and wear sandals and shorts again. Is that too much to ask for? Twelve days until I'm home. Let the countdown begin...

graffiti along the Saar River

I'm not sure what is so Texan about pepperoni pizza, but they sell this in Ihr Platz

it may be hard to find Dr. P on the East Coast, but it's here in Germany

cowboy boots in Paris (France, not TX)

[[Currently on repeat: "Texas" by The Damnwells]]

“For a few precious moments… I am back in Old Texas, under a high sky, where all things are again possible and the wind blows free.” - Larry L. King

"A Texan outside of Texas is a foreigner." –John Steinbeck

À bientôt

Tonight I am catching up on some overdue blog posts. I've been busy hanging out with Ludivine and helping her cross things off her to do list during her last week here in Saarbrücken. Today she finished her internship and went back home to Lyon. To celebrate her last day at work, we had a delightful little picnic in the office with the food that her mother brought from France-- salami, pâté, bread, wine, and cheese. It was scrumptious!

I can't believe how quickly two months can fly by and how quickly a friendship can blossom. Ludivine and I started our internships on the same day back in May, and for a long time we were the only two girls in the office. I have no idea what I'm going to do without her during my last month here in Germany. Who will go shoe shopping with me during lunch breaks now?

My heart ached when I had to say farewell this evening, but it was much easier knowing that I was saying "see you soon" rather than goodbye. We've already made plans to meet up again in August and visit Jesus and Diego in Madrid. It should be the perfect way to end my summer abroad, with the friends that I met in the beginning.

"Don't be dismayed at good-byes. A farewell is necessary before you can meet again. And meeting again, after moments or lifetimes, is certain for those who are friends." 

-Richard Bach

Hasta Luego

Goodbyes suck, and yesterday I had to say adios to two of my new amigos--Jesus and Diego. They have officially finished their internships at earthfaves and headed back to sunny old Spain. Although yesterday was a holiday in Germany, the day was far from cheery. The weather was bleak (as usual) and I had to bid farewell to Jesus at the Hauptbahnhof in the morning and Diego at the bus stop in the evening. I never realized how close of friends we all became in just a month's time. The office is much quieter without my favorite crazy Spaniards; they will truly be missed.

But we did not send them off without first having a proper fiesta. On Wednesday night the whole office went to dinner at Zum Stiefel and then we danced the night way to 90's music at Die Garage. We were quite a random group to be seen: three Americans, two French, an Indian, two Spaniards, a Catalan (not to be confused with the Spanish-- but let's not even go there), Daniel (one of my bosses), a Bulgarian, and a German professor (from the College of Charleston.) It was hilarious, to say the least.

with Raafi, Jesus & Ludivine at Zum Stiefel

spinach & feta strudel.

my farewell gift from the guys: "a hula hoop, because you used to be a cheerleader." 

I will miss these guys a lot, but I have a good feeling that our paths will cross again.
Who knows... maybe even later this summer :)

“Nothing makes the earth seem so spacious as to have friends at a distance; they make the latitudes and longitudes.” -Henry David Thoreau

"I wanted a perfect ending. Now I've learned, the hard way, that some poems don't rhyme, and some stories don't have a clear beginning, middle, and end. Life is about not knowing, having to change, taking the moment and making the best of it, without knowing what's going to happen next." -Gilda Radner

Mein Geburtstag

Yesterday was my 21st birthday. Though I missed being able to celebrate it with family and friends in the United States, I still had a wonderful time here in Saarbrücken. When I showed up to work in the morning, there were several surprises waiting for me:

H&M gift card from Youlia. She already knows me too well!

a gift from Necco-- his favorite beer from Berlin

a t-shirt with birthday wishes in everyone's native language

After work, I went with Carles, Diego, and Ludivine to an international festival called Global Village at the university. Raafi was there and let us sample some delicious Indian cuisine.

In the evening I met everyone at a Spanish restaurant called Viva Zapata that is located just down the street from my flat. We sat outside and the atmosphere was perfect--bier garten-style seating, live music from a Spanish guitarist, and warm weather. We all shared small plates of tapas, liters of wine, and good conversation. It was a great way to spend my birthday! Thanks to everyone who made it special.

Yesterday also marked the one year anniversary of my Semester at Sea voyage. A year ago I was in Halifax, Canada, celebrating my 20th birthday with new acquaintances who soon became good friends. A year ago I boarded the MV Explorer and set out on a journey across the Atlantic to nine Mediterranean countries-- an experience that undoubtedly changed my life. I never could have imagined then that I would be spending my next birthday in Germany! But I am incredibly grateful to be here and for all the amazing experiences I've had abroad, both this summer and last.

a sweet little necklace from my aunt & uncle

"Follow your bliss, and doors will open for you that you never knew existed. Follow your bliss and the universe will open doors for you where there were only walls." -Joseph Campbell

(Photo 4 courtesy of Raafi, Photo 6 courtesy of Ludivine)

Monthiversary

It's hard to believe I've already been in Germany for a month now. I feel like I'm finally getting the hang of things and living here is starting to feel more normal, but I have certainly had my share of embarrassing moments and made many a mistake along the way, like the time--

• I got on the wrong bus and realized I had no idea where I was when I heard the driver call out "Dies ist die Endhaltestelle."
• I accidentally knocked over an Italian soda in the grocery store and struggled to find the right apologetic German words to say to the store staff, while my friends snickered in the background.
• I went to my very first laundromat and was so confused by everything that I had to take a picture of the instructions sign on the wall and go back home and translate it before I could wash my clothes.
• I bumped into a piece of graffiti art when attempting to take a picture next to it and had the museum security yell at me and then follow my every move like a hawk. 
• I bought my first Coke from an Imbissstand and then stashed the bottle in my purse because I did not understand how to dispose of it and was too embarrassed to ask.

During my first weeks in Saarbrücken, I found myself requiring extra time to do ordinary daily tasks just because things are so different here than at home. But it no longer takes me ten minutes to open the door to my flat, make a phone call, choose a shampoo or sandwich meat in the store, or figure out which of the five garbage bins to put my trash in. More importantly, I've learned that it's okay to swallow my pride and ask for help sometimes. To err is human, and I have found enlightenment in laughing at and learning from my blunders.

I look forward to my next two months in Deutschland and all the adventures and challenges that will come my way. I've already made wonderful new friends, gotten a lot better at understanding German, and discovered the inner workings of a startup website. I know I still have a lot to learn and I can't wait to see what these next two months hold in store for me!

“The rate at which a person can mature is directly proportional to the embarrassment he can tolerate.” -Douglas Engelbart

fun & games

Last week at work, the interns (and Daniel) took a "short coffee break" which turned out to be a couple of hours long. We decided to go shopping for a present for Guy's newborn baby. And when we stopped into a toy store, we got a little distracted...

how cute are these hand puppets?

Ludivine teaching Jesus & Diego some German (from a baby book)

Jesus and Daniel battling it out with wooden toys

On Wednesday, Annika invited me to go with her and her friend Verena to a party in Saarlouis. We had to take the train there and since we were running late, we sprinted so that we would not miss it. When we hopped on board, panting from exhaustion, the conductor announced that the train would be running five minutes behind schedule. Of course. Twenty minutes later we met Annika's friend Christian at the station and walked to his grandparents' house which was really cool. My inner design nerd was loving the earthy art pieces, exhibit lighting, and giant bookshelf. The house felt like a cottage and an art museum at the same time. I enjoyed the opportunity to interact with German students and practice the language, but after more than five hours of straight German, my head was spinning!

Annika, Verena, & Me

with Annika & her friends (Breton stripes are clearly in vogue)

Thursday was a holiday in Germany. I love that Germans get a lot of holidays and vacation time! I spent the day off with a few of the interns. We decided to take a day trip to... FRANCE! Okay so it's really not that exciting. We just went to a swim center in Sarreguemines (which is only a 20 minute drive from here.) I'm not even sure if I can count it as my first trip to France, but it was still somewhere new nonetheless. The sky was cloudless, but the water was too cold in the outside pool so I only swam indoors. We packed a nice picnic. Raafi made chicken curry and I made everyone try PB&J sandwiches-- sophisticated American cuisine, I know. We played volleyball, soccer, frisbee, and several games of cards. Ludivine taught me a few French words and I practiced them twenty times before I felt brave enough to go up to the concessions window and say "Je voudrais un café s'il vous plaît." Now if I go to Paris later in the summer, I can at least order a coffee. I ended the day with a nap on the lawn. It was a perfect, relaxing way to spend the holiday and I came home with a slight sunburn to serve as a souvenir from the day.

Ludivine and Raafi playing badminton

my French skills are about as good as Joey's on FRIENDS :)

"And forget not that the earth delights to feel your bare feet and the winds long to play with your hair." -Kahlil Gibran

(Photos 4  & 5 courtesy of Annika)

The Life of an Intern

Today I reached a small milestone on my path to learning what I consider to be a difficult second language--German. The German law requires all new residents to register with the local Bürgeramt within a week of moving into a new place and since today marks my first week here, I decided to go before work this morning. The building serves as a city hall and when you walk in, you have to take a number and wait for it to show on an electronic board before you walk to the appropriate cubicle, much like a bank. The man who helped me didn't speak any English, but I was still able to successfully answer demographic and psychographic questions so that he could complete my registration on the computer. I was probably only there for 10 minutes, but knowing that I could actually be understood gave me the confidence boost I've needed.

My internship has been going well so far! I am working at earthfaves and the office is only a 4 minute walk from my flat, which is really convenient. The company is a small startup that is on the brink of launching its website later this year. There are other international interns that I work with-- Ludivine & Frédéric (from France), Raafi (from India), Diego, Jesus, & Carles (from Spain), and Guy (from Cameroon). We are kind of a random bunch, working on either development or marketing. At almost any time of the day you can hear four different languages being spoken all at once (German, English, Spanish, & French). And since I am the only native English speaker, I've become the go-to expert for all questions regarding the language. I sometimes have to look up definitions when I am asked to explain the meaning of everyday words (such as the difference between may and might) The website is in English, so I will probably have the opportunity to do a lot of writing this summer.

The work environment is great. Everyone has a good sense of humor, so we joke around a lot. Today I learned how to play the Spanish, German, & French versions of Rock Paper Scissors. Tonight we had an interns night out at a diskothek called Kufa and even though there was not a lot of people there, we took over the dance floor. I must say-- the earthfaves team has some pretty crazy dancers!

this song is really big over here-- I hear it everyday.