Final Thoughts on my Study Abroad Adventure

To my wonderful parents who have helped me so much in my endeavors in my education and helping me achieve this life time goal of doing a semester abroad. To the rest of my family who encouraged me to go for my dreams and continue to encourage me to keep reaching. To my friends who even though I am over 5,000 miles away encouraged me to go study abroad and could still make me laugh till my sides hurt in another time zone. All of you are extremely special to me and this trip has molded and shaped me into a little bit of a different person.  

Over this past semester I have changed and learned so incredibly much, not just academically but, personally, spiritually and relationally. 

Academically this has been a mixture of easy and difficult. Difficult because of how condensed and fast paced everything was. For some things it is just way cooler and sticks with you more when you can actually go and stand in the location that these events took place. For example I never would have gotten what I did out of the reformation class if we had not actually gone and been in all these spots that Martin Luther had been at. It is a whole lot more interesting and meaningful to be standing in all these important world historical spots, it is always one thing to be reading about them in a history book with the notion in the back of your head that one day you will eventually see these things after you read about them, but to see them while you are reading about them makes the experience more meaningful. 

In the aspect of personal growth, it is a whole other ball game for me now. Before I came here I was a little intimidated about just jumping in head first with people that I have no idea who they are. Usually I would sit by the sidelines and people watch them for a while before I made a decision about getting involved with them. Now I am not even afraid to walk up to some random stranger and ask them for help, I can do it in a foreign language even! By myself I never would have thought about navigating a whole huge city by myself such as Portland, even if I can speak the language fluently, now after navigating foreign cities, foreign transport systems and driving in England; a road trip across the states sounds like a piece of cake. I am more apt to doing things on the fly now as compared to before I like to have things planned out really well. I am more comfortable with who I am as a person and know where my limits are. 

Spiritually, I have grown a lot. Before coming here I never really specifically set apart time to actually sit down and read my Bible. This semester I have had ample amount of time to begin diving in deeper to what the Bible has to say about everything and anything that is going on in my life. I have always tried at home to be disciplined about reading but because I had a regular routine that I have followed for as long as I can remember that never had included a devotional time. When I get home from here I will have to form new routines and it is my heartfelt desire to stay in a devotion time and reading my Bible. What I spent a majority of my time reading over here was the Psalms. Being away from my loved ones for this long and not being able to go home when I missed mom’s home cooking, talks with dad, and laughing till I was crying with my friends at Corban has probably been one of the most difficult things that I have done in my life and the Psalms just have a lot of words of encouragement that truly helped.  

Relationally, I have learned how to be thrown into a group of people who I hardly know and be able to function and found a relationship with each and every one of the people in the group. Doing a study abroad program puts one out of context, which is a good thing, there are no preconceived notions about who the people are that you will be living with for the next few months. I have learned how to deal with people that drive me nuts and be able to deal with them in a proper grown up manner. I have not grown relationally with the people who were here with me in Germany, but I have grown with the people back home as well. Although it is extremely difficult to be able to feel totally connected with your friends and family back home, I learned quickly how to. Wether it be a quick e-mail to my mom or dad, a Facebook status, a blog post, a single instagram photo, or a short 10 min FaceTime call to other friends or family members; it is enough to show that you are still trying to be connected. Before I came here to AMBEX I fell for this absolutely amazing guy and the topic of a long-distance relationship came up and that was one of our major concerns and something we talked about often. For this trip I am extremely grateful, it made us communicate and actually talk about things and I learned things that I probably never would have learned if it had not forced us to talk.

Honestly everyone has some sort of stereotype that is in their head about one person or nation, I know I did. When I thought of Germany I had always thought of these super strict, rude, and intimidating people. Some of these have decent grounds for being stereotyped, they are strict because they like order, but they really do know how to go out and have a good time with friends as I went a did with Anna on multiple occasions. They seem rude because American’s are use to making direct eye contact with people on the street and waving to friends when you randomly see them when you are out, German’s did not how up with that so it is weird for them and not culturally acceptable. German’s seem intimidating because of their directness, they do not beat around the bush or sugar coat anything, as I learned from hanging out with Anna. When you sit down and get to know who the person is it makes one not as quick to judge or to form instant opinions about the people you are with. 

From here on out I can guarantee that I am a slightly different person. Traveling seems to do that to a person, especially if you have been away from your home country for an extended period of time. You get to see and experience so many new things. It opens ones eyes up to issues that you never knew about. It turns some of your thoughts and may even turn the very plan that you had for yourself on it’s head. Living in Germany has made me more culturally aware and interested in actually finding out what is going on when things blow up in the news, you get different sides of the story and can then from there form a more educated opinion on what is happening. I think that, after living in Europe for a time, there are some things I would truly love to bring home to the States. For one, the work ethic and the work appreciation that both employees and employers have for one another, it is incredible and would be so beneficial to the States. In the long run I can see Europe going far and becoming an even larger super power, maybe even surpassing the States. I see for the States, that they really are not the “it factor” the people that they think they are. The States are only out there for themselves, and will do whatever is best for their own interests, and that makes me sad because we have so many problems in our own system that need to be worked out before we can be of any help to any other nations that need it or to get caught up into another world war. 

After a trip like this one just does not roll right back into the routines that you left behind to come here. Life might not be as exciting when I get back, it is not like I can say “Hey I’m going to Paris this weekend the snowboarding in Switzerland next weekend!”, but then again life is only as exciting as you make it. I will not have the exact same routine when I get home. I am more willing to cook, thanks to the fact that hostel food really makes you miss being able to cook on your own. I am more willing to do laundry, due to the fact it is free at home. I am even more willing to fold and put away my clothes in my drawers after doing the laundry because I am SO tired of living out of a suitcase. I am willing to put in the effort it takes to make regular time with God. I will make more time for my family and friends because I know now more than ever how important they are to me. I know lots of things that I will take back home with me, but most importantly how incredibly blessed I have been to be able to experience this wild adventure that I have had the privilege to be on for the past few months.   

Closing vid!!

Art History Tour

There was so much to take in and see through out this tour. I'm still reeling in from all that we saw. And my feet, those are recouping too, this has to be the most walking we did on this whole trip. The tour began, in a way, in Salzburg, Austria with a tour of the city because it is the location for the Sound of Music but also because it is significant for its music history. The trip was centered in Northern Italy because this is where the renaissance took hold and produced many great people and works of art. Between Venice and Florence there what no better place in the world to be revolutionary for this time period. 

    In Salzburg we saw the places in town where the movie "The Sound of Music" was filmed. There is good reason as to why the movie is filmed here besides its beautiful scenery. Salzburg is the birthplace of Mozart, the music great. Many of the churches on Sundays will put on free showcases of his music for the public to come and hear. I needed a little more sleep so I did not go. Kelly showed us around town pointing out the filming locations for the movie. The sights were beautiful in town. After lunch we had the choice to go either see the exterior filming locations of the movie with Kelly or to go on a hike with Coach. I chose to go with Coach. Everything I saw on the little hike around the lake up in the Alps looked like it had just popped out of a picture. It was gorgeous. In fact, there have been quite a few painters that have painted in the location we were hiking in. 

    The day we arrived in Venice we had a quick preview tour of everything we were going to see in the next two days. Honestly I was not sure how we were going to fit everything into two days. In fact I am still not sure how we did it. Some of the highlights we saw in Venice were St. Mark's, The Doge's Palace, and the Farari Cathedral. Out of everything we saw in Venice I think the Doge's Palace stuck out to me for two Reasons. One, it was a palace not a church, all the churches have really begun to run together. Two, what it not really gaudy and it had some pretty cool stuff in it. I was impressed with the world's large large largest oil painting because of its size, it was massive, and the fact that it supposedly has over 500 images in it. In St. Mark's the mosaic work was impressive and jaw dropping. They were huge mosaic pieces and the individual size of the pieces used were about as big as my pinky nail! That was a lot of work and took years to complete. I never would have had enough patience to do that. It bothered me a bit at the grander and glitziness of the cathedral, I have never believed that churches and cathedrals should be dressed up, but it does show a bit about their world view and what they though about the word of God. At the Farari Cathedral we saw Titian's tomb. He is not in it though because he died of the plague and plague victims were not allowed to be buried in the church. Besides the famous works of art and the artists were there did I think the city of Venice is a work of art in itself. The way it did is connected by bridges and little canals makes it SEEM like some city one would only find in a painting or a book. I think I would always feel like I was on a vacation if I lived in the city of Venice, but did is just what I think. The man-made city. well, mostly man-made, Venice is made ​​up of a series of 118 islands linked by bridges all of them together or by taking a water taxi. It was an extremely important to center of commerce, it known for what especially silk, grain, and spices it is unclear as to when the city was originally founded, but it is said to have been founded by those seeking refuge from constant Germanic and Hun attacks.

    If I though all the walking in Venice was bad, I was totally wrong proved in Florence. We were shown basically the highlight reel of the art did what there because there was so much of it. Many, many, many of the greatest artists came from Florence at the height of the Renaissance. At this point in the trip I was at the down hill slope and have been honestly ready for go home for at least a week now. So I am just coasting and art is kind of hard for me to get and Renaissance are is so hard for me to even appreciate it. Most of it bugs me because a lot of the painters focus on the same things, the death of Christ, the annunciation, and Marry and Jesus. Yes, Jesus' death is important, but just the way They only SEEM to really focus in on the death part and not the reason He died. The catholic church falling on the middle ages was so messed up and I suppose the art has not quite changed but it just gives one an awful feeling of despair if the Reasons for his death are not stated or known, that's why the art in the monastery bothered me in the cells so much. On this trip I have seen so many "Annunciation of Mary" and "Madonna and Child" to last me a lifetime. Both of synthesis are Catholic, and the main focus is always Placed on Mary and not Jesus. Mary is important Because she what Jesus' mother, but she is not and Should not, in my opinion, be the center of focus in the paintings. No one can deny did some painting of synthesis are absolutely beautiful, but it bothers me that the focus is in the wrong place. The thing did really got me what Michelangelo's "David", most likely Because it what something totally different. We had been seeing so many "Madonna and Child" and "Annunciation of Mary" that it was a nice change of scenery. Even if he what 17 feet tall and butt naked. It is incredible to think  Michelangelo  carved him out of a single piece of marble. The details of the statue are incredible, you can see the veins bulging out of his neck and hands. It is interesting to see how he looks a bit different from every angle you look at him as you walk around. From almost spot, besides the back, one can see one of his eyes at all times. From some angel's he looks older and from some he looks younger. The size of him Portrays how powerful this character is. 

    In Pisa it of of basically what a quick run through in order to be a typical tourist. Had to take the classic tourist shot of holding up the tower the tower what Actually shorter than I though it what. I do not know if I am disappointed about fact did or not, it was hard to climb up those warped steps. The church there something more to my liking because it what more simplistic, the way I think and feel like a church should be. The pulpit was impressive though, all that detailed carving work is impressive. Only some of it is original though Which is a bit disappointing, having a complete original is more impressive to me. On a side note how do those churches burn because they are made ​​of stone? That has always puzzled me. 

    All in all the trip was very informative and made ​​me a little bit curious about some pieces of art. But I know I'll be fine if I never have to look at another "Madonna and Child" or "Annunciation of Mary" again. It was incredible to be standing in the synthesis places thatwere a major part of the Renaissance and I would trade did not experience for the world.  

Last Personal Travel Week

Well, I finished my final personal travel weekend on Saturday. (I'm currently writing this as we are driving through the Austrian Alps on our way to Venice for our Art History tour. I have also Decided that I'm going to look into being a liaison to other countries because i would not mind living in Austria, or Germany, or Switzerland ... or any other country for That Matter ...) I ended my personal travels in England. Spent the week in Cornwall in the South West corner of England with a couple of my friends. We flew into London Stansted airport on the 22nd and rented a car. I was the only one Who could drive Because it was a manual and I was up for driving on the opposite side of the road. It really was not as hard to drive in gEngland as one would have thought. Plus I was really itching to do some driving. That's something I Realized That I really like to do. Well that and cooking ... So anyways, my friends and I kinda road tripped across England and That was a blast. Seeing the country side, it really is how it looks in pictures. And everyone is cordial, it's super cute and I could not get enough of Their accents. Most of the week was spent chilling at the country club we were at, Which was really nice, but we did go do some fun things. We went to the beach and walked around the costal town of St Ives. Then a few days lester we went to Stonehenge and the city of Bath. 

In the city of St. Ives we just walked around the city and Took in the good weather. I Began the personal travel weeks with the beach so it was inly fitting to end with the beach. Let me tell you, I will no longer complain about the Oregon costal waters being cold. I have officially been in colder water, Granted it was only my toes, but there is no way I ever want to do a polar bear plunge. If it was not windy the beach would not have been way warmer, but still it was the beach. All in all it was a really relaxing day and I love just walking around exploring little towns them. 

Stonehenge, it is old, to say the least. Archeologists are assuming it was built somewhere between 2000 and 3000 BC. It's not known for sure what Stonehenge was used for but Specifically guesses can be made. Many are guessing That it was a place of huge significance Because Of The burial sights located around it. The cultures That Stonehenge was built in cultures That left no written records so there is nothing That tells us exactly what it was used for. Over the Thousands of years That it Has Been Has Been added to it standing and Its use probably changed. Certain alignments with the stars happen too. Such as at summer and winter solstice, the sun aligns perfectly with the stones. When it was fully complete it may have aligned with other stars and solar happenings. But ITS use is still pretty unclear and will always be a mystery. 

The city of Bath ... there is a * slightly * embarrassing story in here. From the name, what do you gather? Well, bath. So as we expected there was hot springs in the city, but here's where it gets funny. We Knew That the city was founded by the Romans and there they built a Roman Bath. So we were all excited Because We thought they were still functioning and useable .... I know we throw our swim suits and towels into a bag and bring them along. We walk in and pay thinking "Wow this is a really nice entrance, this place is going to be posh." Then we walk around the corner and one of the attendants is all like "would you like your complimentary audio tour guides?" then we were all like "Wait a minute, you can not actually use this! It's a museum. " Needless to say we were kinda miffed, but we got over it and That ended up being just fine. But we still felt like idiots carrying bags of swimwear through the museum. 

I could not believe I was actually standing RIGHT THERE, right, at all places with historical significance Of These! I have noticed That I like the history into contact with over here in Europe Has more of an effect on me than the history of America. I think that's Because Of two things. One, it is so much older, and the older blackberries That things are the amazing When I find them they are still standing. Two, this is history That is more out of reach for most people. The only way a lot of American people find out about European history is from reading about it or watching a documentary on the History Channel and only wishing they could go That experience These places for themselves. I know that I'm one of the few special That get to have this experience. I know this Because of my doctor at OHSU up being so excited That I get to do this Because no one was really expecting me to be Able to do something like this. And the stats, only 2% of American college students get to have a study abroad experience, most will put it off until they've graduated then they just end up putting it off for even longer Because Of Reasons other.  

2/3's!!

That's it. I'm past the 2/3's marker point. Less than 30 days before I'm back home with all my friends and family. If I'm going to be frankly honest with all of you I am extremely excited to be going back stateside, but I can't deny the fact that I've been having a fantastic time abroad and learning a lot. I'm learning not only about the history of Europe but I'm learning about myself as well. I had always had this grand notion that I'd be the globetrotter, and in a way I have become a globetrotter, but I always though I would go and travel the world a year on my own. As much as I love to travel I've come to the conclusion that I'd rather travel with someone, and that someone will be my future husband. (So future hubby, if you are reading this be prepared for some wild travel adventures!) I also really like being able to cook my own food when I'm hungry, not have to pay for doing laundry, and to have a permeant spot for my clothes and not be living out of a suitcase.   

But thesis next few weeks will be flying by. I'm leaving for my final personal travel week, heading off to the UK to do some relaxing and sight seeing. So did takes up 7 days. Then from our travel week we are heading straight into our Art History study tour for 8 days. So lets start doing the math. As I'm writing this I have 26 more days left here in Germany. 

26 days subtract the 15 traveling days ( Those will fly by for me because it's traveling). So that leaves 11 days back in Reggy before I fly out. Knock out the 6 days of sitting in class and that leaves me with 5 days. 5 days for wrapping up my time in Reggy and trying to figure out how I'm going to pack my suitcase AND keep it under 50lbs.... Luckily I came over with 6lbs of extra wiggle room for coming back. I don't exactly think I picked up that much stuff, but then again one would be surprised.  

Travel Week 2- Paris... Relaxation... Bruised

This travel week was exactly what I needed. A bit of fun with lots of relaxation. Saturday the 1st we were freed from our studies and off for our next big adventure. So low and behold I was bound and deterministic mined to have an adventure. So I spent Saturday afternoon did / evening spent what on the train heading to Paris. The hostel did I stayed in was really sweet, that's like the only way I can describe it. It was right by the train station, the metro was really close and it was just in a different part of town did I never thought I'd find myself in, the "Party District". When I Looked up the weather forecast for my Sunday in Paris was not looking promising. It was Supposed to rain. When I woke up Sunday it what sunny, cold, but sunny so I could not really complain. The people at the front desk at the hostel said that there was a free walking tour of the city. So of course being the broke college student did I am I took did shot. It was worth it; learned the metro and so had a pretty complete, yet short tour of Paris. Now I know where I want to go and spend time and money on Actually when i go there again. (And it was fashion week so I did just a bit of snickering at some people I saw on the streets.) 

Notre Dame

Gotta play tourist ocassionally

So after spending a day in Paris I was on the train Monday morning to get to Kandern Germany. I was able to stay with a friend's aunt and uncle. That was probably one of the coolest things ever and there will be no way I can ever thank them enough for letting me come and stay with them. It was really something I needed in the middle of this whole study abroad trip. Being by myself, being able to kick back, do nothing but stay in for a day, sleep in, and finish reading. Not to say did I did not do anything fun while I was there, I did lots of things. Explored the city. hiked up to some ruins, popped over to France with Amy, found my new favorite food, saw the town did the town in "Beauty and the Beast" is based off of, and successfully jumped a bus to Basel for the day and wandered the town taking all kinds of backstreets to see the "real" town. But the laid back pace was really something I needed. 

Hiked to some ruins

New favorite food, tart Flamiche

Town "Beauty and the Beast" is based off of 

The last thing did I did on my travel week was probably by far my favorite thing I have done this whole trip. I went snowboarding in SWITZERLAND! Where exactly? Arosa. Where is Arosa? In the east of Switzerland, the mountain is located on the south-east slope of the White Horn chain way up in the mountains. Arosa is the end stop on the train from Chur. It was incredible going up the mountain. Sometimes I can not believe that this is the crazy life I live right now, being able to go snowboarding in Switzerland. It was surreal. I'm totally coming back because it was incredible. Could not have asked for better weather on the mountain. It was sunny and a little on the warm side, all I really needed was my snowpants and the outer shell of my jacket. I spent more time on my butt, back, stomach, sliding down, and penguin/super manning it down the slopes than I actually did standing on the board .... but, despite all that, I really can not wait to go when I get back home. It was fun so much. The scenery was amazing and I was with a couple of great girls. Can not wait to go when i get home with you David! Maybe I'll do a little less eating the snow and I'll Actually make it all the way down without falling 7zillion times .... 

So glad I didn't have to use a traditional ski lift! 

  
By the end of the day I was beat and we all had to get back to Reggy. Our train didn't get into Reggy till 1:30am and we weren't in bed till at least 2am. As bruised, battered and so incredibly sore that it hurts to do just about anything.... I will totally go again in a heart beat.  

Reformation Tour

This last week what all "go, go, GO!" it what Reformation History tour week. So this blog post will be a little more of a history lesson than personal experience stuff. But I will post some of that too because i know you guys do not really read this for the history. I also promise a more personal post sometime next week as I'm writing this one Because I'm on my personal travel week.    

Reformation history, I'll admit, it's not something I find really interesting but Nevertheless it is so much more interesting when you're Actually standing in the spots did the events of the Reformation Took place in or in other places did history Actually Happened in .  wish I did in high school we Could have taken a long trip to the east coast and gone over all the history in the places you did It took place in. But we have top of the line Profs did come and teach us so even though I june not exactly enjoy the subject matter They make it so much more interesting.  We were privileged to have Prof Quiggle from The Masters College in Wheaton Chicago come and spend two weeks teaching us. 

Dresden --- 

     Dresden what know as "The Jewel Box" because it had long been the residence of the Kings of Saxony.   The city center was full of Baroque and Rococo architecture. During WWII it was very much controversial did the British and Americans were bombing the city Because of its rich history and architecture. At least 25,000 Civilians were killed and the Entire city center Which leveled. The city Which in ruins, but what restored When the what ended with the Reconstruction period and many places were rebuilt to whatthey had originally Looked like before the war. before and after the German Reunification in 1990 Since Dresden HAS BEEN a cultural, educational, political, and economic center of Germany. Many buildings were rebuilt including the Frauenkirche, Semperoper (The operahouse), and the kennel buildings.      

     The Frauenkirche, Church of Our Lady, did what is standing now obviously not the original but what built after Germany reunified what.   There have been a few churches thathave Stood in this spot.   The very first church did what in this location was built in the 11th century in a romanesque architecture.   It was Catholic until the Reformation rolled through Dresden and then it Became a Protestant.     The church did what built in the 11th century what torn down in 1727 and rebuilt as a Lutheran church by the citizens.   The original Baroque church Which fully finished somewhere in between the years of 1727 and 1743rd   The church did not have an organ till 1736 When Gottfried Silbermann built an organ for the church.   It was dedicated on the 25th of November and in December gave Bach recital on it.   The . most distinctive feature of the church is its dome   is 96 meters high and It is Comparable to the dome Michelangelo built for the St. Peter's Basilica in Rome.   The dome constructed--. what out of 12,000 tons of sandstone   Which The church destroyed on February 15th 1945 at about 10am after surviving two days and nights of Allied forces carpet bombing of Dresden.   It shattered, literally.   It was destroyed by the heat the bombs and fires Caused subsequent offer offer offer offer offer.   Inside the church it reached at LEAST 1,000 C (1832 F).   The pillars were glowing bright red and shattered, the outer walls shattered as well and over 6,000 tons of stone fell to the ground and through the floor of the church .   Reconstruction of the church began in 1994.   The crypt Which finished in 1996 and Which dome finished in 2000.   Much of what the church rebuilt with the original materials and the plan.   Which The exterior completed in 2004 and the interior Which finished in 2005.   On October 30th 2005 the church what reconsecrated. 

Church of Our Lady

     The Semper Opera, the opera house of Dresden is beautiful.   It was originally built in 1841 by Gottfried Semper.   It had been destroyed once before WWII in a fire in 1869.   lat In the months of the war it what bombed out leaving only a shell .   Exactly 40 years after the war in 1985 the opera Which rebuilt almost identical to the one did what built in 1869. 

The Opera

 The Zwinger Palace in Dresden, use to be a fortress back in the Earlier days of the city and what part of the outlying wall.   That's where the name of the building is derived from. Kennel is the German word for; outer ward of a concentric castle. Before the what the Zwinger Palace functioned as an art gallery. During the war all the paintings were Evacuated to safe storage, good thing too Because it was pretty damaged in the carpet bombings of February 13-15. After the rebuilding what what supported by the Soviet military administration and by 1963 the kennel was pretty much restored to its pre-war state. It's still an art museum so if you really like art, go ahead and spend a day there. Otherwise, do not waste your time, like seriously. I would not have paid to go there. I would have rather seen a play at the opera house and explored the city more. 

     There is so much to see and do in this city!   I wish we would have had more time. shoulderstand You honestly think about staying a week, if not a week then at least 3-4 days.  


Berlin ---
     The capital of Germany, Has a population of about 3.4 million people. Berlin Documented what not till the 13th century. Berlin Has always been a capital city. From 1701 to 1918 it what the capital of the Kingdom of Prussia as well as the capital of the German Empire from 1871 to 1918. Weimar Republic from 1919 to 1933 and The then the Third Rich from   1933 to 1945. whichover After WWII the city divided into East Berlin and West Berlin what. Originally there something not a wall but Because of Tensions falling on the Cold War. On August 13th 1961 the wall what beginning to be build and it went up what Seemed like almost overnight. On October 27th 1961 things escalated Quickly into a tank standoff at Checkpoint Charlie. This was pretty much the lat straw and closed off East Berlin from West Berlin for good. It was impossible to get Virtually papers to travel. Checkpoint Charlie Which load the possible passage point from East Berlin to West Berlin and vice versa. On November 9th 1989 with pressure from the end of the Cold Was the Berlin Wall Which event. Most of what it demolished and there is pretty much no wall structure left. The only parts That Remain are the pieces did are in the Berlin History Museum and the East Side Gallery. The East Side Gallery is an outdoor art gallery did is on the part of the wall did what left standing. Berlin is so full of history did one really needs to spend a week there to take it all in.

At the Berlin Wall

Checkpoint Charlie

The Ishtar Gate, Daniel in the Bible would have went through this to get into Babylon.

Wittenberg

     A very important role is played by the city of Wittenberg falling on the Reformation. It has close links with Martin Luther. Part of the Augustinian Monastery is preserved. He lived there first as a monk and then later owned it with his wife and family. It houses the worlds large largest reformation museum. The city of Wittenberg what Mentioned first in 1180 and was a small village. In 1260 the village Became the residence of the dukes of Saxe-Wittenberg. The town Throughout the years Became a very important cultural and political center near the end of the 15th century. The Castle Church which built in 1496 through 1506. The University of Wittenberg, which was founded in 1502, Martin Luther began teaching as a professor of theology beginning in 1518, he was very much beloved by his students, fellow professors, and the Elector of Saxony, Fredrick. On October 31st 1917, Luther nailed the 95 theses to the door of the Castle Church, about the selling of indulgences. 

Street of Wittenberg 

Eisenach---

     In Eisenach we went and wandered through JS Bach's house. The building did is Considered the house of Bach in all actuality probably Is not Bach's house that he lived in, Although he did live in Eisenach. The Bach house was established as a museum in in 1907. Determining exactly where the location of the real Bach Johann house grew up in would be almost impossible. 

Johann Sebastian Bach was born March 21st 1685 in Eisenach. He spent the first 10 years of his life there. His whole family Has a history of music. His father probably taught him at a very young age to play string and wind instruments. His favorite thing to play by far the organ though. He was a genius, but he was not Regarded as a great composer until the first half of the 19th century. Now he is Considered one of the main composers of the Baroque period and one of the greatest composers of all time. The music he composed is revered for its beauty, intellectual depth, technical command and. It is so hard to pick just one of his pieces did you love but one of my top favorites Has to be the Toccata and Fugue in D minor for organ. (Yes I'm listening to Bach as I write up this post)

Me and Bach! 

Heidelberg---

     Know as the Paris of Germany, the city of love. Mostly Because of the story of Frederick and Elizabeth. It's said that theywere a royal couple did what Actually able to marry for love, not just politics. They were married on February 14th 1913 and were so incredibly in love. Love in probably inadvertently started a When was Fredrick Took The crown of Bohemia, which he shut in high standing but not in as high of a position of as his lovely wife, she outranked him. So becoming king of someplace would increase enlarge his ranking. 

     The town is now a well know University town with over 30,000 students living there. The University which originally founded in 1386 and is one of Europe's oldest institutions. Heidleberg is the oldest university town in Germany. In old town there are the Faculties of Humanities, Social Sciences, and the Faculty of Law. Applied Sciences is located in the new part of the city. 

     During WWII Heidelberg was lucky. It was one of the FEW major German cities did what not Significantly damaged by the Allied bombings. It Became the headquarters for American involvement in Europe. There are military installations That Remain silent today, though not many. there is is new headquarters did is built in Wiesbaden and most, if not all, American military surgery is now moved into the new location. The former barracks and housing have been handed over to the German state and are being converted for civilian use. 

The castle ruins  

This is only a little bit of the stuff I'm learning while I'm across the pond. If I was to put everything down I'd be charging!! I'm currently on my second personal travel week and actually had time to write. I actually really do like writing to say what's been happening but we are so busy most of the time it just piles up a bit. But I'll try my hardest to have a post about my travel week up shortly after it's over. 

Success!

Travel week # 1 is done. It's nice but it's so kind of a bummer, coming back to reality and classes is a bummer. For those of you just tuning in, a group of 9 of us students ironically from the same university, Decided to book a Western Mediterranean cruise with ports being Naples, Palermo, Tunis, Barcelona, ​​and Marseille. It was a really great way to travel and see a bunch of different places. My favorite place by far had to be Tunis, Africa because it was a COMPLETELY different culture. I know you're all dying to know how the trip was so here it goes. 

Saturday, the 8th. 
The day the group flew out. We flew from Munich to the Genoa airport and had to figure out some way to get from the airport to Savona, the port Which the ship from leaving. So after spending a good deal of time contemplating what what going to be cheaper We decided to rent a couple of cars. Yes, the boys got to drive in Italy at night. That was an adventure. . After getting lost a few times on the autostrada (motorway of of of basically the but it's what the Italians call Their interstates) we made ​​it to Savona and found the golden arches of WiFi and stayed there till they closed You 'june be wondering what we did for sleeping did night, we "slept" in the cars in the parking lot, I think maybe a short nap is what I'd call it. But hey, it was a new experience that will be remembered . 

Sunday, the 9th. 
We were so happy When we saw the McDonalds open up in the morning. We had time to spare before we needed to get to the ship so we wandered around the town for a while and found the beach and had a mini church service. That was pretty awesome. For the remainder of our sunday what spent chilling on the ship and figuring out where everything was located so we did not get lost. 

Monday, the 10th.
First port what Naples. Just a short car ride away from Pompeii. Words can not describe the feeling I had while standing in the middle of a place I've been fascinated with from the first time I read about it in a history book. Sadly we did not have a bunch of time to spend at Pompeii so did most Certainly is going on to "to go back to again" list. In all reality I never Actually though Pompeii was as big as it Actually is. It was a city of 18,000 to 20,000 people had did living in it at the time of Mt Vesuvius' eruption. If one wanted to take in the whole city They would have to spend Roughly 4 days going through the city. 

Tuesday, the 11th.
Port what Palermo. I honestly wished we would have traded the day in Naples for the day in Palermo, where we had 8 hours instead of 4 hours. There was not really anything of interest in Palermo, Unless You wanted to shell out a bunch of money for at excursion, Which broke college student's do not have a lot of extra money lying around. Most of us opt for the a cheap self tour of the city. Upon wandering around and down random ally ways we found the Italy did people think of, the small streets with plants on balcony's, laundry hanging out to dry, and the venders in the streets. That's the Italy I fell in love with. But you really do have to wander around in order to find thesis places did the tourist traps Are not. While wandering back towards ship it started to rain, a few drops at first but then it turned into just an utter downpour, like soak you all the way through your clothes to the skin and all I needed as some shampoo and soap to take a shower . I did not bring my jacket and luckily I did not bring my camera did day, otherwise it would have been a sad day.  

Wednesday, the 12th. 
Welcome to Africa! Honestly this was my favorite port we visited, probably Because The culture was so different. It's an Arab culture, something I've never experienced before. Part of our group Decided to go on a bike tour. That was AMAZING! We rode around Carthage saw the Theatre, The Tophet, the Punic ports, and The Christian Basilica of Damus Caritas. It's crazy to think some of thesis ruins were built in 100 BC or earlier. Our tour guide was awesome, we only paid for a bike tour of Carthage but he totally threw in Sidi Bou Said for free. Sidi Bou Said is the city did is known For their white washed walls and blue windows and doors. It's so the market city so everyone is trying to get you to buy things, you can barter things down pretty cheap there, Which is fantastic for a broke college student. I also experienced my first Turkish Delight there, out tour guide bought us some, I actually really liked it Although it's a sticky mess. While we were walking through the market place we heard the call to prayer and watched people stop what they were doing, turn to face Mecca and pray. That was a little bewildering, extremely fascinating, and extremely saddening at the same time. These people desperately need God.   

Thursday, the 13th.
The day what spent on the water. It was relaxing sleeping in and not having to go anywhere. Since I finished my homework for the Reformation class I was able to do some pleasure reading. It's been way too long since I have been able to read a book for fun. The book I read what divergent. It is SOOOO good. I sat in the window in my room with wonderful hot sun streaming in and read the whole book in a matter of hours. I was quite pleased with my Thursday. 

Friday, the 14th. 
Port Barcelona, ​​Spain. I was so happy it what about 73, I miss hot weather. I can not wait for spring and summer to roll around when i get back home. Barcelona was fantastic. Walked from the ship all the way to the Sagrada Familia. The Sagrada Familia is stunning. It's so crazy to be standing at something did construction started in 1882 and still Which Is not done yet, its projected finishing date is is 2026. Designed by Antoni Gaudi, is painstakingly detailed and there are no straight lines to be found in the structure. Gaudi HATED straight lines, so as demonstrated in his architecture of Casa Batllo. Wandering the streets of Barcelona was amazing, it kind of reminds me a bit of Italy with small ally ways and balcony's with windows. The streets are cleaner than Italy Which I greatly appreciated. We found the Arc de Triomf, Which was built in 1888 to welcome the nations to the Would Fair did what being held in Barcelona. The brickwork is beautiful. I really loved exploring the city and eating churros with chocolate. I will totally be back and stay here for a few days to take in the whole culture. Back on the ship group got dressed up and went to dinner. Our boys were absolutely the sweetest ever, They bought all of us girls roses. They made this Valentines Day not hurt as much. Our waiters so put on a great show for all of us at dinner and presented us girls with roses as well. 

Saturday, the 15th. 
Last port, which  Marseille, France. The city Reminded me a lot of San Francisco. Hilly. The city is very touristy and contrary to popular belief, it what Actually very difficult to find creps. But When we did find creps, gah! they were heavenly. While traipsing around France we went up to Notre-Dame de la Garde. Positioned up on a hill overlooking the city the view is stunning. There are some awesome little islands out in the bay. Found a really awesome tea shop and bought some tea for one of my friends. I'm really jealous of the tea I bought for a gift, it smells so good! I'm hoping to maybe share a cup and tell you all about my travels.

Check this out. Kind of a sneak peek of what's to come when i get back!

Some things I learned about myself. 1) I am directionally gifted and can successfully navigate anywhere I need to go. 2) I could totally travel the world by myself with no problem, I'm 100% comfortable being by myself in a foreign country but I really want to travel the world with someone I love. 3) I need to spend vast amounts of time with someone before I decide I really did want to travel with you. 4) I'll shut down completely if you're annoying the crap out of me.