I have just returned from my first trip to L'Allemange; Deutschland; Germany. And it was a freaking winter wonderland. So amazing, so breathtaking, such a dream come true. I went to visit my friends from California who are also studying abroad, Margaret and Katie. Two of the most awesome, fun, cool, hilarious people I have ever met in my life. It was sooooo nice to see them. My trip started with a flight from France to Amsterdam International Airport, where I had my first layover. This made me realize two things: one, I would like to go to Amsterdam, and two, I'm going to spend an absurd amount of time in the airport because it's badass.
Heineken and Starbucks. It tasted like liberty.
So I got into Amsterdam to find SNOW. Snowing Snowey Snow. I'm such a southern California kid for thinking snow is such an incredible unbelievable thing. But to me, it is. As we descended from the clouds and I got my first sight of the white icy land before me out the window of the plane, I squealed. Legit, squealed. The person next to me gave me a "oh, god. you people." look. But I didn't care because I was in heaven.
I met up with the girls in Stuttgart, Germany, and we went to the Christmas markets.
So Cute. So German. I loved it.
Then we went into Tübingen where the girls live.
I went to a Christmas party with some of their friends, but I'm sorry no pictures can be provided from that blessed event. But I can tell you I woke up with a Snuggie on, 5 band aides on my fingers, and a broken toe. So. Anyways. The next day we slept in late, then went to the Chocolate Festival, where I had a chocolate shot. As in chocolate liqueor in a shot glass made of PURE chocolate. Nothing could have made me more happy. We finished of the night by watching Paranormal Activity 1 & 2 (which were not THAT scary by the way. no nightmares here) and crashed at around 3 am. I had to wake up at 6:45 am (kill me now) to catch my flight back to France.
But I can't complain so much, because this is what I woke up to:
On my flight home, I read the inflight magazine, The Holland Herald. In it was an article about living abroad and trying to find home on the road. I find extremely inspiring and it certainly reminded me of everything I'm feeling right now. Here was my favorite excerpt:
"Home is essentially an idea we carry around with us, redefining at every instant. It has less and less to do with a piece of soil and more and more to do with what might be called a piece of soul. Home, these days, is less a matter of where you sleep, but more of where you stand."
Reading this made me find that sense of wonder again-- it almost made me feel like a kid again, when anything was possible, as cheesy as that may be. It also made me realize that there is so much to be done in this life. It made me realize my ambitions. I've never been a simple person, I've never been a complacent person, and I've certainly never been afraid to get what I want in life and just go for it. I don't know where I'm going next, but I can promise you it won't be boring.
