Studying abroad is no walk in the park. I'll just come right out and say it. As the second week turns into the third week, the surreal experiences have now turned to habit. The difficult bike rides, language barriers, and food experimentations have now become enjoyable experiences that I personally look forward to everyday. Even though all of this sounds peachy, it's a double edged sword. Heidelberg has unexpectedly become a part of me.
I knew that I would love every minute of my experience here, but I did not anticipate the emotional attachment I would develop in the short weeks I've lived here. Traveling to other cities has only reinforced this; I find myself missing the familiar sites, smells, sounds, and atmosphere that Heidelberg offers after only a day elsewhere. I'm not complaining (how could I????), but there is a certain amount of dread building in my gut for the day I take the last train ride out of the most romantic city in Germany. The way of living here is precisely how life was meant to be: the ideal balance of simple, active, clean, open, and fun.
Because my ancestors are from Germany, my family has a tradition of collecting German steins, dating back to the 1700s. This past week, I had the opportunity to purchase an authentic stein from a local store here in Heidelberg. I could not be more proud to bring back a little representation of my time here to share with my current and future family. It means the world to me to be able to contribute to my families history.
"I love [Heidelberg], even though it isn't mine, the way something has to be, a tree or a street or a house, something, anyway, that belongs to me because I belong to it." -- Truman Capote
I have promised myself that this will not be my last visit to Heidelberg.
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