In Anticipation

In Anticipation...  

In December I will be traveling abroad for the first time. I've taken a small vacation to the Bahamas before, but have never been introduced and submerged into a culture other than mine. Experiencing something like Germany has been an aspiration of mine for many years now. As I think  of what I will do and see there I can't help but think of many historical landmarks to be explored. The history of Germany is something I have studied and heard of since I was a child. My fascination with castles, old landmarks, and their story is definitely something I look forward to experiencing.
The picture above is of the Neuschwanstein Castle. This is what I most often think of when I picture Germany. 

    Along with the sight-seeing portion of the trip, exploring the many cities we will visit is most exciting to me. Not in just snapping pictures, I went there kind of way, but in meeting the people who call them home. I look forward to using the language skills I have learned to better connect with those I may eat, drink, or spend time with. The picture to the left is of a Nuremberg market. Events such as this will be great to explore and meet new people. 

    When deciding to go on this trip, I asked myself what I hope to gain from this. Perspective. Being an American, it wasn't until college that I fully grasped how isolated we are raised to believe we are. This ignorance, in my belief, is what has led to many misconceptions we have of other cultures. This trip is a way for me to get out of my American comfort zone.