This summer, I had the opportunity to study abroad for two weeks in Germany. As a pre-med who’s always wanted to study abroad but has always had obligations preventing her (I’m looking at you, Organic Chemistry and Physics), I jumped for joy when I realized I’d found an interesting program that fit into my schedule and took me to a country I’ve always wanted to visit.
I’ll admit: The only German cities I could name off the top of my head before this trip were Frankfurt and Berlin. Yet, it ended up being in the cities I hadn’t heard of before, where I made some of my best memories.
Cologne:
My trip kicked off in Cologne, a gem of a city set on the Rhine River in West Germany. The city was buzzing with energy and liveliness, and the iconic Cologne Cathedral was just as beautiful as I’d envisioned it. We stayed in Cologne for the longest of any location, and by the end, I felt confident using the public transportation system and got over my culture shock of being served sparkling water as the default at all restaurants and stores.
Bonn:
Our next city, Bonn, was my favorite city that I visited in Germany. The architecture was stunning and historic in a way that made me feel that I had been transported back to the time of royalty and Beethoven (who was born in Bonn).
Bonn was also the first stop on the trip where I ventured out solo to explore the city, instead of with my group. Walking through the village square, surrounded by an ancient cathedral and bright yellow regal buildings, I felt as though I had been pulled into the pages of a Grimm’s fairytale. I ended my solo day in Bonn with dinner, where I sat at a table on the patio overlooking the city center with a deep appreciation for the privilege of traveling and exploring new cities. The world is truly so wide, and how lucky am I that I’m able to explore it?
Frankfurt:
Frankfurt, the final stop in my trip, offered me an opportunity to sample the culture of soccer in Europe. Our stay in Germany coincided (I say ‘coincide’ as if the program wasn’t specifically designed to do so) with the kick-off of the Euros hosted in Germany this summer.
I had the opportunity to attend a public viewing in Frankfurt of the kickoff game, Germany v. Scotland, with huge screens televising the game set up around a riverfront area. There was no room for us to stand in the viewing area, so we ended up standing on the bridge over the river, peering over at the screen on the ground below us.
When Germany scored the first goal in the game and the first goal of the tournament, the crowd erupted with cheers, and I could feel the bridge shaking beneath my feet. I’ve gone to a couple of football games in America, but I’ve never experienced anything like that, with everyone in the crowd united in their support for one team. Earlier in the day, I’d also seen supporters of Scotland joining together in an impromptu song and conga line in a city square, and it was so delightful to see their passion for their team.
In addition to the beautiful sights that I saw and the memorable culture I experienced, I absolutely fell in love with the walkability of Cologne and Bonn. I’ll admit that I’m a suburban girl at heart, having grown up in the suburbs. But, my time in Germany made me deeply appreciate being able to walk places and the convenience of well-oiled public transportation. There is just something so calming about being able to walk past beautiful scenery and lively streets to a cafe or hop on the Metro to quickly head downtown for dinner.
This is not all to say that the trip wasn’t without its struggles or doubts, but facing these challenges head-on has changed the way I think about travel. I vividly remember sitting outside a gelato place in the Bonn city center one night and being struck with sadness. This is the last time that I will be in this place as this version of me. Somehow, before my trip was over, I began to grieve for it.
With so many interesting and alluring places in the world on my bucket list, I often wonder: will I ever return to the faraway places I have visited once I’ve checked them off my list? Is this my only time here ever? If I do return, will it feel the same as it did before? I’ve come to realize that these places will change whether or not I return, and if I do return, my trip will surely be different — in a different year, with different people and a different me.
But I’ve come to realize that all that means is that I have to fully absorb the beauty of each moment for what it is without comparing it to the future or the past. Maybe I will go back, or maybe I won’t, but either way, that doesn’t change the beautiful memories I’ve made or the unique experiences I’ve gained.
I’ll end this piece with the one German phrase I picked up during my time, and it means thank you! Danke schon, Germany! I had a lovely time.
Samhi Boppana is a senior from Columbus, Ohio majoring in Natural Sciences and Political Science. She is an Editor-in-Chief of The News-Letter.
