Growing

Well, I started my American Junior Year program at Heidelberg and it has already been a whirlwind of emotions. I moved into my apartment and met one of my 3 roommates. He is a nice german guy named Sebastian. We’ve only briefly chatted but he should be a pleasant person to live with.

Then the first day of my program was a chaotic mess with a lack of information, which stressed me out to no end, but when we finally met for dinner I had a lot of fun meeting the other students and wandering around Heidelberg with friends.

I found out that the WiFi in my apartment isn’t working the way it is should, which has been really frustrating. I’m in my friends building right now as I write this. I can’t contact anyone when I’m home and it’s really hard to FaceTime my family. That has made me feel really isolated and stressed. But I do know the school is doing some testing on the WiFi and I’m sure that is the culprit. I am still going to talk to the building Super tomorrow just to make sure and hopefully I come out with more answers. I am trying to focus on my solution and plan rather than my stress. We’ll see how well that works.

The next stress was the supermarkets here. They’re very chaotic and there seems to be no organization. So that was stressful. And I was already stressed from the WiFi problem and then went to the store and that was just a bad combo. I will have to go back this weekend when I have more time to stroll and check things out. And I am going to look at some other grocery stores in the area to hopefully find some kind of almond milk or lactose free milk. I’ve already had a sensitivity to lactose and the 3.5% milk fat they drink here is just too much for my body to handle.

I have some fun plans tonight though so hopefully that lifts my spirits. I am meeting up with some friends from the program for dinner and then I’m sure we will walk around a bit.

I’ve done a ton of walking in the past few days but at least my legs will be nice and toned. I still need to find a running path and a gym/fitness studio to go to, but that will be a task I accomplish this weekend. My schedule is too busy during the day this week to do that.

I am trying to keep an open mind and remind myself that WiFi is just a small problem in the grand scheme of things. I will keep updating as I find out more and as I go on more adventures.

Thoughts and prayers for patience and courage would also be greatly appreciated. This is the hardest thing I have ever done and the most trying journey I have ever set out on. I am growing so much every day and I am also struggling infinitely, but I know I will look back and not recognize the person I was when I started, and I cannot wait for that.

Write again soon!

-Meghan