In case some of you are too busy enjoying your summer vacations and the days just slip by you, I am here to inform everyone that it is officially July. Today is July 1st. One more time: JULY IS TODAY. When on Earth did that happen, am I right? Wow.
I am sure most of you are already aware why July is so important, but in case you are new to this journey, July is my last month here in Germany. I leave on the 31st to fly back home to the United States. That is a measly 30 days/4.5 weeks-ish away. Not only that, but I am going to be incredibly busy these next three weeks with classes and finals. This week alone I have my final exam for my history class, which is being held early because some of the other international students leave before the end of the semester. I also have the DSH exam, which stands for “Deutsche Sprachprüfung für den Hochschulzugang”. In other words, it is a proficiency exam to see if international students could be admitted to the actual university departments, not just foreign language departments where I have been studying this past year. I do not really have a reason to take it other than to use it as an indicator of my German growth because I will not be enrolling at Uni Heidelberg full time, but I will be very proud if I can pass. I failed the first time I took it (LOL, whoops). But I also have improved so much being here that now I am not too worried. It is a loonnngggg exam though. Six hours. Oof. So that’s what I will be doing all week: Studying and testing.
After the lovely week full of tests, I am going to Berlin with some friends here. This is my last big trip in Germany and it is fitting that it will be in the capital. It is also supposed to be cooler in Berlin than here in Heidelberg, so I am very excited about that. If you are friends with me on Facebook at all, I am sure you have seen me whining about the heat. It was 101 yesterday. I think whining is acceptable at any temperature above 90 in a country that does not use Air Conditioning. I miss Air Conditioning. But, I bought a fan and it was the best purchase I have made this entire time in Germany.
I am all set for next year when I go back to campus. I will have an apartment with a good friend of mine (Hi, Breanne!) and its going to be super fun. I finally got my schedule decided; I literally just changed it yesterday. My dad was joking that it looks like the schedule of a freshman who hasn’t decided her major yet, and he is not wrong. I am essentially done with all of my requirements for majors and will be done with my minor soon too, so I just needed electives. I didn’t want to take stupid electives so I chose ones that interest me, but my schedule is definitely not homogeneous now. Anyway, my courses next quarter: Introduction to Computer Science, Russian 1001, Forensic Psychology, Social Psychology, and an honors seminar on “Reflection”. So yeah, it’ll be pretty random but I am looking forward to all of my classes. Eventually I have to start my German senior thesis for the honors program, but luckily that is done in the Winter Quarter mostly, so I have time to get back into the swing of things before becoming a total stress bomb.
I think that is most everything that is happening in my life right now. I cannot wait to get through these next 3.5 weeks of class. I am so tired of school. Semesters run soooo long. I didn’t realize how quick paced DU truly is with our quarters only being 10 weeks, but the 16 week semester seems like an eternity. I am almost done though. I planned it perfectly so I have the last week in Germany to pack, and more importantly eat at all of my favorite restaurants one more time! I am going to be broke and about 400 pounds when I get back home but it will be worth it!
As most of you know by now, I will be returning to Alabama instead of California, which will be an interesting experience. The last time I went “home” to a place I hadn’t actually lived yet was a summer when I was a kid and I was away at a Girl Scout sleep away camp while my parents moved houses or something like that. Little different scenario this time as I am coming home from Germany, but still weird. However, my parents are always sending me pictures of yummy food and beautiful landscapes, so it can’t be all that bad. I am excited to get home and see everyone. ALSO, we are getting a new Golden Retriever Pup and I CANNOT WAIT. Molly dog is already the best dog in the world, but soon we will have the TWO best dogs in the world. I also convinced the fam to go on a camping trip with me in August because it has been more than three years since I have gone camping and that is just a tragedy. Dad and I are a little worried we’re going to get rained on, or eaten alive by mosquitos, but I am excited nonetheless.
That’s all for now. Sorry it took me so long to write again. Busy, busy, busy. I will make sure to write at least once, if not twice more before I go home. Love you all and have a wonderful first day of July!
Travels in Germany 