I have done just what I feared I would do: get too busy to write. Shame on me.
Anyways, the last month or so has been full of firsts, as well as the whole time I have spent here.
For the first time, I did my laundry by myself without shrinking, discoloring, or losing a single article of clothing. Real world, here I come!
I discovered what it's like to bike through the snow for the first time. A disaster, but still a first.
I was trained to be a receptionist in the hostel, so I worked my first reception shift by myself a few weeks ago. I really enjoy being at the reception desk. If it didn't involve sitting down for so long, I would like to work a job like that for a more long term position. But, sitting for hours on end is definitely not for me.
For the first time, I traveled between two countries without any help. Like a big girl. I decided to take a vacation, so I spend a long weekend in Munich, Germany, and Venice, Italy.
The train ride there was interesting. I left my house at 6:15 a.m. with my backpack and a train ticket. I had to change trains in Hannover in 6 minutes - a tight squeeze? So, my first time on an international train, and my first time in Germany. If you're curious, I did make the next train.
When arriving in Munich, I met my friend's mom at the train station and we took the metro back to her house. In my last year at Eastside, I befriended a German exchange student named Antonia, and she opened her home to me in Germany, so I had a really nice place to stay!
The following morning, I went to school with Antonia. For the first time, I went to high school in another country. Needless to say, it was really similar to my high school experience in the US. I slept.
On Saturday, we took a bus to Venice. I traveled internationally by bus for the first time, I was in Venice for the first time, and basically everything that came with Venice was a first.
In Venice, they were celebrating Carnival, which is basically like Mardi Gras in New Orleans, but celebrated all over southern Europe. People dress up in beautiful masks and costumes, and the whole city of Venice has competitions, parties, and balls to celebrate.
In the afternoon in Venice, I had real Italian gelato for the first time. If I ever become terminally ill, I would like for my death bed to be moved to a gelato shop in an Italian city. I was in Venice for a total of 9 hours and I had gelato twice. I do plan to go back to Venice, and I do plan to break this record.
Antonia and I explored the city all afternoon, which was magical. The narrow alleys and the romantic bridges make getting lost in the city and easy and enjoyable task.
For dinner, we ate at a pizzeria, and for the first time, I ate real Italian pizza. I think I was meant to be fully Italian, and not just 12-point-whatever-percent. I was a little bit disappointed when we had an Indian waiter, but I have faith that there was an Italian chef in the kitchen.
Back in Munich, Antonia took me into some of the churches there. For the first time, I was in a church that was built before the 20th century. I sometimes wonder why the older the church is, the more extravagantly built it is, when our technology has advanced since then.
During my last day in Munich, we ate at a Bavarian restaurant, and for the first time, I had a real German pretzel. I don't think I will be able to appreciate those ball-park pretzels ever again. If anyone has the recipe on how to make them Bavarian style, please let me know. They were quite heavenly.
Experiencing all these firsts has made me really appreciate this time I have abroad. I really encourage anyone who is thinking about taking time out of their daily lives to travel, to DO IT! Really, you have to go Nike on this one. I'm really discovering a lot with my time of firsts.
