Day 114 - Goodbyes

Wow. I just spent my last day in Germany. I...I don't know what to think. On the one hand, I'm excited to go back home, but on the other, Bonn has sort of become my second home and I feel similar leaving to as I did leaving Texas 4 months ago. Wow. 4 months in Germany. And I had to say goodbye to everything. Why do I feel this way? Not two days ago, all I wanted to do was go home, and now I want to stay just one more day.

I woke up today and packed a little bit more. I really hope that I meet the weight limit on my luggage and don't have to pay for an overweight bag. It seems like I have more and more things that I need to fit in. I made my way into AIB for the last time today for our meeting. The day was absolutely gorgeous. I think Germany is trying to entice me to stay by having a string of wonderful weather. We had our meeting and received the photos that were put on our visas. Yes, that is a good thing as I think they Photoshopped it a bit because I definitely did not look that good that day and I don't think my eyes were ever that blue. We had to take some surveys on the trip and our various classes, and then we said goodbye to Dr. Wasser. Luckily Sarah and Kristin didn't leave and we ended up going out with them to a place that the twins had visited before. We had a great lunch together, but eventually it had to end. We'll still see Kristin tomorrow, but Sarah left and she's not taking the shuttle tomorrow, so we won't see her unless we visit her lab back in C-Stat. We also lost Kelsey who had to catch the bus to get to a plane that was bringing her to Italy so she could travel around Europe with her parents.

Last day at AIB

After lunch, we split up. I went to the REWE to grab some Ritter chocolate (do they make that in the US?) with some others. Then we headed back to AIB to wait for the others and just enjoyed the sun and the last day in Bonn. Eventually I had to leave to grab some flowers for my host family before heading home. When I got there, Marie led me into the kitchen, where Annette had presented me with some candy and a card for me to take when I left. I returned the favor with my own gift. We had dinner together and then just relaxed in the living room. Marie kept telling me to go to bed because I have and early day tomorrow, and I eventually obeyed her. I said goodnight and goodbye to my host family. Tears were shed. On the one hand, I'm excited to be home for the first time in 4 months, but at the same time, I look at the people who have been a family to me for the semester. I see Annette, who is always ready to greet me with a smile. I see Sophie who has come to be like the cool little sister I never had. And I see Marie, who has been the goofball of the family and always wants to play and talk to me even though we know so few words in common. I'm going to miss them immensely.

Tomorrow I leave for the airport at 5:30 on the shuttle bus with a large majority of the students on my program. 12 hours from now I'll be on a plane ready to take off. In 24 hours, I'll be in Texas. And in roughly 27 hours, I'll be with my family again. I've loved it here in Germany and I hope to be back someday, but I'm ready to be back home.

Goodbye Germany.
Erin Z

P.S. I have another post tomorrow that I'll write on the plane.