Hey, people! I’m Finn and I’m stoked to share my six months of awesomeness as an exchange student in Germany. I mean, who knew that this Irish lad would find himself in the land of pretzels, sausages, and the autobahn? Buckle up, ’cause you’re in for a wild ride!
I arrived in the small town of Überlingen, near Lake Constance, in September. I was pretty nervous, but my host family was wicked cool, and they made me feel at home right away. Their house was super cozy, and I had my own room, which was a big plus! The first week was a whirlwind of meeting new people and getting used to the school system. The German school, or “Gymnasium,” was way different from what I was used to back in Ireland. The classes were intense! I never knew learning could be so hardcore. But hey, I didn’t come all this way just to slack off, right?
Tackling the language barrier
The language barrier was a beast, but I was determined to tackle it head-on. My German was pretty basic when I first arrived, and it felt like everyone around me was speaking a million miles an hour. My classmates and teachers were patient, though, and I started picking up the lingo like a boss. Before long, I was chatting away in German with my new mates.
Speaking of mates, I made some really close friends during my time in Germany. It was awesome hanging out with them, whether we were playing football, biking around the lake, or hitting up the local ice cream shop. They even introduced me to the joys of German rap music, which, surprisingly, is pretty lit! One of my favorite moments was when my host family took me on a trip to Munich. We visited the Deutsches Museum, which was mind-blowing, and I even got to see the Allianz Arena, home of FC Bayern München! I couldn’t believe my luck.
“Curry Wurst and Käspäzle are to die for!”
But it wasn’t all smooth sailing. There were times when I felt homesick, and I really missed my family and friends back in Ireland. Video calls helped a lot, but it was tough to be so far away from everyone. Thankfully, my host family and new friends were always there to cheer me up, and we created some incredible memories together. One of those memories was when we celebrated Karneval, a massive festival in February. My host family, friends, and I dressed up in crazy costumes, and we hit the streets for parades and parties. It was like nothing I’d ever experienced before. I even got to try some traditional German dishes, like currywurst and Käsespätzle, which were to die for.
During my time in Germany, I also got to explore the beautiful countryside. My host family took me hiking in the Black Forest, and we went on a boat trip around Lake Constance. The scenery was absolutely breathtaking, and I realized how lucky I was to be experiencing it all. As my time in Germany came to an end, I couldn’t help but feel a little sad.
I had come so far, both literally and figuratively, and I knew I was going to miss the friends I had made and the experiences I had shared. But I also knew that I was returning to Ireland a different person. My time in Germany had given me a newfound confidence, a better understanding of the world, and a sense of independence I never knew I had.
So, here’s to my incredible German adventure, to the friends I made, and the memories I’ll cherish forever.