Guten Tag!
Please do not let the greeting fool you, my knowledge of the German language is minimal. Regardless, in under two weeks, I will embark on an experience with IES Abroad, leading me to a home in a country I have never visited where the spoken language is nearly foreign. Some call me crazy (they likely are not wrong), but I look forward to the joys and challenges of the adventure ahead. I find that the rewards of delving into a new city and culture far outweigh the stresses of packing four months of belongings in two small suitcases. After spending my life in the southeast corner of the United States, I realize that my perspective is not the only perspective. There is much to see and much to learn.
My path and the path of over seventy others will soon converge on in what has been termed the “jewel of the Black Forest,” also known as Freiburg, Germany. We will engage one of the world’s leading examples of cooperation and at times, convolution, the European Union. As a nerd who reads The New York Times every morning, you might say this is right up my alley. I know that I will find interest in our course discussion and firsthand experience with pillars of international decision-making.
To best understand me, you must know that whether smiling with my family at a destination or filming a wedding, my life has been spent on either side of the camera, so I find it only fitting that I seek to tell the story of this journey through my lens. This adventure will be shared through photography and videography, and I hope that you will follow along, learn, and grow with me. I look forward to the people and places that we will encounter along the way.
In preparing for this study abroad experience, I have often been reminded the words of Mark Twain: “travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness.” The more I see, the more I realize how insignificant I am. I have no doubt that this journey will only further cement this reality into my mind. I am elated over the prospect of being a student not merely of the European Union, but a student of the vast expanse of this world that we get to call home. Until the fast-approaching date of my departure comes, I will keep studying through my German dictionary and walking the streets of Freiburg via Google Maps.
More Blogs From This Author
Lessons from the Journey
To condense four months into one blog post is a challenge, but this is the story of what I will take back with me. As souvenirs collect dust in coming years...
Joshua Adams
<p>As a child, I watched my mom document our family's experiences through photography. Since the time when a camera would fit in my hands, storytelling through media has been my passion. Currently, as a junior at Wofford College, I combine this interest with study of the American and international political systems. I find special interest in where I believe these fields converge in broadcast journalism. I hold that everyone has a story, a story that needs to be shared.</p>
