One year has already passed since I left Germany.
One year since the best experience of my life came to a close.
One year since I have stood on German soil.
One year since I last hugged some of my closest friends.
One year since I taught my German students for the final time.
One year since my colleagues raised a glass and thanked me for my work.
One year later, and it still hurts to think about how much I miss it.
One year later, and a lump still forms in my throat.
I hope my students remember our time together fondly and have continued on with a positive feeling towards language learning. I hope they remember the fun we had together and the joy we shared in our classrooms.
I hope my colleagues know how essential their support was, especially when I was homesick or overwhelmed. Their kindness, perseverance, and compassion still motivate me to become a better educator.
I hope my friends know that I deeply care for them and that as soon as I have the time and money, I will be back to visit and hug them more.
I hope my American family and friends understand that those two years will forever be a quintessential part of me, and when I try to encapsulate my time in Germany, I am trying to explain two complex, full, vibrant, wonderful, challenging, pivotal years of a life.
To myself, I will continue to carry those years and the lessons they gave me. I will continue to practice my German skills every day. I will remember the beauty of the places I visited and the companions that enriched those memories. I will honor the courage I had at 21 to apply for the Fulbright award, the courage at 22 to make the leap and go, and the courage at 24 to come home.
Auf Wiedersehen means “until we meet again.” Rather than a farewell, it strikes me as a promise: a commitment to a future reunion. So, that is what I will choose.
Auf Wiedersehen, Deutschland.
One year since the best experience of my life came to a close.
One year since I have stood on German soil.
One year since I last hugged some of my closest friends.
One year since I taught my German students for the final time.
One year since my colleagues raised a glass and thanked me for my work.
One year later, and it still hurts to think about how much I miss it.
One year later, and a lump still forms in my throat.
I hope my students remember our time together fondly and have continued on with a positive feeling towards language learning. I hope they remember the fun we had together and the joy we shared in our classrooms.
I hope my colleagues know how essential their support was, especially when I was homesick or overwhelmed. Their kindness, perseverance, and compassion still motivate me to become a better educator.
I hope my friends know that I deeply care for them and that as soon as I have the time and money, I will be back to visit and hug them more.
I hope my American family and friends understand that those two years will forever be a quintessential part of me, and when I try to encapsulate my time in Germany, I am trying to explain two complex, full, vibrant, wonderful, challenging, pivotal years of a life.
To myself, I will continue to carry those years and the lessons they gave me. I will continue to practice my German skills every day. I will remember the beauty of the places I visited and the companions that enriched those memories. I will honor the courage I had at 21 to apply for the Fulbright award, the courage at 22 to make the leap and go, and the courage at 24 to come home.
Auf Wiedersehen means “until we meet again.” Rather than a farewell, it strikes me as a promise: a commitment to a future reunion. So, that is what I will choose.
Auf Wiedersehen, Deutschland.
What a beautiful reflection!
ReplyDelete