Well, this is the end of our trip. I am writing this as we travel back to Osnabruck one final time to gather our things, pack our bags and head for different directions. Some will continue south, some west , others east and the last few will travel back home. Although I should be writing about the most amazing time I had on the 5 day excursion to Weimar, Dresden and Berlin, I think this time and space will be better used explaining what this trip has meant to me. Okay, time for a confession... I love traveling and I love seeing the world but I often am resistant to change and constantly being on the road. The chance to see Germany was one I could and would not miss but the length was definitely something I was wary of. I had been on previous trips and by the end I just wanted everyone to leave me alone and my only wish was to sit in one,familiar place forever. This trip was perfect though. There was enough familiarity with Osnabruck that it easily became the home base while our trips to other cities became the traveling part. Having my own room at the University really helped the "getting sick of people" part as I had alone time to do as I pleased. Either I am becoming a better traveler or this set up really worked well with my ticks. For the sake of this blog though I am going to assume that it is the former. I think it can be chalked up to doing it so many times it starts to become less abnormal. I cannot comment on not being home for so long or not being able to be dependent before this. I go to school 1400 miles away from my home and my friends for 18 years. The last person I know lives as far south as North Carolina. I had to come to USF and live on my own. Also moving into my own apartment made me in control of my every movement but also made me responsible for them as well. Therefore this trip did not show that I was able to survive alone any more than going to college has. But, having to navigate the train system on very little German should warrant me for a medal. ,am they are hard core about their train stations. I really liked how this entire group got along. Usually in groups larger than 10 the groups split and eventually there are many small groups or several large groups that get along very well while the group's friendship as a whole is tolerate at best. This group was awesome! Everyone could sit down to another person at random and be able to talk and laugh for hours. No one was exclusive and everyone seemed to want to do around the same thing. I am really pleased by the group friendship and I can say with certainty that by connecting with them as I have I have learned more about my views as a person as well as the views of others. I hope with all my heart that I keep in contact with every single one of them. I am usually a pretty picky eater but Germany has proven to coax that into hiding as well! I had sausage at least 6 times since I have been here. I tried liver sausage! ( well to be honest it was without me knowing it's contents, but I tried it nonetheless) I think many friends and family from the US would be shocked the amount of foods I ate that I normally don't. It took a bit for my GI tract to get on the German food boat but once it was there I ate some very delicious meals. I am surprised with myself that I was so open. I think the fact that they don't make as many fish dishes helps. Finally, I would like to comment on  the FaceTime partners. I LOVE THEM! I had the luck to be placed in a group of FaceTime partners and their students that all enjoy each others' company. This allowed each of the Americans to not only get to know our FaceTime partner but also other FaceTime partners. My FaceTime partner was absolutely perfect. She was funny and open and loved sharing the German culture. We got along perfectly and I must say I will miss her. She was also really smart so she challenged me with my knowledge of my own culture and my views as we tried to find the similarities and differences between US and Germany. The other FaceTime partners I befriended are great as well. Two of the girls I hang out actually Facebook me while we were in Dresden and Berlin and said that they missed me and couldn't wait for me to go home. For someone to say that after knowing them a week is really something special. A few of us have made plans to try to meet up in the US in the following year. I wish I had more time with them and with the University to explore student life there. Actually I wish I had a week in each city in Germany! Traveling to several cities has made it evidently clear that even neighboring cities are very unique. To say I have experienced Germany to its fullest in these past 2 weeks is a vast overstatement. I would need months to see everything. Alright well I think I am going to wrap this up. Obviously the things I have improved on are not life changing.  Being out of the country several times made this trip not very shocking as far as expectations and the process of being abroad. The changes that I have seen and the people I have met will in fact change my future. With each day I spend here I wonder whether I would not enjoy my adult life more if I lived in Europe. This opens up a field of questions that I need to explore when I get home. I can't believe 2 weeks are over! Why can't the semester go this fast? Next to Munich!