Freiburg: Pre-Departure Excitement and Jitters

January has just ended, which means that in a little over three weeks, I will be heading off to Germany to start my semester-long adventure abroad. Now, when most people think of Germany, cities like Berlin, Frankfurt, Munich, or Hamburg come to mind. I, however, will not be studying in any of these big, popular areas. Instead, I’ll be going to Freiburg — a quieter town in the southwest portion of the country that lies at the foot of the Black Forest. A city that favors walking and cycling, houses numerous green buildings, and has a local government led by a green party, Freiburg is a great example of German sustainability, which makes it a perfect location for studying all things environmental. As an Environmental Studies major, I’m sure it won’t surprise you when I say that I am beyond excited!

Not only will I learn about sustainable design, conservation, and ecosystem management, I will also get to hike in the Black Forest as well as the Vosges Mountains in France as part of my curriculum, notching my enthusiasm up even further. Of course, there are other non-academic elements of my time abroad that I am looking forward to: meeting and living with local Germans, exploring Freiburg itself, and trying German foods like currywürst and döners are some of them. However, a big part of my excitement also has to do with traveling. I’ve had a list of European cities to visit — from Berlin to Prague to Rome and every other city in between — ever since I was little, and this semester abroad will finally give me a chance to see them. Just writing about it now is making this dreary February day a little bit brighter. 

However, exploring a new country (and a new continent) for four and a half months not only is a cause for excitement but also incites nervousness in me. First, I am going into this program alone. I do not know anyone else who is partaking in it, and this makes me anxious. Will I be able to make friends easily? Will I be able to get along with the people I live with? I hope so. Second, transportation. Because Freiburg does not have its own airport, I have to fly to Frankfurt, take a two-hour train ride to Freiburg that may or may not require me to switch trains, and then take a cab to get to my program center. I’m scared that I’ll miss or take the wrong train, that I won’t be able to find a space to put my big and heavy suitcase in, and that I won’t be able to hail a taxi. Hopefully, everything will go smoothly!

These are the thoughts that have been occupying my mind before I have to leave. I’m both eager and anxious, ecstatic and worried. In the end, however, I choose to be more excited than nervous. This is a once in a lifetime opportunity! How could I be upset about that?