After a few days, it’s pretty safe to say that this trip has been the best experience of my life so far. Having never left the country before, let alone leaving home for so long with the exception of school, I was pretty nervous. But after it’s all over, I’m really glad I decided to go.
Being exposed to new places and cultures in Germany was such an enriching experience. I met so many wonderful new people, and not just those originally from Germany, but from all over. That includes my classmates, many of which I didn’t get the chance to know before this trip. Over the past six weeks, we were really brought together as we overcame our collective fears and worries about the trip and as we lived together in Berlin.
The engineering course was difficult and we learned a lot, but the real learning on this trip came from outside the classroom when we interacted with people on the streets and in shops and restaurants. Plenty of people were more than happy to talk with us about America and our impressions of Germany and Europe in general, and hearing from them a different perspective of our own country was extremely eye opening for me.
All in all, the Summer Program in Germany was a fantastic experience, and I’m really glad I got the chance to go. I’ve been told by upperclassmen who have gone on the trip that it was one of the best experiences Calvin has to offer, and after going on the trip myself, I’m inclined to agree.