Salzburg

Studying abroad is a strange thing. The journey doesn't end when you return home. It's just beginning. I don't think I'll ever stop reflecting on my life-changing year abroad. I may appear the same to my family and friends: they all see what they want to see. But the truth is, I feel forever changed.

Next September I will spend a month back in Salzburg, this time without the pressure of university or fitting in. I'll hike up Kapuzinerberg, walk around the city, take pictures, eat ice cream, and just enjoy life in Austria. I'm really looking forward to it.

Things in Ohio are going well. Getting one's master's involves a lot of deadlines and other pressures, but I'm taking it all in stride. I am learning a lot and I feel like getting this master's has been worthwhile in many ways. Living with a native Austrian is also very interesting. From a cultural standpoint we are so incredibly different, but in other ways, we are very similar.

I'm looking forward to seeing what direction my life will take in the next couple of months.

-Molly

Goals for this next school year:

-participate actively in class discussions
-do well on comprehensive exams
-earn Master's Degree
-get my finances in order
-apply for scholarships for Germany and Austria
-save up for plane ticket to Europe
-earn enough money to participate in the Sommerkurs in Tübigen

:)

Friends

Leaving for a long period of time and coming backs has its drawbacks. I ended up losing more friends than I ever expected to. However, I suppose I'd rather have a few good friends than lots of superficial ones. So today, I'll just be grateful for my true friends, and my wonderful family. You know who you are :-)

Home

Here I am, sitting in my room in my apartment in Bowling Green, Ohio. My mind, however, is in a completely different place. I currently miss my host families and friends in Germany and Austria terribly. Normally I am okay with being home, enjoying school, etc. But today is just one of those days. All I want is to see the people that helped make German-speaking Europe my home for 13 months.

I am constantly reminded by people here that I am back in the US of A, but they don't understand that it's difficult to readjust. I am certainly happy to see the people that I missed for so long, but at the same time, my life in Salzburg was simpler. It was not reality. Using savings, scholarships, and loans, I was traveling every weekend, buying fresh bread from the bakery, and living the good life. I realize that this is not the way one lives every year. However, what made my time there special to me wasn't the trips or the small amount of material possessions I acquired: it was the people.

Right now I am trying to figure out how to get back there next year. My hope is to be able to teach English in either Austria or Germany for 2 years. At that point I can figure out what I want to do in the future, and where I actually want to live. Will I spend the rest of my life in Germany/Austria, or in America? Only time will tell.

All I can say is that right now, I have a hole in my heart where something is missing. On most days an e-mail from a friend, an episode of a classic tv show, or a piece of chocolate will fill the void. Unfortunately, today I'm looking for something more.

Where is home??

Love, Molly

The Help

Tonight, the Austrian exchange students and I went to see the film, "The Help." It was difficult for me to watch. I was so saddened by what was happening in the film. It's hard to believe that, just 50 years ago, black people were treated as if they were the "hired help," and nothing else. My heart went out to the women in that film, and I cried with them throughout it; not only because I was appalled and saddened by what was happening, but because I know that this kind of thing still happens today. Let's be honest: often times police will pull black men over more often. If black men are taken to court, they are more likely to go to jail. Their skin color sometimes determines their fate. They are judged even before they stand trial.

I remember when I was discussing race with a black man that worked with me at the movie theater in high school. He said to me, "Don't base whether or not you like me on the fact that I'm black. Get to know me first. It's fine if you don't like me after meeting me, but at least have a reason." I never forgot that. Perhaps it is for that reason that I seek out those that are different from me. It is through them that I understand more about the world, and about myself.

Bowling Green, Ohio

On Sunday my grandparents and I picked up Astrid and Tina from the airport. After having spent a great deal of time with them in Salzburg, I looked forward to their arrival. I was able to find them at baggage claim and bring them back to my house. On Monday I showed them around downtown Birmingham and then we went to Somerset to go shopping. In the evening we went back to Birmingham to see the film Friends With Benefits. It was really cute.

On Tuesday I showed them around Ann Arbor, which included a walk through the quad at the University Michigan. It's really pretty there. I love the architecture. In the evening we went to my grandma's for dinner. She had also invited my dad and brother, as well as my cousin, Stephanie. I also invited Luiza, a good friend of mine. Dinner was delicious, and the conversation wasn't half bad either. All in all, it was a great night. I'm so lucky to have such a wonderful grandma.

Today I drove to Bowling Green, Ohio, with Astrid, Tina, and my dad. My dad had to come with us because we needed an extra car to transport all of our stuff. We arrived safely at Tina's, where we unloaded our things. Astrid and I will move into our apartment on Friday, but in the meantime we will be staying at Tina's. That works out well, as I have my first day of graduate orientation early tomorrow morning.

Today we explored the town. It's a really cute, walkable city. I am really looking forward to my year here. :-)

<3 Molly

Up North

After spending 5 days with my favorite German family, I went up north from Thursday to Tuesday. My whole family was up and the Baisch's, a family with a cottage down our street, and their kids were there, too. We have grown up together and it was great seeing them. We went to Yeck's a couple of times, out to ice cream, swimming, had a picnic at the Point, etc. We even had a karaoke night at our cottage. That led to a lot of laughs. Try watching Robert and Kathy Baisch sing to each other...haha.

I have missed being up there. The view of Mackinac Island, the bridge, the water...I never appreciated it before spending a year away from home.

<3 Molly