Jack O'Brien-Germany Exchange 2017

Wiesbaden, Germany

Our afternoon snack the day I arrived

Though I was sleepy and somewhat hungry, I was excited to finally meet my host family after getting my luggage and exiting the terminal. I was welcomed immediately by friendly, smiling faces and warm hugs. The Schmitt family of Erbach am Rhein came off to me quickly as fun, gracious people. They took me to their small town, which they explained to me was 400 years old, and kept me awake a few more hours in order to adjust my body to the local time zone. We stopped for fruit on the 25 minute ride, and had a small snack of cakes, cheeses, breads, fruits, and juices before going on a walk through the local vineyards. It was not long before I could end the 24+ hour streak of being awake, and pass out. 

A small street in Erbach am Rhein

Only after a week or so had I been introduced to many of Sophie's friends at school, and her brother Leon's friends in town, and I was already learning much from the Schmitt family and their various friends and neighbors and schoolmates. On many occasions, they took me to several famous locations around southwestern Germany, including the cities of Cologne and Heidelberg, an ancient monastery where movies were filmed and orchestras play, and their local strawberry festival, called Erdbeerfest.I learned so much from these places and was able to experience so much that I took over 250 photos with the Schmitts alone, including hundreds more that the Schmitts took of me and the children on these excursions.  At one point, I was told that I had included some of Herr and Frau Schmitts' home dialect into my speech patterns simply by listening to them speak. I learned so much from the Schmitt family of Erbach am Rhein, and I cannot wait to go back with my family next summer to visit again. 

Me, Sophie, and Leon in Heidelberg

Munich, Germany

Shortly after having to hug the Schmitts goodbye in the Wiesbaden train station, myself and the other MBA guys were on our way to Munich. The train ride there was just as fascinating as the actual city: passing through large, open farmlands and seeing the Alps in the distance produced an image of magnificence. 

After arriving, I realized just how much bigger this city was than the small town I had been in for three weeks. The train station alone was dozens of times bigger and packed with humans from all over the world. As we explored the city a little more that day, we walked through the crowded streets and the many squares where tourists, like ourselves, gathered their maps and senses of direction. Though the city was nice, we also felt better after getting into our bunk beds back at the hostel, which was a short tram ride towards the hotels district from the center of the city. We arrived there shortly after having eaten at the popular tourist stop called the Hofbreauhaus, where loud, drunk people sing, and the meals are huge.

Allianz Arena on the outskirts of Munich

One of my favorite memories from the trip to Munich was when the guys and I found the National Library of Bayern, in which we found students from the university studying quietly, and shelves upon shelves of old books. I found myself looking through centuries-old books on various languages. Another incredible experience and dream of mine was visiting Allianz Arena, the flagship stadium of the famous FC Bayern Munchen soccer team. The structure is massive, and the field always kept nearly perfect for home games. We even were able to see the locker room and press rooms during our tour of it. These were only in a few days of being in Munich, and I hope I get a chance to return                        

                             Vienna, Austria

                                                 By far one of the most beautiful cities I have ever visit, Vienna, Austria was extraordinary in every sense of the word. Previously the hallmark of the Austria-Hungarian Empire and home of the Hapsburg Monarchy, Vienna is rich in huge, elegantly-built buildings from museums to the old homes of the Hapsburg emperors and empresses. One of these buildings was the home of Sissy, the most famous and loved queen of the Austria-Hungarian Empire who was eventually murdered while on an excursion to Eastern Europe.

One of the sides of the Hapsburg palace in the city

Despite having spent four days touring some of the most beautiful palaces and official buildings in this ancient capital city, it remains a fact that food was an ever-present and fantastic way to indulge ourselves while also learning more about Viennese culture. Firstly, I will say that Wiener Schnitzel is not only delicious, but also everywhere and made in all kinds of ways. It seemed almost that I could eat these famous meals for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. There was also the fact that coffee in Europe is not only better than in the United States, but also that Germanic people know exactly how to serve it and to serve it with delicious, sweet pastries... For example, when exploring the city, the guys and I came upon a famous coffee house that was popular for its world-renowned Apple Strudel and then also "iced" coffees. I had one of those coffees, and it was far more than I ever would have guessed it would have been in presentation and taste... I really hope I can go back there some day!

       

My "iced" coffee and Jonathan in background 

            Overall, the trip to Vienna was an exceptional way to end a four-week journey through two different German-speaking countries, in which I was able to communicate with the locals, experience the various cultural activities, and of course eat some of the best foods. I cannot wait to be able to go back to these places when I am older and my language skills are even better than before. Thank you to the Wilson family for providing me this opportunity, and I hope that German students in the future will have the chance to get such an amazing, life-changing experience.