Laufenselden and Beyond - John Preston

Exiting the plane in the Frankfurt airport after a 24 hour travel-day created a euphoric and yet awful feeling in me. I was in a foreign nation for the first time in my life but also there was no turning back now. I was in the lion's den. Stepping onto the tarmac and subsequently onto a bus which brought us to the terminal proper, my mind was stagnant. My fatigue made my brain focus completely on my next steps and how to not trip on my suitcase while walking. If I did harbor thoughts, they were of finding a bed, lying down, and sleeping until a point of rejuvenation. I knew secretly only one of two of those things would actually happen. We walked for what seemed like hours in the maze of the terminals, trying desperately to find even a bathroom let alone an escalator down. In the frenzy of the scavenger hunt, we found the one single elevator down to the parking level. As we descended, our thoughts were of our host family and whether or not they would be a proper family or a dysfunctional family. Anything could happen at this point. We rounded the corner into baggage claim to find a gaggle of people, loitering in the lobby, waiting for someone. They all seemed to simultaneously look up as we came in. The mass of people surrounded us with widespread arms and joyful "Goude"s, offering to take the bags of the weary traveler. All except me though. But then I saw them, standing at least 20 feet away from the horde. The Litzius's. I shuffled over to them, introduced myself, and wandered to their Audi. Sabine Litizius, Michael Rindfleisch, and Robin Litzius became a massive part of my life for the next three weeks. Together, we traveled the beautiful and ancient parts of the Rhine River from Koblenz to Ruedsheim to Eltville am Rhein. The lush and beautiful forests of Hessen were also deeply explored and their secrets uncovered. The old Roman forts from the Roman Invasions of Gaul in the 1st Century AD gave me a broader sense of Germany's great historical significance. However, the best part of my host family was not the trips but the hometown of Laufenselden. One would think that I was at the disadvantage, living 45 minutes away from my friends and the school, but I would argue that I had the advantage. The small village in North Hessen is home to around 2,000 people who are mostly farmers and shopkeeper. It was definitely a breath of fresh air to live away from the sights and sounds of the city. (Two pictures of Laufenselden)

Activity was a lot slower in the town. Shirtless farmers driving their tractors down the main road and bar maidens walking about the beer gardens, waiting for the next customer to approach. Every morning I went for a run in the countryside. The dew from the field grass being picked up by my shoes, the rancid smell of the horses trotting about in their pastures. Overall, my three weeks were amazing in every sense of the word from eating pizza at the Italian place with Robin to the amazing home cooked meals made by Sabine. The Humboldt Schule was also a very interesting school and I learned a lot about the language from the locals that will completely enhance my experience at MBA with German. I sincerely thank the Wilson family for this amazing opportunity to go to a foreign nation and learn about their culture and language. This trip definitely defined my summer and my German experience at MBA. It all came to an end though at the train station in Wiesbaden. Saying my goodbyes to the family brought a tear to not only my eye but Sabine's as well. She was the one person I talked to the most out of all the family. We talked about everything. One night at dinner, we even discussed the impact that pesticides have had on American crops and soil. It was sad to see her go. Munich was next on the list of things to see so we loaded the train and waited a solid 4 hours. We stayed in Munich for three great days full of walking, seeing BMWs, going to Dachau, eating at the Hofbrauhaus, wading in the Isar river, seeing the Bundestag of Bayern, and scouring the new Bayern Munich Soccer Stadium.

Our meeting place became Marienplatz due to its central location and many U-Bahn and S-Bahn stops. Vienna was next on our shortening list and we honestly did not expect much. The moment we were given time  to wander by ourselves, we saw the most beautiful city to date on the trip. The Gothic architecture of the winter palace, the beaming gold and stone statues in the Volkesgardens, and the small, elegant coffee shops littering the place. We walked for hours through the intricate streets where stores could be found and the like.  
The towering Stephansdom was our meeting place this time and it was always buzzing with activity. People from all walks of life buying Ice Cream and shopping for the newest Louis Vuitton bags. Vienna was a magical place full of picturesque landmarks and people. Truly an experience to be had. I was the odd man out because I did not leave with the group in fact stayed with my parents and went to Salzburg, Innsbruck, and Grindelwald, Switzerland. My journey ended in Vienna for the grant but the learning the experience has stayed with me. The sights I saw the the people I met will be close to my heart. My language skills have increased but also my knowledge of the world around me. I owe this experience completely to the Wilson Family and Mr. Paolicchi for this amazing opportunity.