Search

A Year of Firsts.

Ethan Coleman
Jan 4, 2017
3 min read

As 2016 comes to a close, new doors of opportunities open up. 2017 is a new year for new adventures. I am so blessed to be able to spend the next four months abroad in Germany. As I look back on 2016, I cherish all the memories I have made and the friends and family I have. I cannot believe that the time is finally here. The adventure of a lifetime that I have only dreamed about is finally beginning (someone pinch me).

With a new year, new adventures arise. To me, 2017 resembles a new start. A year of many firsts like riding in an airplane, traveling outside of the United States, and experiencing the world alone without any family by myside. With the start of the new year, I am anxious to see how many new firsts I will accomplish.

The journey began on January 3rd. Someone from my group who left the day before told me she had trouble at the airport. She said that at Delta Airlines they wanted her to have a visa; however, we were informed that we do not need a visa since we are applying for a residence permit in Germany. Just what I wanted to hear because I am flying with Delta Airlines. When I got to the gate, they asked me for my visa and I started to panic. Luckily my paperwork showing proof of a residence permit was enough. My first time on a plane turned out to be more pleasing than I thought. I departed from Indianapolis at 3:35PM and began the ultimate journey to Frankfurt with a 45-minute layover in Detroit. As the captain of the flight to Frankfurt announced our descent, I asked myself “Ethan, what are you getting yourself into?” When I arrived in Frankfurt, I started to become confused because almost everything was in German. I met up with a group of my friends, who are studying in Vallendar from UIUC, in Frankfurt and we took a train to Koblenz. We then took a bus to Vallendar. I am glad that all of us were together for the journey from the airport to Vallendar because we ran into some difficulties when our tickets were printed in German and we had a transfer ride from the train. Just when I thought the hard part was over, I came to find out that it had just begun. After carrying my 50-pound suitcase all over the airports, through the train stations, and onto a bus, I now had to drag it half way across the town and up what seemed like a mountain (not really but it could be)! Finally, 4,435 miles, 9 hours, 30 minutes, two planes, two trains, one bus, and a long hike uphill later, I had finally arrived to my apartment in Vallendar. Vallendar is such a beautiful town. Pictures do not do justice for this town.

My apartment exceeded my expectations. I am living in a senior residence building so that means the building is typically quiet, which is nice (there is even a balcony). The apartment is fully furnished, which is good because I had no room in my suitcase. This is my first time living in an apartment and on my own. No shared room; no community bathroom; no roommate; no dorm (finally!!).