Aufwiedersehen Berlin!

And that's a wrap!

My time on the CBYX program is over and I can only think to myself- where has the time gone?

It's incredibly emotional being "done"...leaving Berlin was one of the most difficult tasks I've ever done. After facing so many challenges and overcoming each and every one, I can successfully look back and say this year was a success. I'm ending this experience quite honestly on Cloud 9.  I have significantly improved my German, gotten amazing business and in general, life experience and have developed friendships that will last a lifetime. I'm so  grateful for each person I met this year and for every experience- both good and bad. Here's the problem. I don't want to leave now! I'm so happy with my life here and have grown to have Berlin as my second home, I'd rather continue on with it, than head to my original home. However, it's a part of the experience and please, I WILL BE BACK! So the goodbyes I'm saying are mostly "see you again"s. Beautifully summed up in a German word: Aufwiedersehen.  

So here's a recap of my final two weeks in Germany (but more importantly, Berlin):

I had to put the suit on one last time for end of the year seminar with all the CBYX Programs!

Congress Bundestag Youth Vocational Exchange Class of 2016!

My favorites, Noah and Annika,
inside the Reichstag, Germany's
parliament building.

Gingerlee and I.

End of  the year was a blast. Bitter sweet since it was our last time together as a group, but very memorable. We were on a tight schedule but managed to have a lot of fun and all-nighters on the side. As a part of the program, we gathered together with all the other CBYX programs to go to Germany's parliament building, attending a panel with several of Germany's top politicians, listen to a parliament session regarding the integration of refugees and attended a ceremony at the U.S. Embassy.

The entire Berlin gang

Cuddle puddle with Hartwig

One of the most bitter sweet moments of the seminar was saying goodbye to our program director, Hartwig. He ran our program for over 25 years and retired at the end of our program. He quite honestly made the program. His bakery tours, outings to Cologne and his crazy Oma Anna stories were greatly appreciated and will be greatly missed. So thank you, Hartwig!

Bumped into some familiar faces! I met up with Felix, a former exchange student to my high school and Will, an old foco friend as they were passing by Berlin. I also bumped into Ashley, a friend from a trip I took to Singapore and Malaysia. Then, on my last weekend, Jonas, my old exchange student/ host brother visited me! It's so cool to reconnect with so many friends half way across the world! What are the odds?

Annika's birthday weekend on the Baltic!

Noah, Annika and I enjoying the sea breeze

Thanks momma K!

One of our favorite traditions is the German breakfast. In Germany,
it's stressed as family time. So to wrap up our year together, we made a very
 quaint breakfast with rolls, fruit, eggs, and every topping you can put on bread!

One last sunset at the Baltic

Having spent several weekends at the Baltic with my host family and adding to the memories they already had there, the Baltic will always hold a special place in my heart. I'm glad to have had one last weekend there with Noah  and Annika. It made for one incredible 19th 

birthday! Noah, Annika- we conquered the Baltic! :p

The last week with my host family :((((((

Before I could leave, my host fam assembled a list of things we needed to do together.

Fortunately, we had already checked most things off our bucket list, including skiing, going to the Baltic, windsurfing, eating American pancakes, and training a dog. However, we had a lot to do at the last minute. So here's what we did:

We went sailing. One of their family hobbies! Too bad I didn't take any pictures!

And of course, a family photo with Austin, our not so little puppy!

Kayaking with Arved and Austin!

Tennis with my host dad!

Needless to say, I am so incredibly grateful for my host family. They have truly become my second family or as we joke, meine deutsche Familie ("my German family"). I'm thankful for all the adventures we went on together, the many nights we spent binge watching Heroes on Netflix (they are now hooked on Netflix) and the many late night wine conversations we had on politics and life. Although it was incredible difficult saying saying goodbye, I'm 100% sure that I'll see them again and our adventures will pick off where they left off..plus .we still need to check off skiing in the Rockies together! (Winter 2017!)

The last day in Berlin...

Going to miss riding the S-bahn everyday!

All of Grit's Kids together for a family pic! Thank you Grit!

A travel tradition I have kept for long term travelling is buying
a flag and getting new friends to sign it. I wanted to share this tradition
with the Berlin kids,  so I got them all flags. Each person's flag looks
different and has its special meaning...

Dinner pic

The entire Berlin group with Grit, the 6 Berlin kids, JT, and most importantly, the host families (and our dog!)

And the travel begins...

"Straight Outta Berlin" 

All bags were exactly 23 Kgs...

One last pic on the European side of the Atlantic

HOME!!!

4:30 am arrival into Denver

The first meal...Kurt, my neighbor and also a CBYXer,
and I met up to have burritos at Cafe Mex! Boy did we miss spice!

Reunited with the girls!

So, now it's time to move onto the next chapter...Dickinson College Class of 2020 where I'll be studying International Business and Management.

One last thing, Germany- you have not seen the last of me. Ich habe noch einen Koffer in Berlin!

Bis spaeter,

Deine Kirsten