After a few relaxing days at my parents’ place I had to face the real world again and take care of some paperwork. I went to Tübingen for a few days (the city where I normally study). For my dear friends from somewhere outside Germany: here’s map which might be helpful when I talk about all these places. Basically, we’re looking at the South of Germany…=)
The city is not that important, rather the people who live there. I was so blessed to have the opportunity to stay with friends. They have just bought a new apartment and had a spare bedroom. They picked me up from the train station (what a nice surprise!) and spoiled me from head to toe for all the days I stayed there. I am really, really grateful- they made the visit very worth while! Thank you, Sophie and Rico!!!
I had time to sleep in, relax, read, spend time with the Lord…But also wander the city- it is still as beautiful as I remembered it to be- and meet friends. It was great to see that some old connections are still there and we could just pick up where we left off. Thank you everyone, who was spontaneous enough for dinner, coffee etc.- really appreciated it!
One other big part was to go back to university- not to study but to take care of papers and signatures. When I came back I suddenly realized that I have to plan more than just the new semester (starting in April). I have to finish some courses but basically I have to plan my final state board examinations and when I want to graduate. Wow, that was a little overwhelming! I knew it would be coming someday, but it just sounded like big decisions. I don’t want to bother you with complicated examination regulations, but basically I have to go to several professors and ask them to examine me. They do not always take you, and some of them I have never spoken to before. But since I only had these few days in the city I went from office hour to office hour, talking to professors about exams which will take place next year in spring and fall. I went in to get some information and came out 20 minutes later, being registered for the exams- crazy! Normally, you have to wait an hour since so many people want to talk to the professors but I never had to wait! I had nice chats with each of them.
Thinking about it, I am still a little overwhelmed. Even though it’s still about 1,5 years to go, graduation has become a real goal and very tangible. On the one hand, I am a little afraid when I think about all the studying, all the reading, all the late nights…I am not sure if I want to leave the safe haven of university and take care of “real life”. On the other hand, I can already feel excitement rising up in me- the world is out there and I am ready for it! I want life to be lived and not just observe it from the outside!
Well, 20 minutes is not a lot of time, but sometimes they can change a lot…
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| First train ride in Germany and it’s late! So much for German punctuality… Erstes Mal wieder Bahnfahren und der Zug ist verspätet! So viel also zu dt. Pünktlichkeit… |
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| Perfect welcome- I definitely felt at home! Was für eine Begrüßung- da habe ich mich auf jeden Fall zuhause gefühlt! |
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| In the quiet, Lord, is where I find you… In der Stille finde ich dich, Herr… |
Wenn ich darüber nachdenke, ist es immer noch etwas überwältigend. Obwohl es noch gut 1,5 Jahre sind, scheint der Abschluss nun real und greifbarer zu sein. Auf der einen Seite bin ich etwas ängstlich, wenn ich an all das Lernen, Lesen und wenig Schlaf denken…Ich bin mir nicht sicher, ob ich die “sichere” Uni verlassen und “richtig leben” will. Auf der anderen Seite kommt jetzt schon die Aufregung und Vorfreude auf- die Welt ist da draußen und da will ich hin! Das Leben soll gelebt werden und ich will nicht nur Beobachter von außen sein!
Zwanzig Minuten sind wirklich keine lange Zeit, aber manchmal können sie einiges verändern…
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