The End of an Adventure; A Reflection on An Amazing Year.

So here it is my friends, 348 days after arriving in Germany, it is time to say goodbye. This is truly a harder experience than it was leaving the US to come here. When I cam eI at least knew how long I would be away. 

I wrote a reflection blog when I left Radolfzell so I will be skipping that time and starting when I got to Münster.

The best part of my year started on the platform of the HBF. That was when I met my host family, and to be honest they are so much more than that. One of the first thing that the said was that I was part of the family, and boy did I feel it. I could have never done the things I did here without their help and guidance. I made so many good friends here as well; Johannas and Anika, Simon and Felix, The Reiselfelder family. I'm truly going to miss you all. 

Living abroad gave me such a new outlook on life. I believe that everyone should have to do at least a semester abroad, to see the world and a new point of view. I can say that this year has changed me. Being able to find myself, the true me, open my heart again, and see a new outlook on life. I have become new customs and ideas, sadly I'm not even sure what they are yet. I won't be able to really see them until I'm back in the states and people are asking why I do that. The things that are normal here will be different in the US. 

Research has said that when someone doesn't experience culture shock coming to a new place that they will have it twice as hard going back. I hope that this is not the case for me. That I can easily reintegrate into my home life. The mountains are calling to me,  the creeks are bubbling and its time to come home. 

Home, I have to say that now I have two, and that one day I will return to Germany, to Münster, To my friends. 

Deutchsland Ich Leibe dich, und ich werde zurick zu kommen. Meine plan steht fast das die sommer uber next, woll ich im Münster stehen. 

I know this is very choppy of a blog, I am actually having trouble expressing myself.

So what is to come, what does the future hold?

After I get home the world is open to me;

SCHOOL; I will be staying in the area for another year to finish my associates degree, and take the last courses that will transfer. Then it is off to VCU to start my bachelors program. I'm still going for a forensic science degree and probably have another 3 years to achieve my double bachelors in Chemical/Biological Toxicological Forensic Science. Then its off to the wide working world, and who knows where that will take me. 

Work; I'll once again return to the Gemeinschaft Home and work in Criminal Re-entry. I will continue to be the unofficial sobriety coach of several ex residents and enjoy watching their progress. 

Life; I will be moving back into Moms house for the time. There is a prospect of me getting a small trailer and living semi independently there, but that is just a thought right now. I am ready to get back to my friends and the experiences that we will share. Weather it be the simple hookah nights or an extravagant trip to ComicCon I can't wait to get under ways. I also plan to continue my healthy lifestyle that I found here. I'm looking into biking to various places, going to a gym, and I still plan to run a tough mudder eventually. 

Love; I'm still not sure where this will go, there was so much that changed in this past year. Only time and God can tell. But I will say that I believe that my prayers and questions are starting to be answered. 

This blog ended up shorted than I thought it would be, but I may just be distracted on my last day in Münster. 

well if you will excuse me, I'm of to finish preparing to leave, see you soon,

Cody A Glick

Time for the Last Run (Part 3) Absinthe Edition

So I'm once again back in Munster, the final adventure for the year is basically over. This past week I spent my time in the Czech Republic capitol of Prague. A very different atmosphere from being in Paris last week. this time it was back to the old crew, Josh, Kyle, and me. headed out by bus Thursday evening.

Our travel was probably the worst part of the trip. the bus there made few stops in which we had access to a bathroom and the one on the bus was broken.  10 hours on a bus was pritty bad already add in a family who thought they could stretch out, be loud and that we all wanted to hear their music, needless to say that we got no sleep that night.

The next morning we wondered to our hostel and left our bags, while we explored the city. Unfortunately for us the hostel office doesn't open until 5 in the afternoon, so we where stuck out and about. Groggy and dead we found a park and ended up spending most of the morning just lounging. after lunch we headed back to the hostel to crash in the lounge until the office opened.

A not so early morning followed on Saturday, we rolled out of bed around 10 and then headed out to a small town called Kuntá Hura. There isn't much in this old mining town, mostly churches but we where there to see one nicknamed the Bone Church.

I'm not sure if you all know, but I love the Macabre arts. Boy did this church do it. The room houses 40,000 skeletons of victims of the black death. Arranged in pillars, lighting stands, a coat of arms, and so on.

After a short tour of the little sept we wondered the town for a bit before heading back.

Sunday we really set out to see the old city center. Up to the castle and then through the old town. It was definatly a difference between the part of the city we stayed in and there.

Our tour of the city had us stopping by one of the oldest breweries in the city for a beer called X BEER 33. This is a wonderful dark beer. after brewing they age it for 6 months in a smoked oak cask. with 12% alcohol i had a kick and was actually a little hard to drink. not because it was strong but because it was thick. The flavors where wonderful and is definatly a beer I will miss. The company logo is also awsome "Never Drink Alone"

As I finish packing these last few days it is almost a shock that I only have 10 days until I stand in the Va again. It's almost odd to say home, Germany has been as much of a home to me as Harrisonburg has and I doubt it will ever loose that. But that is a topic for next weeks blog.

Nikdy nepij sám!

Cody A Glick

Time for the Last Run (Part 2) Du Vin Edition

Well I just got home about four hours ago (about 9 a.m. my time). Actually felt pretty good for just having an eight hour bus ride. So I came up laid down and started going through the over a thousand photos I took on my latest adventure, to the City of love.

Or better known as Paris, France. I headed out Saturday with Josh and Simon to the airport. We got through security in no time what so ever, our flight was crazy fast as well. We took off, reached altitude and then landed. After we figured out how to get to the city from the Airport we headed to our hostel. However we discovered our booking confirmation doesn't have the address of the hostel on it, and then the next problem was wonderful Apple Products. Apple maps do no t work well, the GPS had us going in the complete wrong directions. Finally found the hostel and settled in.

We had an interesting first night which involved one of our roommates getting forcibly removed from the building.

The next morning we headed into the town and caught a Hop on Hop off Tour. We saw most of the sights over the four different lines.

In the city of love with love on my mind

Monday we went to the Louvre and wondered through for about three hours.

Over all Paris was not one of my favorite cities I have ever been to. It was much dirtier than I had believed it would be, but the time I spent there was wonderful. Now a couple days to recharge the batteries; both literally and metaphorically.

Stay tuned until the end on the next adventure, part 3 of the Last Run.

Au revoir,

Cody A Glick