First Assignment

The question isn't why I want to go to Germany, it's why wouldn't anyone want to go to Germany. The past 7 months of my life have been handled with an entirely different view on everything since the passing of a close friend of mine at a young age. A lot of you know the story of Shaun Wild, and a few were even lucky enough to know him. Shaun's mottos were to Be EPIC! and to ALWAYS Accentuate the Positive. I took those two mottos into my own perspective and told myself to never pass up an opportunity and that everything will always be okay. Germany is an opportunity I could not pass up. My roommate TJ (who is going with us) went to Australia last D-Term and I'm still kicking myself for not going. As far as choosing Germany specifically, both the program and Professor Wolf really jumped out at me as soon as I attended the first trip meeting. As an economic and business major, I find Germany's rise and stronghold of the Euro fascinating. The economy of the EU and of it's strongest nation, Germany, is something that will definitely be relevant in the American Business world upon my graduation. Where better to learn and understand German policies than in Germany.

It is because of the economics and strength of German policies that my first photo is of Angela Merkel, Germany's current Chancellor. She is considered by many in the business and economic realm as the most powerful woman in the world, and I definitely want to learn enough about her and her work with policies before we go to be able to strike up a conversation with a local about their leader.

My second photo is a daunting reminder of Germany's horribly haunted past. I had a friend's parents that recently traveled to Berlin and were amazed at how hushed the Germans were about Hitler, the Holocaust and the camps, but it is clearly something that I realize and recognize as we make our trip.

My final photo is of the German vs. the Italian flag. I got lucky and got a cheap trip to Italy this June and was absolutely amazed. I had never before left American soil and the culture, the architecture, the food, EVERYTHING about Italy was so cool to me and I can't wait to see the same in Germany.

I can't wait to go to Germany with this group and I'm positive that it will be an chance of a lifetime trip that I was not about to pass up!!!

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