After spending 10 days in Berlin, I can confidently say that I will miss it. Having been to Europe before, I thought I knew what to expect. However, this trip showed me that there is always more to learn.

One of my favorite things about this trip was that we had no itinerary (outside of class meetings). On all of my previous trips with family, we always had a jam-packed list of all the things we had to see before we went home. Conversely, this time I came to Berlin with my suitcase and no plans. I got to wander and explore around based on curiosity only, which allowed me to really immerse myself in the German culture. Don’t get me wrong, the tourist spots are touristy for a reason, but exploring more mundane things really let me connect things we learned about in class to my own experiences abroad.

As a typical type A person, this trip taught me to go with the flow more often and see where the world takes me, rather than meticulously plan out my future. To future students, I recommend you go on your trip with an idea of things you would like to do, but leave a couple days to just explore with the rest of your study abroad mates. You will definitely find hidden gems that are not on the “must see” websites, and those will become your favorite memories of the trip.

I had an amazing time in Berlin, and I can’t wait to go back someday! From falling asleep in the mall on our first day to finding a Michael Jackson shrine in the Tiergarten, it was an experience I will never forget.