My program in Germany was my first study abroad experience, so I wasn't sure how it would turn out. I have an anxiety disorder that makes it very hard for me when I experience new things. At the start of the program, I had a lot of problems communicating with my host family, but by the end of the five weeks I spent with them, I was sad to be leaving.

A couple days before our departure for a different city, my host mom invited me to come to a clothing exchange that she does with her friends. I said I probably wouldn't come, but when I got back from class that afternoon, I had changed my mind because going would let me spend more time with her before I left. The drive to the nearby village took about thirty minutes, giving me lots of time to practice speaking German. We arrived at a house and met my host mom's friend in the driveway. She showed us around to the back of the house. We walked through a small garage that smelled a little like a barn, and up the stairs at the back. There was an idyllic elevated yard behind the garage, where a couple women were already waiting. I felt very awkward and nervous, so I sat down on the picnic blanket my host mom pointed out and tried to adjust to my surroundings.

More people arrived, and I was surprised to see that they were all about my age or a little older. Once everyone came, snacks were laid out in the middle of the circle of blankets, and the others began laying clothes on the grass around the circle. A couple people asked who I was, and my host mom explained I was an exchange student. They then asked me what I thought of Germany and which cities I would be visiting during the rest of the program.

I still felt too shy to look at the clothes, but I tried some of the food. The gummies were quite good, and the cheese chunks were delicious. After a while, I tried on some clothes. I actually left with three shirts, a sweater, and a vest, even though I didn't plan to take any clothes at all. When I tried on a piece of clothing, the other women would tell me it looked really cute.

Overall, it was a very positive and enjoyable experience. I spoke more German that day than any other day during the program. It was the first time I realized how much the program had improved my speaking skills.

Name: Delaney Fedewa
Status: Junior
Major: Japanese
Hometown: Shaker Heights, Ohio
Program: German Language and Culture in Mayen, Germany