Travel Update
So I know I haven't written on here in forever! Traveling is busier then I expected and when you have free time while traveling, you are usually sleeping or relaxing. But anyway, an update.
I left Bodenseehof on March 24th and headed to Prague, which was amazing! One of my favourite places so far for sure. After that I flew to Barcelona to meet up with Bode friends, and I encountered a shut down metro system due to the protests and riots that you may or may not have seen on tv. So after 3 gruelling hours of trying to maneuver my way around a crazy Spanish city, I finally found my friends. We had 4 great days together, exploring La Sagrada Familia, the MNAC (the massive art museum in the palace), and the beach. Mediterranean sun does wonders for the mood. After my friends left Barcelona, I hung around for one more day and caught up with some other Bode friends. Then I stayed a night in the sketchiest hostel EVER and got on a train to head to Cinque Terre in Italy. If you don't know what that is, please google it. It's gorgeous.
Anyway, I altered my train route so that it took me around the Côte d'Azur, aka the Azur Coast or the French Riviera. It was amazing! The train took me through so many beautiful hills and towns on the coast. My first view of the Mediterranean was one in the fairly early morning and the sun was streaming out of the clouds onto the sea. Incredible really. Due to train mishaps, cancellations, strikes in Italy and everything in between, it took me a ridiculous 32 hours to get to Cinque Terre (it should have taken 20 at the most). BUT Cinque was well worth it! I stayed in Riomaggiore, the first village and explored Manarola, the second village. Due to lack of cash flow and trail closures, I was unable to make it to Corniglia, Vernazza, and Monterosso. I guess that means I'll have to go back one day. Too bad, such a shame I have to return to that beautiful place. I fell in love with the Cinque. It's Italy at the heart (plus a whole lot of tourists), but once the tourist groups clear the streets at night, the Cinque Terre reveals her true self as a place of simple living, of vineyards on high hills and fishing boats in the harbour. Simplicity. My cup of tea.
After my little vacation from my vacation in the Cinque, I moved on to Salzburg to meet up with more Bode friends. After catching up with my friend Mitch we traveled to Ljubljana, the capital of Slovenia. Think of a less puffed up version of Prague and you get the jist. The city centre has a beautiful river running through the centre and there are bridges everywhere! A very quiet, relaxing place. After Slovenia we carried on to Zagreb, the capital of Croatia. Seeing as most people turn to the coast in Croatia for the Adriatic Sea, Zagreb was also fairly free of tourists. Another beautiful city with lots to see and do. We visited St. Mark's church, the Museum of Broken Relationships, the Kapitol cathedral, Makismir Park (my favourite part of the city), and a variety of other sites. During this week I have never eaten so much bread in my life. Sure, I ate a lot of bread in Germany (that's a given), but at least then I had dairy and apples to balance it out.
After our little adventure in Zagreb, Mitch and I headed back up to Germany. So I am currently back at the Bode for the weekend and having a great time enjoying the company of old friends. There are a few of us students here waiting for planes and trains and such, and the staff is still around and willing to hang out. It's relaxing and I feel at peace being back. The trees in the orchard are blooming and it feels like life is back to normal. Except I know that it isn't. Monday I head back out into the world as I travel back to Italy to meet one of my Bode roommates Emily for a week of wine, beaches, Italian food and history, and rain, according to the forecast. Should be an excellent time.
As far as God experiences lately, I've just been giving Him all my travel worries and anxieties (whether I'll make it over borders due to potential visa issues, finding cheap accommodation, spending money in general and attempting to budget while on the road, etc). Still prayer would be much appreciated, especially concerning finances. I worry about money more than I should, but still, while traveling one has to be so aware.
God has provided at every turn, even if I thought it was last minute, which I suppose in some cases it was. But the fact remains that He is taking care of me (so don't worry Mum and Dad, He's got it). As far as processing everything I experienced at the Bode this year, I feel a bit lost. Traveling is not a normal environment by any means, let alone an easy environment to try and process a half year's worth of Bible teaching and personal growth. To be honest I feel like I'm struggling a bit. I knew how I wanted to live my life after school was done, but it's like I finally got out into the real world and didn't know how to function. It's confusing unless you're me, but like most of my other classmates, I'm struggling to deal with the abrupt change from Bode life to traveling life and eventually to home life. It's rather odd. I feel culture shocked to the max, and I don't think I'll be able to quite figure out what it is that needs adapting. It's hard to understand. I don't even understand my own head half the time. So I suppose prayer for clarity of mind and wisdom in making decisions would be greatly appreciated. This is harder then I thought it would be.
Much love,
Mickeelie
I left Bodenseehof on March 24th and headed to Prague, which was amazing! One of my favourite places so far for sure. After that I flew to Barcelona to meet up with Bode friends, and I encountered a shut down metro system due to the protests and riots that you may or may not have seen on tv. So after 3 gruelling hours of trying to maneuver my way around a crazy Spanish city, I finally found my friends. We had 4 great days together, exploring La Sagrada Familia, the MNAC (the massive art museum in the palace), and the beach. Mediterranean sun does wonders for the mood. After my friends left Barcelona, I hung around for one more day and caught up with some other Bode friends. Then I stayed a night in the sketchiest hostel EVER and got on a train to head to Cinque Terre in Italy. If you don't know what that is, please google it. It's gorgeous.
Anyway, I altered my train route so that it took me around the Côte d'Azur, aka the Azur Coast or the French Riviera. It was amazing! The train took me through so many beautiful hills and towns on the coast. My first view of the Mediterranean was one in the fairly early morning and the sun was streaming out of the clouds onto the sea. Incredible really. Due to train mishaps, cancellations, strikes in Italy and everything in between, it took me a ridiculous 32 hours to get to Cinque Terre (it should have taken 20 at the most). BUT Cinque was well worth it! I stayed in Riomaggiore, the first village and explored Manarola, the second village. Due to lack of cash flow and trail closures, I was unable to make it to Corniglia, Vernazza, and Monterosso. I guess that means I'll have to go back one day. Too bad, such a shame I have to return to that beautiful place. I fell in love with the Cinque. It's Italy at the heart (plus a whole lot of tourists), but once the tourist groups clear the streets at night, the Cinque Terre reveals her true self as a place of simple living, of vineyards on high hills and fishing boats in the harbour. Simplicity. My cup of tea.
After my little vacation from my vacation in the Cinque, I moved on to Salzburg to meet up with more Bode friends. After catching up with my friend Mitch we traveled to Ljubljana, the capital of Slovenia. Think of a less puffed up version of Prague and you get the jist. The city centre has a beautiful river running through the centre and there are bridges everywhere! A very quiet, relaxing place. After Slovenia we carried on to Zagreb, the capital of Croatia. Seeing as most people turn to the coast in Croatia for the Adriatic Sea, Zagreb was also fairly free of tourists. Another beautiful city with lots to see and do. We visited St. Mark's church, the Museum of Broken Relationships, the Kapitol cathedral, Makismir Park (my favourite part of the city), and a variety of other sites. During this week I have never eaten so much bread in my life. Sure, I ate a lot of bread in Germany (that's a given), but at least then I had dairy and apples to balance it out.
After our little adventure in Zagreb, Mitch and I headed back up to Germany. So I am currently back at the Bode for the weekend and having a great time enjoying the company of old friends. There are a few of us students here waiting for planes and trains and such, and the staff is still around and willing to hang out. It's relaxing and I feel at peace being back. The trees in the orchard are blooming and it feels like life is back to normal. Except I know that it isn't. Monday I head back out into the world as I travel back to Italy to meet one of my Bode roommates Emily for a week of wine, beaches, Italian food and history, and rain, according to the forecast. Should be an excellent time.
As far as God experiences lately, I've just been giving Him all my travel worries and anxieties (whether I'll make it over borders due to potential visa issues, finding cheap accommodation, spending money in general and attempting to budget while on the road, etc). Still prayer would be much appreciated, especially concerning finances. I worry about money more than I should, but still, while traveling one has to be so aware.
God has provided at every turn, even if I thought it was last minute, which I suppose in some cases it was. But the fact remains that He is taking care of me (so don't worry Mum and Dad, He's got it). As far as processing everything I experienced at the Bode this year, I feel a bit lost. Traveling is not a normal environment by any means, let alone an easy environment to try and process a half year's worth of Bible teaching and personal growth. To be honest I feel like I'm struggling a bit. I knew how I wanted to live my life after school was done, but it's like I finally got out into the real world and didn't know how to function. It's confusing unless you're me, but like most of my other classmates, I'm struggling to deal with the abrupt change from Bode life to traveling life and eventually to home life. It's rather odd. I feel culture shocked to the max, and I don't think I'll be able to quite figure out what it is that needs adapting. It's hard to understand. I don't even understand my own head half the time. So I suppose prayer for clarity of mind and wisdom in making decisions would be greatly appreciated. This is harder then I thought it would be.
Much love,
Mickeelie
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