This is week 4 in Braunschweig Germany and for the first time it is beginning to feel like I am “living” here versus being a tourist/traveler. I have become extremely familiar with my surroundings and where things are, similar to how I am at home in America. I have my “go-to” places for lunch, coffee, groceries, etc. I am even beginning to pick up some German phrases! (Which I expected to be nearly impossible when I got here)
This past weekend I went to a music festival with one of the girls I tested in my first week here. We have been getting coffee and lunch together on various days, and she invited me to go with her and her friends to the street festival. I did not understand the lyrics of the music at all, but the atmosphere was lively and I had an amazing time. It was also neat to see how they festivals compared to us, and surprisingly they are not that different.
My research schedule is becoming BOOKED! There is one day next week I have 6 total participants in one day. I have gotten over 60 responses to my pre-screening survey and almost every day someone sends me an email due to hearing about the opportunity from a friend/classmate. I have also reached out to every single teacher in the language and English department here to see if I can speak in their classes next week, so I am anticipating even more participants coming my way. I am beyond excited for these next two weeks as my schedule is becoming booked and I like to keep busy.
I am glad you are acclimating to the culture and surroundings well! I know that when traveling to new places, a lot of times it’s a hit or miss whether you are able to adapt but it seems you are doing very well. A music festival sounds so fun! (Even if you couldn’t understand the lyrics haha), but getting immersed in the culture is the easiest and best way to maximize the experience. In terms of your research, that is amazing! Wow, what a great response. Wishing you the best of look with your research and hope you are able to get more of that cultural immersion:)