Flying Solo

“I know my roots. Now is the time to try out these wings.” –Me

On May 4, 2013 I graduated at the Big House from University of Michigan with a Bachelors of Arts in History and Germanic Languages. Less than a month later, I found myself saying goodbye to my family at Sarnia, ON airport to fly to Dresden, Germany for study at the Goethe Institute for two months.

This experience was my first time, truly on my own... and boy...there were trials, obstacles, and challenges from the moment I left the safety of the nest.

When I landed in Prague, on a Sunday, my luggage had been left behind in Toronto. All I had was my carry-on and backpack with one set of clothes, my laptop (cords were packed away safely in my checked luggage), and cell phone. Back in those days, my cell phone had X-number of minutes, and international calls made it even shorter. At the hotel desk, the attendant did not speak English or German, but I was able to figure out that my room would not be ready for at least another 4 hours. I checked my carry-on back into their locked room and hit the city.

I was in a foreign country, on my own, on a Sunday in the middle of a rain storm. I did not want to venture off too far to not get lost, so I found the only little cafe open in a several block radius, ordered a bowl of pea soup and a diet coke. Luckily, they had WiFi available so I could call my parents to help me arrange for my luggage to be delivered to the Institute. With still several hours remaining until my room would be ready and having already routed out my walk to the train station for the next morning, I ventured back out in the rain, found a little cover in a park under a tree, sat and wrote in my travel journal. Already less than a day in, and I felt over my head in problems I did not know how to solve.

The next morning I set off for the train station to head to Dresden. I had to check in at the Institute by 6PM so I had booked the 8AM train out of Prague. The train ride was expected to be approximately an hour. To get to the train station, I had to walk through a foot of water from the rain storm. Pants soaked up to my knees, but hey, an hour train ride and I would be able to switch into my last outfit in my carry-on and finally get some rest.

Much to my surprise, the train station was madness. Low and behold, I had traveled to Europe during the first "flood in 100 years." My train was late coming in from Budapest. 12PM I was finally able to board the train destined for Dresden. As the train slowly made its way towards the German border, the water levels were within 20 feet of the train, the rapids rushing, rooftops barely peaking out above the water. This was the last train to run this route until the water receded away from the rails.

Five hours passed, 5PM, with an hour to spare to arrive at the institute to check in and get the keys to my dorm. With thirty minutes to spare, cold and wet, pants still damp, I finally made it. With the help of an Ohio State Buckeye in the dorm below mine (and surprisingly this Wolverine would become great friends with the Buckeye), I was able to jiggle the key enough to get into my room and finally rest.

In the first 48 hours of flying solo, I conquered trials, created lasting friendships, and ignited the fire of more adventures that await.

…And here…we…GO!