Great Expectations
Before I traveled abroad, I never gave too much thought about what living with another family would be like. The only way I can describe it is being back in high school (except not having a curfew), but this time you are much more matured. My first week in Germany was very much a struggle. There was an exact moment where I really felt a part of my German Family. After that point every day is still an adventure, but I feel like I have a place where I can turn to when things are rough. Having this feeling was not something that I expected prior to this trip so it is almost a bonus for me.
As far as adjusting to the culture goes there was also a definite point where I no longer felt like an separate part of society. I was walking down the busy streets of Cologne and someone stopped me and asked for directions. Me knowing where many of the Kneipes and Discos were had accumulated a keen sense of direction in that part of town. Without thinking, I answered the lost traveler in German and for once they did not ask if I was an American. Adapting to the culture was something I thought would take more time than 3 weeks. I have no expectations for the rest of the trip because I have found that without a preconceived notion of things, you enter each situation with an open mind. I have many things I want to accomplish but I plan on taking everything in stride and see how much, in excess, I can