Intern International

    This was the craziest trip of my life.     It was a school trip, and instead of taking a bus, we crammed nine people into a van, four of which were young, rowdy boys who didn't understand the concept of inside voices, or simply good manners, and who wrestled, screamed, and chatted the ENTIRE DRIVE. To make matters worse, my headphones had died, and I was left to face the sensory overload head on. Thank God for blessings like Keegan. He lent me his headphones for a good portion of the trip and this was all that kept me sane.     To make matters worse, I was in the middle of drafting and editing my final exam for Ancient Art History, in which I was tasked with writing around a dozen short essays about different pieces of Roman Period Art. This was a task which had to be done in the van, while being kicked in the small of the back, or in the few hours of quiet I had at midnight in the hotel.     I've learned that Bogi trips are qui...

    The next couple of weeks were a whirlwind, and to be honest, everything happened so fast that my memory is a bit patchy. Plus, I must admit, that something happened in the small window of time between my parents visit and the next trip which sent me into an anxious spiral that occupied most of my headspace. I was trying my best to enjoy my time while also struggling with anxiety, panic attacks, intrusive thoughts, and also a ton of school. :( But, I don't want to focus on that, because there were also a lot of great things that happened in my last month of school!     After I got back from my trip with my parents, I had a trip to the Czech Republic planned for the next weekend. Our youth group was going on our last spiritual retreat. We were staying at a little airBNB next to a lake and we were going to spend our time swimming and having evening worships by the campfire, but it ended up being pretty cold and rainy. We still had a good time though.  My f...

   The next day, it was time for my parents to head back to Munich for their flight home. But we had to make one more stop before they went; Mirabel Gardens, a famous filming location for The Sound of Music. I enjoyed seeing the gardens again, because the flowers and foliage were different from September when I had first visited.  Eating our food on the curb Some goodbye kisses.    And then, they were gone. A trip that had been working me into a delighted frenzy for three months prior was suddenly over, and my little slice of heaven; being a carefree kid again whose parents were going to take care of her, ended.     I absolutely loved having my parents here with me. There is nothing quite like sharing your experiences, your life, and your new home, with the people who matter to you most. Having my parents here was so special because on the one hand, I got to show them all of the dreams that I had fulfilled. Sharing with them was special because wi...