Maggie’s Journals

October 16, 2025

Becoming Part of the Story

September and October have been full of new experiences, personal growth, and some of the most memorable moments of my exchange so far. I had the chance to connect more deeply with my host families, explore new parts of Germany, and travel outside the country for the first time since arriving. Whether I was learning German history, canoeing in the rain, or standing in front of centuries-old castles, this month constantly reminded me why I chose to go on exchange.

I started the month by taking part in a local tradition in Lüneburg called Bridging. As the name suggests, it involves gathering on a bridge to hang out, talk, play games, or listen to music. I spent the evening with two of my future host families and a few other exchange students from my city. We played dice games, ate ice cream, and danced to music as the sun went down. There’s a man who comes out almost every night to make huge soap bubbles, and he let us try making some ourselves. It was a fun, laid-back way to spend time together.

Later in the month, we had our first ROTEX weekend. In my district, all the Rotary events for exchange students are organized by ROTEX, so they always plan things that are really fun. This time, we were in a town called Bad Fallingbostel, where we went canoeing and tried archery. The river we were on was surrounded by tall, moss-covered trees that gave it a quiet, almost surreal feeling. That peaceful moment quickly shifted when it started pouring out of nowhere. With no way to get off the river, we threw on ponchos and kept going. It sounds miserable, but honestly, it was one of the best parts of the trip. Everyone was soaked and laughing, and it definitely brought us closer. We spent two nights in a hostel deep in the woods and ended the weekend with a barbecue hosted by the local Rotary club. We also did a short flag parade and got to meet some of the Rotarians from the area.

At one point this month, I learned that Oktoberfest actually takes place mostly in September, despite the name. My city held its own Oktoberfest-style fair, so I went with friends to check it out. It reminded me a lot of a country fair back home, but the rides were faster and more intense. We spent way too much money trying to win games we had no chance at, but we had fun anyway. It was a great way to experience how traditional festivals look in different parts of Germany.

Later on, I took a day trip to Hannover with a few friends. It’s the capital of Lower Saxony and took about three hours by train to reach. We spent the day walking around the city, exploring its old streets, and visiting shops. One of my friends had never seen a Sephora before and was taking pictures nonstop, which reminded me just how different our lives were before exchange. Now we’re all in the same place, experiencing it together. We ended the day with a picnic in a field in front of the city’s Rathaus.

I also made a trip to Hamburg with my friend and host family to buy warmer clothes. I didn’t realize how cold northern Germany could get, and I definitely wasn’t prepared. Out of all the cities I’ve visited so far, Hamburg is probably the most impressive. It reminds me a lot of New York City, but with much older buildings. After our shopping trip, I met up with my host family at an art museum and we walked through the impressionist exhibits. It was a more relaxed day, but one that stood out for its atmosphere and quality time.

Toward the end of the month, we had a full ROTEX week in Magdeburg. We had daily German classes, plus workshops on history, politics, and geography. In between, we explored the city and spent time getting to know each other better. On the first day, we visited a historic church and went bowling later that night. The next day, we toured the state parliament building for Saxony-Anhalt and learned how the regional and national governments function. That evening, we had another Rotary barbecue, which, like always, had great food and even better company.

One of the most meaningful parts of the week was when we cleaned Stolpersteine, or “stumbling stones.” These are small brass plaques placed in the sidewalks outside the homes of people who were killed during the Holocaust. Each one includes the name of the person and some details about their life. Taking time to clean them and read their stories was a sobering but powerful experience. It helped me connect with Germany’s history in a real, personal way.

I left the camp a day early because my host parents and I had plans to travel to Prague and Vienna during fall break. We started the trip in Prague, where we had dinner at a local restaurant and tried traditional Czech food. It was honestly some of the best food I’ve had since arriving in Europe. After dinner, we walked through the old town under soft yellow lights, heading back to our hotel, which had a view of Prague Castle lit up in the night.

The next morning, we watched the eleven o’clock show at the city’s astronomical clock. Small statues of the twelve apostles moved in and out of the building, while other figures on the outside represented vanity, greed, and death. Later in the day, we took an audio walking tour of Prague Castle. The mix of architecture and history was stunning. I saw the window where the Thirty Years’ War started, walked down Golden Lane, a narrow street with tiny, colorful houses, and visited St. Vitus Cathedral. The church was breathtaking, with stained glass on every wall and dramatic gothic ceilings. It’s the most beautiful church I’ve ever seen.

That night, we went to a Cirque du Soleil show. The entire performance was incredible, and I was genuinely blown away by the artists’ talent and creativity.

Vienna was just as impressive in its own way. We stayed with some of my host family’s friends, and I spent time playing with their youngest daughter, who reminded me a lot of my sister back home. The city itself felt elegant and full of history. We visited the treasury museum, where I saw centuries-old royal jewelry and clothing that showed just how wealthy and powerful the city once was. My host parents also shared their knowledge of Austrian history, and it was interesting to hear how it’s taught differently from German history, even though the two countries are so closely connected.

Even just walking through the city felt meaningful. St. Stephen’s Cathedral was just as beautiful inside as it was outside. The next day, we went on a long hike through the mountains and climbed a tower that gave us a panoramic view of Vienna. It was the perfect way to end the trip.

Looking back, September and October were both exciting and eventful months. I experienced life in German cities and small towns, deepened my connection to history, and traveled outside the country for the first time. I got to know my host families better, formed stronger bonds with other exchange students, and learned more about myself in the process. Every part of the month, from the rainy canoe trip to the quiet stained glass windows of a cathedral, gave me something new to reflect on. I’m excited for what comes next, but I’ll definitely carry the experiences from this month with me.