To me, this is because of the stress of having to unload all your stuff, the unfamiliarity of all your surroundings and the waves of homesickness that wash over you as you adjust to your new area. For me, these are all natural parts of moving. But before too long, you find life getting easier. Soon, you learn where the closest bus stop is, you buy groceries and cook your first meal and you explore your new community and find your favorite places to go on walks.
A few days after my arrival, I attended training for my program with all of the other Fulbright teaching assistants. There are 140 of us in Germany. At the training, I learned more about my job and what to expect about life in Germany and got to meet other Fulbrighters in my area. Meeting new friends was one of my first steps in adjusting to my new life and made things much easier! When I returned from training I started work at my school, Karoline Burger Realschule Plus, a school for grades five through 10. My primary teacher introduced me to her students and the other staff and teachers at the school. Learning names was difficult, but everyone was very friendly. One of the teachers even brought over boxes of dishes, cooking supplies and other home goods to my apartment!
As time went on, I made even more friends with other teaching assistants from all over, including France, England and Spain. We had dinner together, went to events and shared our successes and struggles with adjusting to life in Germany. This new group of friends has made this experience so much better.
It’s been four months since I arrived in Germany now and I feel pretty well integrated into the community. I take a streetcar to work Monday through Thursday and know the students in all my classes.
