Castles, Cobblestones and Crepes

My last remaining months in Heidelberg were amazing. I've had time to reflect now and I look back there is nothing at all that I would change over this past year and no matter how much the cost to study abroad, to relive that year again there is no price I wouldn't pay. Going to Heidelberg was the best decision I could ever have made in my life. I have no idea where I would be at right now in life and in which direction I would be going if I hadn't spent a year in Heidelberg. Being back in the states I now know that I don't want to stay here and I belong abroad. There is so much to see in this world!! I have to keep traveling!! I plan on moving back after I graduate to teach english. Right now I want to go back to Germany, where at though I'm not sure yet, but I really miss Germany and want to go back. But I would also like to move to some complete random country, Thailand is one on top of my list I'm thinking about. But Heidelberg would not have been so amazing without the people I met and become so close with. I have made some friends I know I will be friends with and stay in contact with for the rest of my life. I even ended up sharing my one bedroom apartment with two asians! How did that happen! I loved everything about Heidelberg, the people, the food, the usual well known homeless people, the stupid tourists, The Wiessssyyyy, Plöck, Mohr, Tangente, Brass Monkey,Club Buckleys, Döner, Raja Rani, Stuzzio Pizza, a bottle of Rosé and our beloved Max Weber haus, just to name a few. And before I left I finally jumped off the Alte Brücke!!! Maybe a little bit under the influence and maybe topless, but write that one down in the books!!!!
Having a new family just thirty minutes away in Heppenheim made my experience even greater. At anytime I could hop on the train and quickly be in my second home with mums food and Luisa's comfy bed to lay on, even if I did have to share it with the dogs or the cat Riesling! They were always there whenever I needed something. Her dad even took us on his plane and flew us over Heielberg! How awesome was that! To see the Berg from the sky!
When I first left to Germany I can't exactly remember my thoughts and feelings, something along the lines that I was just hoping to have a good time and not get home sick, nothing to special in mind. I don't know why I even wanted to study abroad in the first place, I actually didn't know that much about the rest of the world, like most Americans, but this idea came to me in HighSchool, and I guess it sounded cool to live far away from home, then I started learning German at Uni and everything just began falling into place. My mom tried stopping me from traveling to Freiburg for two weeks when I was 17, but I did it anyways. Then she really didn't want me to leave for a year, being in Eugene was far enough, I was determined and soon enough got my bum over to Germany. But studying abroad exceeded anything I had in mind. I just can't explain to you in words the love I have for this beautiful city, the people I met and the places I traveled. There is not a day that goes by that I don't think about it. I will remember all the people I encountered and hope to see you all again one day, unless I really didn't like you, then no I won't see you again. I hope the next time I'm there I can still go to our favorite weekly bars and see a familiar face or two!
With all the laughs, tears, alcohol, food, boys, flights, trains, sleepovers, fights, celebrations, exams, holidays and experiences this was by far the best year of my life...so far.......

last 5 months of pictures ;)