I am feeling kind of glum as I sit here writing today’s blog. Don’t get me wrong– today was great overall. However, goodbyes take a toll on a person. I’ve already had a few, and I know many more are just around the corner, especially with graduation approaching.

Our host school did not have any lessons today because the teachers had an all-day conference. Because of this, Libby and I had set aside the day as a day for getting any last minute shopping finished. We woke up and went into the city near the harbor at Landungsbrücken, arriving before most of the shops opened (whoops). We walked around a little and then decided to grab a quick coffee (hot chocolate for me). I made the mistake of trying Italian-style hot chocolate, which is closer to pudding than a beverage but with less sugar. We shopped a little after this and bought a few gifts, and then we headed to a different U-bahn station to meet for brunch.

Landungsbrücken

Some of the American and German buddies were able to gather for a brunch at a cafe today. We enjoyed a buffet of German breakfast foods and were just able to chat and hang out as a group. I am so appreciative of how much the buddies impacted our experiences here and genuinely made an effort to spend time with us and help us enjoy Hamburg. I feel as though I have made some great connections (teacher solidarity) and better friends that I will hopefully be able to see again. Saying goodbye is a generally terrible experience, but it’s a necessary part of having met them, so it’s of course worth it. To any buddies still reading at this point (bless you), thank you so much!!

After brunch, several of us went shopping with Ashley’s host mom as a guide, and we were able to find our last few souvenirs. Our experience here is winding down, and the reality of coming home soon is really setting in. I think we all feel like this is a bittersweet time because we have completely enjoyed our time here, but we miss so many people from home, and we have to wrap up our college careers. I am (along with a few others) seriously considering coming back to Hamburg for an extended period of time though, so that thought makes the upcoming departure a bit easier. It will also be great to see some of the people we really miss, too.