The Trail Goes On

Classes began this week. It is going to be an adjustment getting used to going to a large university – but I think the change will be good! I’ve always wanted to get a “big school” experience. Max Sievers (another Hope student studying abroad with IES in Christchurch) and I both had our Tuesday classes canceled so we decided to hike the Bridle Path.

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Looking back at Christchurch from our hike up the Bridle Path

The Bridle Path is the historic passage from the city of Christchurch to the small town of Lyttleton. Originally constructed in 1850 it was the only way for the original pioneers to cross the Port Hills until the construction of the Lyttleton tunnel in 1964. Now the path is popular for hikers and tourists in search of adventure and a good view.

On the ferry crossing over to Diamond Harbor

Max and I caught the bus to the base of the trail and hiked up. It was much steeper than either of us had anticipated but the view overlooking the city of Christchurch was incredible. After about a 40 minute climb we made it to the top and could look down at Christchurch on one side and Lyttleton and the harbor on the other. We decided to follow the trail down into Lyttleton and see where it led. Down by the water we found a public transport ferry that would take us to Diamond Harbor, opposite Lyttleton on the other side of the water. Without hesitation we hopped on – when adventure presents itself, you have to leap at the chance!

While we were crossing the water we ended up talking to the captain and he recommended that we hike the Mt. Herbert trail, that originated right from Diamond Harbor Beach.

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Looking down at Lyttleton harbor and Diamond Harbor on the other side of the water.

It was just past noon so Max and I decided to go for it. Starting out, it was hard to identify the trail, but pretty quickly we learned that we just had to look for the wooden posts with the yellow painted tips. One of the most interesting things to me was that this public trail went through private land! It was maintained by the DOC (Department of Conservation) and was

accessible to everyone, yet I found myself walking though private sheep pastures and farmer’s cows quietly chewing their cud.

The walkway was not always clear…
Random cows stared at us as we hiked past
It was incredible to walk through so many sheep pastures!

IMG_9553To get from one farmer’s enclosure to the next we had to cross over fences and
there were these brilliant step-bench contraptions designed specifically for this purpose. To the right is a picture of one.

 

After about an hour of hiking Max and I were about to reach the summit. Only we got there and found that we had to continue on up! This happened a total of 4 times. This was definitely one of those trails that just kept going on and on and on. After a total of two and half hours of steady climbing we finally reached the summit! The view was remarkable.

Mt. Herbert is a part of an extinct volcano that juts out into the ocean just South of Christchurch. From the top we could see Christchurch, Lyttleton, Diamond Harbor, and mountain ranges on every side. A photo will never do it justice!

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Looking down towards Diamond Harbor
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An incredible cave that we stumbled across in a sheep pasture
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When I thought of New Zealand before coming, THIS is what I pictured.
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Max was a great hiking buddy

After spending about ten minutes on the windy summit we began our descent and traveled back home. It was a day well spent.

The Start of Something New

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And just like that my summer has come to end and I am off to be a student in another country with a semester that is currently overcast with many unknowns.

Since the moment when I gave my sister the bittersweet and final wave before going through security at O’Hare International airport, my emotions have been anything but stagnant. They have fluctuated from the heart beating moment of boarding the plane and realizing this was 100% actually happening, to the joy I felt when I saw the movie selection as well as when the airplane meal was brought out, to the regrets of eating the creamy mash potatoes even though my lactose intolerant body warned me not to, to the now serenity of just sitting here and waiting at the Dubai international airport to board my plane to Cape Town, South Africa.

As I sit in this wi-fi-less airport, I am finally given the much needed time to write of the reflections that accompany the adventure I am embarking on before I really get to the heart of it. With this new chapter in my life, I have a few expectations and hopes.

I expect to learn a lot. I hope to learn about myself, the culture, and the possibility of working at an international level.

I expect to find a community at some point in my time in Cape Town. I hope that it is soon, because even though I am someone who knows first hand that loneliness can be really beneficial for me, I am also a 30/30 extrovert (Myers-Briggs guaranteed) and want to find those people to call my home away from home.

I expect to see amazing sights and go on many fun adventures. I hope to have the time and people to feed my adventure side (and I hope to not get eaten by a shark).

I expect that this chapter in life will change me drastically. I hope that change turns into growth of myself on a spiritual, cultural, intellectual, professional, and personal level.

All in all, these hopes and expectations are scary because I have no control in how they will play out. I can choose the person I want to be or even some of the things I get involved in, but I can’t control or plan the results. Heck I barely understand how I am getting the food that I am cooking for myself, how to get to the classes I am taking (plus what those classes are), or just my situation as a whole – and as a type-A planner personality, that is a scary thing.

With that said, one reason that pushed me to study abroad for my fall semester of my senior year (even though I adamantly declared as a freshman that I never would study abroad due to FOMO [fear of missing out]) was the fact that I had planned so much of my junior/senior year and had such expectations – yet when it came down to it, my junior year was overshadowed with disappointment and plans crumbling apart (not to say the wasn’t a lot of good in it too).

So here’s to a new start, with many unknowns and situations/factors I can’t account for – here’s to the next chapter that I am nervous for, yet even more so, I am excited for as well. Cheers to new beginnings!

Highlights of my time in Ecuador

Hola amigos, sadly my time in Ecuador has come to an end. However, for those of you who may be thinking about studying abroad (or just visiting Ecuador), I’ve compiled a list of highlights of my time abroad. If you visit Ecuador, some of these places should be on your list too!

  1. Amazonía – Tena & Misahuallí
    Río Napo en Misahuallí
    Where el Río Napo & el Río Misahuallí meet
    The view of the rain forest from our hostel in Misahuallí

  2. Baños
    The swing at the end of the world
    Iglesia en Baños
    Eating cuy (guinea pig) in Baños
  3. Carnaval Weekend
    Hiking El Altar
    Carioca fights in Guaranda during Carnaval
    Carnaval concert in Guaranda
  4. Centro Histórico de Quito
    Iglesia de San Francisco de Quito
    La Virgen del Panecillo
    La Basílica
  5. Cotopaxi
    The view of the terrain close to our camping site
    Chloe is excited to see the volcanos
    The cloudy day ruined our view of Cotopaxi
  6. Enrique Iglesias Concert
    La entrada para el concierto
    Excitedly waiting for the concert to begin with Alicia
    So close to him!
  7. Mindo
    Río cerca del hostal
    Vista desde el hostal
    Cascadas de la caminata
  8. Mitad del Mundo
    Puluahua crater
    Standing on both the northern and southern hemispheres
    Balanced an egg on a nail 🙂
  9. Museos de Quito
    Museo de la Ciudad
    Museo del Alabado
    Convento de las Carmelitas
  10. Quilotoa
    Quilotoa Lake
    Photoshoot by the volcano lake
    Depiction of the lake by an artist
  11. ¡Quito!
    Quito from the IES Center building
    Quito from the TelefériQo
    Parque Metropolitano

Auf Wiedersehen, Berlin.

The time has come to bid Berlin farewell.

This semester has been full of highs and lows, but everything worked out in the end. I traveled around Germany, France, Italy, Poland, Ireland, the UK and Greece. I had the opportunity to intern with an international business and meet some amazing people who are going to do great things. I took interesting classes with professors from all over Europe. I was a part of the first year of CIEE Berlin Open Campus and I learned so much about Berlin. I was in Europe during the immigration crisis and witnessed it first hand. I was a part of Berlin’s Christian community. I met people I know will be apart of my life for years to come. I was able to have another life changing semester.

This semester was not short on its tough moments; actually, things were often difficult, but I wouldn’t change this semester at all. Hard times foster growth and I know when I return to the U.S. I will begin to see the extent of that growth.

Please go abroad! There is really no experience that compares to your first time boarding that plane with 4 months worth of clothes, a heart full of excitement and passport in hand. You are living in a different country and are able to decide who you want to be and what you want to think. You see that the U.S. is not the center of the universe and learn about all the other cultures out there. You learn so much about yourself and grow in ways you could never imagine possible. I cannot even believe I spent a semester living in France and another in Germany. Wow. When else would I be able to do that in life? Being that I am now a Hope College graduate and I’m beginning to look for jobs, I know I am truly going to stand apart. My international experience and the lessons I’ve learned are invaluable and not easily obtained. As dramatic as this sounds, I know that after this semester I will never be the same person I was a couple of months ago. I’ve grown, I’ve changed, and I’ve gained greater wisdom through my experiences. I have learned more about the world and look forward to the future.

So, Berlin, this is goodbye. I don’t know when I’ll be back, but thank you for challenging me in ways I would have never expected. I’ll always have love for this wonderfully strange city.

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Sincerely,

Bri <3

These are a Few of my Favorite Things

Wow, my semester in Berlin is coming to an end. Its hard to believe that it has been 5 months! As my final days are approaching I’ve been reminiscing of the things I’ll miss most about Berlin. Here are several of them. : )

Mustafas

Oh my goodness. I am going to miss Mustafas every day for the rest of my life. Mustafas is a famous food stand only a five minute walk from where I live that serves the most amazing doner kebabs. Mustafas doners are filled with chicken, potatoes, fresh veggies, different sauces and topped with feta cheese. Words don’t do it justice, you honestly have to try one for yourself although the line is usually down the street. This is hands down one of the best things I have ever eaten.

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My Berlin roomie and I enjoying Berlins late night treats; her with Curry 36 fries and myself with a doner from Mustafas of course.
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After his first bite, one of my friends described the doner as life changing.

Brandenburg Gate

The Brandenburg gate is one of the most iconic monuments in Berlin and is also incredibly beautiful. Its always so nice to be in that area and appreciate its beauty. When you see it you can’t help but think, “Wow I am really in Berlin.” I remember one day after class I just sat at an ice cream shop, right in front of Brandenburg, reading a book and enjoying the busy, but calm atmosphere. I’ll definitely miss being able to jump on a train and arrive at this beauty in 15 minutes.

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The Parks

Although it hasn’t been warm for too long, I have still seen some of the great parks Berlin has to offer. I love finding different parks to explore because they are the perfect place to read, catch up on my journaling, people watch or even have a little picnic with some friends. Usually gelato stands, which are often in sight when I’m craving a cold, refreshing treat, are the cherry on top.

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Saddleback

During my time in Berlin I attended Saddleback Church Berlin. Saddleback is international with numerous locations in California, Berlin, Argentina, the Philippines and Taiwan. At this church, my friends from the program and I were able to join a small group with amazing young people who love God. I was so thankful to have a church home while abroad and get to know some locals at the same time.

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Biking around the city

I LOVE to bike! In the fall when I biked around Hope, I would always think to myself that soon I would be biking around Berlin, and that I did. Biking is such a cool way to see and get around the city. After classes, when the days were nice, my friends and I would bike to different parks to meet up with friends and explore other parts of the city.

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Berlin is such a bike friendly city. Biking made me feel more like a local.

“Happiness is Only Real When Shared”

I have met so many interesting and great people during my time in Berlin. From my professors, to CIEE staff, to my coworkers at my internship and of course my friends in the program; I have developed some great relationships that I will be sure to maintain. It’s great to reminisce with friends, from the semester in Berlin program, who went through similar experiences.

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My closest German friend Bekka, I will miss her soo much!
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The original group. <3

Those are just several of my favorite things, but the list could go on and on. I encourage you to go abroad so you can create a list of your own. : )

Interning Abroad

Before leaving for Berlin I was made aware that my program offered internships during our time abroad. Like everything else, I knew I had to take advantage of this opportunity. I imagined how much of a truly invaluable experience it would be, so I began the process. While filling out the questionnaire I was torn between being honest and having no idea what I want to do, or doing what I thought I should do, a corporate internship. I decided the former and was placed at Rainmaking Loft Berlin; which is exactly where I needed to be without knowing it.

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Photo credit: The Rainmaking Loft

Rainmaking Loft Berlin is a co-working and events space for tech startups with locations also in London and Denmark. They offer working space, facilities, events, and a sense of community. The members of the loft work closely together in open spaces and come from all over the world to pursue their entrepreneurial dreams. One can walk in and hear countless languages and innovative ideas which is pretty amazing.

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photo credit: The Rainmaking Loft

My internship lasted for six weeks and consisted of a plethora of task. I went in everyday for about 4 hours, sometimes more depending on if there are any events going on. I have been able to see behind the scenes of how you run a business, have been given my own project, have met so many amazing people with great ideas and have learned more about myself in the process. It’s great to be in such a driven setting that is also so much fun at the same time.

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My project was a members wall of current and past members.
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The finished product!

Although I have had a variety of jobs from working in a restaurant to being a study abroad peer advisor in the US, I had not yet completed an internship. It was really nice to be able to see aspects of how a business works internally. I was able to attend weekly staff meetings and hear about each position, have lunch everyday with my team and others, as well as learn and speak to many successful people. That was one was my favorite parts; the people. I loved being around intelligent and driven entrepreneurs at the Loft. Everyone was so open and willing to share about their company and vision, and give me advice for my future endeavors.

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We have some loftees that are great chefs. This was lunch one day!

CIEE did a great job of matching my personality with a company and I believe the same for my classmates. I am so thankful I was able to do an internship while in Berlin. I learned so much in such a short time from working in an international setting. I know as I enter the working world, the skills and values that I’ve learned at the Loft will be a great asset. Companies are valuing international competency more and more as the world becomes increasingly interconnected . Although I’m sad my time has come to an end at the Loft, I’m looking forward to what is yet to come and thankful for my time.