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Reaching into the cooler, I pull out a Sprite can. I pull back the tab and let the carbonation fizzle down. Then, I glance up and see that popsicles have just arrived. People begin to splash towards the covered pool deck, sunburnt and ready for something refreshing. I wipe the sweat off my face and follow them. This is the third pool party I’ve been to since school let out less than a month ago. 

My name is Thomas, and I’m from Florida. Life in the Sunshine State is very different from what I expect life in Germany will be like. Although I don’t know where I’m going to be placed, yet, I doubt it will be quite so warm. The shorts, flip-flops, and Hawaiian shirts making up my summer wardrobe will have to go. It will probably be more of a challenge to find friends with backyard swimming pools. I’m also counting on less popsicles and fewer days off school from hurricanes.

I tear the top off my red popsicle and enjoy the sweet sensation hitting my lips. The coolness is a welcome relief from the baking sun. I check the temperature: 36° Celsius. Switching my weather app to Celsius was one change I made in preparation for my trip. Another was turning on 24-hour time; that’s still been taking some getting used to.

Before CBYX, I had wanted to learn German for a long time. My mother learned German from her mother, who was a German teacher in Oklahoma for 30 years. My father picked up German in high school and college, so it’s long felt like a way to connect with my family. But before applying for the program, I had trouble making this dream a reality. My grandma lived too far away, neither of my parents remembered enough to teach me, and the online classes I tried were… incomprehensive, to say the least. Learning German before I leave has still been a challenge, and online lessons remain as confusing as ever, but at least I now have a prize awaiting my hard work. 

Having finished my popsicle, I reapply sunscreen and get back in the pool. There are 15 of us splashing around and enjoying summer; for the past several hours, we’ve been playing a chaotic game of pool volleyball. Eventually, I tire of my place in the deep end and trade with someone from the shallow side – treading water for long periods of time is exhausting. I deserve another popsicle. As I go to grab one, I glance around at the friends I’ve made here in Florida. I know that I’ll miss them during my time abroad, and I’m making everyone get WhatsApp so we can stay in touch, but I can’t wait to make more friends in Germany.

Reactions vary when telling people about my decision to study abroad. Some students hear about the castle we’re staying in for language camp -something I’m highly looking forward to- and immediately ask if it is too late for them to sign up. A couple failed to pay attention the first, say, dozen or so times it came up in conversation, and were shocked at the end of the year when they found out I won’t be returning next year. Still more refuse to believe that I’m seriously okay with the idea of moving in with a family I haven’t met yet, who I may not meet until I’m already in Germany. But that’s part of the experience – it’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and I couldn’t be more thrilled. While I prepare for Germany, I try to make the most of life here in the US. After all, there are at least two ice cream socials and another pool party planned before I leave, and who would want to miss that?