Reflection 5

As I probably mentioned before, this is not my first time travel abroad or even live abroad for a long period by myself. However, this experience was still so mentionable in my college years or even in my life. Although I have always considered myself as pretty international, I have never been to Europe before. I used to think Europe is very much like USA compare to Eastern Culture. Not until after this trip, I did not know I had missed an important part of the world. Now, I am even considering going to Europe for work after college graduation. It was hard to come back to normal life while it was nice to be home. When I think back about the life in Berlin with Hostel and all public transportation, I think we had a pretty hard life. However, when I was having that life, I did not think it was hard but more of a different and sweet life with friends exploring the whole city.

I really miss walking from the subway station to our hostel. So many bars and restaurants, I like walking by so many companions and wondering what they talking about. The chill feeling in Europe, you cannot find it anywhere else. When we have 21 drinking age, European college students are used to have a good time with friends in bars. Growing up in China, I felt every big city are the same. Although every city is probably in different country in the old time, now they are all same with similar skyscrapers and city plan. Since I did not stay in US long enough, I have never realized USA is so short in history aspect in culture. When I was in Europe, my biggest surprise is that city can combine its history and modern development so well. Europe is so surprising in every aspect. I think US is too developed without little history base, while China does not use its history resources well to integrate into the city.