decisions.

"I may not have gone where I intended to go, but I think I ended up where I needed to be"

I am an impulsive decision maker.  I make my decision within a few brief minutes and stick to the plan until the end.  Being an impulsive decision maker has always helped me in all situations.  I am able to think on my feet and act quickly and rationally without dealing with the stress of a situation.  My impulsive decision making has no doubt, caused others to question my decisions and attempt to destroy the validity of my decisions.  


One of my more infamous impulsive decisions was my decision to come to Germany.  I was just starting my second semester of my sophmore year of college in Vermillion, SD.  I was so sick of South Dakota and being suffocated by my family.  I decided that I needed a break of some sort.  I did not want to take an official break from college, if I took an official break I would have to start the never ending cycle of repaying my student loans.  So, as I was sitting in my German class, tired and delusional from a lack of sleep, I decided that I should go to Germany.  Right after that class, I went down to see the Global Learning department of my school and received all the "necessary" paperwork for studying abroad.  I filled it out and turned the paperwork in on time.  I never really thought that my trip to Germany was going to be real.  When I told my friends they were all excited and I was passive the whole time explaining it.  For a while after I told my family and friends, whenever I was asked about my trip I just brushed it off and gave a mediocre answer with little to no enthusiasm.  I didn't think it was actually going to happen.  I had an emotional breakdown the week before I left.  I had finally realized that I was going to be leaving for a full year and that this trip was real.  I cried, smiled, and yelled at anyone that didn't do their job correctly (sorry call center operators at verizon, my health insurance company, aerie, and many other people in real life.  It should also be noted that during this time I was also helping my mother and step father move to a new house while working two jobs.).  I was stressed and excited.  Not the best combination for me.

Long Plane rides blow.  Not sleeping on long plane rides blows even more.

Getting lost trying to find the Hannover train station made me cry.  But it was kind of funny.

Not having my buddy pick me up or meet me at the train station in Oldenburg, pissed me off.

So I arrived in Oldenburg: tired, emotionally upset, pissed off, and lost.

However, I did manage to find my way with the help of two wonderful women.  I was a hot mess, and they didn't care.  I have never been as happy as I was when someone was helping me find my way to my new home.  After the whole traveling fiasco I thought this trip would be alright.  I was still pissed off, I like to hold grudges when people cant do the job they sign up for.  Anyways, with every passing day, my trip to Germany got better and I started getting happier.

I cant pinpoint the exact day I realized that coming to Germany was probably one of the best decisions I have made.  But there is no doubt that I definitely needed to come to Germany to get away from everything and focus on improving myself.  My mindset has changed.  I find myself more curious about the people around me and I find the culture around me fascinating.  I even find the culture of the United States to be decent.  I have yet to think anything new on South Dakotas' culture.  Words cannot describe the immense changes I have gone through as an individual since travelling to Germany.  I do know one thing though, "I may not have gone where I intended to go, but I think I ended up where I needed to be."

*Cassandra