It is hard to explain the intense feeling of the butterflies filling my stomach that happened on January 7th as I arrived at Frankfurt Hahn Airport. My time spent at home over Christmas Break was definitely restful and much needed, but when the time came for me to be reunited with the friends I love most, I was more than ready. I was so grateful to see everyone again. After attacking every member of Moore Haus with hugs and chattering about our time away from Germany, it was time to greet the second-semester students. While we were definitely missing those who returned to Malibu, we were also grateful to have such a warm and spirited group come to join us in Heidelberg. Getting to know each and every spring student would be a blessing, as they filled our house with a fresh energy and love.
After venturing in groups to our favorite restaurants and stores in Heidelberg during orientation, we began to plan our first trips of the semester. The first weekend in which we were allowed to travel was rapidly approaching, and our goal was to take a daytrip. The majority of our house decided to rent five cars and head to the Alps, to see Neuschwanstein Castle (which Walt Disney based his Sleeping Beauty castle on). Its majestic towers are best viewed from the peaks of the snowy cliffs of Bavaria. This castle’s presence is overwhelming; it is a real-life fairytale. We toured the castle and learned about the generations that were fortunate enough to inhabit such a breathtaking structure. The shining stone and stained-glass windows told vivid stories about the castle’s longstanding history. We pictured ourselves as princes and princesses as we slowly climbed the spiral staircases, and took hundreds of pictures during the tours.
While the actual experience inside the castle was captivating, what I will truly treasure about that day is that the second-semester students became family. We shared stories throughout the entire day—the crammed cars helped us to hold conversations and share interests, whether we were reminiscing about shared high school experiences while listening to throwback tunes, or discussing our most ridiculous phobias. We started the day by ordering rich and creamy hot cocoa at a local café at the foot of the castle, as we stared out into the snowy town. Even though we had all just come form different parts of America to join for this second semester, we all shared an overwhelming appreciation for our location and lives at that moment. We all fought with cardboard swords in the castle gift shop, and were able to unleash our inner 7-year-old selves. My favorite memory of the day was when our entire group met up at McDonald’s for inexpensive (and familiar) Big Macs. As we comfortably ate our American food, we scrolled through the hilarious pictures we snapped that day and held our chilly hands to the heaters. Everyone seemed to sport a genuine smile. We shared the feeling of true bliss, and felt God’s grace as we spent quality time with new and old companions.
The trip to Neuschwanstein castle was unforgettable, and we have many more excursions coming up. Every destination that we visit will be unique and memorable for different reasons. I am excited to see what friendships form, which deep bonds are established and how people learn to be patient with each other. It is exciting to watch the Pepperdine students that arrived this semester adjust to the German culture and the Moore Haus way of life. It feels as though I was arriving in Heidelberg just yesterday, and I am constantly reminiscing on the feelings I experienced in those first few stimulating weeks of traveling. With this group, there is no doubt that it will be an exhilarating semester.
