Study abroad: Here we go!

Oops, if the past posts sounded too negative, I'm really sorry. Of course, we have had many great moments and beautiful experiences here in the last three weeks, but it's not always easy and I wanted to express that. Six months in Bali may sound perfect, but it also comes with ups and downs.

BUT: After apparently getting through the rainy season, the sun is coming out more often and Charley doesn't have dengue fever, as briefly suspected by a doctor. It seems like things are finally improving and I can finally share some highlights :).

About the rainy season, I have to say: it's just crazy. I thought us Hamburg girls are well-prepared for all weather conditions, but as Anka put it so nicely: 'It's as if someone up there is opening the floodgates.' A whole ocean pours down on you out of nowhere, and most of the time it happens when you're sitting on your motorbike in a traffic jam wearing just a t-shirt and shorts. That's why we appreciate the sun of the last few days even more.

Last Saturday there was a meet-and-greet event organized by GoBali. It took place in a beautiful warung (Indonesian restaurant) with a large garden. Colorful lanterns hung in the trees and the sun set behind the rice fields. It was a very meaningful event because it allowed us to make some contacts before the first classes even started. I already knew some faces from the photoshoot. On Tuesday, the first day of classes, there was an opening ceremony in Balinese style, followed by a tour of the campus.

Compared to my first day of classes in Hamburg, the atmosphere during a semester abroad is completely different. Everyone is very open and friendly, and people approach each other. You can tell that everyone relies on meeting new people here with whom they want to spend an unforgettable six months. It's obvious. We are all far away from our families, our friends, and our familiar environment. We have to find a substitute and it's so much fun. Everything is new, everything is different, everything is exciting. Suddenly, I'm looking forward to everything again. So many demotivating things happened in the last two weeks, and the rain didn't help. But now I look outside and the sun is shining. I'm excited to learn something new. I want to get to know Balinese people. Preferably lots of them! I laugh about my broken phone. Right now, I appreciate where I am and what I'm doing here.

It's gonna be great!

(Uni photos will follow, I didn't take any pictures because my phone is broken)