Emily Brisse

       

People travel abroad for all kinds of reasons. To relax. To challenge preconceptions. For work. For warmth. For snow. For food. To learn. Make memories. Mix it up. Get out of comfort zones. For the thrill. For bragging rights. Because a place is extraordinary. Because it's beautiful. Because it's scary. Sometimes, simply for something different. Usually, though, people don't travel to feel at home. When we crossed from Switzerland into Germany, the faintest outline of the Alps fading behind us, I listened as our local bus driver made a call on his cell phone. He spoke in a German dialect I would later understand as Swabian. All I knew then was that his words were full of an easier music, a rounded lightness. Lynn, our German teacher and my fellow chaperone, leaned over to me and whispered, "He just said, 'Germany has us in her arms again.'" From that moment, something very specific about our trip changed. We were still and always foreigners in anot...

Lahr (Schwarzwald), Germany : The area where I spent half of June and the first week of July. It reminded me in many ways of Minnesota. Although, in other ways, it was all and only Deutschland. And yes, in time I will expound. This will be the first in what I'm guessing will be a good number of "in photos" posts. So much to share! But first a disclaimer: the first photo was actually taken right outside of Seelbach, a neighboring village to Lahr. Isn't the Black Forest beautiful?  Hope you've been well, friends. It is strange and wonderful to be home (my own bed! English!), and although I want to and will live in the present as much as I can for the rest of this summer, I know when I'm in my moments of reflection, it will be gratitude gratitude gratitude.