Khyri's Adventures in Bavaria

Previously I posted about Ebi's adventures through Bavaria, but he slept through a lot of it, or was stuck in a backpack, so he did not get to see or do everything. This is Bavaria, from a human's perspective. :)

Overnight flights are the worst. This trip started out with an overnight flight to Stockholm. With only a few movies to watch, it was pretty long. Typically I sleep pretty well on planes, but this was the exception. From Stockholm, we flew to Munich, where we were staying for a few days.

Downtown Munich

Munich is a crazy city, full of people and hustle and bustle. It honestly felt very similar to American big cities, except everyone spoke German instead of English. We lost our bag at the airport, so the first night was spent a little stressed in an attempt to get our bag back, but we also got to explore the city some.

Pigeons are the main birds found in Munich.

An arch in the middle of downtown.

While staying in Munich, we went on a tour of two castles in the area. Both were designed by Ludwig II, but one of them is famous because of the influence it had on Walt Disney designing the castle for the intro to all Disney movies. :)

Castle #1

A common duck. There were a lot of
ducks, basically everywhere we went.

A part of castle #2, but it is still lived in.

Neuschwanstein, which inspired Walt Disney

The bridge from which the picture above was taken.
(This picture is taken from the castle.)

 After Munich, we headed to Salzburg, which was amazing!

The view from our hotel window.

The main river running through Salzburg.

Dad and Caleb being silly.

Dad with a LEGO police officer.

The lock bridge. People put a lock on the bridge
and throw the key into the river to promise to
forever love each other and stay together.

Austrian geese.

A house of Hitler's that was bombed after the war.

The most beautiful waterfall ever!

Salzburg from a bell tower.

The family being very tourist-y.

The fortress overlooking the city.

A traditional German dress. It is actually
quite comfortable!

All I asked to do while on this trip was see the mountains. It was worth every second.

The mountains were beyond beautiful. I wish these pictures captured what I saw in person. 

While at a tour of a castle, we saw a falconry show, which was amazing. They had trained the birds to fly on command and because of the location, they were able to let the birds fly freely as well. 

Another adventure in Salzburg was Hangar 7. Caleb and Dad really wanted to go to see the museum of planes and cars that are on display for the Red Bull teams. 

Some of you may know that Salzburg is the home of Sound of Music, so it is hard to go much of anywhere without seeing something related to either the real Von Trapp family, or somewhere they filmed. 

Amongst random other adventures, these were the highlights of the trip! The flight back was much more tolerable and I am very glad to be back home once again....at least until my next adventure. ;)

Ebi's Adventures in Bavaria

Ebi (my little llama friend) spent 10 days visiting some amazing places in Austria and Germany, otherwise known as Bavaria. He thought this story was best told through pictures. 

Ebi, ready for adventure!

Hotel #1 Ebi liked having his own bed.

Bavarian breakfasts made Ebi quite happy!

Castle #1 styled like Versailles in France.

Ebi liked Dad's shoulder over the course of
his adventure.

The fountain at castle #1

Ebi conquered his french fries wrapped in
newspaper.

Another castle, though this one is still lived in,
so Ebi did not see inside.

Riding in weird places while waiting in
line for the bus.

The fairytale castle
Neuschwanstein

Hotel #2. This one was by far Ebi's
favourite!

Enjoying downtown Salzburg

Window shopping

The river Salzer

Ebi found a new friend named Gianna.

Ebi loved the mountains, but was too busy
sitting on the camera to be part of the
picture.

Coffee was amazing in Bavaria and super
strong, but Ebi liked being hyper all the
time.

More shoulder rides at breakfast.

Ebi visited Hangar 7 in Salzburg and liked looking
at all the airplanes.

A Look Back at 2018

In 2018...

• Some dear friends came to Chicago for New Year's and we all tried not to freeze to death.
• I took ninjutzu and self-defense
• I did a lot of school 
• Physical therapy and I became close friends (about 4 months total in one year....)
• I went to Florida for the first time :) 
• I spent hours of video calls with my Bella 
• I had my wisdom teeth removed
• I went to Madison Wisconsin for the first time
• I took a road trip to Colorado with Rebekah
• I met lots of new friends!! 
• I turned 21 and went indoor skydiving
• I spent 2 weeks in New Mexico
• I was in my sweet Katie Grace's wedding as a bridesmaid
• I returned to Semester for alumni weekend
• I drove 5 hours alone for the first time 
• I went to the city museum in St. Louis
• I saw John Crist live!! 
• I went to Kristkindlemarket 
• I became a vegetarian (not by choice) 

Now I am ready for all the adventures that 2019 has to offer! :) 

A Letter to Semester Students

Dear Summit Semester class of 2018 (and all future classes),
Happy Thanksgiving!!! Today is a wonderful day! Within the walls of Snow Wolf Lodge there is more joy and laughter than ever before in the past three months. Families are united and sharing in a celebration with your new friends and people you will treasure for the rest of your life. There is also a sadness starting to spread. A realization that you are leaving soon. A year later, on Thanksgiving, my heart still aches from remembering this feeling. Thanksgiving means graduation, and graduation means leaving home and returning to the world you knew before. It isn't the same. I promise, even if everything looks the same, you have changed, and your perception of the world you once knew has changed as well.
I know the staff has prepared you well to come home, but no one tells you what it is like a year later, so that is my goal. Everyone will have different experiences, but I'm sure this ache is the same across the board. Thanksgiving next year will be hard. It feels weird. All the emotions come flooding back. The good memories, as well as the hard ones. The realization that maybe you haven't seen, or even talked to, some of the people you thought you would never loose touch with, in a year. You will remember what it feels likes to come home and how hard or weird or abnormally normal it felt. Today it feels like I just came home, not like I've been home a year. Use this feeling, these memories, and remember the things you learned. Take this time to remember what you thought you would never forget. Read through your notebook, your letters from girls (or guys) appreciation, and look through pictures. Semester may not be perfect, but it will forever be a huge part of your life. Coming home isn't just about learning how to live in your community again, but learning how to thrive every day in light of what you learning and how God has changed you. Never forget there are at least 31 people who feel exactly the same way and 12 classes before you who understand and are still feeling those same things years later.
Take time to remember. Take time to smile. Reach out to your classmates. Semester is an amazing experience that will hold with you the rest of your life. Enjoy it!
Congratulations on making it to the end of the year (and this letter)!

One Year Can Change A Lot

One year ago was my first day at Summit Semester.
It feels like yesterday and eons ago, at the same time.
The thought that keeps running through my head is, "One year can change a lot."
My life is so different from last year, even though outwardly almost everything appears the same.
It's not my habits, or my appearance, or my home, or my church, but my heart that has gone through more than words can say in the past year.
I thought when I left Semester that I would never be able to think about it again without this sad longing in my heart to be back there, with those people, in my room, or on the ridge. While this is true, there is also so much more to it than that. Yes, I want to be back, but I also don't want to go back and repeat it. I've grown. I don't need that exact experience all over again. Yes, I miss my friends, who are practically family, but I still talk to them a lot, even though our relationships have changed dramatically from when we were living side-by-side.
There is also an excitement knowing Semester is starting again. Another band of misfits get to rule the world for a while and experience all the joys, pains, laughter, and family that I had a year ago. They get to see the world through new eyes and learn to live in a community that will impact them the rest of their lives. Each of their stories will be added to ours, just as ours were to the years before us, and create the amazing story that is known as Summit Semester.
So long live Semester '17, and here is to an amazing Semester '18!

"Long live the walls we crashed through

All the kingdom lights shined just for me and you

Long live all the mountains we moved
I had the time of my life
Fighting dragons with you."