From Washington, D.C., to Germany: The Beginning of My CBYX Year
Aanshi is an American student studying in Germany as part of the CBYX (Congress-Bundestag Youth Exchange) scholarship exchange program.
It’s hard to believe that I’m already in Germany.
Just a few weeks ago, I was in Washington, D.C., preparing to begin what will be one of the most exciting and meaningful years of my life. Now, I’m here in Germany, learning German, exploring new places, and getting to know people from all over the United States and Germany.
Our CBYX experience officially began in Washington, D.C., where we had the opportunity to visit the U.S. Department of State. It was incredible to see a place that plays such an important role in international relations and diplomacy, especially knowing that we would soon be representing the United States ourselves. We also had the chance to meet officials and CBYX alumni, who shared their experiences and advice with us. Hearing about their years abroad made the exchange feel even more real!
A big part of our time in D.C. was preparing for the year ahead. We spent time thinking about our goals, what we wanted to learn, and the kind of person we hoped to become through this experience. We were also given journals to use throughout the year, which I think will be really special to look back on. I’m excited to fill mine with everything from big milestones to the little moments that I might otherwise forget.
After D.C., we headed to Germany for language camp. And I cannot lie: German is HARD – but in a fun way! In just about a week and a half, I feel like I’ve learned more German than I learned Spanish in an entire school year. There are definitely similarities to English that make some words easier to recognize, but the conjugations and grammar can be challenging. Still, I’m
slowly getting the hang of it. Hopefully, by the end of the year, I’ll be able to look back at these first few weeks and laugh at how difficult everything felt at the beginning.
One of my favorite parts so far has been getting to explore with my roommates and the other exchange students. We recently took a trip to Wiesbaden, where we walked around the city, explored, and got döner together. It was one of those simple days that made me realize how much I’m going to love experiencing everyday life in Germany.
There have already been so many little cultural differences that I’ve noticed, too. One of the first things I learned was about the German bottle deposit system. When you return certain bottles, you can get 25 cents back! It’s such a small thing, but I think that and the 5 different recycling methods is the beginning of the culture shock.
Most importantly, I’ve loved getting to know my roommates. Going through such a huge experience together has made us close very quickly, and I’m grateful to have people around me who are experiencing many of the same emotions, challenges, and excitement.
This is only the beginning, and I know there is still so much ahead. There will probably be moments when the language feels impossible, when I miss home, or when everything feels unfamiliar. But there will also be new friendships, new places, new experiences, and countless opportunities to learn.
For now, I’m taking it one day at a time, and I’m so excited to see where this year takes me.