My merriment time in Europe 
by Nthuthuko Hlela
 

It is essential for me to first disclose the fact that I had negative stereotypes about Germany and to be honest, the actual experience is simply the opposite, hence I repentant my notion. Germany consists of friendly people, at least those who I have met. This essay will be delving on my experience in Europe. 

Until now, my German experience has been jolly and tranquil, however some moments were better than the others. The moments that stand out for me is our first few days in Europe. When we landed in Turkey, I experienced horripilation, it was starting to sink in that I have crossed the South African boarder, let alone the African one. The weather was cold but not to the extent I expected it to be. We then entered the massive, extraordinary and stupendous airport of Istanbul, Turkey. The architecture was superlative. Our connection flight to Stuttgart was only in a few hours from the time we landed, hence, we used this opportunity to do what we do best and that is to take pictures. It was this day I realised that time flies when you are enjoying yourself because few seconds after we landed, our connection flight to Stuttgart was ready to departure. My flight from Istanbul to Stuttgart was filled with ebullience. I was confident enough to suspend my belief and enjoy the moment. Three hours later we landed in Stuttgart. The Stuttgart airport was relatively small when compared to the Istanbul airport, nevertheless, the experience was priceless. 

After a long draining flight from South Africa to Turkey, then to Stuttgart, Mr Werner, the most humorous and amiable person I have ever met, booked us a luxurious hotel near the Stuttgart airport. A hotel of this calibre was indispensable. We then went to have lunch at a nearby restaurant, of which was awkward but exciting because I didn't know anyone in the group. Surprisingly it ended up being one of the best meals I have ever had, and it was not because of the succulent food but the challenging and enlightening conversations I had with my compatriots. The day couldn’t end any better, majority of the group members decided to come and play informative games in my room. It was a nerd’s party and it was mint.
 
Then the day we were all waiting for, finally came, the 6th of January, we were going to meet our host families at ADAF. The time came, goosebumps subjugated my body, my eyes were glued on the door, the pupils were quiet, the atmosphere was intense, then the moment came, the door opened, and an old lady came in, she looked jovial and excited. Barbara, one of the most affable and warm-hearted persons I have ever met, greeted this lady and they started talking in Deutsch. Then after that short conversation all I heard was my roommate's name and my heart skipped a beat, my brain couldn't believe my own ears. Few minutes later, my roommate and I were in a Mercedes Benz, our host mother, Mrs Vetter was transporting us to her stupendous house. This made me realize that I still have a lot to accomplish, my mission is far from being complete. Our genial host mother then invited us for dinner, and this sounded like music to my ears because I was ravenous. The food was scrumptious, Mrs Vetter used this opportunity to create a comfortable atmosphere for us. This also helped my roommate and I to build a sustainable friendship. 

Living in Germany has taught me may things, firstly, stereotypes are not always accurate, they are created based on what other people think or have experienced, hence, their conclusions are subjective. Secondly, I learnt that punctuality plays a big role in the success of the country, for example, German transportation system is reliable, this helps the working population and entrepreneurs to plan ahead of time, this leads to efficiency and productivity. In conclusion, my German experience has been astounding and it will play a significant role in my career.