Adventures with Rae Rae

As I sit here listening to Elevation Worship, I feel inspired to reflect on how my faith carried me through my journey abroad. The song "Sure Been Good" was my anchor during those months, and every time I hear it, it opens my heart and reminds me of God’s presence. Whether I was sitting on the Deutsche Bahn, staring out the window with my AirPods in, or navigating a completely foreign environment, this song became a source of peace and reassurance for me.   Before leaving for my trip, I attended Coastal BCM at C3 Coffee Bar (a place I absolutely love right across campus). During one of our sessions, I asked David, who was leading us, how I could stay connected to God without having a church overseas. He told me something simple but powerful: “Take your Bible, listen to your favorite worship music, and find your peace in Him wherever you are.” That advice stayed with me and became my guide in moments of uncertainty.   There were times I felt overwhelmed—whether lost i...

The Feelings Returning from my time abroad has been a complicated tangle of emotions I’m still trying to sort through. It’s amazing how transformative a few months can be, how they can etch themselves so deeply into your life and make everything familiar feel... unfamiliar. The whole experience changed me, and I want to share every detail of it with everyone around me. But how do you explain that feeling, that longing, without feeling like you’re trying to relive a past that no one else was there for?  I catch myself wanting to bring up stories and memories constantly—small moments that defined my day-to-day life while I was away. Those late nights laughing with friends who understood me without needing to try or the mundane daily routines that became comforting in a strange new place. It feels like these memories are right at the surface, begging to spill out, but I hold them back. I don’t want to be “that person” who seems like they’re always stuck in the past. I don’t want peopl...

There’s something strange about reflecting on my experience of studying abroad. When I try to remember how I felt before leaving, my mind goes blank. It’s almost like the experience was so broad and eye-opening that I can’t separate the emotions I had back then from the lessons I’ve learned since. But I found a way to piece it together. Recently, I opened up the journal I took with me to Germany and reread my first entry. The date was March 5th, 2024, and I was sitting alone at Atlanta airport, about to start what I called “the adventure of a lifetime.” I remember feeling excited—but scared. My parents had just dropped me off, and I was sitting at gate F3 with my brown sugar espresso in hand after a chaotic encounter with TSA (which involved me getting yelled at because I didn’t know “common sense,” apparently). As I sat at the gate, I did what I always do when I need comfort: I opened my Bible. That’s when I came across Proverbs 11:24-31, which says, “There is one who scatters, yet in...

Wow, where do I even begin? Studying abroad has a way of transforming you in ways you never imagined. When I took the leap of faith back in March 2024, I didn’t realize I’d come out the other side as a completely different person. Now, as I sit here in October writing this blog post, I can’t help but reflect on how much I’ve changed, all thanks to the incredible people I met in Germany. I was one of 21 international students at RheinAhr Campus, and let me tell you, I feel like the luckiest girl in the world! I’m truly blessed to have these amazing individuals in my life. We still keep in touch through our WhatsApp group chat—those notifications popping up on my phone are like little bursts of happiness. These friendships are lifelong, whether at weddings, birthdays, or spontaneous adventures in the future happen. I can't wait to reunite with them! I got close with so many incredible people—like my buddy from Portugal, the sweetest curly-haired girl from Australia, and the hilarious...

The Unique Experience of Being the Only American at RheinAhr Campus Being the only American international student at RheinAhr Campus in Remagen, Germany, was both a unique and enriching experience. It allowed me to immerse myself fully in the German culture and build meaningful connections with students from diverse backgrounds. Although I initially felt a bit out of place, the welcoming nature of the community quickly made me feel at home. Navigating a new educational system and adapting to different teaching styles broadened my academic horizons. The smaller class sizes and more interactive learning environment at RheinAhr Campus fostered a deeper understanding of the subjects I was studying. This experience not only enhanced my academic knowledge but also improved my interpersonal and cross-cultural communication skills. Exploring Germany and Beyond: Travel Adventures and Cultural Immersion One of the highlights of my time abroad was the opportunity to explore Germany and neighborin...