Palmator 2018

The expression “packed like sardines” would have been too generous when describing just how packed the bus was that we boarded on the way to Palmator, an annual kick off to Spring beer festival just outside of Regesnburg on Adlersberg. There were so many people that the windows fogged up, and we all got off sweating and thinking that hell might just be eternity on that bus. The fresh air that greeted us when we finally got off made the walk up to the top of the hill quite enjoyable as we followed the throng of dirndls and lederhosen to the entrance of the festival. Inside, we were greeted with the sound of people laughing, glasses clinking, and a kickass oompa band playing covers of pop songs.

It was the first really warm day we’d had in Regensburg so far. I sat in the grass with a group from our Intensive Language Course and our tutors, and although we’d spent almost three weeks together, I was surprised with just how many people there were still left to meet. Great beer and great company made the day go by so quickly, but I can easily say it was one of my absolute favorite days in Regesnburg so far.

Being here, I naturally miss my friends at home, and coming here I wanted nothing more than to make truly meaningful and lasting friendships but I was no nervous about how to go about doing that. Now that I’m here, and now that I’ve met all the amazing people who are part of this exchange, I know that I’ve made some lifelong friends. My fellow Bruins abroad are seriously my rock. They have become my best friends and I couldn’t imagine being here without them. My new friends from UC Bolder never stop making me laugh and are always down to go out and on some crazy adventure with me. My C1 class has made the learning part of this exchange a blast and I’ll really miss being in class with them every day when this month ends. There are just too many people to name individually, but getting to know these people has been so amazing and Palmator was just one of those days of pure contentment that makes you appreciate the amazing people around you. So thank you to everyone who’s kept the homesickness at bay and made Regensburg the best semester of my life so far.