I'm on the train to Paris right now, and it seems like a nice time to reflect on the last week.  It's nice to be outside of a large group and to be quiet and still for a while. It seems like there are many moments of panic, instability, and questioning while you're traveling abroad. At least I feel like its this way for me.  Yes, there has been a lot of frustration-dealing with not understanding the language, feeling guilty for not knowing, dealing with classmates, or organizing and planning weekend trips. With all of these things going on, I really appreciate the opportunity to be still and quiet. I like having the train rides as personal time and time to rest and recuperate.  But the difficult things aren't what I want to focus on, I want to remember the trip for the positive things involved. I want to remember the organ playing in the cologne cathedral, the brisk air flowing off the Rhein river, and the green of the countryside here in Germany.  I know that I'm less conservative than the traditional Texan,  but I didn't realize how my viewpoint on America would change. I know we're only a week in, but I'm looking at my actions, my thought processes, and my relationships to others in a different way.  I'm excited to see where this journey continues to take me. We visited Paris this past weekend, and I'm still awestruck by the immensity and history of that place. I'm going to keep this post short, but next time I'll focus on one event and how that has impacted me as a youthful traveler. Tschuss!