Written Journal Entry from June 14th through 17th relating to Hostel Living:

Thanks to Sabina and her colleague, I arrive to Munich free and as the sun is setting. It is not a long walk to the train station, 4 blocks or so and although the weight of the backpacks have become second nature....the luminous sky is a bit nerve racking.

Needless to say that I made it to my new hostel, just it time for the clouds to open up and the thunder-lightening to start.

As I arrived I laughed at the unorganized check in system. All hand written in a notebook with really no tracking method, exept with the reality that my reservation was not located until about a half an hour later.

Regardless, I am amongst children...I have entered the life of a youth hostel. Youth being the reality of the situation for anyone over the age of 18. They all laughing, yelling and rejoicing in their new freedom from home. Me a little curious of the state of my new accomodations.

As I entered this new place, I remember a day over 20 years ago. I remember my first day at Ferrum College and surprisingly that day is so vivid to me, even now.

The dark hallway filled with a row of blue doors that appears to go on for miles, the ecco of children screaming and laughing in the hallway, the dimmness as if there was something to hide. As the door to room 201 opens, I laugh out loud. The cylinder walls are the same but more peach, the small bathroom for four is barely efficient for one, the bunkbeds are lined up to make the room look bigger than it really is and there is a small desk with two chairs in the corner. The only difference I see now are the crisp sheets in yellow and fluffy pillow come included. It is clean, cleaner than my dorm room, safe from the storm and warm as the only breeze is from the open window.

Some things have not changed so much and I laugh thinking that again, my new room so similiar to the one over 20 years ago.....is the doorway to a new journey.

Excerpt June 14 - 12:00 AM: After writing my journal, I took a shower. There is a difference from Ferrum, there is warm water but it only last 1001 Mississippi, 1002 Mississippi, 1003......1010 Mississippi before turning off. I must have it the start button over 20x.....but at least it was warm and I can understand the need to safe the warm water with such a crowd.

Excerpt June 17th - 7:00 AM: There has been little sleep over the last 3 nights. The loud noise of teens, children, and freedom echos everywhere and with them right in my corridor it echos all night. On my last night at 1:00am, I asked the kids in the hallway to be quiet...at 2:00AM, I still was not asleep...and they banged like crazy on my door. Payback for my earlier request, I am sure. Right when I was about to rise and give them my two cents of English, the guard came to bring silence. 3 hours past my bedtime, with only 3 hours to wake. I am at the train station this morning waiting for my early exit to Salzburg. Pray that the Hostel this evening is older and quiter for me.

Regardless as I enter my new accomodations, I laugh as I remember my teary eyed sister asking if I was going to be okay. At that time, I never understood the concern as I was more focused on the joys college life would bring. Now the same questioning crosses my face as I enterthe d