This evening, our program’s German buddies brought us to Olympia Park, a stunning and iconic location in the city of Munich. More specifically, we climbed up to the top of the “Taylor Hill,” a specific portion of Olympia Park that gained this name when masses of people gathered there to watch Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour performance in the Park’s stadium just 1 year ago. We stayed on top of Taylor Hill for about an hour or two to view the sunset with a gorgeous view, and left when the sun was finally down. Munich, which already won me over with historic architecture and beautiful glow, looked even more beautiful tonight.
This night was a beautiful experience for me, as it was an unplanned and unforgettable opportunity to experience a place so fundamental to Bavarian culture. On top of the hill, we overlooked the city of Munich alongside proud locals as well as tourists from diverse backgrounds. The sunset, although the same sun we can see at home, felt so much more than what it was; rather than just an orange globe falling into the horizon, the sunset at Olympia Park was a blending of culture—a time of no responsibility where people of different backgrounds and languages stood in awe of an event that occurs the same way in each corner of our world.
Among a spectacularly memorable trip thus far, Olympia Park has become my favorite moment. Tonight, I felt reminded of how many things and life can feel simple, repetitive, and dull, but applying a fresh situation and reinvented attitude around these things changes my perception and appreciation of them. Considering this trip is my first time leaving America, gaining this insight through experiences like Olympia Park makes me more cognizant of how I view my own life in America and makes me much more attune to my internal desire to make new experiences for myself. Business, Technology, and Engineering the German Way is the first international trip I’ve made, but after the experience I had tonight, I am certain that it will not be my last.
Finally, I’m very grateful for our German buddies on this trip, as experiences like this wouldn’t have been so possible without their knowledge of Munich as well as their motivation to welcome us into Bavarian culture. This program is made better due to the buddies’ effort to improve our group’s stay in their home city, and I couldn’t imagine the experience of Business, Technology, and Engineering the German Way without them.
Swanson School of Engineering 