Nächster Halt Aachen (Next stop Aachen - Germany)

“Can’t you fit me in your suitcase?”

I’m sure you've heard or said it... Well, it’s time.

Now, whilst nobody with any experience in German trains would call travelling with Deutsche Bahn quick, my month in Aachen certainly flew by!

But, I’m afraid you’ll have to be patient a little longer in the dusty cupboard where my suitcase lives.

Erster halt (first stop) University of Birmingham

Last year, my German class were told about an opportunity to apply for a scholarship to study at a German summer school. Why not? So, I set about creating my first German CV and covering letter, took an exam, and hoped. A few months later, I received a scholarship! I booked train tickets, filled in forms, and packed my suitcase.

Ready?

Nächster halt (next stop) Aachen, Germany

I lifted my suitcase down from the train, and wheeled it into the night. Operation Rescue the Keys from the Key Safe was safely navigated. Operation Find the Flat... finally completed, thanks to a helpful shopkeeper. I heaved my suitcase upstairs and let’s just say, thank goodness for my lovely flatmates who showed me the knack of opening the door when they found me stuck outside!

Nächster halt Sprachenakademie (next stop Language Academy)

Next morning, I met my amazing teacher and classmates from Vietnam, Egypt, Poland and Nigeria. German was the common language - discussions on "the fringes” of grammar and everything from AI to Mülltrennung (sorting rubbish - a deeply serious topic...) What more could you want? I’ve never laughed so much.

But whilst class was truly brilliant, we’d all bought a Deutschlandticket (Germany’s cost-effective student train and bus ticket)...

Nächster halt Dreiländereck (next stop Dreiländereck)

Near Aachen, the borders of Germany, the Netherlands, and Belgium meet at a point marked with a stone and three flags, a visible symbol of unity and free movement within the Schengen zone. We visited Vaals, the nearest Dutch town - home to one of the most beautiful churches I’ve ever seen - and walked down into Gremmenich, a tiny Belgium village – I couldn’t miss the opportunity to practice French!

Nächster Halt Düren, where paper has been made since 1576.

Nächster Halt Düsseldorf and Benrath, home to Germany’s only pink castle.

Nächster Halt Stolberg, an industrial centre of continually changing trades.

And we can’t forget Aachen itself with its smell of freshly baked Printen (Aachen’s speciality gingerbread), its glistening wet cobblestones, and its long, interesting history.

Well, if you’d said to me on a cold platform in Cologne (waiting for a train after the last two were cancelled) that the time would fly by... I’d never have believed you! But, before I knew it, the day came, and now my suitcase is back in its dusty cupboard, waiting excitedly for my year abroad next year... a language student’s suitcase never has a long nap!

But one last thing, before you settle down to sleep... please remember this essential fact: Peperoni isn’t a typo for pepperoni. It’s German for... jalapeño peppers. Asking for Peperoni pizza - been there, done that, it’s not advisable...