Thank you!

There are some people I have to thank for such an amazing trip. First, my fellow Wolverines who joined me on the journey-

Patrick Alger
Jacob Barnett
Christine Bertsch
Dylan Binkley
Cristabel Choong
Stephanie Clark
Sarah Dolan
Alana Epstein
Brie Farmer
Robbie Gomez
Brian Helfman
Erica Kim
Steve Kim
Norman Lam
Lixian Low
Cale Mannesto
Alex Nestorov
Elaina Peterson
Rachel Sawa
Jessie Tsai
Zach Wainwright
Trisch Wilson
Arielle Ziv

Also, a big thank you to Dr. Leslie Davis for leading our trip.

Thanks to all of you for reading!

A special thank you to the Organizational Studies Department and The Barger Leadership Institute for encouraging me to take part in the program and for supporting me in my efforts to do so.

Most importantly, a big thank you to my family for making my trip possible.

Go Blue!

Day 30: Close Your Eyes

I woke up much later than my expected time of 4:15. Around 4:35 I realized I had been sleeping on my phone and must have disabled the alarm. I sprinted through my morning routine before joining everyone for breakfast around 4:50. After one last great breakfast I said goodbye to Silvia and Jenny as Günter, Stefan and I drove to Ulm. The city is a little north of Dornbirn, about an hour north of the German border. While we were fortunate enough to be driving on the autobahn, it was raining too hard to go particularly fast. We did get to the station early, and we had enough time to say goodbye before boarding the train 10 minutes to seven. Hopefully, they will come visit us in Michigan soon!

The train ride was quite picturesque, but having stored my camera away for the trip, I have no photos to share. Our train did get a little more time with the scenery than we anticipated, as we were delayed 15 minutes getting into the airport. Once we arrived, everyone headed to the shuttle to the other terminal. Having planned enough time, I thought I was fine, but after I picked up more boarding pass and proceeded to check my luggage, I was ridiculed by the first person I encountered. Apparently, the gates close one hour before flight time here…a ridiculous rule that I would have been compliant with if only the train, and the shuttle bus went smoothly. After I was questioned for a minute or two, it took two seconds to send my bad away and then I sprinted up the stairs, showed the next person my passport and then went through customs. Every person I talked to, perhaps a half dozen by the time I got on the plane, had the exact same questions about my luggage and none of them cared about my answer. After my final security check I reached the gate in just enough time to catch another bus to the actual plane. As we crammed more and more people on the bus, it became apparent that the place was packed.

On the flight, my movie selection rivaled that of my flight to Europe: Dear John and The Young Victoria were first up, but fortunately the last movie was The Blind Side. It was an excellent film and if you haven't seen it already, I would encourage you to do so. The football aspect was nice too.

A view of Detroit from over the wing...I'm home!

After landing I had an easy journey through customs and then met parents for the ride home. It was quite an excellent month abroad.

Day 29: Photo. Finish.

I awoke a little late for breakfast, but Stefan was also tired from the night before. We all ate an excellent breakfast with delicious pastries and then relaxed for some much of the afternoon. Günter and I went to the local market to look at all the cool items for sale, but more because it was such a nice day- not too hot and not too cold. Around 1 o’clock, I took a shower, and by 2pm Stefan and I were headed to Rappenlochschlucht, the local gorge. We first met up with his friends, most of whom I already knew. With our backpacks full of sausages, ketchup and a disposable grill, we began our hike up the gorge. It is quite a beautiful place, and gives new meaning to the word damp. More specifically, every nook and cranny is wet, dark and grungy. After a few hundred steps up, we came to the lake sitting above the gorge, which we walked past in order to get to the open river area. Here we tossed our socks and shoes, and then walked through half of the knee-deep water to reach and island of rocks in the middle of the large stream. The water was really clear, but really cold, so soon after reaching the site, we started the barbeque. Using a small puddle generated by the stream, we kept several beers cold as we heated up bratwursts and sausages. Frank decided American’s knew how to grill things, so I was crowned with the title of chef for the next thirty minutes or so.

The gorge from above

The sausages didn't turn out too bad

Main waterfall at the foot of the gorge

Marion, me, Anna, Stefan, Lucas, Frank and Daniel

While we waited, Marian cut up a Kuhlrobbie (it’s a vegetable that looks like an onion, with the texture of an apple, and very little flavor…and yes when you ask for some more you seem to reiterate the fact that Robbie is cool). After the appetizer, much to my surprise, the main course turned out rather well, and the meet cooked thoroughly, though mostly due to Stefan’s decision to cut everything in half. All of us ate and were quite full just moments later. After cleaning up our mess we crossed the river to return to the trail back down the gorge. Once we got back to the cars we headed back to Lucas’ flat to relax for a little while. About an hour later we were back at the Toeferl’s place. The five of us went to a nearby traditional Austrian restaurant where I enjoyed one last Winerschnitzel and Kasspetzle. Afterwards we watched the European sing competition on TV while we looked at the photo albums of previous visits of the last two decades. It was then time to pack up all my things before going to bed early given our early wake up time of 4:15am.

Day 28: Waving Flag

I woke up thoroughly sore this morning, but I was hardly surprised given my attitude to working out in College. After another delicious breakfast, we waited for Stefan and Gunter to return home in the afternoon in order to go sightseeing.

Once they got home we grabbed our passports and headed to the tiny country of Liechtenstein. In order to get there we had to first drive through Switzerland. After just 20 minutes on the highway we were in one of the smallest independent nations in the world. With just over 30,000 inhabitants, and a few thousand square kilometers of space they often fail to make it onto maps and globes. Regardless, we headed through their main city and up a mountain to their castle. From their you can see the entire country, and interestingly enough they still have royalty living there. Consequently, we could not go in, but the pictures of the beautiful outside were still great.

Silvia, Stefan and I at the Liechtenstein Castle

A view of Liechtenstein from the castle

An Audi owned by the Royal family...notice the black Liechtenstein license plate

After getting back, we waited a little while before braving the rain to attend the final football match between Austria Lustenau and FC Lustenau. The event was amazing, and although the stadium was a little smaller than I had encountered, the rivalry was fierce given the importance of the match and the fact that both teams were from the same city...and the final was being played at Austria Lustenau's place. To start we were in a large food tent with many Austria Lustenau fans (people wearing green and white...not my colors). After some food, it was time for the first half, and FC Lustenau (wearing blue) scored twice even though they were underdogs. For halftime we returned to the beer tent to meet up with Sieglinde, Silvia and Jenny for an appetizer and another beer. Just twenty minutes later, it was time for the second half and quite a spectacle. The Blue Freaks lit a firework in their cheering section, and although forbidden, it was quite beautiful. Although Austria Lustenau scored once late in the half, it was not enough and FC Lustenau upset them 2-1.

Jenny and Stefan enjoying dinner

The Blue Freaks...featuring quite the light display

After the game we had more food and beer while we listened to live music. We left after filling ourselves and Stefan and I headed over to Lucas/Stefan/Fonz's flat to have drinks with his friends before heading again to the Gruner Pavilion, Stefan's favorite bar. It was much more packed this evening and when it closed down it took a half hour to get us to leave. I returned home completely wiped from lifting the day before while Stefan continued on with his friends to the place we went to the Saturday before.

Day 27: We Will Change This

Today Gunter, Silvia, Sieglinde, Jenny and I went into the mountains to visit Sieglinde's cottage. The mountain journey was great, with quite interesting roads. After thirty minutes on a gradual incline, we reached a small lot where we parked before hiking 10 minutes to her cottage. The place was quite nice, and because the weather was nice we stayed outside to enjoy desserts and coffees.

Sieglinde, Jenny and Silvia

Sieglinde's Cottage in the mountains

While Sieglinde activated the place's water, Gunter and I talked about the future of energy and the prospect of electric cars in the next decade. My German vocabulary has been extended throughout my stay in Dornbirn, but unfortunately, my grammar skills are probably worse than when I arrived.

We returned to the car just as it began to rain and raced down the mountain to return to the Toefferl's place, as Silvia thought she had left the oven on for the past few hours. She was right, but fortunately, the flat was fine and soon we were headed up the other side of the mountain to enjoy some other scenery. Our journey peaked at the base of a ski lift where we had a beer in a pub.

Sieglinde and I with the beautiful mountains in the background

Goats!

We then proceeded to drive back to meet up with Stefan as he was ending work in a little while.

Our drive down the mountain

When we returned I joined Stefan and his friend Daniel on an excursion to the fitness center. The place was quite impressive. The machines indicated how quickly you should move your muscles and the free weights were also advanced. I was exceptionally out of shape and stuggled to curl/lift half of what Daniel suggested, but had more success with the leg exercises.

Following the work out we headed to the pool on the lower floor. It was a salt water pool which featured mood lighting and controllable message jets, a wonderful way to relax after straining myself for 90 minutes or so.

A view from the exercise place

After getting out of the pool we showered, drove Daniel home and then joined Gunter for dinner. It was great, and after we finished our plates, Stefan and I headed out to the Gruner Pavillion to meet Frank and others. Unfortunately, the place was pretty empty, so we headed home pretty early

Day 26: One Two Three Four Five Six Seven. Seven. Seven Swimming Pools

Stefan took today off from work, and Gunter took a half day. Once he returned in the afternoon, all five of us headed to Milano Island in nearby Lindau. The island is on the Bodensee, a large lake which borders Germany, Austria and Switzerland. Its a little like Mackinac island, but with less fudge and more ice cream. After walking around the cove to get a better look at the lake before heading into the town.

The island owner lives here

If you included Gunter's finger, all five of us made it into the photo

A nice little town

The ice cream was outstanding

After getting ice cream we returned to the car and headed back to their home. On the way we stopped at several dealerships to check out several Mercedes-Benz and Porsche products...they were quite nice, but a little out of my price range.

Gunter's new car

Later that evening we met up with their friend Sieglinde to take a trip up the mountain on the cable car. The view was great and the food was as well. It started thunder-storming as we returned down the mountain, which offered a pretty neat light show as well. We were also fortunate enough to make it back in time for Jenny to catch Grey's Anatomy which was strangely filled with Christmas music.

A view of Dornbirn from the restaurant

Not a bad place for a meal

Day 25: Kiss the Bear

Today was really hot, especially compared to the last few weeks. Jenny said it was 31 degrees, but it felt even warmer. I awoke a little late for breakfast, which like the other meals Jenny has made, was delicious.

Just a portion of today's breakfast

Afterward I took a little time to check my emails as it had been some time since I had been online. In the afternoon we went into the city for a little walk. We went to the river to put our feet in for a while. The cold water was a really nice break from the sun and it was incredibly clear, which made for a nice picture.

After we dried our feet off, Jenny and I went to the local science museum. When I was a little younger, my mom and I had gone to this museum. I remembered much of it, but it was still a great time as the place is quite modern and has interesting hands-on exhibits about energy. They also have some interesting animals and stuffed creatures to look at, making the time we spent there quite interesting.

The biggest rabbit I have ever seen

Jenny with some Wolves

After we left the museum, we walked back to the flat, but along the way we stopped for some really inexpensive ice cream. It was probably the best vanilla ice cream I have ever had! By the time we got back it was finished, and being quite hot outside, it was nice to relax indoors. After sending a few emails it was time for a barbeque. The meal was incredibly delicious as they gave me countless delicious vegetables and meats…they even had fish. I cannot describe how good it was, but it might have been one of the best meals I have had in a while!

Following dinner, Stefan and I found a pretty cheap train ticket from a nearby city in Germany to the Frankfurt Airport. While it leaves a little early on Sunday morning, it was a good price and should get me there with plenty time to spare. We had some vanilla ice cream afterwards, and then Stefan showed me interesting things related to his work. Given his technical knowledge, he has quite an interesting TV setup and can easily transfer videos he has downloaded from the internet to the TV in the other room. We watched several episodes of “How I met Your Mother,” before heading off to bed. There is a bit of a thunderstorm right now, so hopefully it clears up by morning.