The Monologue of a Solo Traveler
The moment I got off the airplane,
the aroma of sunflowers captured my attention
Passing through the checkpoints and security protocols
I was about to embark on a memorable journey
On platform 3, der alte Dampfzug waited,
stretching its nose long and wide
A familiar voice echoed over the loudspeakers:
“Der Zug fährt in 2 Minuten ab”,
and joy and excitement raged within me
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As I disembarked the vintage train,
the grandeur of the prairie caught my eye
Die Region Allgäu was my first stop,
where rolling hills met cheerful voices
With lovely children running around,
ich möchte mit ihnen spazieren gehen
Mein nächster Halt war die Goldschmiedeschule,
standing just next to the famous Schmuckmuseum
From jewelry to humanity,
I explored how life’s aesthetics bring people together
Driving along the crystal-clear coastline,
I experienced the freedom of a solo traveler
With the friendly chatter of strangers I met,
and the majestic scenery along the way,
my journey wove together tears and laughter —
and gave me the courage to greet the unknown
Note: This is my first attempt to writing a bilingual poem, blending English and German vocabulary to express my thoughts regarding the exchange student experience in Europe two years ago.
