Prior to this trip, I had only ever flown abroad once before in my life. I was not entirely sure how I’d handle being outside of the country for the first time since I was a pre-teen. Needless to say, my initial worries proved to be unwarranted. Despite some initial struggles adjusting to my new setting, my time in Munich ended up being one of the most enriching experiences I have ever taken part in.

Throughout our entire first day there, I felt like a zombie. Facing some serious jet lag, I just trudged around following the group wherever it went. Of course, that ended up being the day we took a walking tour around the city. But even then, despite the fact I was barely managing to keep my eyes open, I could not help but marvel at how beautiful Munich was. The architecture and infrastructure in some of these buildings were nothing I had ever seen before in the United States.

Soon enough, we got to work on our stories. We went all across Munich to talk with people about the game. We could feel the excitement in the air. The entire city had essentially become a hub for all 32 NFL teams and their fanbases. At times, it felt like I had died and gone to football heaven. Interestingly enough, despite the differing fanbases, there was also a sense of community. Everyone had at least one thing in common: we were all here to watch the game we love and take in a once-in-a-lifetime experience. This was the NFL’s first regular season game in Germany but certainly not the last.

Besides the task at hand, we also managed to fit in some non-NFL activities in our itinerary. From sampling German cuisine across the city to checking out a variety of famous sites in Munich, there was never a single dull moment in our trip. One memory that particularly stands out is our visit to the Olympic Tower in the Olympic Park. Breathtaking does not even begin to describe the view, as we could see everything from the city and its buildings to the mountain ranges in neighboring regions. It was absolutely stunning.

There were still a few obstacles I had to overcome during the trip. Sometimes, the weather was a bit too cold for me (considering that I have lived in Florida my whole life), and at times the language barrier did create some communication difficulties. However, a lot of people did speak English, and everyone was willing to help out in any way they could. Overall, the memories we made in Munich will stay with me for the rest of my life, and I will be forever grateful that I got to take part in such a fantastic, life-changing experience.

Posted: December 5, 2022
Category: CJC in Munich