Bremen

January 26

Today was an awesome day! Originally there was nothing planned in the morning so we were going to be able to sleep in for the first time! However, the Mercedes-Benz visit got changed from the afternoon to morning, sooo I didn't get to sleep in. But who cares- I love cars and it was worth it! Only 25 of the 55 students got to go, and I was luckily one of them! We got an hour long tour of the production building- we literally saw the cars being built by the robots, painted, and assembled by the workers. It was one of the coolest things I've ever seen! I kept thinking "my dad would LOVE this!" Maybe one day when I've living here he can come visit and I'll take him around. :) The plant we went to employees 13,000 people and they build 1,400 made-to-order cars each day. Incredible! When I got back to the hotel I went cyber-car shopping! Ha. We also saw the cars being test driven on a track that aren't even in the market yet... cool! The rest of the day was free so I got some Starbucks, shopping, and alot of rest. We had group dinner at a local restaurant called the Schuttinger- it was delicious! It was my last group dinner since tomorrow I will not be there- bittersweet! Then nearly the entire group hung out together in town since it seems like the last night for us- tomorrow we will all be heading to bed early to get rest before our long 17 hours traveling day.

Rachel & I on Mercedes' first vehicle from 1886

They've made alot of changes & improvements!

Safety glasses and radios @ Mercedes. We are cool!

Bremen, Germany

This is a normal shopping street in Bremen- notice the big town hall in the background. Such a cool place to walk around!

Last group dinner. My table: Ted, Rachel, Tyler D, Joel, me, Faber

Today could possibly be my last day of internet, so let me tell you a little bit about the rest of our trip: tomorrow Ted & I are meeting family from the Netherlands! I am so excited! My mom e-mailed me on Monday and said that some family contacted my grandma and they would like to meet up with us, so I found them on facebook and have been communicating with them all week. Tomorrow night they are driving two hours to our hotel to pick us up and take us out to dinner- what a way to end the trip! We will be meeting two of my dads cousins and one of their wives, as well as three of their kids- Maarten & Joost van Nus & Christine Dijkstra. It's gonna be great!

As for Saturday, here is our flight itinerary, not that any of you really care. We will arrive at Schipol airport at 10:45a to check in for our 2:45p flight to Detroit, which will be 9 hours! Boo. We will arrive in Detroit at 5:45p but it will feel like 11:45p for me! After a two hour layover we will board in Detroit for GR and land at 9:07p. I'm an not ready to leave Europe, but I will enjoy not living out of a suitcase, and I am ready for a routine again! 

Please pray for safety! Looking forward to seeing everyone.

Pce. & Blessings.

Jessie