Le Tour d'Alsace

When you go abroad, there is often a persistent urge to hit every possible tourist hotspot. There is something satisfying about having your picture with Big Ben, the Eiffel Tower, Wartburg Castle (what!? I’m Lutheran!) and those guards at the Vatican with the funny outfits. This satisfaction stems from knowing that you most certainly made the most of your time and your dollar. During your flight back to the homeland, you can rest easy knowing that if your plane spirals into the sea and you bob for hours in black abyss of the Atlantic ocean hugging your seat cushion (which can be used as a flotation device in the event of an emergency), at least you ate fondue in Geneva. Now don’t get me wrong: I am not bashing these whirl-wind trips. They are unforgettable and allow you to see some of the world’s most amazing treasures. However, this type of tourism is not on my radar for my stay in Strasbourg.

One of my goals for the semester is to truly understand the local culture of Strasbourg and its region, Alsace. It is a beautiful corner of the world with an eventful history, a delicious cuisine and kind people who are proud of their Alsatian heritage. By the end of December, I hope to have had many discussions with little, old ladies, picked up a few worlds in the Alsatian dialect, watched the leaves change in the Vosges mountains and drank a lot of Gewürztraminer! This means that I will visit a few less world monuments, but I am more interested in making meaningful connections to the people around me. Besides, my days of world travel are long from over!

With this goal in mind, I was thrilled when Emilie (the pastor’s daughter at church) invited me to explore a bit of Alsace by bike with her two cousins, Josué and Julie! Over three days, we biked over 90 miles (yeah!) and I got a good look at the Rhine river, endless fields framed by mountains and adorable, wood-framed villages. Even though Emilie and her cousins speak UNBELIEVABLY fast making it difficult for me to enter in to much of the conversation, it was fun to get to know them better and share some laughs. They are all very close and endlessly tease one another! When Emilie had us lost before even leaving town, Josué didn't hesitate to comment on her navigational skills. In the pictures below, you see Emile and Josué locating the correct bikepath to take us out of Strasbourg, a view of the city from the path and Emilie, Josué and Julie trying to "smile like an American."




On Saturday, our journey ended with an overnight stay at a sister church in nearby town, Woerth. We were joined by a car-full of other youth from the region for spaghetti, cards and an overnight stay. The following day, all of the regional churches gathered for a Missionfest, which included a common worship service, a fellowship meal and a presentation by a young, German pastor. Since most churches worship between 15 and 40 members on a Sunday, it is encouraging to have everyone together a few times a year. Plus, it is practically a family reunion as half of the synod is related. :) Below is a picture of us in motion and one of me towards the end of Saturday's 5+ hour ride (read: EXHAUSTED).



After the activities of the Missionfest wrapped up, Emilie, Josué and I hopped back on our bikes for the ride home. We chose a more direct path for the return trip and the 3 hour ride seemed to fly by. Since we left in the late afternoon, we were able to watch a beautiful sunset over rolling hills and vineyards. I didn't take time to stop for pictures, but it was breathtaking! When we arrived back in Strasbourg, Madame Schaeffer (Emilie's mom) had a delicous meal waiting for us: cucumber salad, sausage, quiche, drunken pears, coffee....mmm. A great meal and very slap-happy conversation was the perfect end to 3 days of exploring Alsace!