Months of preparation were behind us, and the moment had finally arrived. A mix of euphoria and nervous anticipation filled the air. For many of us, it was our very first trip to the USA. Even the first steps went smoothly—our luggage was checked in quickly, and the security check was hassle-free. Time to take a deep breath. No rush, no stress. Everything felt special: waiting at the gate, the conversations about what lay ahead in the coming days, and the realization that this day marked the beginning of something truly unique.
From Hamburg to Wilmington:
Setting off on an unforgettable adventure
The alarm clock rang early, but our excitement far outweighed any exhaustion. At 5:15 AM, we gathered at Hamburg Airport: eight students, one vision, one destination — North Carolina.
Months of Preparation and First Steps
Months of preparation were behind us, and the moment had finally arrived. A mix of euphoria and nervous anticipation filled the air. For many of us, it was our very first trip to the USA. Even the first steps went smoothly—our luggage was checked in quickly, and the security check was hassle-free. Time to take a deep breath. No rush, no stress. Everything felt special: waiting at the gate, the conversations about what lay ahead in the coming days, and the realization that this day marked the beginning of something truly unique.
First stop: Frankfurt
We took off at 7:00 AM, leaving Hamburg behind as we headed toward Frankfurt. It was a short leg of the journey—before we even had time to process that we were airborne, we were already landing again.
In Frankfurt, we had a two-hour layover—just enough time to clear the next hurdle: passport control for entry into the USA. With that done, we were officially ready for our long-haul flight.
Long-Distance Flight to Raleigh/Durham
At around 10:00 AM, our Airbus A333 to Raleigh/Durham was ready for boarding. We took off right on schedule at 10:20 AM.
For the next nine hours, we settled into the plane’s narrow seats—less comfortable than we had hoped. But with movies, snacks, and good conversation, the time passed surprisingly quickly.
Arrival in North Carolina
We landed in Raleigh/Durham at around 1:50 PM local time. As we approached immigration control, a wave of nervousness returned—but everything went smoothly. The officers were friendly, and the atmosphere was relaxed.
After clearing customs, we gathered our luggage and were greeted warmly by Prof. Dr. Reinhardt and his son, Johann, who had been waiting for us at the airport. Together, we took a shuttle to the car rental office, where we picked up our classic American rental cars— big, spacious, just as we had imagined.
And so, our first road trip began. The two-hour drive to Wilmington, our destination on the East Coast, flew by with music and excitement filling the air. Every sight along the way felt surreal—we were actually in North Carolina!
A Relaxing Evening at the Beach
When we arrived at our Airbnb in Wilmington, we quickly unpacked our luggage and headed straight to the beach. There, we spent the evening with Prof. Dr. Reinhardt and his son, enjoying pizza, the soothing sound of the waves, and conversations about the days ahead. It was the perfect way to unwind—a relaxed and memorable ending to a long day filled with new experiences.
Tired but Happy: The Adventure Begins
With a deep sense of gratitude and excitement for the week ahead, we finally collapsed into bed—exhausted but incredibly happy.
We had made it. The long journey was behind us, and an unforgettable adventure was just beginning.
Einen ausführlichen Bericht der Exkursion finden Sie hier: USA Booklet final_compressed