What made you choose your study abroad program?
I was looking for a program that allowed me to easily stay on track with all my courses, but mainly I wanted to get a more international education inside of the engineering field. It’s fascinating that not everyone has the same method of doing things, especially within engineering, and I wanted to see if different countries strongly differed in their processes. (Also, Germany is in a great location for travel.)
What was your favorite course and why?
Urban Art and Architecture, taught by a local German professor and artist. This course analyzed nearly every aspect of art and architecture around the German urban environments (hence the name), but also all of the graffiti and street art that covered the street walls. We would frequently go on class walks to look at all of the local architecture and street art surrounding our academic building and even had to maintain a sketchbook throughout the entire course. Our final project was to present our sketchbooks, and we got to draw in each other’s, so we have a more personal, yet diverse experience. Professor Johannes Stahl was absolutely incredible! He would frequently take us out to coffee or a local bakery during our class, so we felt refreshed. He was also from my host town, so I was fortunate enough to go on some small-scale trips with him around Siegburg, Germany, exploring the rich heritage of the area. I had some of my best academic memories from this class and if I could only choose one thing to take away, it would be that “context matters.”
What was your favorite local food or drink?
As typical as it may be, my first and last meal in Bonn was a bratwurst and it was excellent. My favorite drink by far was the Radler, which originated in southern Germany. The best ones I had were in Austria.
What was the most important thing that you learned?
It is so important to be adaptable. I went abroad during a very unusual time in which Germany was having a number of transportation strikes. Being that my host family’s home was further away, these strikes hit us a little harder. Because of this, clear communication, quick thinking, and planning ahead really came in handy when getting myself to and from class. When you travel, expect things to never go as planned, especially when traveling for the first time, like I did. Nothing in life is perfect so it’s important to expect change: trains may get delayed, a certain location is closed, etc. As long as you are confident with yourself and aren’t afraid to adapt to life, everything will work out.
How did you interact with the local community and culture?
I was not a strong German speaker. However, I would try to immerse myself any way I could, whether it was by ordering food, talking with my host family, or even giving directions in German. I highly recommend that you try to celebrate any special holidays your host country has. For example, my cohort was able to walk in a Karneval (the “Fifth Season” in Germany) parade with so many locals. People dressed up in all types of costumes and threw candy out into the crowd, who were also fully dressed in costume. Overall, just an amazing experience.
What tips do you have for students interested in going abroad?
If you have any nerves for going abroad, don’t! It is such a fulfilling experience, and you learn so much, both about yourself and wherever you go. “Do things with the confidence of a four-year-old in a Batman costume.” In my opinion, it is better to chase the things you want to do (such as going abroad) rather than have them just be things you constantly think about.
How did you grow as an individual while studying abroad?
I learned to be totally independent and how to be comfortable with fully taking care of myself. However, I also learned that I had an amazing cohort who came for the same experience I did and that they were and always will be a resource available to me. I learned how to cook, travel, book a hotel, (somewhat) speak another language, how to present ideas to an international audience, and so much more.
What is your most cherished memory of your abroad experience?
I have so many! I had just put together a photo album of my time abroad and I realized that I have so many more memories than I initially thought. My most cherished memory, would probably be my final big trip to Budapest, Hungary. I had gone with three of my now best friends and we had packed so much adventure into just three days. It started with accidentally taking a wrong train that had a heating problem (very hot!) at around 2 to 3 am, then getting off that train and somehow still managing to hop on the right one.
Once in Budapest, we stayed at a very nice apartment-style hotel that we got for surprisingly good price. We had gotten eggs to make for breakfast, but our new stovetop was not working so the receptionist ended up making them for us. Then, I found out that sending roughly 26 back-and-forth emails to a Hungarian local can get you and your friends a very cheap 13 km canoe ride down the Danube River (thank you, Zsolt!). Later that night, we went on a boat cruise (again on the Danube River) through the heart of Budapest and got to see everything.
Overall, with the major events we did, exploring the city, and even food, our Budapest trip totaled to only about $100. On the train ride back to Germany, we also stopped to briefly explore Bratislava, Slovakia and Vienna, Austria.
