Seven Weeks in Bremen Past Review
By Peter Philips (Dickinson College) - abroad from 02/01/2020 to 03/17/2020 with
Dickinson College: Bremen - University of Bremen
Even though seven weeks did not afford me enough time to master German, the ways in which I struggled to communicate, create meaning, and to write, and comparing these experiences with fellow students offered insight into how to better acquire a language.
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
Daily Intensive German courses for spring semester incoming students |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
The permanent onsite staff, comprised of Dr. Janine Ludwig and Verena Mertz, plus one intern that rotates every year, are available for students to confer with at any time whether when any sort of academic or personal issue may arise. If you treat them with due kindness and respect, they will in turn be by your side when you need them most. Plus, they provide great recommendations and tips for how to enjoy the local cultural scene and integrate yourself into the life of Bremen. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
I found an apartment located 15 minutes from the Hauptbahnhof (Central Station) with three roommates, with whom I had a smashing time. During get-togethers with friends, they would often invite me along and allow me to socialize with a diverse array of locals. |
| * Food: |
Every student is provided with a quite generous monthly stipend for food expenses that covered the cost of meals at the Mensa (cafeteria), groceries for breakfast and dinner, döner from a shop on the first floor of my building, with enough left over to eat out once or twice a week. As someone who lives to eat |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
Since I was only able to spend 7 weeks total in Bremen until the uncontrolled spread of the novel COVID-19 virus forced me and my fellow students to return to the US, I did not get a full flavor of Bremen but during the time I was there I managed to adapt a routine and settle into an albeit short new lifestyle. I would bike to and from every single day, eating lunch with my American friends at the Mensa, and hanging out with friends from my classes or other Germans on the weekends. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
I ended up not ever having to visit any sort of medical practice while in Bremen but I am sure it would have been top-notch service. |
| * Safety: |
Safe, clean, and well lit. Never a moments fear out on the streets |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
I would strive to experience the WHOLE semester |
Finances
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* Money: How easily were you able to live on a student's budget?
(1 = not very easy/$200+ on food & personal expenses/week, 2.5 = $100/week, 5 = very easily/minimal cost) |
The stipend for daily expenses was very generous and in addition, any expenses incurred attending cultural events or visiting a museum are reimbursed by the program. |
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | $10 |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Plan out how you spend your stipend, and only buy food you plan to eat that week. |
Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | Yes |
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How much did the program encourage you to use the language?
0 = No encouragement, 5 = frequent encouragement to use the language |
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| How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? | Intermediate |
| How would you rate your language skills at the end of the program? | Intermediate |
| How many hours per day did you use the language? | |
| Do you have any tips/advice on the best ways to practice the language for future study abroad participants? | In of being in Germany does not automatically improve your German. There are however numerous ways to incorporate language practice as a normal part of your daily that will save you big time later on. - Make sure who ever you live with speaks German with you regularly and does not switch into English for the sake of "helping" you. Falling into the comforting trap of speaking English may seem necessary at first, but if you don't hit the ground running, it will be hard to pick up the pace again later on. - With Dickinson students, all coming from an English-speaking institution, may find it tricky to enforce an all-German speaking policy all hours of the day. Instead of that, encourage yourself and others to speak a sort of pidgin German or English where you splice words and mix and match grammar in order to convey meaning without worrying if it's 100% right. - Do your language homework and try not to do it just to finish it. |
Other Program Information
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* Where did you live?
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* Who did you live with?
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* Who did you take classes with?
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| About how many local friends did you make that you will likely keep in touch with? |
A Look Back
| * What did you like most about the program? |
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| * What could be improved? |
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| * What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? | Don't stress out! Everything may not turn out exactly as you expect it to, though the act of going abroad is more about making most of your opportunities rather than agonizing about the things you want to do, but can't. |
Reasons For Studying Abroad
| To help future students find programs attended by like-minded individuals, please choose the profile that most closely represents you. |
The Avid AdventurerThe wardrobe you packed was better suited for a semester of camping than club hopping. Outdoorsy, you might forgo a crazy night out for an early all-day adventure. You'd rather take in the rich culture of an old town than the metropolis of a modern city, but for you getting off the grid is ideal. |
