Mainz: Great Culture, Better Environment! August 14, 2025
By Miles K (Politics, Bates College) - abroad from 03/13/2025 to 07/31/2025 with
Middlebury Schools Abroad: Middlebury in Mainz
I learned that I could fully express myself, fully live as myself, in another language and cultural context. And that has made all the difference.
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 1 month - 6 months |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
The German higher education system is significantly different to most other systems I have encountered, not least on account of the egalitarianism between universities, the emphasis on individual projects, and even the presence of a so-called "Summer Semester" and "Winter Semester," with no real autumn semester to speak of. The work I undertook was rigorous enough (especially due to it being in another language), though the size of the university I was at largely precluded meaningful individual meetings with professors. My program stepped in in that regard. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
Middlebury's Mainz staffers went above and beyond to ensure my adjustment went smoothly, my time was well spent, and my work and language was improving properly. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
The WG feel is markedly different from other living arrangements I've experienced, and in this case I shared no real cultural heritage with those around me. After a period of adaptation, however, I flourished. |
| * Food: |
Much better than British food. German groceries are also exceptionally cheap relative to American and even British ones. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
One month into the program, I had completely lost my American accent in German and was repeatedly mistaken for a native. I incorporated German college slang and road games into my life with my new friends. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
Healthcare in Germany is annoyingly bureaucratic as anything else. But it works, and it's relatively cheap. |
| * Safety: |
Mainz and its surroundings, for a major city, were absurdly safe. I encountered balaclava-wearing thugs in the middle of the night once, and all they were doing was painting the local FC's colors on a staircase as a symbol of Mainz '05 pride. They said hello respectfully. I can scarcely imagine something more German. |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
I was downcast and nervous at the beginning of this program, not in the least because I was a bit of a stranger in a strange land. This initial trial-by-fire, however, saw my growth into a full life of adventure and cultural immersion which I never before even thought I could experience. |
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) |
Public transit by train and bus to some of the most beautiful, historical locations on earth is practically free for students. ALDI Süd provides groceries and fresh baked goods for ridiculously low prices. |
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | I lived large on a stipend of about 1,900 Euros a month, spending a bit in excess of 60-100 Euros a week on food. |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Shop at ALDI Süd. Take transit everywhere. |
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 |
My program mandated that I speak in the target language as much as possible, and conversely avoid my native tongue as much as possible. |
| How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? | Advanced |
| How would you rate your language skills at the end of the program? | Fluent |
| What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? | B2 |
| 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? | Keep at it, make mistakes, and acquire aphorisms in the language. A great starter for immersion is trying to adopt the subtle German sense of humor. |
Other Program Information
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* Where did you live?
Select all that apply |
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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? | That Germans function fundamentally differently from Americans, and require some time before they open up fully. |
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 Nearly Native or Trail BlazerCraving the most authentic experience possible, perhaps you lived with a host family or really got in good with the locals. You may have felt confined by your program requirements and group excursions. Instead, you'd have preferred to plan your own trips, even skipping class to conduct your own 'field work.' |
