Get a Different Perspective in Germany! Baden Württemberg Exchange Past Review
By Joe B (Audio Engineering Technology, University of Hartford) for
University of Mannheim: Mannheim - Direct Enrollment & Exchange
It definitely gave me a different perspective on the world and its always good to see how a different culture interacts with the world.
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 2 weeks - 1 month |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
I had one class every day and each class usually assigned reading to do for the following week. There wasn't any graded homework throughout the term except for a project, a final exam, or a presentation required near the end of the term. Here we have continual assessment but in Germany they only grade you based on how you do at the end of term. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
Getting ready for my trip made me feel ill prepared and uneasy that all my needs weren't going to be easily met once I arrived. I was assured by Renate Seitz that housing and application to the Summer Academy was all taken care of but that was not the case. I arrived with problems that I was not prepared for. I didn't have housing and the international office didn't even have me in there system. I was on a special "Renate List" because year after year they have problems with the students that she puts into the system. The person who helped me out while I was actually there was very nice and extremely helpful when I was getting settled but it was extremely aggravating upon arrival and didn't go smoothly at all. The program only had a few kids in it from Connecticut and the students were all friendly and sociable. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
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| * Food: |
Small inexpensive grocery market near apartment, great German food! |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
We went to a big amusement park, a winery, a brewery, several parks, pub crawls, kayaking, and going out to clubs. If you get out of your shell and your comfort zone and just let yourself do something you normally wouldn't do then you'll have a great time and some amazing memories. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
Mannheim had great public transportation and not once did I feel unsafe because there is the police and plenty of people who will report crimes when they happen. I feel much safer there then I do basically anywhere in America. |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
No
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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) |
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| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Just try to stick to a budget and save up as much as you can before you go because of the exchange rate and just being able to spend money on good memories. |
Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | Yes |
| Language acquisition improvement? |
I didn't go to Germany to really learn that much German to take away and use at home. I got by speaking English to most people and my school had a beginner German language course that got me to learn the little things that were good to know. Also trying to read signs and having my girlfriend there to translate really helped. |
| If applicable, to what degree did your living situation aid your language acquisition? |
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Other Program Information
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* Where did you live?
Select all that apply |
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* Who did you live with?
Select all that apply |
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A Look Back
| * What did you like most about the program? |
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| * What could be improved? |
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