A Life Changing Experience with an Amazing Program! Past Review

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

I started off just above beginner's German, and ended in Advanced Geman. The pace was breakneck at times, but it certainly created a need to pay attention, do the homework, and put my skills to practical use in my travels and every day life. Outside of that, the other courses in both German and English were very manageable, with understanding teachers and coursework that was both interesting and relevant to today's events. With proper time management, any workload can be dealt with, though the rapid pace of my first semester was sometimes hard to deal with. It was all to my benefit, so I can't complain!

On-site administration of your program

The USAC program staff are absolutely amazing. Throughout my stay I had several reasons to visit them, including mental health and a week I spent sick during midterms. They were always ready and willing to help me out, whether it be a chat about my plans for the future, a discussion about our courses, or how to maximize my public transportation experience. They are all amazing, and I can't believe how fortunate I was to be helped by such caring individuals. They really do try their best to help everyone, and I am grateful they were always there for me.

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

I stayed in a homestay throughout the entirety of my study abroad program. It was mostly just myself and my host mom, and occasionally her husband/family woul visit. We were really well matched for each other, and I had no issues whatsoever with communication with her. I really loved getting to know the city while living with her, and the relationship we have is something I'll cherish.

Food is what you make of it! I don't cook very often, but I had plenty of options. There's lots of fast food options in the city, in addition to more upscale sit-down restaurants. There's also plenty of opportunities to go grocery shopping at low cost discount markets like Penny and Aldi, as well as a Mensa (cafeteria) with incredibly low prices.

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

I am an introverted person most days, so I was content to interact with everyone on a surface level. I was able to navigate ordering coffee, shopping, public transportation, and short conversations with strangers just fine. For the more outgoing, there were lots of opportunities to get out and explore Luneburg, as well as free events that both the city and Leuphana University put on. There was no shortage of things to do or people to meet.

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

I utilized both general practitioners, a physical therapist, as well as the local psychiatric clinic throughout my stay in Luneburg. My host mom took me to her own doctor when I thought I was having gallbladder problems, and that doctor was the one that gave me a referral (which is necessary for specialists) to both my psychiatrist and my physical therapist. My host mom also got me the appointment to the psychiatric clinic, but I know that the program staff would have helped me if my host mom hadn't set things up. In all honesty, once I got my insurance card (and even before then), the health care system was incredibly accessible. If you have a problem, there's no question that you go to the doctor. Cost doesn't factor in nearly as much as the United States, and I never waited to get treatment just because I was afraid I couldn't afford it. My doctor / psychiatrist / physical therapist were all very accommodating to my use of English mixed with stumbling German, and I never had any problems with them.

Luneburg is quiet and absolutely safe. I never felt afraid walking at night outside of the city center, though with the amount of pubs/bars, sometimes people could be rowdy. I never felt unsafe while in the city or in the surrounding neighborhoods.

The USAC staff in Lüneburg were top notch. I never felt uncomfortable or unsure about asking them for help, and I feel as if they went above and beyond the call in terms of helping me out, be it advice, doctor's appointments, or the best way to thank my host mom. The classes were very educational, and the amount of German I learned in 9 months was intense! It was a great program, and I wish I could have stayed longer!

(1 = not very easy/$200+ on food & personal expenses/week, 2.5 = $100/week, 5 = very easily/minimal cost)

A lot of this comes down to how a person manages their money. Shopping at discount marts like Aldi and Penny was an excellent way to keep my personal costs down, and take advantage of quality products at low prices. Budgeting is an important skill, and but utilizing really cost effective places like Leuphana's Mensa really helped me cut down on eating out/etc. There was a learning curve for sure, but I don't feel like I spent a ton of money on food/personal expenses

0 = No encouragement, 5 = frequent encouragement to use the language

There was a TON of encouragement, including speaking German with the program staff in the office, which was a huge help! I struggled a lot with confidence in the beginning of the program, and my program director took a really direct, incredible approach to helping me through exposure and generating a safe, judgement-free atmosphere to practice. All of the teachers /professors were also very accommodating and encouraged us to speak German / practice / ask questions all the time. It was an incredibly positive experience.

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• Host Family

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• Host Family

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• Americans
• International Students

• Lüneburg/Program Location
• Program Admins/Educators
• Host Family

• Trip opportunities, if possible
• Finals / moveout schedule