I have been home for around 6 weeks, and I can’t believe how quickly the past six months have flown by. I can already identify how I’ve learned so much about German people and history, biomedical science and engineering, and myself. In addition to priceless memories, I already know that I have returned from my semester abroad smarter, wiser, and with a broader view of the world.
One of the most influential factors in helping me learn about German culture was living with a host family, or in my case, a host mother. Her name was Birgit, and she selflessly took me into her home like I was a real daughter. I was the first host student she ever had, but my experience with her was fabulous. Without her support, I don’t think that I would’ve been able to adjust to life abroad so easily. She often had friends and other family members over, so I got to know them very well too, and they also became part of my huge support network. In her home, I shared photos and stories from back home and she told me about her family and various German traditions. I feel very fortunate to have been able to exchange cultures in over a long period of time in such an intimate setting. We got very close and I am confident that we will keep in contact with each other for years to come!
I also enjoyed learning German in the classroom. I think that our German course prepared us to have very basic conversations, however, I wish that the course would’ve continued throughout the semester. One of the biggest challenges that I faced when trying to learn German was that it was difficult to get practice outside the classroom. Most Germans are bilingual, so they would often will reply in English just for the sake of keeping conversation going if they could tell I was struggling. This made it difficult sometimes to learn the language while also wanting to get to know more about people and have meaningful interactions.
I will definitely be taking some of the German customs back to Texas with me. I really appreciated how Germans take their time to enjoy the little things in life. Examples of this would be sitting or walking in the park on a beautiful day, or spending hours lounging and talking in a cafe. I really contrasted these things to the activities my friends and I do back home, and I think that it would be really nice to introduce these types of activities into our normal routines. I also loved how my host mother would always invite her friends over for a 3-course dinner rather than going out to a restaurant. I would absolutely love to do this back in Texas because it saves money and is also a great opportunity to serve people that I care about and allows for more privacy. Unfortunately, however, I did not pick up on the German habit of punctuality as much as I thought that I would.
Academically, my most challenging classes this semester were Physiology and Genetics. I think that taking these courses abroad was more challenging than if I were to take them on campus. I had to be very conscientious about time management if I wanted to be successful in the classroom as well as being able to travel on the weekends. This meant making every moment count, from studying on the plane to staying up late in the hotel on an excursion to get an assignment submitted. I was very grateful that my peers were also very studious because it helped me remain focused on school. One of my funniest memories was when some friends and I were staying in a hostel in Poland one weekend and some other travelers looked at us like we were crazy for all sitting around the table studying for an upcoming test. Overall, my hard work paid off because I had a 4.0 semester!
My most interesting class was History of Medicine. I loved how this course covered a wide range of topics and was supplemented by our excursions. In the famous Louvre, for example, went on a unique tour that highlighted artwork that relates to how medicine has changed over time. I am appreciative of how I went to many places on this program that I don’t think I would’ve seeked out on my own, like the pharmacy museum in Vienna or the Hotel Dieu in Beaurne, France. I feel like this class has given me a very unique perspective on medical history, and this experience would not have been possible solely learning in the classroom.
I am also very grateful for the opportunity we had to work on a medical device design project with a local German engineering company, enmodes GmbH. I think that this project sets the Bioscience program apart from other programs because it challenged us with problems that have solutions that can actually make a difference in the real world. It was very validating to get positive feedback from the engineers at enmodes GmbH. It gave me, as a BIMS student, the unique chance to step into the field of engineering and continue to pursue my interest in working the medical device industry.
In terms of personal growth, I am leaving Germany feeling like a more confident and independent young adult. I feel comfortable taking initiative to take the steps I need to set a plan into action in an unfamiliar setting. Being able to navigate new cities and quickly adapt to new environments has been something that I have never had to do until this semester, but I now feel more capable of going to new places and getting meaningful experiences out of them.
I also became more self-aware because I noticed the things that I take for granted back home. Although I appreciate public transportation, nothing compares to being able to get in the car and drive wherever, whenever. I missed the large, abundant selections of every type of food in HEB. I missed the hot temperatures in Texas, too, especially when it snowed in April in Germany. I know that when I get back home, I will miss things about Germany too, but paying to use the restroom or water in a restaurant will not be on that list.
In conclusion, I am so grateful for my study abroad experience. I will never forget the many different forms of support and love I received this semester- from my parents, friends, TAMU faculty, the AIB, my host mom, all of the people I’ve met on my travels, and more! Without these people, my experience would not have been anywhere near as impactful. In the future, I can only hope to pay this support forward.
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