Courtesy of Emma Dinkelspiel ’25
What program are you enrolled in?
Baden-Württemberg Exchange studying at University of Konstanz. I was also doing a two month internship at the Carl-Schurz-Haus for transatlantic relations in Freiburg im Breisgau through CISLA in January and February
Why did you choose this program and internship?
This program was suggested by the German department at Conn because of its emphasis on language development and cultural immersion. I chose to intern at the Carl-Schurz-Haus because I wanted to learn more about the role of cultural exchange in international relations.
How have you adjusted to life abroad?
It took me a while to really adjust to living in Germany. Germany is known for its bureaucracy, and that stereotype is definitely true! My first two months I was living in Freiburg doing an internship outside of my study away program, and it was really challenging to figure out all of the forms and formalities by myself. Now that I’m at my university in Konstanz it has been much more manageable, and I have begun to adjust more quickly
What is your housing situation? What is that like?
Right now I’m living in a Wohnung which is a shared student apartment. I have a room to myself, but I share a kitchen and two bathrooms with three other women. I really like this space, and I have my own balcony which is really nice. Two of my roommates are German, so I get a lot of practice. When I was in Freiburg I rented a room in the apartment of a 70 year old man named Jürgend. Jürgend spoke no English and would speak to me in a very strong Austrian dialect of German. He loved to discuss American politics and healthcare which was definitely a challenge for me every morning before work!
What is a typical day like? Is there anything similar to Conn? Is there anything very different?
In the mornings I like to go for runs along Lake Constance. It’s super beautiful here, and on a clear day I can see the alps! I go to the university most weekdays to either study or take classes. It’s about a twenty minute walk from my apartment, but there is also a great bus system in the city which I utilize often. In the afternoons I like to see my friends or call family back home. University is very different here. Classes are much larger, and sometimes the students feel less engaged than they do at Conn, but I really appreciate the challenge of experiencing a different kind of academic setting!
Are you involved in anything outside of classes?
I’m pretty involved in the Erasmus program for international students here, and I go to a lot of events for that. I also still go back to Freiburg every month to participate in the Youth Council for the Carl-Schurz-Haus and discuss transatlantic politics and social issues. I really love having that community, and there is also an American library at the Haus, so I get to check out English language books when I visit which is so comforting.
What is the best part about being abroad?
I love getting to meet people from all over, and I have been able to really improve my German over the past few months. I had never left the US before coming here, so I had never really been able to speak German in an immersive setting. I’ve learned so much about how to converse in casual German with people my own age as well as in a more formal work environment. These situations have helped me become a much more adaptable German speaker.
What is the biggest challenge?
Grocery shopping in Germany is no joke! My first time grocery shopping I got so overwhelmed because the cashiers move super quickly and they make no small talk. I also had a funny experience where a woman at the grocery store almost wouldn’t sell me a bottle of wine because she thought my American ID was fake. Apparently I looked too young to be drinking wine despite the fact that the German drinking age for wine and beer is 16!
What advice would you give to people preparing to go away?
Try to figure out as many of the formalities as possible before you actually get on the plane! Everything is going to be so overwhelming even if you think you have everything figured out, so try to do everything within your control as soon as possible.
What is something you wish you had known that you know now?
Everything in Germany is closed on Sunday. If you fly to Germany on a Saturday, you will have no food on Sunday. This was a rude awakening for me on my first day abroad! Other than that, I would just say that it’s really important to try to connect with local people while being abroad. At first, it can be really comforting to surround yourself with other Americans, but what’s the point of studying abroad if you’re just going to do the things you could do at home?
