Weekend trip to Berlin
Author: Michelle Clark | Majors: Biological Engineering, German | Semester: Fall 2022
One thing you will never hear Germans say is that they love the Deutsche Bahn. The Deutsche Bahn is the company in charge of intercity trains and is the source of many Germans’ frustration. The Deutsche Bahn (DB) is notoriously known for constantly having delays and cancelling trains, making it the buƩ of many jokes and memes. However, while Germans will mostly have complaints about the train transportation infrastructure, I think highly of the DB. And it all comes down to a maƩer of perspective. For many Germans the DB is frustrating, because although it connects many small villages and cities throughout Germany with multiple options per day for trains, it can complicate travel plans or just daily life with its seemingly random verspaetungen (delays). However, for me, it was a whole new world of opportunities. I came from having to drive multiple hours or having to spend hundreds of dollars to fly, in order to explore the country I was living in. But then I found myself in Germany, with a student ticket in hand, which allowed me to travel free in the state I was studying in, and a plethora of opƟons to cheaply and comfortably travel. Unlike many Germans, I wasn’t holding trains in Germany to a high standard, because for me, the fact that this railway network existed and was easily accessible was more than enough.
To me this example of the Deutsche Bahn illustrates cultural differences perfectly. Due to previous experiences and social expectations established by each country, we go through unique and character building moments. Living in a country where I didn’t have to wrestle with my fear of driving and I could calmly and cheaply get around and explore, taught me that having a good public transportation system is something I highly value and consider a big part of quality of life. The beauty of traveling and study abroad is we each get to have these moments that shape us in unique ways. The experience helps us not only appreciate different ways of life, but also to look at our own with new eyes and appreciation.
One thing I grew to appreciate very much in the US is the grocery stores. I used to feel that they were chaotic in the US, but they are nothing compared to German supermarkets. Grocery shopping in Germany feels like you are preparing for the Olympics. They have record-breaking fast checkouts, and if you’re not ready for it you will flounder amongst all the products you just purchased while you hold up the line of unamused customers. Adapting to this system was hard. Although I learned to plan my trips better and mentally prepare for this anxiety-inducing situation, I am excited to be back in the US and take a nice calm stroll through checkout.
Taking classes in Germany also made me appreciate US-style education more. I was studying at the Technical University Darmstadt in Germany, finishing my International Engineering Program (IEP). My classes did not specifically have a “practice” session, so I can’t speak for those types of classes, but I can talk about lecture-only classes. In my university in Germany my classes met once a week for an hour and forty minutes. There was no homework, no quizzes, no tests – only lectures. Then at the end of the semester I took one test for each class that encompassed the entire semester’s material. Long story short, it was hard to adapt. Not only did the classes challenge me with new material, but they challenged me by completely changing the way I prepared and studied for the class. The lack of checkpoints throughout the semester made it difficult to know where I was with learning the material, and the pressure I felt to do well on that one final exam was immense. I learned a lot about different study habits from my European friends that were more accustomed to this type of system. I did pass all the classes I needed, but this experience really made me value my past couple of years at the University of Arkansas. I have a new-found appreciation for all those homework assignments, quizzes and tests -all the deadlines that helped pace the material so it was more easily digestible. However, I am also thankful for my semester in Germany, because it helped me grow in my self-discipline and organizational skills.
Many people told me studying abroad was going to be beautiful, but hard. I fully believed the beautiful part, but underestimated the part about it being hard. I was challenged in ways I couldn’t even imagine, and many times I longed for the comfort of home. But I would always make the choice to do it again. Even now, I am brainstorming ways that I can live abroad and experience new cultures and opportunities in the future. Being in a foreign country with different customs, food and weather (something I didn’t think about much but found super impactful) allows you to look at yourself in a new light and helps you define your values. You’ll be able to learn about what you consider essentials in life and what you can live without. And I believe it will inspire you to always keep growing, because it will keep you searching for new adventures. I want to end with this quote by Terry Pratchett that has reframed how I view traveling and living abroad: “Why do you go away? So that you can come back. So that you can see the place you came from with new eyes and extra colours. And the people there see you differently, too. Coming back to where you started is not the same as never leaving.”
Ps. I know the part about supermarkets sounds over-exaggerated and dramatized and you’re probably thinking “It can’t be that bad!” and the only thing I can say to that is that you won’t truly understand what I mean until you go through it.