I studied in L\u00fcneburg, Germany, through University Studies Abroad Consortium (USAC) as an NAU student during the summer of 2024. I spent five weeks studying at Leuphana University and traveling throughout Germany.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Why did you choose that country for your study abroad program?\u00a0<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n I chose to study in Germany because I have always taken an interest in its history and its language. I also have heritage from Germany dating back to the 1800s, when my family immigrated to the United States. Also, my major is in German so it was a must to travel there.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n What class(es) or research did you complete while abroad and for how long?\u00a0<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Over the course of five weeks, I completed seven credits. I took Intermediate German, Conversational German and 1933-45: Nazi Germany and Propaganda. I had two fabulous professors, including Mark Schumacher.\u00a0 Mark taught both my intermediate German and history classes. I enjoyed him as a teacher for his enthusiasm and his desire to teach. One of the best teachers I have ever had. I had classes four days a week and language exams on Friday; however we did not test every week allowing time to travel.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n How did you fund your study abroad experience?\u00a0<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n I funded my study abroad through small scholarships offered through USAC and with the money I earned working for the Polar Express at Grand Canyon Railways.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n What was your language-learning process?\u00a0<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n My language learning process began in high school when I took two years of German. Then when getting to college I took two semesters of my designated language before studying abroad and continued to take courses over there.\u00a0 I am continuing to study German now.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Can you tell us about a humorous language-related situation you encountered?\u00a0<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n A time where I encountered a hilarious language-related situation actually occurred in class. We were engaging in a partner activity answering and recording questions and answers, we were practicing the hypothetical forms with \u201cw\u00e4re\u201d and \u201ch\u00e4tte\u201d. One of the questions was If you could hang out with a celebrity for a night, who would it be? I responded with Robin Williams; however when my partner for the activity went to report my answer he used \u201ch\u00e4tte\u201d instead of \u201cw\u00e4re\u201d. The use of \u201cw\u00e4re\u201d would insinuate \u201cI would like to\u201d whereas \u201ch\u00e4tte\u201d invoked, \u201cshe would like to have Robin Williams for the night.\u201d I was so embarrassed before my professor had a chance to correct my partner.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n What expectations or preconceived notions did you have about your chosen country?\u00a0<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n I really did not have any preconceived notions; I knew that any expectations I had would be disproven stereotypes. My only notion was that I would get homesick and experience cultural shock; however I experienced reverse culture shock, which did not affect me until I was back in America. I did not realize that as Americans we \u201cwater down\u201d our coffee. I was made fun of for making the coffee \u201ctoo weak\u201d (I thought I had made it pretty strong) when it was my turn to make a new pot. So basically, if it doesn’t taste like espresso the drip coffee is too weak.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n How has your experience been compared to those perceptions?\u00a0<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n My experience was amazing. I was the healthiest I had been in years. I am gluten intolerant, but I was able to eat whatever I wanted without getting sick. I was also eating more and full meals more often and lost weight.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n What aspects of your host country do you find the most different from your home country, and why?<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n The social expectations. You don\u2019t wear leggings in public and definitely not to classes. Maybe grocery shopping. Also, you always refer to your adult professors the same as they would refer to you as an adult. If you choose to call them by their first name, they will also call you by your first name. If you choose to call them by their title and last name, they are expected to do the same for you. All adults are equal and respected no matter how little experience.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n What local traditions or customs have you experienced?\u00a0<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n I was able to experience the yearly Statt-Fest, which is the yearly summer carnival as well as enjoy lots of good food like Wei\u00dfwurst and more. I also enjoyed a lot of Turkish food, like doner kebab, which was my favorite.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n What was your biggest culture-shock moment?\u00a0<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n My biggest culture shock moment was coming back home. I was lucky and did not experience culture shock while abroad, however several of my friends did. I had issues with being able to eat healthy amounts coming back home (I ate too little) because everything that I ate at home was making me sick. I also gained weight. But when abroad I had the opposite experience. I was able to eat anything I wanted without getting sick, and I lost weight.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Tell us about your favorite\u2014and\/or least favorite\u2014dish abroad. <\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Doner kebab was my favorite dish abroad. It is a Turkish mixed bowl with red cabbage, veal, onions, an assortment of vegetables and yogurt sauce or Tzatziki. However, I also enjoyed making myself pesto gnocchi with shallots, fresh garlic cloves, cherry tomatoes, and\u00a0 Wei\u00dfwurst fried in olive oil. That\u2019s technically the incorrect way to cook Wei\u00dfwurst, but it was delicious.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n How has this study abroad experience influenced your personal, academic and career goals?\u00a0<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n That is a hard question to answer. It was depressing to come home for many reasons: the food, feeling homesick for another country and always being sick. I had to reevaluate my goals, because my only goal was to get to Germany and I got there earlier than I had planned.\u00a0 I would say it reshaped my goals, now I\u2019m focused on graduating with two degrees in five years getting accepted into NAU\u2019s Ph.D. program in applied linguistics and eventually getting married and having a family. It took time alone and abroad to learn new things I wanted and now have goals for.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n
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