Jacob Clark – Mechanical Engineering
The German Way program did an amazing job at making my fellow students and me feel at home while abroad. One of the most effective ways they did this was by setting up a group of German students to support us while we were in Munich. The group, consisting of 5-6 Germans, quickly became some of the best friends I could ask for. Although there was a cultural divide, and at times a language barrier, we found ways to bond over our similar Gen Z humor and share the cultures we came from. Although the students were only required to be at the scheduled events, many of them came to our personal adventures, showing us around the city and giving us recommendations. The laughs, the friendships, and the experiences are something that is truly unforgettable. So much so that I have kept in contact with a number of my buddies since the trip concluded.
Beyond the pre-arranged buddies, we were told that people would be quite hard to talk to or become friendly within Germany. The “Americans” quickly found that this could be proven false. During the first day, and many nights after, we discovered new friends that were extremely open to us as foreign students. There was rarely a scoff or negative response but always intrigue and kindness. By the end of the trip, my group and I had met at least 10-15 different strangers, befriended them and learned about their experiences in Germany.
This intrigue of the American student was often universal among those that I met, but there were a few exceptions. Clerks would get frustrated at times due to the language barrier, and I would feel out of place at times in a restaurant as Germany’s view of customer service is vastly different than the United States. This hard shell was to be expected in the culture and could often be broken with a short bit of conversation. They were never meant, just efficient!
At the end of the trip, the buddies shared that they were so surprised that the US students were so good at meeting friends and new people in Germany, as it’s often quite hard to make new friends in Munich. My main takeaway from the social portion of this experience is as follows.
Be yourself, be open to meeting new friends, and approach everyone with genuine curiosity, and kindness. This was the recipe that never failed.
Swanson School of Engineering 