As I come to the end of my program in just a day, I am largely reflecting on the group with whom I had the chance to complete this program. Including myself, our trip consisted of 16 students from the Swanson School of Engineering, spanning across Industrial, Mechanical, Computer, Electrical, and Civil Engineering. Personally, I had no previous interaction with any of these participants (disregarding the few brief meetings which took place a couple months before travelling to Germany), which made for an unusual feeling going into the trip.
Truthfully, I had concerns about travelling for 2 weeks with a group I was completely unfamiliar with–not a concern regarding my ability to make friends with new people, but a concern in being unable to fully enjoy my first time outside America while constantly being around people I was not well acquainted with. To my surprise, I actually made many fast friends within my group and all 16 of us had a great group chemistry which not only made the trip tolerable, but enhanced the experience completely. Between each of our adventures, we were very comfortable conversing, bonding, laughing, and altogether experiencing a place which was completely new to all of us.
I attribute much credit to the program–its planned events, the German buddies, the German professors, and the organizers–for assisting my American group with bonding. The amazing cultural and academic opportunities we were given within Munich helped us click very quickly, and everyone in the program encouraged this attitude from the beginning so that we all became motivated to support and befriend one another. Without the companionship of my fellow program participants, all the events I have been a part of would have been completely tainted and the travelling as a whole would be much more difficult to enjoy.
I am leaving Munich on Saturday with such distinct and positive memories, not just because of the program experience, but because of the amazing people with whom I had the opportunity to travel. Although we attempted a group picture a couple of times, none of them turned out as well as one we took at Olympia Park, which I am tagging with this vlog. In that picture are all 16 of us along with a few of our beloved German buddies, a group I will always look back to fondly and appreciate for making Business, Technology, and Engineering the German Way so spectacular.
Swanson School of Engineering 