I believe food can definitely be considered a “window to the soul”, especially when experiencing a new country and culture. Before traveling to Germany, the food was honestly one of the things I was looking forward to the most. I was not sure what to expect as this was my first time traveling out of the country, but it definitely did not disappoint. From traditional German meals to foods from other cultures, eating became a major part of my experience abroad.
During our time in Germany, we tended to eat out for almost every meal. Sometimes this was part of a planned group activity with the entire program, while other times a few classmates and I would find somewhere to eat on our own. Since I tend to eat out fairly often during the semester back home, this was not a huge adjustment for me. However, being in a completely different country made every meal feel like a new experience.
of course, we had the opportunity to try plenty of German and Bavarian classics. We ate foods like bratwurst, pretzels, different types of potatoes (like a potato dumpling), and, one of my favorites, schnitzel, as pictured above. One of the most memorable food experiences was actually getting to cook traditional Bavarian food ourselves. Not only was the experience informative, but the food was delicious. We even learned how to make Kaiserschmarrn, a popular dessert in German culture that is basically a shredded, fried pancake served with powdered sugar and fruit toppings that we made into a muffin. It quickly became one of my favorite things I tried during the trip.
Something else I found interesting was the authenticity of many of the restaurants we visited. At Greek restaurants, for example, many of the cooks and employees were actually Greek. We noticed similar things at restaurants serving food from other countries. it may seem like a small detail, but I thought it made the experience much better because the food and atmosphere felt more authentic. Germany, and especially Munich, gave us the opportunity to experience not only German food but foods and cultures from throughout Europe.
Another major difference I noticed was that food in Germany generally seemed healthier to me. Even something as simple as a random bag of chips from the convenience store around the corner seemed different from what I was used to eating in the United States. Whether it was the ingredients, portion sizes, or preparation, I often felt better after meals even though we were eating out so frequently.
One eating habit that did change for me was breakfast. At home, breakfast is usually something I either keep simple or do not spend much time on. In Germany, I found myself enjoying breakfast much more. Whether it was stopping at a bakery for a pastry and coffee or actually sitting down for breakfast, I began to appreciate that part of the day more than I normally would at home.
Overall, the food experience in Germany lived up to everything I hoped it would be. Food gave me another way to experience the culture, spend time with classmates, and try things I would not normally have at home. Some of my favorite memories from the trip happened around a table, which is why I think food really can be a window into the soul of a place and its people.
Swanson School of Engineering 