As for all of my classes, I'm really enjoying them. They are all tough to understand, but I'm making my way through it. My one "Ubung", there is 25 other kids and I and we are forced to talk about what we have learned in lecture. I find it my hardest class because I'm constantly forced to discuss the things that I didn't understand well! Fortunately, the teacher is very understanding as are the other kids in class. They all are supportive and help me with homework and translating things.
This past Saturday I took "the free tour" of Munich which I found really good. For 2 months I have been walking around the city with limited knowledge of the history, and now that I know more about it, I will feel more connected and aware as I pass by certain places. While walking through the city, I noted how much Christmas stuff was starting to go up. I can already tell that the holiday season will be very traditional.
By the way, if your reading any of this and would like some questions answered, feel free to email me
Sunday, November 15, 2009
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
Berlin
My friend and I decided last week that we wanted to meet my brother (who studies right across the bride from Copenhagen in Sweden) in Berlin. The train tickets in Germany are not bad when you buy them a month or too in advanced, but are ridiculously high when you last minute plan. Airfare in Europe is random and rather weird too--sometimes you can fly with a cheap airline for 10-30 Euro round trip and sometimes the same ticket will cost you 100-150 Euro. I finally found the solution to cheap, last minute travel in Germany. A website called Mitfahrgelegenheit.de allows you to search "rides" from your city to your final destination. The ride giver puts the amount he wants, the time he leaves, and his phone number to set up a meeting point. The website allowed us to go round trip to Berlin for about 50E, which beats the heck out of the 200 Euro train price we would have paid! If you do use the website, make sure you make an account so you can check out the person's profile who you ride with. I would also recommend you talk to him or her on the phone and find out more about the person to be safe.
Berlin was a great time. I was able to meet up with my fellow Hokies who are studying at our Swiss Campus in Riva San Vitale which was comforting to be with Americans again. We saw a lot, met cool people, and I was able to joke again in my mother language. I'd say that one of the hardest things about learning a language is not being able to joke. Jokes normally come quickly and out of the blue, and if your constantly trying to think before you talk, you rarely think of jokes. Something that surprised me about Berlin was how cheap it is. Granted, I study in the most expensive cities in Germany, but EVERYTHING, even in the tourist areas, was inexpensive. I was definitely happy to come back to Munich though. I love to travel and have had some good trips to Prague, Salzburg, and Berlin, but every time I get back to Munich I always am happy to be back. The city is too clean, too efficient, and too "gemütlich" to not be happy to come back.
So, some tips if you study here: check out mitfahrgelegenheit.de
Berlin was a great time. I was able to meet up with my fellow Hokies who are studying at our Swiss Campus in Riva San Vitale which was comforting to be with Americans again. We saw a lot, met cool people, and I was able to joke again in my mother language. I'd say that one of the hardest things about learning a language is not being able to joke. Jokes normally come quickly and out of the blue, and if your constantly trying to think before you talk, you rarely think of jokes. Something that surprised me about Berlin was how cheap it is. Granted, I study in the most expensive cities in Germany, but EVERYTHING, even in the tourist areas, was inexpensive. I was definitely happy to come back to Munich though. I love to travel and have had some good trips to Prague, Salzburg, and Berlin, but every time I get back to Munich I always am happy to be back. The city is too clean, too efficient, and too "gemütlich" to not be happy to come back.
So, some tips if you study here: check out mitfahrgelegenheit.de
Monday, October 26, 2009
Life at LMU
For the last week, I have been trying to get my head around how things work here at LMU and Germany for that. I'll start off listing some of the differences and my thoughts on them:
1. You don't register for most classes. You just go. I love the idea of this, but there is just some security to having your name on the class register that ensures you that you are actually going to get credits. For the classes you do register for, you must sign up only a week in advanced and can e-mail the professor if you forget the date.
2. All the courses are in German. I would say that I now understand about 60% of everything my teachers say, and am confident that in a month, I'll understand almost all of it. Lack of confidence and laziness is the only reason why people don't succeed in learning a language. On this trip, I've met people who tried one language and failed miserably, but are doing great with German. If your one of those people who had trouble with one language and think that your "mind" is not like that, try another language and you'll be surprised.
3. The school is about 65% girls. A big change from Tech's 40%
I'm sorry I've been so short on this..I've got a lot to do now, but when I get back to blogging i'll tell you about Berlin and my weekend
1. You don't register for most classes. You just go. I love the idea of this, but there is just some security to having your name on the class register that ensures you that you are actually going to get credits. For the classes you do register for, you must sign up only a week in advanced and can e-mail the professor if you forget the date.
2. All the courses are in German. I would say that I now understand about 60% of everything my teachers say, and am confident that in a month, I'll understand almost all of it. Lack of confidence and laziness is the only reason why people don't succeed in learning a language. On this trip, I've met people who tried one language and failed miserably, but are doing great with German. If your one of those people who had trouble with one language and think that your "mind" is not like that, try another language and you'll be surprised.
3. The school is about 65% girls. A big change from Tech's 40%
I'm sorry I've been so short on this..I've got a lot to do now, but when I get back to blogging i'll tell you about Berlin and my weekend
Friday, October 9, 2009
Transition
Oktoberfest is over and the city is back to normal--finally! I know it is probably cliche of everyone who studies abroad to "love their city", but there's no exaggeration when I say that I love it here. It's been a week or two since I have updated this blog, so excuse my scattered brain thoughts!
Going out with people from different nationalities is awkward, fun, and very enlightening all at the same time. Like I've mentioned before, we are all in the same boat being international students so it's really easy to just go up to someone and ask to get something to eat or go, kind of like you asked anyway on the playground to play with you in 1st grade. So, with that said, anyone reading this who studies abroad: Don't be afraid to break out of your shell and be really open as you might not be in the States. Also, do NOT expect to be funny in German at all and expect to lower your standards of jokes to a level you never thought possible.
If you study in Munich, join the gym McFit. It's so cheap (16 E) monthly and there are 5 in the city. Also, if you live in Studentenstadt, you can shop at Aldi or Edeka on the stop Alte Heide just 1 metro stop away.
Never talk American politics. Seriously.
Overall my experience is going really great. The more I look around and open my eyes, I see that big risks pay of with big rewards. I think that doing a fully immersion program without knowing anyone has given me a lot of self confidence and has really given me a chance to discover things on my own. I look forward to keeping you guys posted on my next week! There will be some good things in store..
Going out with people from different nationalities is awkward, fun, and very enlightening all at the same time. Like I've mentioned before, we are all in the same boat being international students so it's really easy to just go up to someone and ask to get something to eat or go, kind of like you asked anyway on the playground to play with you in 1st grade. So, with that said, anyone reading this who studies abroad: Don't be afraid to break out of your shell and be really open as you might not be in the States. Also, do NOT expect to be funny in German at all and expect to lower your standards of jokes to a level you never thought possible.
If you study in Munich, join the gym McFit. It's so cheap (16 E) monthly and there are 5 in the city. Also, if you live in Studentenstadt, you can shop at Aldi or Edeka on the stop Alte Heide just 1 metro stop away.
Never talk American politics. Seriously.
Overall my experience is going really great. The more I look around and open my eyes, I see that big risks pay of with big rewards. I think that doing a fully immersion program without knowing anyone has given me a lot of self confidence and has really given me a chance to discover things on my own. I look forward to keeping you guys posted on my next week! There will be some good things in store..
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
Oktoberfest/Last week of language course
The first day of Oktoberfest was great! I could not believe how traditional Bavarians are...nearly everyone at the Oktoberfest wore Lederhosen and Drindls and EVERYONE knew the lyrics to all of the Bavarian songs in the tents. Oktoberfest is confused with what we like to think of as just beer halls with 1-liter beers. Of course beer is a big part of it, but it's more of a time where Bavarian people can meet, celebrate their own culture (much different than German at that...they have their own language!), eat well, and enjoy life. There are roller coasters, ferris wheels, swings, and many games for kids and adults alike. The music and the laid back atmosphere makes Oktoberfest a fun day for everyone.
A quick story--I was in one of the "tents" with my Swiss friend looking for a table and finally found one with a group of Americans studying abroad. They seemed nice so we sat down and started talking. My Swiss friend told them he was from Switzerland, and they all thought it was really cool. Because he and I both speak Spanish/German together, the girls thought it was amazing that he was "so talented" and asked him how many languages he spoke. He told them French was his mother tongue and they all asked "Why don't you speak Swedish?" He laughed and thought they were joking but they said "we're serious...". He proceeded to tell a group of 6 other Americans, 2 who study in COPENHAGEN (20 minutes from Sweden) and 4 who study in Italy (Switzerland's border) that Switzerland and Sweden are different countries. It seems like such a trivial thing to write about on this blog, but I think it shines light on a bigger idea that Americans should be more aware of world geography/lifestyles/current events. I understand that some people never want to leave America, but being a global citizen, and especially if you decide to study in Europe, you should be aware of simple things like this. Hopefully I can break the stereotypes of the "dumb American"...but I can't do it alone, and they sure didn't help...
On a last note, the language class is coming to an end. It was a great few weeks learning hundreds of words and getting to know other people who will also study here. After this Saturday, I will have 3 weeks free...no plans, no responsibility, no work. It's great to have this flexibility, and I hope to use it to travel around Germany or maybe to other parts of Europe. I will be sure to blog about the adventures I go on...
A quick story--I was in one of the "tents" with my Swiss friend looking for a table and finally found one with a group of Americans studying abroad. They seemed nice so we sat down and started talking. My Swiss friend told them he was from Switzerland, and they all thought it was really cool. Because he and I both speak Spanish/German together, the girls thought it was amazing that he was "so talented" and asked him how many languages he spoke. He told them French was his mother tongue and they all asked "Why don't you speak Swedish?" He laughed and thought they were joking but they said "we're serious...". He proceeded to tell a group of 6 other Americans, 2 who study in COPENHAGEN (20 minutes from Sweden) and 4 who study in Italy (Switzerland's border) that Switzerland and Sweden are different countries. It seems like such a trivial thing to write about on this blog, but I think it shines light on a bigger idea that Americans should be more aware of world geography/lifestyles/current events. I understand that some people never want to leave America, but being a global citizen, and especially if you decide to study in Europe, you should be aware of simple things like this. Hopefully I can break the stereotypes of the "dumb American"...but I can't do it alone, and they sure didn't help...
On a last note, the language class is coming to an end. It was a great few weeks learning hundreds of words and getting to know other people who will also study here. After this Saturday, I will have 3 weeks free...no plans, no responsibility, no work. It's great to have this flexibility, and I hope to use it to travel around Germany or maybe to other parts of Europe. I will be sure to blog about the adventures I go on...
Friday, September 18, 2009
Oktoberfest
This week has been very productive. I've met some Germans on my hall, got a bank account, and am wrapping down my language course. The bank I went to in the city center, Deutsche Bank, blows any US bank out of the water. You walk upstairs and are greeted by a well dressed man/woman who gets you a coffee, cappuccino, soft drink and a snack. From there, you just give your passport and address to the person who helps you and in 15 minutes you''ve got an account. It was amazing how efficient the process is and how the bank is a place to "relax" before your appointment.
The city is PACKED with tourists coming from all over the world for tomorrow. What's tomorrow? The celebration of Ludwig's wedding--Oktoberfest. Many Americans are confused by the dates but it was a 2 week celebration before he got married in October. It's turned into one of the world's greatest festivals where you eat Bavarian food and beer, sing, dance, and meet people all day. We "trained" in my language class all day by learning Bavarian songs....Our homework is that we have to go and try them out. I think a group of friends and I wake up tomorrow very early to get a spot and be there for the beginning of das Oktoberfest!
The city is PACKED with tourists coming from all over the world for tomorrow. What's tomorrow? The celebration of Ludwig's wedding--Oktoberfest. Many Americans are confused by the dates but it was a 2 week celebration before he got married in October. It's turned into one of the world's greatest festivals where you eat Bavarian food and beer, sing, dance, and meet people all day. We "trained" in my language class all day by learning Bavarian songs....Our homework is that we have to go and try them out. I think a group of friends and I wake up tomorrow very early to get a spot and be there for the beginning of das Oktoberfest!
Monday, September 14, 2009
Salzburg
It’s been a little less than 2 weeks since I’ve been here in Germany. I’ve had a great time so far, and have already experienced so much. I’ve met people from all around the world, and have already learned so much German. My Dad and I (as I write this) are on our way to Prague, where we will spend a few nights before I go back to Munich for class, and he goes to Sweden to visit my brother and his family. We just came from Salzburg-the home of Mozart, the stage for movies such as the Sound of Music and considered by many to be one of the most beautiful cities in Europe. It was a great time…my Dad and I explored a salt mine, took a tram to a 1000 year old castle, and got lost on the side streets of the town.
After Prague, I’ll return to Munich to continue my intensive language studies. I’ve also got to take care of other business such as my Visa, my bank account, and my class schedule. Life here is much different that the US, but I’m adjusting just fine and am having a great time.
A couple tips to people who study/visit in Munich
-You can take the Bayern Ticket anywhere in Bavaria (to Salzburg as well, even though it is in Austria) for just 28 euro. The ticket is good for up to 5 people, meaning that if you split it properly, you are just paying about 6 E to travel around Bavaria and lasts for a 24 hour period. If you arrive to the train station early (around 30 minutes) you can usually find other people who want to share the ticket because they are going to the same place (that is, if you do not have 5 people). Other ideas for the ticket: go to Regensburg (a UNESCO world heritage site), Neuschwanstein (The Cinderella Castle) or Nurnburg. The ticket has some small time restrictions, and don’t allow use of high speed trains.
-The intensive language course website can be found at “vsk-misu.de” or by googling “vsk misu munich”. It is definitely a great way to practice German, meet kids from around the world who will study here, and get used to German life. The class is offered twice a year, around a month before the semester starts.
Saturday, September 5, 2009
Lifestyle Differences
After being here for just 5 days, I've noticed a lot of differences in how people live. Most of them are practical things and some of them are annoying for me coming from America.
The Good:
1. Gum is sort of looked down upon as being rude to chew in public (although a few people still do it). You wouldn't believe the difference it makes on how the streets look. I was in NYC before I left for Munich, and the filth on the sidewalks is something you just don't see here.
2. You pay a little bit more for each recyclable bottle you buy (15-75 cents). There are recycle stations in grocery stores and cafeterias where you then recycle the bottles and get your money back. This is awesome because it encourages people to recycle. The homeless go searching on the streets to find the bottles, which in effect, makes the city clean.
3. If there is one elevator in a subway station with no one on it, it will most likely be stopped. The first people that wants to either go up or down steps on a platform in front of the elevator and it starts up. It saves space, energy, and is convenient to either the crowd of people going up to get on the metro, or the crowd who has gotten off to go down.
4. The metro doors only open when you want them to. In DC, the doors are automatically opened whether or not anyone wants on. You have to press a button to open the doors on the metro here because it saves energy and also does not allow the heat/AC to escape.
5. The public transportation is amazing and very efficient. There is a S-Bahn for more suburban zones, U-Bahn for inner city travel, a street tram, and bus system.
The Bad:
1. Don't expect ice in all of your drinks.
2. If you want your still (no carbonation) ask "ohne Kohlensaure"...otherwise you will probably get bubbly water.
3. Bathrooms are definitely not as common as in the States, and most of the "public" bathrooms will have someone waiting outside who cleans the bathrooms and asks for spare change.
4. The hours are awful. A combination of German laws and tradition make stores close really early.
The Good:
1. Gum is sort of looked down upon as being rude to chew in public (although a few people still do it). You wouldn't believe the difference it makes on how the streets look. I was in NYC before I left for Munich, and the filth on the sidewalks is something you just don't see here.
2. You pay a little bit more for each recyclable bottle you buy (15-75 cents). There are recycle stations in grocery stores and cafeterias where you then recycle the bottles and get your money back. This is awesome because it encourages people to recycle. The homeless go searching on the streets to find the bottles, which in effect, makes the city clean.
3. If there is one elevator in a subway station with no one on it, it will most likely be stopped. The first people that wants to either go up or down steps on a platform in front of the elevator and it starts up. It saves space, energy, and is convenient to either the crowd of people going up to get on the metro, or the crowd who has gotten off to go down.
4. The metro doors only open when you want them to. In DC, the doors are automatically opened whether or not anyone wants on. You have to press a button to open the doors on the metro here because it saves energy and also does not allow the heat/AC to escape.
5. The public transportation is amazing and very efficient. There is a S-Bahn for more suburban zones, U-Bahn for inner city travel, a street tram, and bus system.
The Bad:
1. Don't expect ice in all of your drinks.
2. If you want your still (no carbonation) ask "ohne Kohlensaure"...otherwise you will probably get bubbly water.
3. Bathrooms are definitely not as common as in the States, and most of the "public" bathrooms will have someone waiting outside who cleans the bathrooms and asks for spare change.
4. The hours are awful. A combination of German laws and tradition make stores close really early.
Wednesday, September 2, 2009
First days in Munich
It's been 2 full days since I've been in Munich. So far, I love the city and the Bavarian people. Some things about Munich make so much sense: you pay a little extra for water but you can return your bottles to recycle them and get some money back. Also, people don't really chew gum as it is rude in public--as much as I thought this "rule" was dumb at first, I appreciate it so much as I walk down the street and don't see any smashed chewed gum. My residence in Studentenstadt is what I expected--a really small room but I cannot complain--we have a bunch of little shops and about 2500 students live in the same Studentenwohnheim (residence) so there is a lot going on always. My language skills have improved a lot over the past two days...but I have definitely faced the fact that German is going to be tough to learn (I will do it though!). My intensive language class runs for 4 hours a day so I think that should help a lot. Other than that, it's been a great experience so far. I'll be sure to write more as my week unfolds.
Sunday, August 30, 2009
Last day in the USA
As I sat anxiously waiting for my Air Canada flight (in which I’m writing this entry right now), I noticed a very tall lady (says a lot coming from me) with her husband and two blonde kids. I saw that the kids were wearing ID badges and the small red flag with the white cross in it which indicated that they were Swiss. I figured I had nothing to lose so I broke out some of my German to the kids. I told them where I was going, what I was doing there, and found out a little bit more about their lives They ended up giving me great advice about life in Europe and assured me I would have a great time in Munich. Although the mom spoke great English, she spoke to me primarily in German. She understood that I was trying to learn and I think she felt more "comfortable" speaking her native language. It was suprising because in class we hear so much about how Swiss German is almost incomprehensible, but her Hochdeutsch (high Germany) was amazing. After speaking with them, I’m feeling better than ever about the decision I made to spend my year in Germany..
Off to Toronto, then Munich!
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
A few days before...
In 3 days, I will board a plane, travel 8 hours across the Atlantic, and find my new temporary home in Munich for 11 months. I've made a huge commitment to go away for a year, but think that in the end, I will be happy I made the decision. I better go and finish packing-I'll be sure to keep you all updated as I leave!
A little bit about this blog: It'll be a great way for family and friends to keep connected with what is happening, as well as a good "diary" for me to write down my adventures. But I also want it to serve to help people in the future who plan to study abroad (especially in Munich/Germany). Therefore, I'll sometimes put some "tips" on the very bottom of each post. Feel free to ask me if you've got any questions regarding these "tips" or any other questions--thomas9@vt.edu
A little bit about this blog: It'll be a great way for family and friends to keep connected with what is happening, as well as a good "diary" for me to write down my adventures. But I also want it to serve to help people in the future who plan to study abroad (especially in Munich/Germany). Therefore, I'll sometimes put some "tips" on the very bottom of each post. Feel free to ask me if you've got any questions regarding these "tips" or any other questions--thomas9@vt.edu
Thursday, July 30, 2009
A month before
It's about a month before leaving, and I just created this blog to share and document my year abroad. I'll be sure to post more as August 30th comes closer...
I also wanted to thank the John T. Petters Foundation as well as Phi Kappa Phi for study abroad scholarship aid. Many doors have been opened because of their financial support, and I am very grateful for that.
I also wanted to thank the John T. Petters Foundation as well as Phi Kappa Phi for study abroad scholarship aid. Many doors have been opened because of their financial support, and I am very grateful for that.
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