One more exams and I'll be done with first semester! The good news is that so far, exams have gone surprisingly well. I think I have passed all of them but we'll have to see...Tomorrow I have my last Klausur (German for "final) and it's an oral exam about physical geography. It's so weird how it's been learning physical geography in German. At the beginning I would have to translate the word from German-->English, then look up in the dictionary what is meant in English! After a semester of hard work, I am confident about my exam.
I was taking a look at my earlier posts, and saw that I said "I understand my teachers about 60%". It is such a good feeling looking back at that, becuase I know understand everything besides technical words or idiomatic phrases--in other words, about 90%. Learning a language is a sort of unconscious process, in which you don't realize how much your language skills progress. I am hoping that second semester brings me even further towards being fluent.
After tomorrow, I'll have two months of traveling and relaxing. I am still working at Siemens, but it will only be a couple days so I am able to travel. So far the plans are Serbia, Spain, and Holland where I will be staying with friends who I met in Munich. That's an awesome part about studying abroad--meeting international kids who can show you first hand their countries when you visit them. I, of course, have opened my doors to whoever passes through Virginia. I have to say that i'm really excited about going to Serbia. Besides Mexico or Canada, it will be the first country I will have had gone to out of the EU. I'm going to make it a priority to read up on it before I go.
Other than my trips, I'm looking forward to enjoying the nice weather that is coming. Wandern (hiking) trips, hanging out in the English Garden, and biking through the city are going to fill my agenda for the next two months..I can't wait.
One again, if your reading this and have any questions please feel free to send me an e-mail: thomas9@vt.edu. I'd be able to answer most of your questions in terms of studying in Germany or Munich.
Bis die Tage,
Tommy
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
Saturday, February 13, 2010
Impressions of Siemens
Exams just began and I am currently writing in the middle of my studying hiatus. Last week I started my internship at Siemens, which so far has been going great (office German has however been somewhat tough). It couldn't be a better situation: great people, flexible working days (just 2ce a week), and some extra pocket change for traveling this summer. The internship will fill my two month "holiday" break and roll over a little into my second semester. Directly after it's over it should be warm here again which means biking, swimming in the English Garden, beer gardens, and live music.
My job has different tasks, all of which are in German. They really are nothing special and may bore you, but I will share a little about my impressions of the German working world.
--When you walk into an office or see a co-worker, it's not normal to ask how they are doing. How are you doing in German isn't superficial as it is in English and often expects a long/thought over answer.
--As for my division of Siemens, you put in your daily hours, you work hard, and you go home. In the States, we follow more or less a fixed schedule, where as I as well as my co-workers can come in from 6-9 and leave anytime before 8 PM as long as they fill their hours.
--VERY straightforward-->Even the nicest people who I work with will tell me bluntly what I need to do right and what I should not do. Their e-mails are polite, but get right to the point. Some told me that when they were learning English, it was very hard during the writing a letter chapter because their teacher told them that in English we add "softener" sentences-->exp: "I hope your weekend was nice", "I hope you've been good"--in Germany you may have that sometimes but very rarely in the workplace
As for my exams: Tuesday, Friday, the next Tuesday and the next following Wed. will be all about Language, Physical Geography, Anthropology, and Management..
My job has different tasks, all of which are in German. They really are nothing special and may bore you, but I will share a little about my impressions of the German working world.
--When you walk into an office or see a co-worker, it's not normal to ask how they are doing. How are you doing in German isn't superficial as it is in English and often expects a long/thought over answer.
--As for my division of Siemens, you put in your daily hours, you work hard, and you go home. In the States, we follow more or less a fixed schedule, where as I as well as my co-workers can come in from 6-9 and leave anytime before 8 PM as long as they fill their hours.
--VERY straightforward-->Even the nicest people who I work with will tell me bluntly what I need to do right and what I should not do. Their e-mails are polite, but get right to the point. Some told me that when they were learning English, it was very hard during the writing a letter chapter because their teacher told them that in English we add "softener" sentences-->exp: "I hope your weekend was nice", "I hope you've been good"--in Germany you may have that sometimes but very rarely in the workplace
As for my exams: Tuesday, Friday, the next Tuesday and the next following Wed. will be all about Language, Physical Geography, Anthropology, and Management..
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