NCEP321: Germany Allison Garde

ScheduleMontag Dienstag Mittwoch Donnerstag Freitag Samstag Sonnertag

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2 3 4 5 6 City Tour of Marburg

7 St. Elizabeth Church and scavenger hunt

8 Castle Tour and arsenal Marburg

9 Stock Exchange Frankfurt

10 Berlin Stasi Prison- Host Family

11 Berlin Tour - Wall

12 BVB Dortmund

13 Frankfurt Lawfirm

14 Bad Ems-Limes &Rhine River Boat

15 Buchenwald Concentration Camp- Weimar

16 Healthcare meeting- Marburg

17 Border Museum & Iron Curtain Gottingen

18 Buddy Day 19 UPS Koln-Dome

Goal Execution - small business meeting

21 Heidleburg Castle

22 Wrap-Up & packing

23 24 25 26 27 28 29

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Overall Experience

From my experience in a cross-cultural setting I gained independence, learned to appreciate my own culture , and adapt to entirely new situations while maintaining an open mind to try new things that I would have not otherwise.

Gaining IndependenceThis journey allowed me to form my own experiences and make inferences based on my new experiences. I began to see foreigners differently and understand the struggles of speaking a language other than one’s native culture. Simple tasks became much more difficult and often daunting.

“ Today we got lost trying to find our way back to the hostel. Being in a completely new situation and unfamiliar surroundings was terrifying. I feel like a foreigner.” – 6/7/14

On our scavenger hunt we were more successful when we were adventurous and took the unknown path.

“Today we went to the pool, and met two teenage girls. We could barely understand each other but

we laughed together for hours.” -6/9/14

I would have never suffered the embarrassment of trying to speak German, but as one of my goals, I pushed myself to strike a conversation, and we ended up exchanging information.

I realized the importance of punctuality and how it could affect a future employer’s perception of me.

Responsibility

Appreciate my Own Culture and What I have

• Being imersed in another culture brought about a greater understanding and appreciation for my own.

• I realized that many Germans rely on public transportation as their main means of transport.

• “This morning I spoke to a businessman on his way to work. We were slightly delayed, but he didn’t seem to mind.”-6/13/14

• When staying with my host mom, I learned she shared a car with 3 other families.

• “I drive everywhere. In fact, I even have my own car.” – 6/14/14

On the day I spent with my student buddy, I understood the benefits of our education system.

“Oksana stated, “ Some of our students take for granted the free tuition and often never graduate. We think it is wonderful that students in Germany don’t fund it themselves, but the German's also envy our system.” -6/18/14

America was fortunate enough to sustain no structural damage as a result of WWII. As hard as it is to acknowledge our fortune, it is

equally as difficult to see the destruction.

“Standing next to this structure that once divided the city in half was powerful. Its dooming nature and cold appearance is a constant reminder of the history strewn upon it.” 6/11/14d

“Besides war memorials, we have no constant reminder of what happened.” 6/11/14

Visiting the Buchenwald memorial was appalling. It seems like these tragedies were so long ago, but in reality what was not destroyed as a result of the cover of up the incidences, remain standing today.

Auf Wiedersehen