Writing this blog means that Plus 3 Germany is finally over. It’s hard to believe that just a few months ago, I was in Alumni Hall meeting everyone else on Plus 3 for the first time. I didn’t know anyone coming into this program, so meeting everyone for the first time was very exciting. Then, it seemed like May would never arrive. But, a few lectures, presentations, and a really tough quiz later, it was finally time to go to Germany.

My time in Germany was everything I wanted it to be and more. I learned so much about German culture just from talking to the German students and being in Germany. From seeing the great views at Oberammergau to learning about the rich history of cities like Regensburg and Ulm, I feel like I understand Germany on a much deeper level than before. I learned what great public transportation is like – the tram system in Augsburg was fast, efficient, and easy to navigate, even as an American who speaks no German. Not to mention how clean the streetcars were.

The streetcars were just one thing that made Augsburg the perfect setting for these two weeks. Augsburg wasn’t too small like the towns we saw on cultural visits. There was a city feel to it, with the array of stores and restaurants, tall-ish buildings, and busy streets. And while there were “tourist” sights to see, like the Dom, the city didn’t feel overly touristy. It felt genuinely and authentically German. It also wasn’t too big, like Munich. It was easy to get around and navigate, and I never almost got hit by a streetcar, unlike in Munich.

I had a unique experience with the food in Germany. Prior to the trip I had never eaten pork in my life. I promised myself that I would try it on this trip. I was hesitant the first few days. The moment itself was unceremonious – I ate two bites of a sausage in the cafeteria at Hirschvogel – but it was a major step outside of my comfort zone. I ate pork with no hesitation throughout the rest of the trip, and enjoyed eating classic Bavarian foods like schnitzel and Doner. Not only did I feel like it enhanced my cultural experience and understanding of Germany, it gave the trip a very special place in my life. Since I’m not eating pork now that I’m back in the States, Plus 3 Germany will always be “the time I ate pork.”

But the real cultural experience came from working with the German students. They were a lot more like us than I expected, and they all spoke English much better than I expected. They even liked some of the same TV shows that we do. It was so easy to become friends with them. Even from the first day, they were so warm and welcoming. We bonded over the simplicities of being in college – studying, participating in clubs and activities, and hanging out with friends. When it came to getting work done, they were very prompt and efficient and liked planning and organization even more than I do. Working with them helped me get distracted less and be more efficient myself. I’ll never forget the experience of working with them.

From the company visits, I learned so much about the car industry and supply chains. Each visit painted a clear overall picture of the largest trends in the auto industry – electromobility and autonomous vehicles. Hearing about this from innovation executives and seeing the factories where these plans will become a reality made me excited about the future of the auto industry and these companies. It was very interesting to hear from Audi, the pioneer of these progressions, and Faurecia, a company that seems to be increasingly left behind as the industry moves away from exhaust systems. The company presentations were, in themselves, a successfully branding the companies. Now, whenever I see an Audi on the street, I immediately think that the driver is a “premium and progressive” buyer. It was also amazing to see the companies’ factories and compare them. At Hirschvogel, the first company we visited, the factory and its heavy industrial machines fit my preconceived image of what a factory looks like. But the next day, at Continental, the factory was very robotic and automated. My idea of a factory was expanded greatly by the company visits.

Coming into Plus 3, I knew absolutely no one. I imagined that I’d make some friends, and there would be cliques that would likely fall along the lines of business and engineering. But I was so happy to be wrong. The twenty of us got along so well. Even from the first dinner at Union Grill, I could tell I that we were all going to click. I learned so much more about business from talking to the other business students, and so much about engineering that I never thought I would learn of be interested by. I’m so glad I got to share this experience with these people specifically.

I’m extremely thankful to Dr. Feick and Arielle, the German students and the other Pitt students for making these two weeks so impactful and unforgettable.