We traveled back home today from Munich to Pittsburgh. I had many hours to sit in my own thoughts and reflect on my travel abroad experience in Germany. Below are some highlights, observations, and overall reflections that I gained from this transformative time I spent abroad.
Highlights: When I ask myself the question of what my favorite moment of the trip was it is difficult to narrow it down to a specific event or even day. However, what comes to mind first was the day we visited Neuschwanstein Castle. That entire experience was magical and so rich with culture and excitement. This was the first day that as a group we weren’t working on our presentations or visiting a corporate setting. It was purely an educational day that was more so focused on learning about the German history and culture of Ludwig II. A moment from that day that I will remember forever was the view we caught as we drove in the bus closer to the castle. We were in a valley and as we looked up we saw the castle for the first time. Straight out of a fairytale it felt like what we were seeing was a green screen.
In general, my highlights of the trip were when I was with the entire group sharing laughs and memories that will last a lifetime. The shared experience of going to a new country and not knowing the language was an experience that would bind the group for a long time. I enjoyed getting to know each person in the group individually and having interesting conversations about life in general and our time so far in college.
Observations: Germans love to stare. I have never experienced so many eyes on me at once. I noticed that oftentimes when we went out as a group the moment that the people around us discovered that we were American there was a tendency of them to stare at us for a long time. I observed that in terms of cultural differences, Germans tend to be more reserved and quiet than Americans. When eating out in restaurants I noticed that the overall volume of the room was much quieter than that of an American restaurant.
Reflections: What I expected to take away from this class was a solid understanding of German history, culture, and language. I am pleased to say that on the culture and history front, my expectations have been exceeded. Learning extensively about Augsburg’s history in both pre-departure lectures and when we arrived through visiting The Fuggerei I can take away so much from learning about a new culture. I didn’t expect how much I would take from the company site visits and factory tours. Starting with Hoebiger, I was most surprised to learn about the different types of products they produce and for the wide range of sectors they provide for. For example, they make not only automotive parts but also parts for newborn ventilators. GROB was equally as impressive and interesting to tour. The factory was a well-oiled machine and the company culture really stuck out to me. During our tour of the factory, our guide showed us the employee gym and told us about some additional benefits to working for GROB. There are weekly ping pong tournaments and yoga classes. I realized the importance of working for a company that values the wellbeing of their workers and provides the best resources to them.
Through visiting these companies, I learned valuable things about myself and my future business career. I hope to work for a company that gives back to the environment and the greater world, I want to be valued as an employee and treated with respect. I want my opinions to be heard and valued. From a social standpoint, something I realized about myself on this trip is as much as I enjoy spending time with my peers, I need some alone time to grow and explore a new city by myself. Sometimes after a long day of traveling on program time as a group, I needed to go and get a coffee or treat alone to properly reflect.
In conclusion, this trip will be a time that I value for the rest of my life. I learned so much about myself both professionally and personally. I would like to give a big thanks to Professor Feick and Claire for their constant support and guidance throughout this experience. I hope to return to Germany someday to continue my learning journey and knowledge of German culture.