Now that the dust has settled a bit, I truly took the time to reflect on this amazing experience. The experience I keep returning to most is our visit to Dachau. Throughout the trip, we toured world-class companies, historic cities, and cultural landmarks, but standing in a place where so much human suffering occurred had a different kind of impact. You can watch documentaries, read books, and learn about history in a classroom, but being physically present there made the reality of it feel much more tangible. The silence, the scale of the camp, and the stories of those imprisoned there are things that have stayed with me ever since.
The most valuable thing that I am bringing home with me is the strong sense of community I observed throughout Germany. Whether it was people gathering in public squares, spending time in beer gardens, or children walking the streets alone with no fear, there seemed to be a greater emphasis on shared spaces and community life. Being in the restaurants in Munich, there was always so much energy filling the place, and it made me appreciate how culture and tradition can encourage a stronger sense of belonging and social interaction. In America, we are more divided than ever, we don’t have even close to the connection that the people in Germany have.
What Bavaria taught me is that industry, culture, and history cannot be understood in isolation. In the same two weeks, we visited manufacturing facilities, medieval cities, and one of the most historical sites and castles in Europe. Seeing all three together revealed a society that values innovation and connection while preserving its heritage and confronting its past. Had I only visited the companies, I would have learned about business. Had I only visited the cities, I would have learned about culture. Had I only visited Dachau, I would have learned about history. Experiencing them together provided a much deeper understanding of Germany and the forces that continue to shape it today.
To conclude, I am so glad that I did this program. My advisor implored to me that this would be an opportunity of a lifetime, and she couldn’t have been more right. I made friends in this program and at the University of Augsburg that I hope will last a lifetime. The connections I made and the experiences I encountered will stick with me for the rest of my life. Thank you and until next time Germany! I hope to be back soon to see this beautiful country and the friends I made here.
