Day 10: Old Bridges, New Chips: Regensburg’s Quiet Balance

Visiting Aumovio changed the way I think about everyday products because it showed how much technology and engineering go into components most people never notice. Up until this tour, we saw all of the things you expect upon making a car. From the robots that make the cars, the machines that lift parts, interior, painting….

Day 9: The Scale of Things: MAN, Art, and the Weight of History

Today was a very unique visit. It was related to the automotive industry in the sense of producing engines, but the scale at which they can produce engines was astounding. We arrived at the factory around 9 am after driving for two hours. I passed out that morning on the bus ride over. When entering…

Day 8: Arbeit Macht Frei: A Day at Dachau

Today was the first time we really got a grasp on the effect of Hitler and his Nazi regime. Upon arriving at the camp we were told that this camp was very large in terms of scale. When we walked 15 minutes just to get to the entrance I understood. Our tour guide first started…

Day 7: From Slow Streets to Crowded Squares: Augsburg vs. Munich

Today we visited Munich. I was very excited for this trip because we were able to see another city in Germany, which allowed us to see the difference in culture. It reminded me of America in a sense, how you can go from one city to another, and the entire environment feels different. The trip…

Day 6: The Eatery Can Wait: Lunch, Soccer, and a Free Day Abroad

After a long week of thousands of steps and countless site visits, we had a day to ourselves. We started the morning off by heading to the University ourselves. This was the first time we had caught the train by ourselves to the University. This was a very easy experience; it only took 15 minutes….

Day 5: Steps, Alps, and Chandeliers: A Day at Neuschwanstein

As a child, you always hear of castles and see them in movies, but to be in one was an entirely different experience. This morning we woke up pretty early and departed for the castle around 6:30 am. After arriving at the castle, the first thing you notice is the castle, but the more obvious…

Day 4: The Company That Builds the Robots That Replace Them

Today we visited Kuka. Kuka is an automotive company that focuses on robots that can build cars and various other products. They have machines that can range from 25,000 to 1 million dollars. The machines are mostly put together by humans, with some of the process being done by other machines. Kuka produces robotic arms…

Day 3: Robots, Rotations, and the Road Ahead: A Day at BMW

Today we toured our first facility.. The drive was about an hour long. After arriving at the BMW facility the first thing that stood out to me was the sheer size of the factory and the museum. As we entered,  I was astounded by the size of the operation. As soon as you enter the…

Breaking News: I Can do Hard Things!!!

Reflecting on my experience with Plus3 Germany since returning home, the biggest emotion I feel is gratitude. The German students who graciously welcomed us in, the cities we had the privilege of visiting, and the automotive companies who shared their insights with us made the trip special. Each time I told people I was going…

Day 13: We Made it… Presentation Day

I would be lying if I said I was excited for today. Not only because it involves a 30 minute presentation, but it also marks the end of our trip which I am definitely not ready for. We had a later start this morning, so Brooke and I headed down for breakfast around 9:30. My…

Day 11: Business Students in Lab Coats

Today we headed to Aumovio, an automotive tech company that specializes in smaller circuit parts for automobiles. First, we got a presentation that gave insight into the specific parts Aumovio manufacturers and the need for these parts. We got a chance to pass around some of the intricate circuit boards that are produced here. Before…

Day 13 – Wrapping Up in Augsburg

Finally! Today was presentation day, and I woke up feeling nervous. I changed into my nicest dress shirt and business pants and headed down for breakfast. I reflected on how much I’m going to miss the hotel breakfast due to its many options and being pretty tasty. I headed back up to my room to…

Day 10: Building Engines and Rebuilding Cities

Our day started early around 6:30 AM and we headed to the MAN Truck and Bus Company campus. We had a long bus ride this morning, over two hours, so most of us got to continue our slumber on the way there. When we arrived, we were given neon construction-looking vests showing we were visitors….

Final Reflection: What Bavaria Taught Me

If you asked me to name one moment from this trip that I keep coming back to, it is Neuschwanstein. Not the inside of the castle, though the gothic bedroom and the walls covered in paintings of people in love were unlike anything I had seen before. It was the drive into Füssen. The Alps…

Day 9 – Dachau Camp

To be honest I didn’t think of anything of this day at first. When I think of a concentration camp, my mind just always goes to Auschwitz and never anything else. Once we arrived at Dachau concentration camp, we went straight into the tour. The tour guide first stated that understanding the time frame of…

Day 9: Remembrance and Reflection at Dachau

Today we are going to the Dachau Concentration Camp Memorial Site and I know today is going to weigh heavily on my heart. It is quite a switch up from the site visits we have had so far, but I knew today would be very informative. With my Jewish background from my dad’s side of…

Final Blog

I saved the hardest part of this blog post for first because I have been thinking about how to write this since the moment I left and I still do not think I have the right words for it. My host family gave me something I did not fully expect when I walked through their…

Day 12: Aiming for Perfection

Today was our first day this week where we did not have to wake up at a time starting with 5. Even though we still had to leave at 8:30, it was a nice change of pace. The day felt a little bittersweet since it was our last company visit. We did not have a…