Now that I’ve been home for a few days, I can already say I miss Germany more than expected. This trip was truly something special, and I know I will carry the memories with me for a long time. From the places we visited to the people I met, the experience exceeded every expectation I…

Today was officially the end of our time in Germany. It was a long travel day, starting with a 5 AM wake-up to catch the bus to Munich Airport. We grabbed a quick breakfast and loaded up for the last ride with the group. The airport process went pretty smoothly, and security and customs didn’t…

For our free day, a few of us decided to make the most of it and take a day trip to Austria. At first, we thought we had a solid plan with the correct train tickets and a solid itinerary, but of course, it turned into a bit of an adventure. We thought we had…

Today was our last full day together as a full group. We started the day with our final presentations, each group sharing what they had learned from their assigned companies. My group had Hoerbiger, which turned out to be an interesting company to research since their main business operations are being threatened due to the…

Today, we visited GROB, our final company visit on the trip. I had never heard of GROB before the trip and didn’t expect how much I would enjoy learning about this company. Right away, GROB felt different than the other companies we’ve toured. The buildings were sleek and modern, and there was this clear sense…

We started the day with a company visit to HOERBIGER, which gave us an inside look at a parts supplier that works with many major car manufacturers. They focus on precision components for transmissions, valves, and pressurization systems, small parts that play big roles. Our first stop was a smaller facility where employees worked closely…

Today we visited Dachau Concentration Camp, and it was one of the most serious and impactful experiences of the trip. I’ve learned about the Holocaust in school, but being there in person made it feel much more real. Our guided tour started in the barracks, where prisoners were crammed into spaces meant for a fraction…

Today, we made our way down to Munich for a full day of exploring one of Germany’s most visited cities. It was a warm, sunny Saturday, which meant the city was packed with tourists from all over. Right away, the energy felt different, faster-paced, more crowded, and definitely more chaotic than the places we’ve visited…

Today started very early; I was up at 5:00 AM and out the door by 6:30 for our trip to Neuschwanstein Castle. Even though it was rough waking up, the ride was worth it. As we got closer to the mountains, the scenery completely changed. Flat farmland slowly gave way to rolling hills, and then…

Today, we visited Audi’s headquarters in Ingolstadt, and I can honestly say this was the day I had been waiting for. Audi has been my favorite car brand since I was a kid, so walking through the museum and seeing the full lineup of vehicles from across the decades felt surreal. From vintage race cars…

This morning, we visited Continental, a company known for its role in automotive innovation. After a bit of a delay getting through security, we started with a talk from a project manager who walked us through their efforts to increase efficiency and expand automation. It was fascinating to learn how something as small as a…

Today, we took a day trip to Nuremberg, and it ended up being one of the most memorable days so far. The city had an incredible mix of old-world charm and deep history. We started with a walking tour that led us through the heart of the old town and eventually up to the castle….

We started the day early with a trip to the University of Augsburg. Our morning began with a virtual lecture from a Bloomberg journalist who gave us a deep dive into the automotive industry. He talked about trends like feature-based pricing and the upcoming EU ban on internal combustion engines. It was interesting to hear…

After landing in Munich early this morning, we made our way to Augsburg and kicked off the trip right away with a walking tour of the city. Despite the jet lag, it felt great to stretch our legs and take in the historic streets and architecture. I even got to reconnect with a German student…