JUMP TO OTHER ALUMNI ABROAD STORIES:
Monika Di Bella 2008 Germany :
Katie Roberts Spring 2008 University of Sussex : Zach Gaeta Fall 2007 Argentina
Joshua Farnsworth Spring 2007 Oxford at England : Shannon Banks Fall 2006 Argentina
Dear Ms. Vernon,
Greetings from Heidelberg, Germany! I can't believe it's been almost four months already. It hasn't felt like a long time at all. I'm glad I'm staying another semester because there's still so much I want to see before I go back. I've also gotten settled in, and next semester will be that much more productive since I know how the university system here works now. It's like the difference between first and second semester freshman year at UGA.
I'm having a great experience so far. I was very fortunate to be given a place to live in the /altstadt /or 'old city' of Heidelberg. The location is unbelievably convenient. In the mornings it's a beautiful walk to the /Universitätsplatz/ or University Place where the mensa (student cafeteria), administrative buildings, and main library are. I'm also within walking distance to my all classes, not to mention cafes, restaurants and shops. My favorite place to study is five minutes away in the Germanistik (German studies) library. It's cozy and quiet there. When I need to get anywhere quickly or that's a bit further out of the city I just hop on a bus or tram. I already know I'm going to miss the public transportation when I get back to the states!
Besides the location, my dorm mates are all so nice and helpful. Most of them are native German-speakers and its good practice speaking with them. My German has improved so much. I think the biggest difference has been that I'm not so self-conscious about speaking the language anymore and worried if I make mistakes. I manage pretty well, the only area where it's still difficult is in seminars and lectures when teachers speak too fast or unclearly. Classes are going well. A few of my courses are geared towards international students, like one I'm taking that's called Resistance During the Third Reich. Besides history, I'm also taking a translation course from German into English that I enjoy a lot. Another is a literature class in the German department about the German writer, Thomas Mann.
It's strange not having finals around this time of year! I always associate the beginning of December with lots of stress because the semester is about to end, but here I don't need to start studying until January. Students get a break for Christmas and New Year's, then classes resume again until about the third week in January. Finals exams then start or students begin writing their papers which they have until end of February to turn in. That's the biggest difference between German and American universities: students here do most of their work at the end of the term, or between terms, while American students have their assignments/tests spread out during the semester. Spring semester starts in March. I want to get all my course work done by the end of January and travel as much as I can during February and March.
I've been traveling on the weekends and have been able to see a lot of Germany since I've been here. I've been to Stuttgart, Munich, Koblenz, Dresden, Berlin, Rostock and Bamberg. In February I can't wait to visit Cologne for Carnival. It's supposed to be the best place to celebrate Carnival in Germany! Also during the semester break I'm visiting some friends in England and afterwards going to Turkey!
It's really cool spending Christmas in Germany. Beginning in December the Christmas markets open. I think every German city has one. Everyone, tourists and locals alike, visits the markets. There you drink Glühwein, or hot spiced wine, a very popular and traditional Christmas drink in Germany. Often it's served with an extra shot of amaretto, too! There's also hot chocolate and tea to drink, and to eat there's bratwurst, potato pancakes, crepes, candied almonds....and much more! People walk around eating, drinking and talking with one another. There're stands that have Christmas gifts on display and there are also rides for the children, usually a carousel. In Heidelberg there's even an ice skating rink! I think I enjoy the Christmas market so much because it's something unique to Germany that isn't found in other countries. I've talked with some of the other international students about it and they seem to agree too.
I hope all is well in Athens. I will write again next year! :)
Best,
Monika Di Bella
