Jason in Germany , Winter 2011 - Post 1

It is one week before our Study Abroad: Germany in the New Europe trip begins in Tübingen. Unlike most of our group, Rachel and I have departed Washington a week early to visit our friend in Berlin. We arrived on Sunday and had begun to explore the city with our friend and on our own. Having only taken German through GERM103, I was anxious that my German would be rather inadequate, but to my surprise, I knew more German than I thought I did! I had no problem ordering food or purchasing items at all, and the people I interacted with responded in German as well. I could read signs and maps and ask for directions, so thanks to Petra, my GERM103 instructor! After trying to speak German in a few places I felt much more confident in the country having learned some of the basics of the language.

I was also rather worried about spending in Germany, but the prices were more reasonable than I had originally thought. A simple fast food meal would cost like three Euro, and vegetarian options include falafels and veggie burgers. At large shopping malls food courts provide a large variety of international options, so there are actually a diverse array of dining choices, not just your quintessential German meat based cuisine. I was rather comfortable with the food choices, and yes they do have amazing bread!

I am most worried about the weather here. When we left D.C. we had just missed a snow storm but we were greeted with Berlin's own snow. Since I got here it had been snowing nonstop every few hours. Though, transport options were not disrupted at all, in fact the U,S,M bahn and the buses were running as usual, so it did not stop our sightseeing and traveling plans. Trains and buses run quite late so it was possible to experience a slice of the nightlife and Kneipe culture as well. Indeed, German beer is delicious! I hope that Stuttgart down south would be less snowy, dragging our luggage through the snow was a great nuisance.

I am looking forward most to the culture and politics parts of the program. I have yet to recognize the patterns of behavior and social and cultural differences between the U.S. and Germany. I also want to learn how their recycling programs work, as an environmental science major, I am very interested how the government system as well as the public view and practice environmental sustainability. But for now, let me explore Berlin a little more and advance in my German a little prior to the start of our program! Stay tuned.