My experience abroad this summer was amazing and difficult to sum up in few words but I’ll try.
Tag: blogQ8
BlogQ8
The Summer Program in Germany was an amazing experience that I am very glad to have participated in. From our classes and to the history and culture of Germany, I have benefited much. Going into it, I had a little anxiety about being able to communicate since I only had one semester of German under my belt, but that was not much of a problem: most of the people we talked to were able to speak English, and I picked up on much more German than I expected.
Final Reflections on Germany
Going to Germany of the SPIG trip was the best decision I have made in my time at Calvin.
SPIG Reflection
The past six weeks have flown by. Most days were filled with class and studying. Continue reading “SPIG Reflection”
“So how was it?”
This entire trip has been a great experience, in both the expected and unexpected. I knew going in that I would be doing all of the “fun travel things”, mainly seeing sights and trying delicious food and drink. And while this is all true, I also want to put focus on the things that I’ve learned on this trip, not just through the classroom but through my interactions with people and the city.
Elevator Speech
Germany was Great! We stayed in Berlin most weekdays, and explored other areas on the weekends. During the final week I was able to explore Europe with a smaller group of friends. Continue reading “Elevator Speech”
Final Reflections
These past weeks have been amazing! In my time in Germany, I had the opportunity to visit many German cities, including Heidelberg, Koblenz, Koln, Lubeck, Bremen, and Hamburg, in addition to an extensive period of time in Berlin I believe living in Europe has helped me develop the skills I need to be successful in almost any city- how to navigate local transportation (trains, planes, buses- you name it), find access to amenities and enjoy the sights. Through our German language class, I’ve grown in my ability to communicate in another language, and have even been able to support in-depth conversations that lead to meaningful interactions and relationships with locals- an ability I’ll continue to work on in the future. I’ve met people from all-over, whether an immigrant couple from Afghanistan, a gaucho-turned-HVAC repairman from Argentina or a nice music store owner in Bremen- everywhere I’ve found friends and learned to see the world in a new perspective. This time in Germany has helped me grow as a person, a student and friend, and as a global citizen in our community.