The Generals

I will start out giving a summary of what I've done so far, as to bring everyone up to speed on my time abroad. As part of my International Business Honors program at Clemson University, I flew to Germany on September 14, 2006. I am required to study abroad for an entire school year, and as my major is German and International trade, I naturally chose Germany as my country of choice. Arriving in Germany was quite the adventure, but made much more bearable by traveling with Katie, another friend from Clemson studying abroad in the same city for the year. It was a very long, stressful day finding our dorms and checking in with the university. At the end of the day, I was glad to have a bed to sleep in, regardless of the fact that it lacked sheets and a pillow.

Soon after arrival, classes for a three-week intensive language course began. The "Vorbereitungskurs" prepared us by giving us lessons in culture and the German language. It was also extremely helpful in meeting other exchange students, known collectively as ERASMUS students. I met people from all over the world including Australia, France, Spain, Poland, Belgium, Finland, England, Ireland, South Korea, Italy, Hungary, America, Canada... and the list goes on. It was amazing to meet people from so many different places.

First semester classes started October 16. This was an entirely new experience for me. We did not have to register for classes, as in the US. We simply picked out classes that looked interesting or relevant to our studies and attended the first session. It was difficult to choose classes, because most of them simply had a title, but no description to explain the course material. And, of course, they were in German. After many emails sent to Clemson asking if classes would transfer, I had a schedule of 6 classes, all in German and none of Monday. Most of the classes I took were for exchange students, therefore they were easier to understand. I took a German culture class, a grammar course, a class learning to write essays and read texts in German, and a business class learning etiqutte and general practices. The other two classes were for Germans. One was a Goethe literature class about the life and works of the German author Goethe, and a film class discussing popular films of all origins and times.

Classes from first semester ended at the beginning of February, and second semester classes didn't begin until mid-April. This period of times essentially served as my summer, as I won't have one when I return to the states. I traveled some, but was unable to travel as much as I wanted. Now second semester classes have begun, and I've been traveling more than ever. I'm taking 5 classes this semester. Two are in English, three in German, and none are on Thursdays or Fridays. I'm taking Current Problems in International Business, a sociology course in German, Strategic Mangament in English, another German culture course focusing on modern German history, and a literature class based on pirates as a cultural phenomenon and a literary topic. The last one just looked fun.

I suppose that's it for now. More photos and descriptions of trips will follow, but this has been an update of my general time in Germany so far. I believe it's long enough.