My closing recommendations for anyone considering studying abroad (particularly to develop his/her foreign language ability):
1) Do it.
2) Stay with a host family if you can and learn everything that you can from them.
3) Travel alone or with someone you know will make the trip better. Anyone else can take away from the experience.
4) Don’t be apprehensive about speaking to people (specifically in Germany. They will help you).
5) Be open-minded, try everything, and revel in the idea that you could not see/taste/do those things anywhere else.
Posted on November 10th, 2009 by sean-austin
Filed under: Germany, Sean Austin | No Comments »
I’ve noticed in my own development of the German language that there are good days and there are bad days.
Posted on October 22nd, 2009 by sean-austin
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This is going to be a blog of observations I’ve made while in Germany.
Posted on October 22nd, 2009 by sean-austin
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In addition to the hikes, Michelle and I engaged in an impromptu registration and running of a seemingly large running event in Wernigerode, the town in which we were staying. Michelle and I only ran a 5k, but the experience was great. Right before the start, the Germans warmed up with dance motions demonstrated by [...]
Posted on October 12th, 2009 by sean-austin
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Just yesterday I was hiking through the Harz mountains. Specifically, Michelle (fellow Augie student) and I negotiated trails to reach the summit of the highest peak in central Germany: der Brocken. It stands 1142 meters high and we couldn’t see any kind of view after around 850 meters. It was quite a climb and we [...]
Posted on October 12th, 2009 by sean-austin
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Fussball (or soccer, for those who might not know) is probably the single most popular sport in the world, and after 5 weeks in Germany, I have yet to play Fussball. How is this possible? I do not hold it against them, but my guest family somehow does not like Fussball. I had previously thought [...]
Posted on September 30th, 2009 by sean-austin
Filed under: Germany, Sean Austin | 2 Comments »
So I took a trip to Berlin last weekend to visit and really meet my great uncle Guenter for the first time. Train tickets are expensive, but I got to Berlin for about 40 Euro, and I made it without any trouble. My uncle and his girlfriend Henriette of 19 years picked me up promptly [...]
Posted on September 24th, 2009 by sean-austin
Filed under: Germany, Sean Austin | 1 Comment »
Hello! We have all arrived safely, with no luggage mishaps. We only have the internet when we go to the university. We are living in the Cranachhaus, which is very nice. The first picture I posted is the view from our kitchen! Everything is great here in Wittenberg. It’s a really small city, but has [...]
Posted on August 30th, 2009 by kevin-collins
Filed under: Germany, Kevin Collins | 1 Comment »
…and I feel very conflicted, like being caught in the middle of a game of tug-o-war. On one hand, I see myself enjoying these next three months with the people around me, laughing, growing, and enjoying German culture. On the other hand, this will be the first time that I have been out of the country [...]
Posted on August 26th, 2009 by joel-novick
Filed under: Germany, Joel Novick | 3 Comments »
This week was the week of traveling. On Thursday we travelled with the entire class to Brno, Czech Republic. It was another early day leaving our residence at 5:45 in the morning. The train ride was only around 2 hours which was really nice. When we first got there we went to the Gregory Mendel [...]
Posted on April 1st, 2009 by Leslie Scheck
Filed under: Leslie Scheck, Vienna | No Comments »