Buddies

Since arriving in Mannheim, it has been a typical mix of good and bad.  The German students I’ve met have been amazing.  Thankfully their educational system is better than ours and they can speak English very well (especially compared to my German).  Students here have taken the time to help and are very patient with my inability to speak/read/understand German.

            

If I could go back in time and do 1 thing over about this trip (ok, 1 of many things), it would be to sign up for a “buddy.”  I assumed Germany was like America, where the sexes are kept apart as much as possible.  Luckily for me, the person I was rooming with at the hostel did have a buddy.  SHE has turned out to be my lifesaver.  As far as I know, everyone who does have a buddy has one of the opposite sex.

            

Kathrin is NOT my official buddy, but she has adopted me since I didn’t sign up for one.  Being a German national, she is of course fluent in…German.  Buddies are there to help you with any questions you have about your new country.  From getting an international phone, shopping, saving money, traveling, the horribly difficult Mannheim University website and email system, getting classes, and basically surviving, Kathrin has been there to help answer all my questions.  Don’t get me wrong, I realize she is actually one of the best buddies I could have hoped for. 

            

While certainly under no obligation to do so, Kathrin is always inviting me out to various activities.  She has been kind enough to take me to other cities, including her own hometown of Worms.  She often checks in on me to make sure I am ok as well.  Even during my Easter break, she has made the effort to keep in touch to see if there is anything I need help with.

            

She was most helpful when school was about to start.  This is where Kathrin really was helpful.  She made sure all my deadlines were met and that all my paperwork was in order prior to the start of the semester.  Any time I had questions, she was just a “WhatsApp” text away.

            

Additionally, any and all questions I may have had, she either knew the answers to, or if she did not, she researched it and tried to help me best with my situation.  Mind you, she has her own classes and life too, but she has gone above and beyond (especially considering again that I’m NOT her assigned buddy) to help me with daily life in Germany.

           

 So to all the students who are going to travel abroad to Germany, I highly suggest that you sign up for a buddy!!!!  They will probably be the biggest help to you upon arrival and during your time away.  They can only make life more pleasant and help you navigate your stay, and if you are lucky like I was, you may end up with that new international friend beyond your semester abroad!!!  

Getting Settled the German Way!

Getting Settled at the University of Mannheim

1. Housing

a. Housing at the University of Mannheim is filled EXTREMELY FAST so you must be actively looking for the email that opens up the opportunity to select where you stay. Within 4 hours of the housing window opening, all 6 student residences were full.

b. Upon arrival, there is a time schedule that delegates when you get the room keys from the hall manager. For example, if you arrive later than 2:30 in the afternoon you must pay 35 euros for a personal meeting.

c. Each room is provided with a modem to connect one device to the internet. This is rather frustrating since most people enjoy using wifi on their phones more commonly. I will have to go buy a router to get access to this.

2. Class Registration

a. Classes at UM are a bit of a gamble. About 2 months before the semester starts, you are sent a template to fill in with your primary course choices and secondary. It is not guaranteed you will get into any of the classes until confirmed one week before school starts. It is kind of unpredictable which makes it inconvenient to get classes approved for credit from HPU.

b. The language and culture classes fill up INCREDIBLY FAST. I signed on about 2 hours after the window opened and all classes were full and I was put on a waiting list. I was not made aware of how popular these were. I was advised to attend the first language course just in case someone who is enrolled does not show up.
c. Despite the issues I have with UM, the staff and international team seem to be very helpful. I have not enrolled yet, so I cannot elaborate on this till after next week.

3. Social Media

a. Getting access to the University’s Facebook pages seems really user friendly to meet new people. I do not really hang out with the house mates I live with as there is not much of a click. But using blogs like VISUM and Friends 2017, it was super easy to meet people and explore. For example, yesterday was my second day here and myself and 9 other exchange students met up and travelled to Heidelberg for the day. It was a lot of fun. But that is what study abroad is about right? Not so much the bureaucratic crap that you have to deal with from the University, but the experience and friends you make along the way.

4. Nifty Things I discovered

a. FOOD IS INCREDIBLY CHEAP. I bought a pack for water for 1 euro which I can recycle once empty for .25 cents a bottle. One-euro package of bacon, .98 cent bottle of wine.

b. Transportation is really effective, on time, easy to use once you figure where you are going.

c. The language barrier is essentially non-existent as most speak English, but it is always good to try and practice along your travels.