Her first week in Germany teaches Drury student new cultural lessons

Jessica Bjorkland
The Drury Mirror

Pilz, Polizei, Kartoffelpuffer, Aija, Uelzener Strausser, tschüss, Käse...Bis später America, hallo Deutschland! It is Day 3 in Lüneburg and I am already falling in love with this charming little city in Northern Germany. The journey here was long and tiring, but I do not regret a minute of it. Riding by car, airplane, and train, I arrived in Lüneburg after 24 hours of traveling and was welcomed by Jonas Bothe, a friend who attended Drury University in Fall 2008. He agreed to be my "buddy," bringing me to my new home and showing me around the city.

As each day passes, I am learning so many things and feeling more comfortable in this country. While many aspects of life in Germany are similar to what I am used to in the U.S., there are equally as many things that I am not familiar with; simple things, such as how to turn the shower or lights on or how the kitchen appliances work. Luckily, my German flat mate (suite mate), Henrike, is very patient with me and is happy to answer all of my silly little questions.

This past Sunday was a very exciting day for me, as I was able to meet all of the other international students for the first time. Meeting for breakfast at a little restaurant located downtown, it was a little awkward for me at first. I have never before been in a situation in which I am surrounded by a group of people and I have no clue what languages are understood by each person.

Because I am in Germany, it is polite for me to try to speak German to each person I introduce myself to. Of course, I would always end up stammering my way through German, trying to ask if that person speaks English. Some did, some did not. We tried communicating either way. There are students studying here from all over the world, from places like Ecuador, Poland, Korea, China, Japan, Spain, and Finland.

After breakfast, all of the international students were divided up into teams and participated in a "rally". Each team was given a list of questions and we had to race across the city, looking to answer things such as the background behind some of the historic landmarks, bus routes to the university, and the days on which the market is set up in the square. What better way to practice my German and learn my way around the city than by running down the cobblestone streets, surrounded by buildings that were built in the 1400s? It was a great way to get to know my fellow students and the city in which we will call home for the next semester. For now, tschüss!