I was fortunate enough to be a part of the Engineering the German Way 2.0 Program, which took place in Munich, Germany. The program focused mainly on the cultural differences between Germany and the United States, and how these affect business and industry. There was also a heavy focus on the automotive industry, as this is widely regarded as the major strength of German engineering. Learning about these cultural differences was extremely interesting, as these were variables I had never truly regarded. Ironically enough, they are extremely important. In addition, the opportunity to learn about the automotive industry in Germany, specifically BMW and Audi, was awesome.
However, the trip was not all sunshine and rainbows. I faced a couple of challenges, in addition to the expected language/cultural barriers that were inevitable. The main challenge I met was in regard to my personal routine. I lead a healthy lifestyle, in regards to eating and exercise, while at home. For the first 3 weeks, I stressed myself out immensely by trying to uphold this lifestyle. It was simply impossible, yet my efforts stressed me out to the point where it was hindering my experience. Fortunately, I was able to overcome this challenge by simply letting go. I realized that this was a once in a lifetime experience, and I needed to immerse myself and enjoy it. Did I stop waking up early to get a quick bodyweight workout in? No. Did I start to actually enjoy the German cuisine of pretzels, pork, and beer? Absolutely. I learned that its ok to let loose a little, control what you can, and have fun. I would tell any other person in a similar situation to do the same!
We took company visits to BMW, Audi,. Siemens, and Bertrandt. They were all incredible, for different reasons. At BMW we saw the underbody production of their vehicles, and we saw the painting of Audi vehicles. Siemens showed us the manufacturing of their trains, and Bertrandt showed us (as much as they could) their prototyping process. The variability of these visits gave us a comprehensive understanding of the complexity regarding German engineering. Each visit, in a different way, was invaluable to our overall education. However, nothing I learned really changed the career/educational goals that I have established for myself.
Interacting with the locals was interesting to say the least. The Germans are "no nonsense" type of people, and frankly it was obvious we were Americans. They don't do small talk, nor do they bother each other. This was definitely different, yet, it didn't propose any challenges. We had two students from the Munich University of Applied Sciences (where we were studying) who took great care of us. They took us out on their own time as well, to local restaurants, bars, and clubs. Marcel and Tim/T-Rex were great!
Being an American in Germany was very interesting. In Munich, most of the locals know English, or know it well enough so that we wouldn't have issues communicating. Other than the cultural differences (food, social, and drinking age), I would describe Munich as an area very similar to America. This helped evade any issues about being an American.
What surprised me most about Munich was how "American-ized" it was. I was expecting something completely and utterly different, yet found solace in so many similarities. The one thing I wish I knew beforehand was that ALMOST EVERYTHING IS CLOSED ON SUNDAYS. The first weekend, we all had these personal plans for Sunday, and were stunned to find that the only things open were the laundromat and Greek eateries. Sundays were THE day to get laundry done!
The main differences between Munich and home were, again, the food, the social interactions, and the drinking culture. The food was heavy on pork, bread, and cheese (something I had originally struggled with), but was nonetheless good. By social interactions, I refer to the "no small talk", or the lack of friendly "Hello's" as you enter somewhere. The waiters at restaurants also don't check in on you like American waiters do. The difference in drinking culture is so much more than just the difference in legal age (16 for beer and wine, 18 for everything). Beer is more-so in the realm of daily health and nutrition for the Germans. Beer with meals is recommended, and extremely common, much like a glass of water is for us. This is a COMPLETELY different view from how Americans view the topic.
Most importantly, studying abroad taught me a lot about myself. I learned that I put myself in stressful situations by refusing to lay back a little and enjoy life. I am so grateful for having learned this, as I can now address similar situations in the future. I also met new people and have made new, incredible friends at Pitt as well!
My time overseas was a rollercoaster experience, full of ups and downs. Nonetheless, it was an experience I am so thankful to have had, and one I will never forget.
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