As I sit here typing this, it's hard to believe that the two years of waiting to study abroad has almost come to an end. When I first started preparing to go to Germany with Christy Burke in the Education Abroad office, I didn't think the day would come up so fast! But, I guess that's what happens when you are so busy! Before I head out, Gama asked if I could lay down some basic info on what my goals and objectives are whilst studying in Heidelberg, and why I chose Heidelberg in the first place, so, here it is!
Goals and Objectives
- Have fun! I spent so long preparing for this trip that I almost forgot why I chose to do this in the first place; to have fun!
- Experience something new everyday. People who have traveled abroad before me all tell me the same thing "try something new everyday; meet someone new everyday; don't waste the opportunity". I plan on following these tips everyday to maximize the awesomeness of my experience!
- Document the journey with pictures and a journal. This is something I've been planning on doing for a while. Besides posting on the blog for you guys, I will be keeping a journal and taking a TON of pictures. I think my grandma would appreciate it if I posted them on Facebook every now and then as well ;)
- Immerse myself in the culture. This one is important to me. Being from a small town, I never got to experience of growing up in a diverse culture. I plan on immersing myself in the culture of my ancestors and understanding where I came from.
- Travel, travel, then travel s'more. Man, I wish I won that mega-millions jack-pot this summer because I want to travel ALL THE TIME! I have been saving up a ton this semester and working two jobs to build up my bank account a bit so I can travel while I'm in Germany. I plan on traveling a lot through Athena with my program but a trip to Ireland would be ideal :) (Are you listening Santa Claus?)
Why I Chose Heidelberg
I chose Heidelberg for a few reasons;
- The History Heidelberg is one of the untouched treasures of Germany. Unlike most other major cities after WWII, Heidelberg was not in ruins, as Nazis used the area for vacationing (There's even a Nazi amphitheater I hope to find on a hike, nestled up in the surrounding hills). Because of this, Heidelberg, its famous castle, and its many-century-old downtown, remain untouched by modernization, at least architecturally.
- The School The European Study Center is one of the most highly-rated schools in Europe for studying abroad and our living quarters/classrooms are in a huge mansion!
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| My School/Living Quarters/Home! |
3. Its Location Heidelberg is located in southwest Germany is a great location to travel from. I'm an hour away from France, Frankfurt, and the Black Forest.
Keep an eye out in January for my next post!
Gabe, this is a wonderful pre-departure overview. We really appreciate your serving as a McDonough Worldwide Blogger in the spring. The students in LEAD 203 will learn a lot from you!
ReplyDeleteHallo Gabe!! You mentioned you chose Heidelberg because it's been mostly untouched by modernization. In class today we discussed whether globalization--which I feel is nearly synonymous to modernization--is ultimately a positive or negative phenomenon. I was wondering what your thoughts on this topic were after seeing a city as untouched by globalization as this one, and if you had any insight into how the people of Heidelberg would feel about it as well. Do you think they would feel as if their culture were in danger of disappearing if globalization were to grab hold of their city, or is it just a minor factor of their life that only affects small things like what music they play, as you mentioned in your latest post? I look forward to your thoughts and future updates!
ReplyDeleteHey Rylie! Sorry, just saw this post got another comment! So, since the time I arrived here in Heidelberg, I have noticed two major things: one, despite what the study abroad provider tells about Heidelberg, it is more modern than it looks (which was my mistake in assuming), and two, 99% of the people here are not the old babushka ladies I was imagining. Differing from the actual people here, the old town and where I live near Blumenthalstrasse look the same as they did 100 years ago besides some modernization like the tram system. So, in that respect, Heidelberg is pretty old and hasn't changed to meet newer, modern building structures as many German cities have in my understanding.
DeleteThe city as a whole is decently modern with the public transportation and Bitzmarkplatz where all the shops are. There is a modern shopping mall and grocery stores nestled in-between 500 year old buildings, which is a sight to see. There is a small section, up the mountain from my house, where it seems as if all 20th and 21st century technology ceases to exist. Up a paved path, you'll pass modernish homes with landscaping and cars in the driveway for about half a mile before you hit woods and the trail turns from asphalt to mud and bricks. Walk a little further and you'll find a few homes deep in the woods, alone and in isolation from the busy streets below. Here is where I would say globalization has failed to reach here in Heidelberg.
In regards to these few in the mountains that have actively shut themselves off from society below, I feel that these people would see modernization as a threat to their traditional lifestyle. They live on prime land and I have no doubt they've been offered handsome sums to sell their land, which ends in failure for the buyer. They want to get as far away from the young, loud life below, and live in traditional ways. I didn't see any cars or tracks for that matter, when I stumbled upon this isolated area. So for these select few, globalization is not welcomed and I would be taken aback if they haven't been fighting it for some time.
In regards to those in the "modern" parts if Heidelberg, I feel as if modernization is just another thing they expect in a nation that is trying to become a major world power. They welcome the advances their leaders enact and if that means a more globalized or western lifestyle, they're okay with that, especially when it comes to music :)
I hope I answered everything!
Gabe
Thank you so much for your response! It's so interesting to read about the combination of old and new in Heidelberg. I really hope that little havens of untouched communities can continue to preserve their way of life in spite of globalization, because even though I count myself in the group that sees it as a positive phenomenon, I also think it is important that it doesn't wipe out individual cultures in its wake. I appreciate how your trip has already opened your eyes to the reality of another place, I love that power of travel to give us a real view of a place we think we've got the right impression of! I look forward to reading how your experience continues to inform your perspective.
DeleteHey there Gabe! I hope you are adjusting well and enjoying all the tasty bier (responsibly of course). While reading your post about the evening out with friends, you mentioned that one of your new friends is from Mexico! Are the other students in the program from other countries as well? If so, how do their views on leadership differ from ours? During a discussion in class last Thursday, I asked how people from other cultural backgrounds may view Western leadership and if it is the same way we do. According to the LMR model, The USA is "linear active", but I am wondering if you show the model to a student from another culture who has never seen it, only providing descriptions of the corners, where they would place The USA and their own country! Enjoy your week and I look forward to hearing the results of this little experiment!
ReplyDeleteJake, I am very much enjoying the nectar of the Rhineland...responsibly...
DeleteIn my program, we have about 23 students. 21 of them are from the US; New Jersey mostly (as their school is a sister school to this one), Texas (their school also), one kid from Florida, and me from O-H-I-O. The other two are my friend from Mexico of course, and a girl from South Africa (I think). I am not good friends with the girl from SA and honestly, I hardly ever see her and haven't spoken to here but a couple times.
Speaking from what I know about my Mexican friend, I would say her view of American leadership is quite similar to her view of leadership in her home country. She is very comfortable with us American students and the way she talks about her home school and her work experiences in Mexico, it sounds pretty similar to how teachers and employers lead us in 'Merca.
I asked her to check out the LMR model and place the cultures of the US, Mexico, and for some spice, Germany. This is what I got (spoiler alert, I was wrong in my assumption as I literally just had her do this in the middle of my response to you):
United States: Linear Active
Germany: Linear Active
Mexico: Between Multi-Active und Reactive
The first two results truly came at no surprise to me, and I agree with them. Lewis(?) does to by the looks of his model. I was truly surprised where she put Mexico. I thought she would've been somewhat close to the US. Here's what she said after I asked for her reasoning;
"I would say Mexico is between the two (multi-active and reactive) because we tend to have a task but discover things along the way and we'll get side tracked. We may get things done but not always what we started out planning on doing"
I question whether or not she took Gama's class and she's just playing dumb...
I hope this little experiment was carried out properly and it helps you with your future work!
Off to the brauerei
Ciao
Gabe, I really enjoy being able to live vicariously through you while you attend school in GERMANY! I was able to spend about a week in Dubai, which was incredible, but did not have the opportunity to learn in depth about their leadership styles (so I am super jealous of you). In regards to my previous comment, I am also very surprised that she places Mexico on the right hand side middle between multi-active and reactive. I am slowly learning that globalization is tending towards western ideals, so I really thought she may place Mexico more towards the US. I look foreword to future posts!
DeleteHello Gabe! I look forward to seeing whatever progress/immersion details you are able to provide for us during your next post! On a slightly less academic and more personal note, I'm upset that you didn't tell me you were traveling to Germany this semester! After all the time we spent together during EXCEL...tsk tsk... Anyway, I get the sense that you have conducted some background research on Heidelberg and its history. You mentioned that Heidelberg is one of the "untouched treasures of Germany," considering it was not in ruins following the war. In your research I'm sure you were introduced to a more in-depth analysis of the Germanic context that set the western stereotype of Germans as highly aggressive and primarily task-focused individuals. This week were are discussing the 'Best Fit' Leadership Styles model which outlines various leadership styles. I'm not sure if you are familiar with this model considering we are learning the theory through an unpublished chapter of Dr. Perruci's new book. The theory is based on the Power continuum--Leader-centric on the left and Follower-centric on the right. On this continuum, a vertical line is drawn to represent Relational-Orientation and Task Orientation; similar to the concept found in Blake and Mouton's Behavioral Leadership Grid. By this model, it would seem that Germanic leadership--as stereotyped by western teaching--would fall into a more leader-centered, task-oriented style. I am wondering if the history of Germany would support this claim of a more autocratic approach and if that style is prevalent in modern day. If possible, could you use personal experiences (i.e. the educational system-teacher student relationship, housing rules, cultural/societal expectations, etc.) to either support or disprove this claim? I would also be interested to read about whether or not the university and town in which you are studying are as interested in making sure you adapt well to their culture similar to how Marietta College does for its international students. Is your cultural map taken into consideration, or not; and how has this adaptation challenged you as a follower in another culture?
ReplyDeleteHey Matthew! I'm sorry I never mentioned it, I didn't think people cared honestly haha!
Delete(I had to cut this into two comments. Too many characters for one I guess)
Before I start, I am in fact familiar with the theory that you described above from Dr. Perruci's unpublished book and I am happy you brought it up! It's a great tool to determine the leadership styles in different contexts.
Before I moved to Germany, I in fact did a ton of research into the culture I am going to be moving into and what to expect. In my research, I was told that Germans, like the stereotype represents, are very leader centric and task oriented, leaving personal matters and followers behind, only drawing attention to them if it is needed to improve efficiency. What I personally experienced was quite different.
In my first couple weeks here, I have experienced a few types of leaders in the classroom, and out of it. In the classroom, teachers are VERY determined to help students understand and enjoy the materials that they are presenting. If I were to draw them on the continuum, I would put the teachers somewhere in the cross segment of follower-centric and task oriented. They want you to do good and enjoy the class, but they also have a blueprint that they are going to stick to.
One good example of this is my Nazi History lecture. Here, our teacher is an older German gentleman who is clearly very educated in this field and it is exciting to have this class with him because he is so passionate and he wants students to get excited about this hallowed time in Germany's past. He also wants us to respect the era and the contents of the class as we discuss a lot of sensitive material. This is where the task orientated-ness comes out. He HATES when students eat in his class or come in late. It shows a lack of respect and I have seen him throw students out after a single warning (good for him, they're annoying and inconsiderate anyways), and we are small class, around 8 people or so, so it's pretty embarrassing for them, but he doesn't care.
A different side of the spectrum is found in our very German RA, Jonas. Jonas is an outstanding guy and I honestly must say I have never met someone so caring and nice. He stands out from the pack for sure. He is always there for us and he makes it a point to see each of us everyday and talk about our days. He also goes out of his way to help people with traveling, local tips, or studies. He is studying law here in Heidelberg at the prestigious law school and it is very difficult so he is always studying, but like I said, he is always there for us. He is very determined about getting his work done but he will drop everything for us if need be in the middle of the night, so I would place him in the follower-centric and relational/task cross section. Great guy 10/10 superb excellent #blest.
DeleteIn regards to your question about our university making it a point for us to adapt to the local culture, I would say it's minimum effort at most. They don't advise students to learn a bit of Deutsch before coming here, which I think is rude; at least try (that goes a LONG way, trust me). They also don't really plan a lot of local things or any excursions for us to assimilate into the German culture, that's on us, and they don't push us to try new things. Jonas on the other hand goes out of his way to show us to "act as the locals do" and he brings us to the bars and places that only locals go to. He also helps us get in touch with other international and local scholars by setting up things such as futball games, barhops, or even just getting coffee. I had the chance to have a personal day with him and his friend where we toured the local Heidelberg University (not the one I'm at) and had lunch where local students eat. It was cool and he helped me speak a lot of German as I am currently studying and he wanted me to feel comfortable speaking in public.
I would say that this change in culture hasn't been that big of an obstacle for me when it comes to adapting as a follower. The typical kind of leadership here, the leader-task oriented, runs along the same lines as I like to follow under, so I adapted easily. I don't mind having a strict or task-oriented teacher; it keeps me, but more importantly, my classmates on track.
I hope this helps! Good luck with EXCEL Prep!
Thank you for your response Gabe! It's very interesting to read that the culture we so adamantly denote as being dictatorial and task-oriented may not fully emulate those values. Though I suppose it doesn't seem to illogical to assume that the German culture has evolved throughout the years since the 1935 totalitarian dictatorship; particularly considering our own "traditional" leadership style is also task-oriented. It makes me wonder if the advent of globalization is sparking the need for a more relational influence.
DeleteI look forward to reading more about your experience!
-Matthew
Hi Gabe! Based on your comments, it sounds like you are having an amazing time and learning so much already! Today in our class discussion, we were thinking about how technology is changing globalization. You said that you did a great deal of research before departing but your experience in Germany has been much different from what you expected. Do you have any specific examples? When I studied abroad in Ireland two years ago, a few friends and I took a weekend trip to Split, Croatia (highly recommended by the way!). We did quite a bit of research before we went -- what types of food we wanted to try, the best sights to see, how Croatians compared to the Irish, etc. Naturally, we were excited to get out of the rainy, gloomy weather in Ireland and into the sun in Croatia. However, our technology still didn't prepare us enough. Little did we know that our colorful shorts, swimsuits, and sandals would make us stick out for miles compared to all the Croatians who were fully covered in dark clothes, including winter jackets and scarves. It was very embarrassing, but everything you do while you're abroad is a learning experience and you can't truly appreciate a culture through technology alone! I'm looking forward to reading more about your experience. If you happen to visit Ireland, let me know and I'd be happy to point out some hidden treasures in Galway!
ReplyDeleteHi Rachel!
DeleteAfter studying my future home city at the time, I felt pretty confident that I knew what to expect. Like you mentioned, that wasn't necessarily the case! I wouldn't call it culture shock, but I was uneasy for the first couple days. Now, I'm 100% confident with everything going on here.
I'd say the main thing that through me off was the public transportation and the fees attached. It was not something I budgeted for (my programs fault, not mine) which was bad enough, but considering I come from a small farming town with the closest grocery store being around 15 minutes away by car and my closest neighbor being outside shouting distance, I was for once in my life intimidated. I wasn't sure where to get off the first couple days and I found myself walking a lot as I would get off early to avoid over-shooting my stop. Now it's not such a big problem.
I think it was a big adjustment that I wasn't really ready for because when you read up on the history and culture of a place like Heidelberg, local transportation is over shadowed and it makes it sound like you don't need it. I could walk everywhere, which I have at times to experience more, but when you are in a rush, the tram is a life saver. I think technology, in this case being travel sites, sometimes ignores other advances and tries to make you focus on the non-technological aspects of a place. I think it is a way for these places that rely on their culture for tourism, to avoid the culture-changing power of globalization.
I hope that answers your question! If I need to clear anything up, let me know. I check the forum quite frequently.
PS: Your study abroad experience seems awesome! We are going to Prague in February and I have been doing a lot of research on non-touristy places there, and I will definitely check into clothing after reading your story, so I won't stand out as much! Also, I am going to Western Ireland for spring break so I would love some input into where to go and how to get around! Can you email me at mgc002? I'd really appreciate all input I can get my hands on before planning everything out!
Ciao!
Hi Gabe, your experience in Germany so far looks really interesting! In leadership we talked about how being immersed in a different culture can be eye opening and rewarding for learning about another culture. We discussed that even as globalization continues to grow and the world becomes more closely intertwined it can be difficult to truly understand another culture without being there. For instance, even though the internet and social media can be extremely effective tools in allowing us to communicate with people from other cultures, one may still not understand or communicate as effectively as possible without experiencing that culture first hand. After previously having studied the German culture, are you finding this to be true in your experience? Also, you mentioned your transactional experience at the German grocery store, and how different it is from a shopping experience you might have in the United States. Are you finding it difficult to adapt to the German culture while you are there; or is Germany, specifically Heidelberg considering the location, closer to western cultures that may resemble what Americans are used to in some ways. If so, how do these two cultures compare?
ReplyDeleteHey Brianna!
DeleteTo answer your first question, I have found the culture here to be a bit different than the overall German culture I had researched. There are some things that remain accurate for this area such as the way people interact with you in public. On public transportation and while walking on the streets, people tend to hardcore stare at you. In the US, one might find it unsettling as if you truly ticked them off for some reason and they're trying to peer into your soul to avenge the act you've done to them. It turns out that Germans just stare; at everybody. If you meet eyes, they don't care, they just think you're staring at them. Also, I have found that if you hold doors open for people or if you say hello to them, you shouldn't expect a response. Most of the time I say hello anyways just to break the awkward silences or stare down. Smiling is also very weird here. I was told if you smile at someone around your age, they'll automatically assume you're into them. There are now tons of 20 something girls thinking this weird American they saw on the tram is into them. I would say that it definitely takes being in a culture to truly understand it as most cultural studies on a country is very general and it doesn't always fit the region you are visiting.
To answer your second question, I am not finding it hard to adapt whatsoever. The first few times were weird because I didn't really know what to expect, but it's no big deal now. I have a lot of German friends who've given me tips on how to do as the Germans do, and I think I fit in just fine, besides my American wardrobe of course.
Lastly, I think the American and German cultures are pretty similar except for a few main points;
1.) It seems like in America, we work and live in the now, in order to comfortably live in the future. We tend to put aside play and comfort in order to set up a better life after retirement. In Germany, they value their vacation time like it's gold. They will not work any more than they have to and as soon as the day ends, they'll go do whatever they feel like in the moment. No working after hours.
2.) Courtesy isn't really a thing and people keep to themselves until you get to know them. All it takes is a quick conversation to unlock the genuinely nice demeanor of the Germans.
3.) It is much harder to get out of a social class here, or so I've heard. If your family is a family of shop owners, expect that to be your career, or something in the same economic level. Germany's education is very strict and it takes a lot of string being pulled in order to get to a place in their education system in order to change your outcome. This may be outdated information as Germany is becoming more of a technological society rather than a labor-based one, but it remains to be seen.
Thanks Brianna, look forward to talking again.
Gabe
Hey Gabe, I'm excited to be following your blog. A lot of my family's heritage comes from Germany, but I haven't learned much about it so I can't wait to continue learning through you!
ReplyDeleteIn class we had a discussion about how there is a difference between a visitor who knows the local culture and follows it, a visitor who is simply oblivious to the culture, and the visitor who understands the culture, but finds it too hard to follow because of their own cultural norms. Have you been faced with any situations where the cultural norms of Germany made you feel uncomfortable? If so how did you respond to those situations?
Also we looked at Geert Hofsteed's cross-cultural model which ranked countries on characteristics such as individualism, power distance, which is how much the people question authority, long term view, which is how we see the future, and indulgence, which is how we control our desires and impulses. I was noticing some relationships between these characteristics as we looked at different countries, such as a culture with high indvidualism typically had low power distance. Both Germany and the United states resemble this trend based on their charts. Being there in person would you find this to be true?
Michael Undersander
Michael,
DeleteThanks for the comment! My family holds strong ties to Germany as well; I hope I help you learn some stuff about your motherland.
First, I wouldn't say that I have run into many situations that I couldn't handle because I came in with a very open mind. The German culture is unique and it holds a lot of great traditions and norms so I am willing to experience them all! There have been times when I felt uncomfortable though.The main norm that is tough to adapt to is the way people interact here. They don't smile at each other often, and when they do, it is sometimes awkward. At grocery stores, they'll smile at you but its when they are waiting for you to get your money out. I am used to smiling to people on the street or giving them a head nod as a sign of a sort of non-verbal greeting, but when I do that here, they stare back like I'm checking them out or something. I'd say that's the biggest thing I've had to adjust to.
To touch on your second question, I would say that Germany is pretty individualistic, like the US, but the big difference is the power difference. Genuine German professors, like my Nazi History professor, like to hold a more respectable role, with a greater power distance. Overall, I'd say the power distance is medium to high here.
Thanks,
Gabe