Jeanine Addler
Location: Berlin, Germany, Summer 2018
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Term Abroad: Summer '18
Majors: Human Resource Management and Management
Minors: Philanthropic Studies, Certificate in Nonprofit Management
Program Name: Germany: Philanthropy and Public Policy
What’s your best memory from your time abroad?
My favorite memories from studying abroad in Germany were the many opportunities the whole group got to connect and bond. I enjoyed being able to experience the German lifestyle with other students interested in the same material. We experienced the German culture as well as the non-profit sector environment. My favorite memory was our first site-seeing trip in Germany. A tour guide led us around Berlin and explained various historical monuments. One of the most interesting sites he showed us was where Hitler’s office and bunker once were.
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My advice would be to plan, plan, plan for your study abroad trip. By plan I mean to save money, research places to visit, and learn about your destination’s culture and lifestyle.
Jeanine AddlerInitial Thoughts on Arrival & Cultural Adjustment
My initial thoughts upon arriving to Germany were amazement and wonderment. I have never been exposed to a foreign environment like that, but I quickly learned to adjust. Our first task after getting off the plane was learning how to maneuver the bus and underground travel systems. After watching a few German natives, we learned how to operate the bus tickets and find our hotel. After that, we learned how to be apart of the German culture very fast.
Courses
This program fulfilled 3 credits in the international category of my major.
Housing
We stayed at a hotel in the center of Berlin, aside from a couple nights where we stayed in a more rustic hotel in Hammond.
Money Matters
Scholarships are the main reason I was able to study abroad in Germany. My trip was completely covered by scholarships and I am very grateful IUPUI has supplied me the opportunity to earn these scholarships. For anyone who wants to study abroad and is afraid they are not able to because of finances, I highly recommend you look into scholarships because they are there and should be taken advantage of.
Leisure & Travel
As a group, we explored many restaurants, bars, shops and tourist areas in Berlin. We experienced menus written only in German, non-English speaking Germans, and difficulty finding places to eat that matched everyone’s dietary needs.
Locals
Although we had a couple experiences where communication was a barrier, it was interesting that a lot of Germans spoke English. Many people were willing to give us directions and recommendations on where to eat and what to experience. I found this interesting too, because I assume they are always bombarded with tourists.
Advice
My advice would be to plan, plan, plan for your study abroad trip. By plan I mean to save money, research places to visit, and learn about your destination’s culture and lifestyle. This will make your trip so much more enjoyable and easier to indulge in the culture.
Effect on Career Goals
This trip reaffirmed my career goals of wanting to work for a non-profit in the United States. I enjoyed learning the differences between US non-profits and German non-profits. I enjoyed learning how much the German culture values nonprofits and comparing their values to our own. It made me realize how important nonprofits are not only in the United States but around the world as well.