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Languages@Muhlenberg.edu
Newsletter 2002
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From Muhlenberg
to Bonn:
Seven Months of Adventure and Discovery
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Karnaval 2001, Köln Germany |
During my semester break from Muhlenberg College, the realization
abruptly struck me that I would soon be leaving family, friends,
and college behind to take part in a semester abroad program
in Bonn, Germany. Having previously lived in Germany for several
years, I had already rejected many of the stereotypes associated
with the German people: skinheads, hairy armpit women, lack
of modernization. Nevertheless, as my day of departure grew
nearer, so did my reluctance to leave. But there was no way
for me to turn back. With my suitcases packed and my family
in the car, I was on my way to Dulles International Airport.
As they called for final boarding, I said my good-byes and
began my eight-hour journey to Germany.
Upon arrival in Frankfurt, I can recall immediately feeling
secure, without a worry or concern on my mind. Walking through
a familiar airport, I was excited to be surrounded by everything
German. From the airport, I managed to catch the appropriate
train to Bonn, the city that would be my new home for the
next seven months. I was met at Bonn's main train station
by a staff member of AIB (Akademie für Internationale
Bildung / Academy for International Education), who drove
me to meet my host family. We pulled up to a small, comfortable
looking house located in Bonn-Beuel, where my host mother
and sister, and their dog, Mona, eagerly greeted me at the
door. The remainder of that first day was spent unpacking
and getting to know my host family and the surrounding area.
That night I turned in early, feeling confident that the coming
days would bring enjoyment and many incredible experiences.
Fortress in Würtzburg, Germany |
That Monday marked the beginning of our
two months of intensive German study, taught by the AIB staff.
On the first day of classes we immediately jumped in to the
German language, reading articles, reviewing grammatical structures,
and strengthening our vocabulary. The time spent with my host
family and German friends exposed me to the various idiomatic
phrases and the slang used by German youth. After all of the
practice, my German skills were put to the test during my
semester at the University of Bonn. My lectures were entirely
in German and although it was at times rather difficult, I
was completely capable of attending classes, understanding
lectures, and receiving excellent grades. Between living with
a German host family, the two months of intense German courses,
and a four-month full-course semester at the University of
Bonn, my German had improved to my own expectations and those
of the AIB staff. Not only had I gained confidence in my ability
to converse using the Germany language, but I was also speaking
German regularly, as if it were my native language.
Aside from improving my German, the seven months abroad included
an enormous amount of traveling. Many of the others on the
trip decided to travel outside Germany to Spain, Italy, Switzerland,
and other parts of Europe. During my stay, however, I chose
to take advantage of Germany's excellent railway system and
took trips with friends to other cities throughout the country.
The various trips allowed me to take in many more aspects
of the German culture, something I could never experience
by just studying Germany from a book. The trips with friends
and family made for many great pictures and memories that
will last forever. Although my study abroad program was about
four months longer than those of friends studying in other
parts of Europe, my time in Germany still seemed to pass by
at an extreme rate.
Eric Milford stands to the right of four new friends
from his visit to Germany |
By the end of the seven months, I had grown attached to Bonn
and many aspects of the German culture. On my last evening,
my host family and I sat at the dinner table, ate an incredible
German meal, and talked about our experiences. I feel that
we grew fairly close during the previous seven months, so
knowing that I would be leaving them behind so soon was quite
difficult. Around ten o'clock that evening, we said our final
goodbyes and I headed out for one last night on the town with
my two closest friends in Germany, Lafayette students Andrew
Bostian and Geoff Gresh. We met at our favorite pub and sat
around reminiscing about the experiences we'd had. I knew
my time left there in Bonn was limited. I decided to walk
home that night, stopping by all of my favorite places in
the city, trying to prolong my final night as much as possible.
The next morning, I took the train back to Frankfurt and closed
out my semester abroad with great memories and an eagerness
to return.
Eric Milford, '02 |
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