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I am spending a year abroad at the University of Regensburg through an exchange program. This experience has been a good way to immerse myself in German culture, although initially, it was a bit daunting to try and navigate. Something that helped me adjust to Germany was the September intensive German language course at the university. This course boosted my confidence in speaking German, and it also helped me connect with others who were experiencing the same feelings that come with adjusting to life in a new country. I have been able to learn about different cultures beyond German from people in my program, which has been an unexpected but pleasant part of this experience.

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Regensburg is a UNESCO World Heritage site, which is very cool because it means I’m surrounded by centuries of history. The city itself is beautiful and full of character including a small mouse engraved into one of the buildings. Locals say you should stroke the mouse to ensure you are never poor or that you will return to Regensburg someday. There is also a painting of David and Goliath that greets you on your way into the city. One of the most unique attractions is the Dachshund Museum in Regensburg which is full of everything dachshund. Not only is the city itself beautiful, but the surrounding areas and local events have been a highlight of my time in Germany so far.

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My program has organized many events including hiking in areas nearby, attending local festivals like Dult, and taking day trips to nearby cities like Bamberg. These experiences have helped me understand the local culture and the area I will call home for the next year. I also got to go to Munich for Oktoberfest, which showed me a different side of German culture since I got to participate in the tradition from a local perspective. So far the experience has become a fantastic opportunity to learn more about myself and the world.

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The intensive German language course officially ended on the second of October. This meant I had a little bit of time to travel before the semester officially started on the 13th of October. I visited Arabba, a city in the Italian Dolomites. I went with some people I met in the exchange program, including someone from Italy, so we got to experience the area like a local. We hiked for three days in areas nearby, and the views were beautiful. This was a fun experience because I have never really hiked in any mountains outside of the ones in Colorado. It really furthered my views of what the world had to offer.

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This month I also started my courses. I have found that the courses I am taking differ a bit in structure compared to courses in Boulder, which makes sense since I am in a completely different country. I am taking a variety of English and German classes, which I hope will help me to learn the content I need while also helping improve my German language course. The university also has a class that exchange students can take where we hold a theater production completely in German. I am taking this class and am excited by its potential to improve my German vocabulary and language skills. Overall, I am excited for what the academic year has to offer.