My study abroad experience in Leipzig, Germany was incredible! We saw many neat places, got to know locals, and learned much about the history ingrained in the city. At first, it was very strange because being there didn’t feel very foreign to me. It felt like another metropolis in America until we started to learn about the history and what sets this city apart from the rest of the world.
Due to a history rooted in war and violence, the culture in Germany is very quiet and people are arguably more respectable, intelligent, and socially aware. These may seem like strange values to be developed from a history frowned upon by many, but they are in fact positive responses in an attempt to heal. To overcome the stigma of the 20th century, Germans have made efforts to live above reproach and thus, their cities are relatively crime-free, clean, and family-friendly. These same values were seen when we attended church at the Leipzig English Church. The people were so friendly and the pastor taught solely through scripture instead of the pretentious reinterpretation of the Bible seen in our reinvent-the-wheel approach to church in modern America. Some pitfalls of their culture however are the ways that Christians and religious groups, in general, make up a small minority in Germany, lack of investment in one another’s lives, and many government regulations.
It was incredible to see all the history of Germany and to think about how most places over there are older than the United States. Our American culture often acts like we are the best in the world in all areas, but in reality, we are still fairly young and haven’t had to go through a lot of the things that other countries have to be what they are today. Seeing historical sites such as the church in Wittenburg where Martin Luther nailed his 95 theses also made learning about these events all the more real and relatable. This type of immersive experience gives one a unique perspective on the aspects of history that we don’t learn in a book.
Another part of studying abroad that was thoroughly enjoyable was the time spent traveling Europe on weekend trips and spring break. It was great for understanding more about European culture and learning about different types of people. It was great to see how my way of thinking and living is not the only way and others are acceptable.
Coming home has been difficult and not just because of the Coronavirus and jet lag. I miss being part of a culture that feels so intentional and focused on improvement. I miss the food that was always fresh and didn’t contain preservatives. I miss exploring and learning in a beautiful country where I really felt at home. I greatly hope to return one day to see all the things I didn’t get to this time around. I encourage anyone considering studying abroad to do so as it will be an incredible journey.
