Verena B. Study Abroad Ambassador
What is one word to describe your study abroad experience:
"Honestly, I believe that everyone should go on exchange. To go somewhere where they are thrown out of their element for a while. It is not always easy, but that is how you build character. That is how you learn what you really are made of on the inside and when life gets tough that’s what you need to get through it."
VERENA B.
Exchange student at Heidelberg University, Germany
Winter semester
Studying Bachelor of Science, majoring in Biochemistry
- What is the best thing that happened while you were studying abroad?
In Guelph I feel like most of the people I know all study similar things and have similar goals. On exchange I met people who are doing such different things from me and one another and I was reminded of how wide the world is and how much more there is to be experienced in this short time we get on the planet.
- In terms of your own cultural self-awareness, were there any instances where you realized that your own behaviours, perspectives, or attitudes were different. Where did those differences stem from?
I realized how much more the culture here demands an easy lazy lifestyle. In Germany stores close much earlier and all of Sunday. All stores do. People adapt and just don’t have access to things all the time. People litter less. People don’t have large appliances or food in bulk. People are more active, everyone goes on long walks or people run or do some other kind of sport. And people value sustainability more than here. I think it comes from more people living on less land. It comes from them knowing what it’s like when the environment is not left wild.
- Where was the coolest place you travelled to during your study abroad experience?
Some of my friends came to visit me and I adored showing them the places I’d been. But my favourite places to go was of course anywhere up in mountains.
- What is something that you know now, that you wish you knew before you studied abroad?
I wish firstly that there was a more easy to follow guide on how to organize all the out of country stuff, just to have a more streamlined program. I’m glad I didn’t know how complicated it can be to figure out visa/grade transfer/etc. I also wish that I knew how courses worked at my host university so I could have been chosen my courses and planned in that way.
- What was your best learning moment?
I realized that compared to the average Canadian vs the average European I am a very different person. And I think it really showed me where my values lie and how to better live a healthy and happy life.
- Who was the hardest person to leave that you met while on exchange? How did you deal with that?
While I was on exchange I got to spend a lot of time with my brother. That was really special. Leaving him was hard. I think that missing someone comes in waves. Some days it’s worse than others. I think when it’s hardest I remind myself that he’s happy and getting to do things he loves and because I love him that matters the most. I’ll get to see him again soon and until then I have all our other memories to cherish:)
- If you were to recommend exchange to your best friend, what would you say?
I would ask why they haven’t gone yet. Honestly, I believe that everyone should go on exchange. To go somewhere where they are thrown out of their element for a while. It is not always easy, but that is how you build character. That is how you learn what you really are made of on the inside and when life gets tough that’s what you need to get through it.
- Would it be helpful to learn another language for this exchange?
You can get by with just English in Heidelberg. But you should take the language course because it’s a lot of fun and you get to meet a lot of great people.
- What role did language and communication (both verbal and non-verbal) play in fostering appreciation for a different perspective?
I think you really see just how much relationships and the world as a whole is built upon language. Without it you cannot share the important things. But I also learned that sometimes actions can speak just as loudly. Being there for someone, reaching out a helping hand, even if you can’t understand everything that they’re saying or what’s going on for them, your action means just as much.
- Did you live on-campus or off-campus? Would you recommend it, and why?
On-campus:) It was really cheap and super convienient!
- How did you finance your study abroad experience?
Scholarships, summer job, savings.
- What interesting courses did you get to take while studying abroad? What was the title of the course(s)?
I got to take a course about cancer stem cells, about insecticide resistance in mosquitos, about German film in WWI and Extragalactic astronomy.
- How do you see your exchange experiences benefiting your future career?
I think I learned a lot about myself and what I really value. That helped me more clearly figure out why I might want to do some specific job and not another. That will benefit me because I think that if you have a why, achieving your goals will have significantly more value and you will do your job with more purpose.
