Preparing for University

The second week here in Munich was filled with all kinds of fun as Junior Year in Munich began preparing us for success at the LMU Munich!

Registration

When newcomers come to German or Austrian cities (and I'm sure this is applicable for other countries as well) they must register at what is known as the Kreisverwaltungsreferat or District Station. This is the first step to becoming a proper resident in a German city, and can be quite frustrating and scary if you're not prepared. Luckily, we were given thorough directions before proceeding, and everything went smoothly. I am finally an official resident of Munich:

Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München

On Tuesday we got a tour of the university. The Ludwig Maximilians Universitaet Muenchen is the largest university in all of Germany, with over 50,000 students (including about 8,000 international students). A complicated web of Fakultäten make it hard to navigate in the beginning months for American students. Also unlike my home university, the LMU has buildings all throughout the city of Munich, rather than in a contained location. A map surely comes in handy. A little bit of history about the LMU from the university´s website:

"When Duke Ludwig the Wealthy of Bavaria-Landshut founded Bavaria's first university with a papal concession in 1472, no one could imagine that over the next five hundred years it would move twice and emerge as one of the largest universities in Germany, providing some of the country's strongest research. The university began with four faculties in Ingolstadt, where it witnessed the flowering of German humanism and played a major role in the Counter-Reformation. The move to Landshut saw the growing influence of the Enlightenment on the university. The second move, this time to the heart of the royal capital Munich, brought an expansion of the faculties and a huge advance in the sciences. Today LMU Munich has matured into one of the world’s leading international universities, fully competitive with the other major institutions of higher learning and research. It continues to build on its distinct identity and its core skills in research and instruction in order to confront both academic challenges and the hugely complex demands of our changing world."

Scholl and "The White Rose"

The LMU is also widely known for its role in German resistance against the Nazis. The Scholl family, (now known worldwide from the film "Sophie Scholl") formed the "The White Rose" group here, which protested heavily against the Nazis in Munich, which was then the capital of National Socialism. They paid the heaviest price, their lives, but their courage is continually kept alive through an exhibit in the main building of the LMU, various momuments throughout Munich, and the naming of important streets.

Stadtbibliothek Bayern

Wednesday we got a fantastic tour of the Stadtbibliothek, also known as the Stabi. This tour was very helpful because it showed us how easily it is nowadays to check out books from Munich´s libraries. The Stabi was traditionally only open to professors and other people of importance, but is now open to the public, students, and visitors. The LMU library system is an extensive network of libraries, and, just like the university buildings, are scattered all over Munich. Rather than all types of books being centrally located, the libraries are separated into Fakultäten - so Physik, Naturwissenschaft, and Mathematik materials are in a different location that Sprachwissenschaft, Linguistik, and Literatur. Given the German system, this makes a lot of sense - since students, for the most part, major in related disciplines.

Deutsche Sprachprüfung für den Hochschulzugang

In order to study at a German university, students must exhibit proficiency in the German language - grammatically, through writing, listening, and speaking. Junior Year in Munich administered an Einstufungstest (similar to the DSH-Test), which is graded according the European levels of language acquistion - A1 indicating a beginning speaker through C2, a native speaker. Students must typically obtain a B2 or higher, but as Junior Year in Munich offers extensive language courses and is program long affiliated directly with the LMU (as supposed to an exchange program), students with a B1 interested in taking courses in German at the LMU may do so with permission.

It was a stressful day for all of us. About four hours we sat taking the test! I have been blessed to come to Germany several times, and have also had excellent preparation for such rigorous study at Webster University, so I received a C1 on this test. A few of us went out to eat at a nearby restaurant to celebrate just being done with it and to welcome the weekend! Next week we start the real thing...

Embracing Easter in Munich

Celebrations

With catholicism’s strong influence in Bavaria, the pomp yet humbling somberness with which the Easter Holidays are carried out is gorgeous and captures all in Munich during this time in a state of awe. The preparation begins on Karfreitag, or Good Friday, and from here until well after Easter Monday, Munich all but shuts down. The churches are surely packed by eight for various events and vigils.

Munich’s OlympiaZentrum

On Friday, we took advantage of the beautiful weather and thin pedestrian traffic to check out Munich’s OlympiaZentrum. Here is where the 1972 Olympics were held, and is also home to the renowned BMW-Welt (BMW World) and the four-cylinder building. After deciding to run up the side of the biggest hill after concluding that this would lead to the top faster, we knew it had been worth it: the view, although not too high up, was stunning with the sun shimmering off the lake and everyone bathing in the warm weather after a harsh winter. Later on, we saw a huge trampoline set up, and two of us, my friend Nicole and I, decided to give it a whirl. The kids in us will never die! For a cheap price we got five glorious and very tiresome minutes to jump our hearts out on this trampoline, unfortunately not being as successful as the boys next to us turning gymnastics…. Dying of thirst, we stopped at a small beer garden, drinking tasty Augustiner Helles, before heading back. It brought back memories of my first beer – which I had during my second time in Germany about two years ago. I remember thinking, “I will NEVER get used to this stuff!” and making a sour face. (Not a good idea in Germany, by then way….) But here, water is cheaper than beer, and my attitude towards the beer has changed dramatically. I am now convinced (of the truth) that German beer is the best there is.

On Karsamstag, the city opened again briefly, and everything seemed to be back in full swing. Munich’s enormous market, Virkualienmarkt, located in the center of the city, was buzzing in preparation for the feasts of the coming days. With a about 22,000 square meters of space and over 140 vendors offering everything from flowers to cheese, this market is a magical place – both in appearance and for the wallet.

Garmisch-Patenkirchen

Since this market is opened each Saturday, we decided to use the ample time before the start of the semester to travel cheaply with the Deutsche Bahn’s “Bayern Ticket.” The Bayern Ticket allows five people to discover cities surrounded Munich – Augsburg, Passau, Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Regensburg, and so on – for a mere €27! Receiving recommendations from another group of five, we headed to Garmisch-Partenkirchen, where the Zugspitze (Top of Germany at well over 2000 meters) is located. On the way there, it turned out that we had boarded the wrong type of train, and our tickets were not valid. The ticket reader understood our brokeness and honest mistake and charged us very minimally for what could have turned into a wallet-emptying event. After exploring the city center and picking up a handful of postcards, we stopped in a cozy little backery for lunch. A day of beautiful (and quite slippery hiking, since my shoes had long lost their traction) followed. We reached the Eibsee by bus, and the water was so clear and cold that we stooped down and drank from it rather than regressing to the now warm smelly water of our water bottles. And we’re all still alive, so I’d recommend it too.

Easter in Bavaria

Ostersonntag, (Easter Sunday) was beautiful. I woke up early to dress to the (holy) nines. I’m a tomboy at heart, but I’ve learned that dressing nicely before any special events boosts my confidence and my ability to concentrate on what’s important rather than on how much I’m underdressed. By taking the extra time to dress appropriately for church, I feel as if I’m honoring God with my presence as well. I attended Easter Service at Munich’s second landmark: Church of our Holy Lady, or Frauenkirche. This being one of the most popular churches in the city, the Easter Service was fantastically and intricately planned – Gregorian Chants, a well-crafted and moving homily, and beautiful music. It was really a neat experience!

There was, as you can imagine, not many places open on this special holiday, with the exception of foreign restaurants (in whose cultures the Easter holiday may not play as big of a role). So myself and three friends decided to try out a beckoning sushi restaurant near the dorms, and we were impressed. It was just awesome and, with all four of us, not too hard on the wallet either.

The Romantic Road

The host family that I stayed with prior to coming to Munich was fantastic. Through DAAD there is an organization called Das Experiment, e.V., which encourages cultural understanding by placing students in host families prior to their study in Germany, and so I had the opportunity to spend two lovely, fun-packed weeks with them before putting my nose back into the books. On Easter Monday, on the way to taking their kids to a music camp, they took me to see some breathtaking churches and other beautiful landscapes on the Romantic Road. An important medieval trade route that streches from northern Germany to Tirol, Austria, the Romantic Road is home to some fantastic and very old sights. We were able to see the famous Wieskirche, Pfaffenkirchen, Neuschwanstein, Neuschwangau, a series of fortress-looking buildings in Landsberg, and much more. The Baroque character of these churches can be seen as rather superficial, (as it was often a testiment to the power and reign of the Catholic church and their respective regions at the time), but the ornamental beauty made me weak to my knees.

Easter in Munich: OlympiaZentrum, Hike through Garmisch-Patenkirchen, and the Romantic Road

Back on European Soil

It´s nice to be back on European soil. I know that this time will be a little different than my previous trips here, and Im excited to meet even more new people and finally come home with FLUENCY in Germany - a tall order, but if I put my mind to it, I believe it can happen. So to start off, a few tidbits for Americans travelling to Munich in future. After that, let the adventures begin!

Wie man hier zurechtkommt

Munich has fantastic public transportation, nothing like this at home in St. Louis! It’s been a few times when I’ve forgotten to bring something to do, and the result was a near heartattack. If anyone has the slightest degree of self-conciousness, you’ve got to bring something to do when taking the trains around the city – anything! – a newspaper, a three-year-old magazine, a gum wrapper…otherwise you’ll find yourself becoming anxious and figgety in your attempt to avoid staring at everyone around you. Otherwise, three options are open to you: 1) creepily stare at the Germans sitting across from you on the U-Bahn, 2) hunt for cute guys or gals and flirt with your eyes, or 3) treat your eyes to the ugly gray or brown floor and dizzying signs as the train whizzes through the tunnels.

Let the adventures begin...

My first day in Munich was not exactly a success…my sharp photographic memory plus my hopeless passion for getting ridiculously loss did not make for a good match as I searched out the Junior Year in Munich office. After a very confusing hour or so I used my last breath to call the office and notify them that “maybe it’s better I come tomorrow” since I can’t find the place before 17 Uhr! I finally found it… three people, five maps, and a contruction site later.

The rest of the week was spent filling out necessary paperwork, enjoying free food, and getting to know the other Americans in our program. Oh…and of course, buying buying buying. I’ve never been shopping so many times in my life! A trip to the grocery store nearly broke my arms, and my poor bank account was whining the whole way home. Our dorms are located in an area called Studentenstadt, or StuSta for short, and were actually built in the early 1970s as housing for the 1972 Olympic Games here in Munich. They’re pretty nice…still the I-don’t-wanna-know-what-that-is queasiness that accompanies dorms, but a place to live in one of Germany’s most popular AND expensive cities is not easy to come by, also ich klage nicht. We also got the chance to eat in the Mensa at the Technische Universitaet Muenchen, and that was a…well, interesting, experience. Unlike the grand buildings that line Munich’s streets, this was far from it. I don’t think engineering students need a nice building, just something that stands up and in which warm and very mysterious food can be slapped on the tray at a very reasonable price.

My German Home: StuSta

I have longed for a German address for quite a few years now, and I got it! Here are views of my dorm in Studentenstadt. (1. desk and shelves, 2. bed, 3. beautiful view from the window, 4. StuSta by night) These buildings housed the Olympic athletes during the 1972 Olympic Games, held here in Munich. Now it’s home to students from Germany as well as from all over the world, and is a great place to chillax, eat, meet up, BBQ on a nice day, and more. I live in the tallest building, which has proven to offer a splendid view and a quiet calm in the evening. The best advantage of living in the tallest building: sometimes I can see the Alps from my window! This happens When the weather is just right - if it's raining on one side of the Alps and not the Munich side, also called a Fön, the Alps in all their glory are visible.

My Love Affair with Germany Laid Bare

A strange yet fascinating passion for this place has gripped my heart for about 4 years now and has never let go. The opportunity to study at a German university has been my dream for quite some time, this being my 6th time here, and generous scholarships through the DAAD, U.S. Department of State and International Education, the Junior Year in Munich program, and many others have made it a reality at last.

A few things about me: I am from St. Louis, MO (just about everyone knows about it, as it is a fairly large city with about 320 or so thousand people) and am finishing up my studies at Webster University. Webster University, although founded in St. Louis, has now expanded to become a world wide institution – literally. We have campuses in Europe, Asia, exchange programs all across the globe and in practically every state in the U.S. I believe wholeheartedly in placing the acquisition of knowledge above all things, and seek not to know everything about something, but something about everything. If there’s one thing that is true, he who does not learn history is doomed to repeat it, or perhaps in other words, one cannot change the world if one knows nothing of it.

After I finish up my semester here at the Ludwig-Maximilians-University of Munich, I'll head home to begin graduate studies in architecture and urban planning at The State University of New York at Buffalo. I’ll be an architect one of these days. Young young young I am but still I’ll start graduate school in August! A death profession, yes I know, and contrary to popular belief, by no means my “dream” profession. “What?” Folks are shaking their heads. A “dream” profession for me would be motivational speaking. But that I can do at any time, so to say. Architecture and urban design (and sustainable planning) is that by which I, with my given assets, can bring about the most change.

My goals with this blog? Transmit to readers a sense of adventure, if my writing shall allow such thing. Perhaps inspire someone to take a trip, conquer the fears of being in a new place, learn a second language, do something crazy and out-of-the-ordinary (now, I didn’t say ILLEGAL!), and not only be changed but eventually to change.

I’ll be an architect one of these days. Young young young I am but still I’ll start graduate school in August to get a dual Masters in Architecture and Urban Design. A death profession, yes I know, and contrary to popular belief, by no means my “dream” profession. “What?” Folks are shaking their heads. A “dream” profession for me would be motivational speaking. But that I can do at any time, so to say. Architecture and urban design (and sustainable planning) is that by which I, with my given assets, can bring about the most change.

I stopped in Vienna for about a week to catch up with some friends from the last time I was here (January – May 2009) then took the train to Germany. I’ve been here for two weeks now with an awesome awesome host family right outside of Munich, in Dachau. The food is amazing and still the weight is falling off! I’ve ripped through numerous books in German since I’ve been here, and I recommend Patrick Suesskinds “Das Parfuem.” No doubt, one of the best books I have ever read. Monday we’ll begin the Orientation at the LMU-Muenchen, and the hustle-and-bustle of everything sounds exciting. I’ve opened up a German bank account, got myself a bike, and by May I will speak very fluent German. Only thing missing now is a German/EU Passport, otherwise I’m on my way to being a proper citizen.

The three months before arriving here were treacherous. Three jobs – one in a restaurant, tutorer in German, Spanish, and science, and as a campus tour guide -, a business team, 16 credit hours, all in 8 weeks. Somehow I made it. I taught me three valueable lessons that will be helpful to all who are reading:

1) Imagine: A room full of folks all write their worse problem on a piece of paper and put it in a bucket. The bucket is shaken a little bit, and everyone goes in line to “trade” their burden with someone else. After picking your new “burden” in the hope that it’s lighter, you slouch back to your chair wishing you had kept the old one, for the new one is much worse that you could have imagined,

2) Write down your goals and look at them, recite them if you have to, each day. If I did not know exactly what date I would be flying to Germany, and didn’t meditate on it often, there is no way I would have made it,

3) when the storm has passed, you’re going to look back and laugh at how stressed out you were because only then do you realize it wasn’t that bad.