Michael Wilson
Degree: Bachelor of Arts, 3rd year
Which university abroad did you attend? University of Cologne, Germany
Where did you live when you studied abroad? Student Residence
What was the easiest thing when you arrived in Germany? The easiest thing is meeting new people. There are so many new students that don’t know anyone and everyone is looking to make friends.
What was the most challenging thing when you arrived in Germany? The most challenging thing was the bureaucracy at the university… they seem to make everything more complicated than it needs to be!
What did you find different about studying in a German University? The semester dates are very different…October to February and April to July. But that just means more time for travel! Many classes also have exams worth one hundred percent, so you have to stay focused and keep up with the course material!
Best things about Germany? Friendly people, affordable living, many travel opportunities
What do you find most interesting about Germany? The numerous destinations that you can visit in such a small area…distances are much shorter between cities in Europe.
Which courses did you take? German, International Economics, Environmental Economics, European Politics, Intercultural Communication in Business.
Which course did you enjoy the most and why? European Politics was the best, because we had an enthusiastic professor who took us on a trip to Berlin!
Most memorable experience in Germany? There have been many, but the best would have to be arriving at Oktoberfest in Munich after twelve hours on a train.
How did you spend your Christmas overseas? I had a "Feliz Navidad" and enjoyed travelling around Spain during the holidays.
What surprised you most about Germany? The most surprising thing was how easily I could travel. Trains run to neighbouring cities like Dusseldorf every twenty minutes, so if you decided you wanted to make a day trip, you could just go. As a university student, I also received a rail pass which has saved me tons of money!
Food you missed the most and could not get in Germany? My only complaint would be that peanut butter and fish are expensive, but Germany has a great selection of groceries and there are lots of new foods to try.
What did you miss about Canada when you studied abroad? Definitely my family and friends back home. But we keep in touch through Skype.
What do you like most about studying abroad? I liked having the opportunity to meet people from so many countries. In my German class, for example, we had twenty five students representing thirteen different nationalities.
How many other countries did you visit when you were studying abroad? So far I have visited four: Germany, Belgium, Netherlands and Spain
What was the most important thing you learned when you were abroad (personal, academic, etc.)? I learned that you need to put yourself out there and make an effort to enjoy every day. On the academic side, I realized that discipline is necessary in order to succeed in a German university.
What are your future plans? My future plan is to study Law, hopefully at UNB Fredericton. I would also like to spend at least one more year abroad, perhaps teaching English.
Do you have any advice to future students, who may wish to study abroad? Just do it. You will never again have this opportunity and you only live once. This is the opportunity of a lifetime!
