Voices Abroad: My Time in Germany
Travel Tips
Airplanes and Airports.
As someone who has never traveled alone before and definitely not as far as Europe, navigating the airports and sitting on flights for hours seems a little scary. But, there are a few tips I found that have help me feel less nervous.
1. Don't be afraid to ask. Can't find the bathroom? Ask. Not sure where the gate is? Ask! Personally, I'd rather push past my social anxiety than wander around lost.
2. Stay Calm. Travel is never perfect, so it helps to take a deep breath and stay calm. Remind yourself that you've got this.
3. Bring hand sanitizer. Getting sick while traveling is no fun. Use it especially before you eat, and don't forget to wipe down your arm rests on the plane!
Local Cuisine
Everyone is a little wary of trying the cuisine in a foreign country, including me, but if I'm going to fully immerse myself in the local culture, I should at least try some traditional German dishes. Some German favorites are currywurst (sausage with curry ketchup), schwarzbrot (black rye bread), and of course, the pretzel. I've heard the pastries are great too, like apfelstrudel (apple pastry) and windbeutel (cream puff).
Understanding Social Norms
When I was first accepted into the program, I did as much research as I could on Germany. I bought a couple of guide-books on Hamburg and started studying the German language. When visiting somewhere new, you should familiarize yourself with the layout of the city, and public transport system. And very important, be aware of social norms. I learned to leave my exercise leggings at home for more formal outfits, and to always, always be on time, if not, a little early. It never hurts to be prepared!
Understanding the Language
Not knowing the language can make one feel out of place, so I made it a priority for the last 3 months to learn common German phrases such as "Wie Gehts" (How are you?), "Guten tag" (Good day!), "Es tut mir leid" (I'm sorry), and not to forget "Guten appetit!" (Have a good meal!) commonly said before eating. I have to say that learning and speaking simple German phrases was not as hard as I thought it was going to be. I knew I would be immersed in the language and culture, and I wanted to be prepared.
Here are some ways I used to make learning a language a little bit easier.
1. Check out online language resources, such as Duolingo, Babbel, Mango, and even Google Translate.
2. Write down words you do not know in a journal so you can look them up later.
3. Buy a pocket dictionary with words and phrases you will need during your travels.