IES Abroad European Union : Testimonials (Freiburg)
The following program testimonial responses have been selected for publication by Office of International Programs
We want to hear about your experience!
Why did you choose this program?
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I chose this program because of all the travel opportunities it presented. It also offered courses that were going to give me a different perspective on my major.
— Matthew Waldman, Spring 2015 |
What was your favorite aspect of this program?
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My favorite aspect of this program was all the traveling that we did do throughout Europe. We had the opportunity to explore different cultures throughout our time as well as learn about how these different cultures interact with each other as well as the rest of the world. These interactions came through hands on processes in terms of directly interacting with important officials as well as exploring the cities we visited and having to navigate on our own outside of IES related meetings
— Matthew Waldman, Spring 2015 |
What was your housing situation like?
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The housing situation was similar to that of what you get at Wofford in that you're sharing a living space with multiple individuals, except that I shared the space with 5 instead of 4 people. I was living with one other American, and then 4 German students. That was a unique experience because there was learning going on both ways. I had the opportunity to teach my German flat mates some things about American culture as well as with English, and they were able to teach me things about German culture and the language.
— Matthew Waldman, Spring 2015 |
What was your favorite class and why?
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My favorite class was probably my Policies in Practice class. This is the class that I learned the most in, and it gave me a good background on just how the European Union was shaped, especially economically. We ran through the history of these policies and how and why they have developed into where they currently stand today.
— Matthew Waldman, Spring 2015 |
What did you gain from studying abroad?
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By studying abroad, not only did I have the experience of a lifetime, but I also developed more as an individual. Being thrown into a new culture where there's a different language really forces you to have to adapt and figure out how you can survive in such an environment for an extended period of time. I found this process rewarding, and as you learn to integrate into the culture, you find each small victory, such as ordering your entire meal in the language, as a fun experience. Going further, I was able to enhance my independence skills through basically living as if I were on my own for the amount of time I was abroad. I learned how to cook and navigate some of the largest cities in the world. Along with that, you develop strong relationships with the new friends you make because everyone is in the same boat as you. As you are going through the semester, you keep your sanity in stressful situations because of the friends you made, and these friends also help to make exploring more fun because even if you get lost, you can turn it into the adventure of a lifetime with these individuals. I can easily say that my life is forever changed by this experience. I am forever thankful and grateful for the support of Wofford, my family and my friends throughout this journey.
— Matthew Waldman, Spring 2015 |