Curious about the differences in culture and life in general for some of our international students, I interviewed a UWL student who wishes to remain anonymous on the differences they have experienced from living in Germany to living in America. The following questions are what I asked them during our interview, and their response to said questions.

1. What is the biggest difference between Germany and America?
   I would say that the biggest differences can be split up into three things: student culture, financial impacts, education.
   Starting with the student life, I have the feeling that most students work a lot during their semester and during breaks. When I asked people in class, I usually hear that they work part-time somewhere up to full-time ( one student). I think that has a huge influence when it comes to learning and stress. However, I like that the students are really proud of their work. Sometimes I have the feeling that "lower"-jobs from students in Germany (for example: food serving) gets viewed as a low skilled work that nobody wants to do. Therefore, people are not proud if they work in such a position- however, I have to admit that as a business student in Frankfurt, some students might be a bit more picky and seek for a high status- even as students. So, I really like that US Students are proud of their work and they get credits for that. Which brings me to the next issue: financial impacts. I had one economics professor who always said that "there is no free lunch" and refers to the opportunity costs- the costs you have when you do what you do. In example while you learn you could also work for 10$ and, therefore, has the cost of 10$ even learning is, in general, free. However, the german education system has no tuition, only organizational fees, some small fees (for example to supply the local public garden) and a bus/train ticket that carries you almost in the entire state Hessen for free. Summing all up, I come to a "tuition" of around 350€ (currently 385€) where the ticket takes something around 200€ (220$). My best friend in South Germany, who studies engineering does not have such a ticket and pays something around 60€ (72$). The biggest difference is therefore that German student leaves their university without debts, while US students have HUGE debts. One American girl I talked to said that after she finished education, even if she received scholarships she has debts around 100.000$ which is ridiculous in my point of view- I understand my a lot of people than decide not to study at all. And finally, talking about the professor life I would say that, since in germany i have one exam which counts for 100% (if you are good you are god, and vice versa) while in the US I feel like I have 1000. exams that counts just a little and reduce the stress for the exams dramatically while the workload over the semester is huge. However, some professors are then able to see if you had a good or bad day and might help you to shift the scales a little bit. Even if you are a 92.2% candidate you would receive a B in Germany, while the US professor might see your hard working and gives you the +2% for an A. Therefore I feel like the US professors give you a lot of help and support to achieve your dreams whereas the german professors do not so. However, I do not like to be shy and say that we usally have 600 students in one class instead of 30 students which makes everything suddenly personal.
2. What is the biggest similarity?
   I think the biggest similarity is, between both countries, that both country students like to do the similar things on their weekends. I think that this university really likes to go Outdoors, maybe a college specific thing, while Frankfurt Students have not such a broad range of possible activities- at least, what I am concerned about. However, both student groups like to watch movies, drink a beer on the weekend, like to be around people and just have fun. Both student groups like to travel and to dance to music in the bars. Therefore, I think that both student groups like to be connected.
3. What is something you would think would be different but ended up being similar?
   The only answer to that question I have in mind is when it comes to learning. I see often that US students start learning for their exams like 1 week to 4 four days before the exam, but watching a movie while learning or listening to music. Personally, I could not manage to do both at the same time. When I need to learn, I learn alone, in my room, when it is silent- and if it is not I try to get a silent place, always! However, one day before the exam my US student friends turn off the TV, get on their desk and learn like me.
   Even though we started differently, we ended up sitting on a desk learning similar.
4. What is something you think America could learn from Germany?
   Trying not to dive too deep into political things, since I still feel not knowledgeable enough to answer such. However, I would highly recommend changing the financial situation for the Universities that studying gets cheaper for US students- that would have a significant impact!The next thing, also a bit political is, that the pricing strategy of goods is awful. I still ask myself how it is possible to offer a double-cheeseburger for 1$ at the grocery store, while broccoli ( in the suitable season! so not tropical) costs something around 2-3$. I was really shocked about this. Another example is college blocks. I usually pay for a college block something around 1$ and here it was up to 6$- I switched to plain white copy paper. I have the feelings that goods that are necessary are really expensive, while unnecessary goods are cheap.
   Finally, imported things are also super expensive. I need for medical reasons occasionally tea-tree oil. At the local pharmacy i got charged by 8$, usually it runs in Germany around 3$.
   While posting all these prices, the average wage for a student job is around 10€ (11$), minimum wage is 8,5€ (9$), just to have a price-good relationship.
   
   Therefore, I would say that the pricing system and the financing of financial situation needs an overhaul.
5. What is something you think Germany could learn from America?
   I think there are a lot of things to learn from America for Germany- especially when it comes to cultural interactions. It might be a mid-west American thing, at least I heard that quite often, but people are really really friendly and helped me a lot- no matter what. The first day I came here I did not get a pillow from the front desk and all are away, so an American student picked me up and drove with me to the mall and helped me getting a pillow. Since I have a language barrier, I make a lot of mistakes in my texts and assignments. A student offered me to correct my texts and assignment, which has a lot of benefits for me and saved a lot of points in the assignments.
   Also, I think that Germany could learn the "laid-back" lifestyle of American students. Usually, I really stress before exams and cannot sleep well one week before the exam, I had so many exams, tests and great classmates that I lost a lot of my stress and get now more easy into exams. Also I think that German professors can learn a lot from American professors. Not everything should depend on one exam! There is always personality involved, and please help the students more, do not link them to any website where they can read it up!
6. What has been the hardest thing for you when moving from Germany to America?
   To be honest, it was not the actual living here. Of course I needed some time to adapt to the American system - usually I do not read my textbooks in Germany- and some courses really stressed me in the first 3 weeks. But you can adapt to that and learn to live with it. The thing that stressed me most was the "moving in" stress. Do I have all my documents? Do I have enough money? What is when the immigration officer says you are not allowed to enter the US? I think these questions really stressed me - and to be honest, there are a lot of awful stories out there about people who got rejected. When I entered the US in Minneapolis, one student brought a copied document instead of a real document to the shelter. He was not allowed to enter, or at least he had a lot of trouble- I did not follow that since I wanted to go away as soon as possible. However, the fact that it was a copy instead of the original one that brought him trouble or a rejection was crazy for me.
   Everything else went pretty smooth and I realized that the most important thing are the people who are around you and who makes the abroad semester a unique experience or an awful one. I had luck, I met nice people, have good friends, a nice surrounding,.. I feel really good here..