Rebekah Tribe is a student on the History B.A. at the University of Lincoln. During their second year Tribe travelled to Mainz, Germany for 6 months to live and study as part of the Turing programme. This post is a reflection on their time in Germany.
Ralph Weir, Senior Lecturer, Lincoln School of Humanities and Heritage
The six months I spent during my study abroad in Mainz Germany were some of the best in my time at university. So many incredible opportunities that were offered to me, not only in the city but within the region and the neighbouring countries. The city of Mainz is full of tradition; the first wines in the late summer, the breakfast markets, the Christmas market and the parades of Fastnacht. Throughout the year Mainz has something to offer its residents. My personal favourite was the breakfast market, which took place each Saturday. They served customers Mainz’s traditional white sausage and wine for breakfast after a morning spent wandering the market collecting fruit and vegetables for the week. The theatre is also great for students as they offer discounted tickets at the box office. I went to hear many incredible orchestras play in the evening, and at the intermission, they serve free wine and pretzels. Free public transport is included in the semester ticket, and the opportunity for travel is endless within the region, and Germany, and in neighbouring nations. I spent many weekends travelling to other European cities such as Berlin, Cologne and Strasbourg. And Frankfurt airport is only twenty minutes away on the train which further widens your horizons for travel.
The travel does not end when you come home. With so many people from all over the world also studying at the university of your choice you meet people from every corner of the globe. During my time in Germany I met people from Italy, Belgium, America and South Korea; not only did I learn lots of new drinking games but I also formed friendships that will allow me to visit countries I have never travelled to before. There are plenty of opportunities planned by the university that allow you to meet all the international students. For example, they have international dinner nights where people cook food from their country, there are pub crawls, day trips to nearby cities and even the chance to visit the European Parliament in France.
Outside of the university, there are many ways to meet new people, particularly local Germans in Mainz. I joined the women’s rugby club which meant I was training with the team twice a week. During the second semester, you have the opportunity to play with the team which often means travelling and seeing new cities. The team was a friendly environment that allowed me to immerse myself in the German language and culture. As the rugby community is small in Germany several members of my team were in fact players from the German national team which was an incredible opportunity for me to grow my rugby experience and knowledge. The rugby Christmas party is also an amazing night.
The university is vast and the modules they offer meant that I was able to attend classes that were outside of my bachelor’s in history. I attended classes on the ethnology of soup kitchens and politics classes on the relationship between the United States and the European Union. The university offers fascinating classes, with various ways of presenting the work that works best for how you learn. There are several libraries on campus, which are the perfect place for studying and I spent many hours tucked away among the shelves writing essays.
I took away a lot from my time in Mainz, I learnt a lot about independence and how I cope with being thrown into a new environment. But I also learnt to build healthy routines and habits, Germans prioritise a slow life and a work-life balance. I was conscious of following in their footsteps, Saturdays were for the breakfast market and exploring cafes across Mainz while Sundays were saved for taking time to relax and reset before the start of the week. Shops are closed on Sunday so you are forced to relax and spend time quietly; this is a routine I have brought back with me to the UK.
There are many holidays and traditions in Germany that take place throughout the year and these added a unique experience to my time abroad. The Christmas market was available throughout December, with the snow creating the perfect atmosphere for the Christmas build-up. The mulled wine, potato rotis and bratwurst truly taste best with snow in your hair. In February the Rhineland celebrates Fastnacht, a five-day celebration with parades, costumes and lots of sweets. Everyone in the city dresses up and watches the different parades pass through before a DJ takes over the city square outside of the cathedral. The parade in Cologne is famous for its size, taking up to several hours to pass through the city. I went with a few friends and we had the most incredible weekend, the city goes all out for the celebration with street parties taking place right out of the famed Cologne cathedral.
I would encourage anyone to consider studying abroad for a semester. The six months were some of the best in my time at university, and was an amazing way of getting my foot in the door as I plan on returning to Germany to live and work. I made memories that I will recall for a lifetime and friends that I will have forever.