Packing up your life and moving to another country for a year can be a daunting and even a scary experience. However, it can also be a very exciting and fun adventure. You are about to embark on an adventure at Theologische Hochschule Friedensau (everyone simply calls it Friedensau ). Most of this adventure involves figuring out some things on your own and experiencing mishaps, but we decided to give you some helpful hints that we hope will make the start of your adventure more enjoyable and a little less stressful. Think of it as guidelines or suggestions, not set rules. Enjoy, and don't be afraid to try new things, have crazy adventures, and learn German! From, Returned ACA students who know what you will be going through
Winter clothes: Be properly prepared for German winters! There could be a lot of snow. Be sure to have shoes and clothes that are able to keep you dry and warm. Temperatures have been known to get as cold as 9 Fahrenheit. Summer clothes: You will be entering and leaving Germany at a warm time of the year. It generally gets up to 90 F during the summer. Average Low and High Temperatures in Burg, Sachsen-Anhalt, Germany ( F) January February March April May June July August September October November December 29-40 30-43 34-52 40-58 48-67 54-74 57-79 57-78 51-69 45-59 36-47 32-41 28-36 26-37 34-47 37-55 45-65 51-69 54-73 54-73 49-66 43-57 38-45 32-39 22-35 23-39 30-49 37-58 45-66 51-72 54-75 53-74 48-68 39-57 32-45 26-37 36-50 37-54 43-61 46-64 52-73 59-81 64-90 64-88 59-81 52-70 41-59 37-52 Photo by: Petar Hristov, Friedensau
Dress Code: You have the choice to wear mostly what you like at Friedensau. Bring clothes for all weather, including rain. It doesn t rain as much as Tennessee but it does rain; traveling without rain gear can make life less enjoyable. Some people like to buy all their clothes there. This is an option, but some like to save their money for travels. Sports clothes: There is a gym and workout room on campus. Bring the appropriate attire if you wish to use it. There is also a small outdoor pool that can be fun to splash around in. Some FAU students often organize trips to the rec center pool in the morning for lap swim. There is also a sauna on campus. Shoes: You might want to bring flip-flops for your dorm room and for the showers. There are showers located on each floor of the guys dorm and in the rooms of the girls dorm. Walking shoes: Extremely important. Friedensau is surrounded with fields and forests and plenty of walking areas that are beautiful and you will want to see them. Also, you will do a lot of walking on school trips and your independent travels.
Camera/journal/blog: This is going to be one of the greatest experiences of your life. Make sure you have some means of capturing it. Also, your family, sponsors, friends, and future ACA students would love to see how you spent the year. You will want to go back and remember this experience. Bible: Don t forget your Bible. It is nice to have a duallanguage Bible, but you should buy that before you go abroad. Picture taken in front of boys dorm.
Voltage converter: The electric current in Europe is different from the U.S. You must always use a converter with all your electronic devices. Europeans use 220 volts. You can buy these inexpensively on Amazon or at REI. Be sure you know the difference between converters and transformers and when you would need to use each. Telephones: Every room has a telephone where you can make on-campus calls for no charge. Additional coverage can be added for a charge. You can even use it for international calls if you want to pay for it but Skype is free. Laptops: These are not required but are acceptable in a few of the classes. Also, it s nice to just have a computer there. The university has computers in the library. There is Wi-Fi on most of the campus, including internet in the dorms. For the guys dorm you may need to buy an Ethernet cable.
Hygienic products: The best thing is to bring your own products (soap, shampoo, toothbrush, hand sanitizer, etc.). However, a bus service links Friedensau to Burg, Möckern and subsequently Magdeburg where students can shop and find most of what they need. There is also a small store on campus offering school supplies and everyday necessities. First aid kit: Never forget your medicine. Although you can find nearly everything there, it is better to bring your own medicine. If you run out, keep the box to show the local pharmacist so they can assist you with what suits you best.
Makeup and feminine hygiene products: Everything can be found in local stores, however, it might be a little more expensive, and certain brands might not be found. For those who need it, it is suggested to bring your own ethnic-specific products. Stores carrying these items are difficult to find.
Remember you are there to learn German: You can bring some English media, but remember that the more German you learn, the better experience you will have. The library offers a lot of movies in German and English. Pictures from home: Put them on your dorm room wall! Your roommates and friends will love to see what your family looks like, and the pictures will help with homesickness. Movies: Files on a portable hard drive or computer are best. ipod or MP3 player: Important for trips! Germany is pretty safe, like most of America, from random theft. However, that doesn t mean you should be careless. Devotional book in English: This keeps your spirituality accessible and separate from the frustrations of another language. Devotional book in German: This will help you connect your spirituality with German and help you learn religious words.
Internet: There is a good Wi-Fi connection anywhere on campus. The school will provide you with a guest log-in so that you will not have to wait to get connected like you had to in past years. This will suffice until your devices are connected through their IT department. Packages: You will be able to receive packages at the dorms where you will be staying. Cooking: There are kitchens in both the women s and men s residence halls. Be sure to check with the dean about the regulations. Laundry: There are laundry rooms located in each dorm. You must pay to use them. Time difference: Germany is six hours ahead of Eastern Standard Time in the U.S. Theft: There is very little risk of theft at Friedensau. However, it is always a good idea to keep your room locked when you are not there. Check your courses: Make sure you compare your courses with those of your home college and make sure that they will count for something when you get back.
Exchange Rate: There are Money Exchange booths in every airport. Make sure you double check where the lowest rate is. (London charges a lot at the currency exchange booths). ATMs often are a good idea too. http://www.xe.com/currencyconverter/convert/?amount=1&from=eur&to=usd Extra pocket money: This is always good to have, especially for taxis, busses, trains, and bathrooms. Yes, you have to pay up to 1 in some places to use public restrooms. But this means they are always clean. Money: Make sure to have cash on you. Have at least $50 and have at least 50 with you for emergencies. Once in the EU, most stores don t want your USD, and you can lose a lot of money exchanging them. It is often best practice to use an ATM to pull your money out as needed.
Passport: Make sure to have your passport with you at all times when outside of Germany. This will be used as your identification abroad, so it is extremely important that you keep it safe. In Germany, a photocopy or picture on your cellphone of your Passport is often sufficient, along with your visa. Visa: Make sure to always have your visa. Put it where your American driver s license goes. Germans are strict about who they let into their country and likewise strict about you keeping your visa with you. Credit/debit card: Before using your credit/debit card, contact your bank to inform them that you are abroad. This will help prevent inconveniences. Other important documents: Make sure you have all your papers when you arrive and when you leave Germany (passport, visa, birth certificate, etc.). During the year, make sure all documents are stored in an inconspicuous, locked area. Make and keep copies of all important documents.
Sleeping bags: These may be useful to have when you are traveling independently or staying at a youth hostel. Emergency clothes: Pack a couple days worth of clothes in your carry-on bag in case your luggage gets lost. Bring snacks: These will be useful for traveling. However, once you get on campus, finding snacks should not be a problem. Daypack and a backpack: Bring a daypack for when you go to town and a backpack for weekend trips. It is nice to bring the daypack with you into town because you have to pay for bags/carts when you are shopping, so bringing bags can be helpful to avoid the extra costs.
Bedding Pillows (but some say they are a little different; they are less fluffy) Towels A few hair dryers (it s better to have a European one for the power grid)
Be nice. When needing to talk to advisors, teachers or even peers at the school, it is more likely that they will help if you are nice first. Outside of school, try not to argue with vendors; just smile, disconnect eye contact, and keep walking if you are not interested in their merchandise. Be frugal. Everyone's financial situation is different, but the more money you can hang on to, the more confident you will be when traveling. Always try to find good deals and live cheaply. Occasionally, it is fun to splurge on a nice dinner, show or clothing item. Talk to people. One of the best ways to learn about the local culture is by chatting with people in town, or in markets. They will have plenty of questions to ask you, too. Photo by: Petar Hristov, Friedensau