Germany: Great history, great people, great learning experiences Past Review
By Marie S (pastoral counseling, Marymount University) for
Marymount University: Traveling - Counseling Deployed Military and their Families, Germany
It was definitely worthwhile- It was one of the best ways imaginable to get insight into how counselors and other helpers work with military abroad. I learned valuable information that will aid me in deciding whether I will work with the military or not. Going to the ACA conference was valuable in that I encountered counselors with different types of training, such as hypnotism, and felt pride in presenting my research. I also fulfilled my dream of traveling to Germany, and loved the historic sites and beauty of the area.
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 0-2 weeks |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
I felt that the workload for the class and expectations were very reasonable. I learned a great deal about counseling for the military, and I was happy to get exposure to how ACA conferences operate. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
The hotel was clean, comfortable, and attractive, and situated within walking distance of restaurants, shopping, and interesting sites. It was very convenient to stay in the hotel in which the conference was held. Sometimes the hotel was a little too warm inside for me, so I got pretty hot. I'd advise packing some t-shirts just for being inside the hotel. |
| * Food: |
The hotel provided a large breakfast buffet with delicious meats and cheeses, and the restaurants we went to had good food in ample portions. Schmidt's was a restaurant very close to the hotel with good food and drinks. I would advise drinking plenty of water whenever possible and carrying large water bottles--the restaurants in Germany do not offer tap water and do not offer free refills on beverages, so it's easy to feel dehydrated. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
The castle in Heidelberg offered spectacular views of the city, and the short cruise we took in the morning was relaxing and offered good views as well. Going to the catacombs at the Speyer cathedral was a mind-blowing experience, in my opinion. I also highly enjoyed the town of Rothenberg, which had fabulous places to shop for souvenirs and beautiful architecture and towers. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
I felt much safer in Wiesloch and the other German cities than I do in the DC area. It was quite refreshing to feel at ease! I did have a cold early in the trip, and although I didn't go to the doctor, I did purchase medicine at the pharmacy. I thought the costs were reasonable and the person at the counter seemed to know what I needed. I would recommend learning the German words for common medicines, such as cough syrup or aspirin, just in case you get sick. |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
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Finances
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* Money: How easily were you able to live on a student's budget?
(1 = not very easy/$200+ on food & personal expenses/week, 2.5 = $100/week, 5 = very easily/minimal cost) |
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Other Program Information
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* Where did you live?
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* Who did you live with?
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A Look Back
| * What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? | I would advise having a "go with the flow" mentality during the trips taken during free time. Unfortunately, there's no way to see everything, but what you will see is very impressive, so don't pressure yourself to overplan or fit too much in. Also, make sure you represent yourself well in front of the counselors and at the ACA conference, since these are connections that may help you in the future. The student who would most benefit from this program is both responsible and also likes to have fun. You will especially like the program if you are impressed by history. |
