Kennst du Goettingen?

[lleno_d_alegria]

Hello, deutsche_kultur community. I haven't posted here before, so excuse me if I do something wrong

Comments

*wracks brain*

[wieselkind]

Well I went on a school exchange there and its pretty good, it's nearish to Hamlin and Goslar and the Harz Mountains. It's on the Fairytale trail, the local one is the Little Goose Girl and graduates put flowers on her statue. It's not a really tiny town, nor a bustling metropolis. There is a pretty large swimming pool with both outdoor and indoor facilities. Hope this is slightly useful for you.

Re: *wracks brain*

[lleno_d_alegria]

Well, "fairytale trail" sounds pretty good. Must lead to good things! :.)

Sie helfen mir. Danke schoen.

[breakingthrunow]

Some basics you may have seen

[lleno_d_alegria]

Thank you for the links, they're great. I know how easy it can be to stay in your comfort zone and not venture outside of the people in your program. I guess another concern is that German people won't want to get to know me. I've had brief experiences with German people when I worked at a hotel, and they fascinate me. I'm afraid they won't want to get to know me though, or give me a chance, lol.

[breakingthrunow]

You're welcome. Germans can appear rather reserved and observing/detached when you first meet them -- I know because I am one. ;) Don't take it as the often-quoted "coldness". There is a split between the public and private self in Germany which is reflected quite nicely in the Sie vs du issue in our language. I only got to realize the full effect of this when I left the country and lived elsewhere -- from afar, you see your own people (and yourself) with different eyes

[lleno_d_alegria]

That's exactly one of the reasons I'm thrilled to move to Germany: I am very straightforward and find my own people (Americans) to beat around the bush constantly, and to be very two-faced in some respects. I worry, though, that as you have already warned, I might stray toward the easy route and stick with people in my program. I just hope I get to really know a German person. I'm the type who values having a few very close friends than to having a million people I call "friends," even though they're really not.

Anyway, thank you for all the insight! I will have to check out a few of those books, but I definitely will take anything I read "with a grain of Salz."

And, I am a man, but that's ok. My icons are all of women.

[moonlightgryph]

Don't stress too hard about the language. Your two years in school will give you the guidelines and framework. Once you're there you will most likely pick it up fully in no time. I went, not as a school thing, for one month after having taken only one year of High School level German. I came back mostly fluent, even thinking in German. I have a bit of a knack for picking up languages, but I think anyone in my situation would be able to do the same. It's easier than it seems. :)

Best of luck! I must admit to being a little envious. :D In all the best ways, that is.

[lleno_d_alegria]

Haha, danke schön für deine freundlichen Wörter.

[ifeelemo]

My school had an exchange with Goettingen as well, though i sadly never got to go. UCSC?

[lleno_d_alegria]

Oh, that's actually where I go. Small world!

[ifeelemo]

I knew some people that did the study abroad in Goettingen and had nothing but good things to say about it. I am sure you will have a good time as well.

As for UCSC i was a Cowell grad.

[lleno_d_alegria]

Oh, Stevenson is where it's at! Actually, Cowell is my favorite cause it has a nice mixture of normal people and pretty buildings. What have you done since graduation?

[sissi_in_wien]

Goettingen is great. It's a pleasant town, not too big but not at all tiny; I spent two months there and loved it. Lends itself to many pretty walks. It's fairly easy, too, to travel throughout Germany from there thanks to the great German train system (though they do occasionally go on strike, they did right as I was leaving, they may still be on it, but that doesn't necessarily mean you can't travel with it).

Also like everyone said, just go in there and the language thing will work itself out without your realizing it.

[lleno_d_alegria]

This was really helpful. I was wondering if mobility would be an issue. I have friends who will be in Berlin, France, Spain, and London, and want to be able to visit! I forget that Europe actually cares about good transportation. :)

[germankitty]

There's also lots of cheap flights available; just check with easyjet.com, germanair, airberlin or whichever no-frills airline serves the nearest airport (Hannover). For example, if you catch a special promo early enough, I've flown from Dortmund to London and back for under €30 with easyjet; I'm sure the other airlines have similar offers. (Just sign on for online newsletters!)

[nesaia]

Strikes in the German train system are over now. Finally. So don't worry about that. ^^
http://www.bahn.de/international/view/en/index.shtml is the official homepage , so you can look up travelling times and prices. There are also special offers, but I advise you to go to the train station in Goettingen and ask there for a real consultation as it is a bit difficult to find the best options.