Hello again, my name is Max Rimdzius and I am on the Engineering the German Way trip this May. It has now been around a week since I first arrived in Munich, and I have had a chance to really dive into my experience. Of course, this trip has already challenged me due to the time change and talking to loved ones back home. It has also been a real surprise to see how many bicycles are used here (and they do not like to yield to pedestrians!). However, both of these were expected feelings to have, and I believe that there have been opportunities to achieve my goals for this study abroad program.

Speaking from a professional perspective, I expect to grow within a cultural and networking environment. Culture has been something that I have noticed a large difference in here, since I have been exposed to a global mindset along with different communication skills. While studying at Pitt, I have not been exposed to global issues within other countries. For example, in Germany, their population is declining, and that makes learning about their engineering design very different from the United States. This made me understand that just because there is one way of viewing a problem in one country, it does not mean that it is a universal truth. Along with that, communication skills are vital to having a complete understanding of a topic. It is impossible to get a true grasp of a difficult concept without being outgoing. This was apparent in my week of courses so far, since the German students we are working with do not know everything we know and vice versa.

As for a personal growth experience, I enjoy being independent as well as being comfortable with new environments. Since I was a child, I have loved the idea of being able to do things on my own. Even though I liked being around others, I felt proud when I could do something without any help. This trip has exemplified this, since I have had to learn an entirely new routine, as well as get to a foreign country, without much help. That was not only an enjoyable experience for me, but also a boost of confidence that I could do this on my own anywhere in the world. I also enjoyed getting a sense of comfort with being in a new environment. I am very much a person of repetition and control, and learning a completely new way of life in one day was definitely a shock. Staying in a twin bed again, having to take a train to class, and being able to learn a new city are all allowing me to grow. I look forward to the next week of our study program and am excited to update you all on how my program finishes up!