Servus! My name is Jaiden, and I am studying for 6 months in Munich, Germany, as part of the UAS7 Exchange. I will be attending the Munich University of Applied Sciences (HM) for Computer Science during the winter semester.
As I lay down to sleep the night before my trip to Munich, I felt overwhelmed by fear. The thought of leaving my family, my friends, and about half of my wardrobe behind weighed on me that night, and I didn’t know how I could do this. As I boarded my final flight across the Atlantic, scanning my passport and acquainting myself with my seat neighbors, that weight started to lift off my shoulders. Instead of fear, I found myself excited. This experience would be a golden opportunity to extend my horizons, to reinvent myself in ways I could have never imagined before. Sleep did not find me on that long transatlantic flight, replaced by swirling thoughts of the coming days and all the new experiences that would follow.
The negative emotions associated with leaving home are perfectly normal and nothing to be ashamed of. Being far away from the people you have grown to love can be difficult, but as I have learned, there is no shortage of friendly people around the world. Whether among fellow students, passengers on trains, or bystanders on the street, people bloom into friends with just a simple smile and some pleasant conversation.
The sense of connection I felt with people here started even before I moved into my apartment. I was fortunate enough to be placed in student housing for my time here in Munich, and I’ve already learned so much just from meeting other students while picking up our keys. Living alongside neighbors in the same situation as I am means I am constantly learning, not just in the classroom, but about cultures both in and outside of Germany.
While the educational aspect of an experience abroad is certainly important, I find myself focusing more on the interpersonal relationships and perspectives I can gain by being here. One of my main goals is to push past my American worldview and see things from a different perspective. That shift isn’t just personal either; it’s something I know will influence my professional growth. By continuing my studies here and observing people’s attitudes towards and interactions with technology outside of America, I’ll be better prepared to create software that meets the needs of users around the globe, not just those back home.