Guide to life abroad in Germany with specific reference to Marburg and the Philipps-University
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Arrival in MarburgHow to get there by public transport: Upon your arrival at the train station ("Hauptbahnhof") please take the bus (1, 2, 3, 6, 7 or C) to the destination “Rudolphsplatz”. The bus stop is located on the right hand side of the train station`s main exit , about 100 metres ahead. Get off at “Rudolphsplatz”. From the bus stop “Rudolphsplatz” walk back a few steps (past the cinema “Capitol”), cross the small street, also called “Biegenstrasse” and find the main entrance of the university administration building, Biegenstrasse 10. If you wish, you could also hail a taxi for around 2/3 Euro. A taxi service is located to the left of the train station. When you exit the train station, turn right and very soon you will see the sign for the service. Make sure you are clear as to your destination. …………………………………………………………………………………………….. If you arrive before the first day, you will end up having to stay in a youth hostel. With minimal to no knowledge of the city, the youth hostel is not easy to find and will be a hassle to move all of your things not only there, but then to your dormitory in a few days. If you wish to arrive before the start date, more information regarding youth hostels in Germany can be found at http://www.jugendherberge.de/de/. Once you begin orientation, you will all gather in the Mensa (student cafeteria) to begin filling out paperwork. This will be the majority of your work for the first week/ first two weeks. Although the aids assist you in filling everything out, it is your responsibility to go to the Stadtbüro (Marburg’s administrative office) and obtain your visa. Be aware that there is a fee of 50 Euro processing fee (as of October 2005). You will also have to register your health insurance with the German government to receive official certification of coverage. An example of what the certification looks like can be found in the attachments ( ). One essential process that the orientation will direct is that of obtaining a bank account. You will go as a group to the local bank (Marburger Bank) and will set up an account. After these three things are taken care of, you will be led to the university’s administrative building where you will conduct your official Anmeldung (registration) and obtain your official Studentenausweis (student identification certificate.) This you will need to keep with you at all times in case authorities need to check your identification (especially when riding the bus or train.) This Studentenausweis will also be your semester pass for taking the train in the greater Hessen area (from Kassel in northern Hessen to Frankfurt/Wiesbaden in southern Hessen.) One of the last important steps to establishing yourself in Marburg will be obtaining a valid bus pass. You won’t be able to purchase your semester pass until about a week before the semester begins, therefore you will have to buy a temporary one for the beginning of your stay. This bus pass is available at the Marburg Public Transport Office (9) There will be other paperwork to fill out, but these will be the most essential and critical to your stay in Marburg. Unfortunately, along with leaving you pretty much on your own in locating these places and processing your paperwork, the orientation program does little to familiarize you with the university campus and greater Marburg area. Since the university is spread out throughout the city, you will end up having to discover the various buildings on your own. This will be especially tricky during your first days of class (I stumbled upon a mathematics course when I was looking for my literature course.) One of the most important buildings during your stay will be the Savigny House (10) Here on the fourth floor you will find the computer lab. Make sure you have the proper paperwork (especially and mainly your Studentenausweis) prepared so that you can be entered into the system and procure a user name and password. It will be a few weeks before you get your student id, so until then, you will have to use the computers at one of the internet cafes (7). One of the cheapest ones is located just across the street from the Mensa and Mediamarkt. The other area that the orientation program covers is an excursion downtown to familiarize students with the local grocery stores. Foreign students do this in conjunction with an international cuisine night, wherein students from different countries prepare a native dish of their choice. For the optional intensive language course, students will begin by taking a placement test to determine their proficiency in German. From here, students are organized into levels A through E, A students having the least amount of knowledge in German and E the most extensive. Try to get to know and get along with the other students in your group, as you will be seeing them every week day for the next month or so. There will be students in your level from all over the world, though most will probably be from other European countries. The language course meets for 4/5 hours a day and covers a wide array of topics, including culture, grammar, politics and vocabulary building. Here you will get the opportunity to actively use and improve your German, though I felt that more incorporation of native speakers during the language course could have helped. In this case, the university offers the possibility of pairing up with a native German speaker (university student) to help you with your German skills (Tandem partner). You spend one hour conversing in and improving your German, then another conversing in English and improving your partner’s skills. The form for this arrangement will be provided during the course. One activity in the course will give you the opportunity to go on a scavenger hunt to help familiarize yourself with the city. Another excursion will take you to see the historical city of Fulda and bring you to the Hessen/Thüringen border, where you will see and experience Cold War German history. The course will conclude with a short essay and Referat, or, presentation. For our presentation, we were asked to choose a book of our choice and tell the class about it. After this, unless you require a grade for the course, you will receive your Schein (certificate) that provides documentation for the completion of the course. Towards the end of your language course you will want to begin looking online to see what courses will be available for the semester. Courses first appear online only a week or so before the beginning of the semester, so use your week off wisely to figure out which ones you want to take. There will be German courses offered specifically for international students. I would highly recommend taking these courses, but make sure that your German skills are developed enough before enrolling. Otherwise, course choices are limitless. You can attend whatever classes you like, but remember that these are designed for native German speakers, so it may be somewhat difficult to keep up. Make sure to let the professor know in the first days that you would like a Schein for the course, so that if it is a Vorlesung (lecture), the professor can devise a test for you. Most likely this final test will be orally given. If you intend on taking a foreign language course in Germany, you will have to complete a placement exam in that language. I did this for a Spanish course and it was not terribly difficult. Again though, the placement test I took was oral, not written. One great difference between German universities and American universities is that you do not register for your classes online. You simply show up the first day and sign off on a sheet. This whole process will feel very haphazard, but once you have located and attended your classes for the first few weeks, it will start to feel more established. As an American student, in the course of the semester it will not seem as though there is much to do. Most classes at a German university determine a grade or completion of the course only by a final exam. For exchange students, most if not all of these exams will be oral.
Establishing a social network in Germany was a very difficult process for me. The first and most appealing option when you arrive is befriending other American and or English-speaking students. International students from various countries formed groups of friends with fellow countrymen. Adapting to a new culture and language can be scary, and adjusting to your new surroundings will be easier when the experience is shared with others. You’re away from family and friends and this is certainly normal. Remember though, if you are serious about immersion, you have to branch out and make friends with German students. This can be difficult because it is solely your responsibility to do so. If you don’t feel like speaking German, beyond the classroom and a phrase here and there, you really won’t have to. One of the best places to meet Germans is within the dormitories. Although they are almost a minority on some floors, they will be your best chance for establishing new friendships. The general observation about Germans is that they are slow to warm up to you, but once you’ve formed a bond, they are very loyal friends. This was certainly my experience. Another place to meet Germans is in the classroom, though if you are attending a lecture, this will probably prove more difficult. Finally, the most common way to make friends in Germany is through friends. Once you make a German friend, you will be introduced to his/her friends. After spending time together on several occasions, if you get along, you will have made a new friend. One big difference between American and German culture is that of the bar scene. Germans find it strange and sometimes offensive to suddenly come up to a stranger and attempt a conversation. Though this situation is a bit more flexible in larger cities, the rule certainly applies in smaller places like Marburg. Some of my most cherished memories in Germany come from the time I spent with my German friends. Two friends of mine made me a cake from scratch for my birthday. Other friends of mine took me to visit their hometowns in Wiesbaden and Kassel, introduced me to their families, and invited me along on excursions to the Christmas market and parties in the city. As far as the nightlife goes in Marburg, it mostly consists of bars and small parties. Buses are available until midnight, but after that you will have to call a taxi or simply walk home. Taxis are relatively cheap (a few Euro) and reliable. If you want to dance, be ready to make a trip to Frankfurt. Most establishments are exclusively places to drink. Party events are held on a weekly basis, along with all kinds of entertainment. Flyers for these events are usually posted everywhere around the university and will keep you well-informed as to what’s happening. Closing time may be 2/2:30 or later, depending on attendance and what kind of event is being held. Beer is definitely the cheapest drink and the most popular (2/3 Euro.) Some of the largest events during the year include Oktoberfest, Weihnachtsmarkt, and Karnival. I would highly recommend partaking in all of them. Certain cities in Germany are renowned for their festivities during these holidays. Although Munich is world-famous for its Oktoberfest, I found the one in Marburg to be extremely enjoyable and much cheaper. It may be worth it to avoid the crowds and long lines, in addition to saving a pretty penny. Concerning the Weihnachtsmarkt, I would recommend traveling to a larger city to experience it. Nuremburg is probably most famous in Germany for its Christmas market, but Frankfurt has an excellent one as well. The trip to Frankfurt is only an hour away and free of charge. Along with the many shops and beautiful scenery, you will find a plethora of specialty drinks and foods normally only offered during the Christmas season. For Karnival, or Mardi Gras, Cologne is renowned for its pre-Lenten festivities. Unfortunately I only had the opportunity to hear about it from other Germans. Here I should take the opportunity to mention dining options as well. Though there are restaurants in Marburg, they vary much from their American counterparts. For one, many will feature mainly traditional German cuisine. There are other restaurants that feature foreign foods, but they are few in number (this applies to smaller cities like Marburg, not larger ones such as Frankfurt.) If you’re looking for fast food, you will find it in one of the many individually owned Turkish Döner shops. Here you will taste one of the most, in my opinion, delightful and amazing foods ever. The Döner is somewhat like a gyro in concept, but is different at the same time. Pita bread is grilled and then filled with freshly-shaven slices of lamb or chicken, your choice. Afterward, you select what “salad” toppings you want on it (tomatoes, cabbage, onion, etc.) Finally, the Döner is completed with either yogurt or garlic sauce and accompanied by some pepperoncini (peppers.) This is overwhelmingly the most common and most popular fast food among German students. In addition to various types of Turkish food, you may also order such popular German items as Wurst and Schnitzel. American options include hamburgers and fries, which the Germans invoke in French as Pommes Frites. During the winter you will also be able to get a hot cup of Glüwein from these fast food restaurants. This is the most typical German Christmas drink which is basically a spiced wine. You can get coffee from here as well, but a trip to the Italian Café (19) across from the Cineplex or a cup from the local Tchibo (19) (a German chain coffee shop) will be much more rewarding. At the Italian Café, you can even sample some scrumptious Gelato (Italian ice cream.) It may not be German, but it’s still European! If all else fails, there’s a McDonald’s right next to the main computer lab. Chapter 6: Cultural Differences: What You May or May Not Know As I already mentioned in the previous chapter, Germans may be difficult to get to know, but when you befriend them, they are considerate and loyal. One observation you may make throughout your stay in Germany is that people are very obedient to the law. Litter is hard to find as responsible Germans utilize the garbage cans posted throughout the city consistently. While in some respects this strong obedience to the law can be beneficial, at other times it will seem strange or even overdramatic to the average American. Examples of this from my experience include being yelled at for putting my feet up in an empty seat while riding the train and being ejected from a building when it was freezing cold because I was not a customer. This cold attitude may be perceived as well when you look for help at a store or in a more administrative setting. You most likely will either be directed to someone else or simply be told that the person cannot help you, or maybe even that it is not their problem. Bureaucracy is higher and usually more complicated in Germany. A more socialist system assures job security, yet often seemingly allows workers to become complacent and creates an indifferent attitude toward customers. One important skill to learn when in Germany is the ability to argue. If you speak up when somebody is turning you away or doing an injustice to you, most likely they will be so shocked that they will end up helping you. I was timid at first because of my language skills, but as the months progressed, I learned that this was sometimes the only way you could get anybody to help you or do something for you. This was a piece of advice that several of my German friends gave me as well. When I needed to see a doctor, I went with a friend of mine. The secretary did not recognize my insurance and attempted to turn me away, but when my friend insisted it was valid and demanded to see the doctor, we were able to get help. Some other common cultural differences include Germans’ strong political and environmental awareness. Politics is a common topic of discussion among Germans and in general people are much more aware of their country’s politics than Americans. The presidential election of 2005 took place when I was in Germany and there was a strong voter turn out. Don’t be surprised to see political flyers posted throughout the city and even billboards advertising local and regional politicians. Lastly, smoking is very common in Germany. Before I came to Germany I knew of the French stereotype penchant for smoking, but I did not know how widespread it was in Germany. There are cigarette vending machines throughout the city and inside many bars. Several common areas where smoking is forbidden in the US are considered permissible grounds in Germany. Things are changing in Germany as well these days and now cigarette packs contain loud, bold messages declaring that smoking kills, etc. This, however, does not seem to have done much as of yet to deter people. I mention this not as a critique, only an observation.
The next important step is to notify your dormitory director Wirtschafter(in) of your impending departure. You will then set up an appointment for the two of you to meet and for him/her to formally check you out of your room. Be sure that this date is clear and agreed upon. My director and I established an appointment only for her to go on vacation days before I finished the semester. I would advise confirming the appointment even a day or two beforehand to avoid the difficult circumstances I found myself in. As well, you will be assessed a 25 Euro fee for the cleaning of the room. Do not attempt to clean the room yourself in an effort to save money. I did this only to be informed that I had not done a sufficient job and the room would need to be re-cleaned (I spent a whole day and money on cleaning materials in an effort to avoid this fee.) Once you have obtained the check out form from him/her, you will take that form to the Studentenwerk in the highest floor of the Mensa (Cafeteria) building. At first you will have to go to the financial office (where you make your last two months rent payments) for processing and reimbursement of the Kaution (security deposit) you had to pay at the start of your stay (around 150 to 200 Euros.) Go money! Then you will proceed to go to the main office, down the hall, to finalize your Kündigung or notice of termination. Remember that you will have to notify the city authorities of your departure vis-à-vis an Abmeldung or “deregistration” at the Stadtbüro and an Exmatrikulation (also another form of deregistration, but from the university) at the same office where you completed your official registration with the university and received your student identification certificate. You may also be able to exmatriculate in the Auslandsamt while having your transcript processed. Now you’re almost done. The final formal procedure to complete before leaving is the procurement of all your certificates. Once you’ve achieved this, you must head to the Auslandsamt (3) (international student office) to have your transcripts sent to your university back home. Know that you must do this in order to receive credit back at your home university. I at first believed that my certificates would suffice until I received an email only days before my departure notifying me that I had to stop by the international office and display my Scheine so I could have transcripts made. Without the office seeing these transcripts, they will have no official proof/documentation whereby they can create transcripts. Make sure all your certificates have the appropriate professor’s signature AND the official university stamp. Without either of these they are invalid. These will both happen automatically when you receive the certificate from your professor. He/She will sign it, stamp it and hand it over to you. Finally, keep in mind that like many official offices in Germany, their hours of operation are irregular and often few. One day I was informed by a worker that I could come in the next day in the afternoon to have my transcript processed, and then when I arrived, I was informed that the worker who performs that process was gone for the day and I would not be helped until tomorrow. When you have completed all of this, pack your bags and say your good-byes, you’re on your way back home. If you’re not quite ready to leave yet and have some spare change, now might be a good time to do some traveling.
1. Main train station. This is where you’ll be when you first arrive in Marburg and will be your means of traveling outside of Marburg. 2. University building in which German classes for international students are taught. Other liberal arts classes are taught here as well, such the Medieval German Literature course I took. 3. Administration building. The International Office, or Auslandsamt, is located here. At the beginning of the semester you will perform your student registration, matriculation, after you have registered with the city and received your student visa. This is also where you will deregister, Exmatrikulation, from the university at the end of your semester or year. Here in the Auslandsamt you will obtain your transcripts. 4. University building for the foreign language departments. Your German professor’s office is here. If you take courses in any other foreign language, many are held in this building. There is a computer lab here, though it is only open until 5 p.m. 5. Student Cafeteria (Mensa) Your orientation will take place here. On the top floor you will find the Studentenwerk. This office deals with all aspects of student living. Dorm rent payments are made here. When the semester/ year is over, you will complete dormitory deregistration here and receive your security deposit money. 6. Mediamarkt on the upper floor and Tegut on the lower floor. At Mediamarkt you can pretty much find anything you would find at a Best Buy or Circuit City in the US. This is where you can purchase a cheap pre-pay cell phone. Tegut is a German chain grocery store with moderate prices. Their prices are slightly higher than those of the other chain grocery stores Lidl and Aldi’s, but you will find a wider array of goods and produce that I found to be of higher quality. There is also a hair salon on the lower floor with reasonable prices. 7. One of the many internet cafes to be found in Marburg, though this is probably one of the cheapest. In addition, there are international payphones there. In your first days in Germany, this will be the best way to make contact with friends and relatives back at home. 8. This is the main cinema in Marburg. Though some months behind movie releases in the States (I assume for the time it takes to translate an entire movie,) this theater offers a large selection of films to see and has top quality facilities. They also publish a brochure every two weeks that lists the new movies and their show times. Almost all films are shown in German; though on the occasion they have a “language original” movie. When the new Harry Potter movie came out, they had showings both in German and in English. 9. This is the Marburg office for transportation (Stadtwerke). Here you will purchase a temporary bus pass at the beginning of your semester and as the semester approaches you will then buy your semester ticket. 10. Here is the Savigny House. Though this building is mainly concerned with those studying law, the main computer lab is located on the fourth floor. This is where you will register for computer use after you have completed your Matrikulation. Remember that the computer lab is only open until 9 p.m., so don’t count on staying any longer! 11. This is the “downtown” Tegut, as I like to call it. I found that they have a larger selection here than the Tegut under Mediamarkt, but I never really ascertained whether or not that was true. For the most part it’s a bit more convenient because it’s right next to the other grocery stores, Lidl and Aldi’s. 12. Here is the T-Com (Deutsche Telecom) store. If you are interested in wireless internet for your laptop, these are the guys to do it. Beware though that the process of getting internet through them may be arduous, tedious and long-lasting. You could get lucky, however, and have it within a few weeks. I knew people who had both results, though more experienced the former. 13. Aldi’s grocery store. Super cheap prices, but not a large selection. 14. Mall area. You will find stores for shopping on the upper floor and Lidl on the lower floor (grocery shopping.) If you take the elevator on the upper floor you will reach the office that will give you your health insurance confirmation (Versicherungsbescheinigung). As well, there is a store on the lower floor next to Lidl where you can purchase cheap kitchenware, along with other necessities. Across from this building is an H&M (popular European clothing store with good prices) and between the H&M and the mall is a path leading up to the Altstadt or historical district. Continuing up this way will lead you to the castle! 15. Marburg Castle (Marburger Schloss). There is a beautiful view of the city from here. The castle itself has been turned into a museum, and for a small fee you can explore it on your own. 16. University Library. There is a computer lab here, and a large one at that. 17. If you elect to partake in the pre-semester intensive language course (Sprachkurs), your classes will be held here. The language lab (Sprachenzentrum) is also located here, so if you decide you want to learn another foreign language while in Germany, you can do it here. Languages offered are French, English, Spanish, Italian, Russian and Chinese (at the time I was there.) You can also continue to work on your German here during the semester if you wish. 18. Here is a small alcove filled with restaurants. You can find Chinese, Pizza and Mexican here. The most important building here for me was the Italian café. They have the best coffee I have ever tasted and Gelato to die for. If you’re looking for something quicker, Tchibo brews a good cup. Don’t be shocked by the size though. Portions are normally smaller in European countries. As well, you can find a reasonably priced Döner shop here. 19. Another Lidl, down the street from the main train station. Frankfurt International Airport 
Marburg Intensive German Program 
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