I studied abroad for one year at the university located in southern Germany, University of Karlsruhe Applied Sciences (HKA). The differences between Germany and Japan are not only the language, but also the food culture (e.g., Kaltes Essen), party culture, fairytale-like European buildings, strikes on railways, the way how doors and windows are opened, wild squirrels and white horses pulling cool black coaches, etc. All of these are quite different from the Japanese environment I'm used to. It is a completely different world for me, no joking. From here is a short blog of my life in Germany.

Life in Karlsruhe:

Karlsruhe is a city which has full of students, so finding cheap apartment in Karlsruhe is not easy. The Karlsruhe Schloss (Castle) is near the city center, surrounded by nature, which is perfect for walking and doing some sports. In the summer, many Germans come here to enjoy going outside. For example, barbecues, sunbathing, and volleyball. There is also the main street, called Europa Platz, where you can buy daily consumes, clothes, and electrical appliances. And there's a nature park, which is perfect for relaxation just 20-minutes by bike away from the city center. In winter, due to the cold weather and less daylight, few people come to the park. Parties and interesting events are also organized often in summer, so study abroad during summer semester is recommended! Winter is another fun time to visit the Christmas markets around Europe, though.

What languages are spoken there?:

English is often spoken in many tourist areas, but still German is the first language, and it will be beneficial to live in Germany for a long time if you can communicate in German for simple conversations. However, if people you talk to switch from German to English after a couple of conversations, it is not recommended to try to continue the conversation in German. Because, while your attitude of learning a foreign language is wonderful, language is just a communication tool for their sense, and the smoother the conversation goes, the less stressful it will be for them. In this case, use the language you're used to in order to avoid misunderstandings, depending on the person you are talking to and the situation.

How I learned German:

HKA offers German classes in intensive or semester-long courses, so I took advantage of these. In the courses, you should buy the designated books at most of bookstores in Karlsruhe or online and enjoy studying German with other students. The courses take a long time to complete, they vary in two weeks to six months, but with YouTube and ChatGPT it is possible to study German efficiently in a short time, even if you don't have books with you. I mainly use online English-German dictionaries and ChatGPT, and they really helped me understand German. I often use the dictionary to look up the meanings of words and ask questions on ChatGPT for minor nuances.

Finally:

One thing that has certainly changed in me after studying abroad in Germany is the change in my values about learning a new language. Before my study abroad, I honestly had the idea that if I went abroad, I would be content to communicate only in English. However, the European region is amazing, and there are people who speak three or more languages in addition to their mother tongue. They are also willing to learn other languages. Actually, people around me were learning with Dualingo every day. I got influenced by this environment, and in the process of learning German with my friends, I gradually became interested in languages other than English, and even languages other than German. Europe was really fun to travel around, but more importantly this change is definitely a big change for my future life!

I would like to thank all the people who supported me during this study abroad program.