Defining an International Experience

The 'Share Your Stories' Campaign is doing so well that we have received more than 100 stories over the past month. With so many great stories to choose from, it is quite difficult to decide which ones to feature on the blog. We very well could simply do a lottery and be guaranteed a great story to post. However, the newly submitted story by student, Lena Gallagher stood out. She is currently studying in Germany. As she wrote her story, she was experiencing it.

Participating in citizen diplomacy was an everyday event for Lena. Everyone who has studied abroad knows that the constant interaction with the native people is diplomacy at its finest. The direct contact enhances language ability and provides each involved with the opportunity to be an ambassador to their own country and people. Lena, through studying the German language and communicating with friends, was the ideal citizen diplomat. Read her story below.

The weather was finally cooling down. My paper-thin hoodie and Converses were no match for the chilly autumn wind. I had just finished class, a lovely three hour aufbaukurs, and, exhausted, finally returned home around 8 in the evening. As I made my way to my top floor WG and opened the door, my roommate Tini suddenly appeared. "Lena are you coming tonight?" she said in German. My brain was a jumble, still recovering from my class and tempted by thoughts of a late dinner and my comfy bed. "No, I don't think so, "I hesitantly responded. The conversation continued like a tag team, "I can't, I haven't eaten yet," I would say. "We have food!" she would answer. "I have homework," "bring it with!" "It's too cold," "We have blankets," and so on. After ten minutes back and forth, and a perfect picture of German thoroughness and intellectual consideration, I was persuaded to go. Despite being invited out nearly two weeks before, I had forgotten what we were even doing. So, I grabbed a coat and followed Tini downstairs, munching on cookies to counteract my impending hunger.

We met our other roommates and a group of her friends outside. One of the roommates Dodo, with a big grin, handed my a large candle on a stick. I was still confused at what we were doing, but before I could ask any questions my candle was lit. I looked around noticing about a half dozen other flames and Dodo announced, "Let's go!"

We walked towards the neighboring forest. The glow of the French Quarter slowly disappeared as we walked further. Guided by humble flashlights, we passed by the Train Car Commune (or as I later learned, Tuebingen's Alternative Living Community). The sounds of their chicken coops and guard dogs pierced the normally still night. Moments later we climbed a grass hill, still slippery with dew, until we reached the large field at the top. As we approached a tipi-shaped pile of wood, Tini yelled out in English "Remember, remember the 5th of November!"

It was then I finally remembered what we were doing. Tini had two years prior lived in the U.K. and talked about British traditions around the Gunpowder Plot. She said, "In Britain if you look to the horizon on November 5th, there are bon-fires as far as the eye can see." To celebrate, and I'm sure to relive a part of her UK experience, we built a huge blaze worthy of any California Beach-bonfire I could muster. Surrounded by Germans partaking in a British tradition, I joined in. We roasted of potatoes, made stockbrot, and sipped hard cider to keep warm. As I took the opportunity to chat in my broken German and relish in tastes of my host country, I wondered if I too would, years later, try and recapture a piece of my days abroad? And, if so, what would it look like? At that moment I realized the significance and universality of my situation. I could see not just my future in Tini, but also my common experience. It would be an international experience defined by questioning, risk, and ultimate awareness that, despite specifics, could, and did, bring people together.

The thought becomes even clearer now as I enjoy my final week here. Come Wednesday, all I will have are a few photos and memories like this to reflect on. I guess, like Tini, it will be up to me keep the experience alive and, hopefully in the process, inspire a few others to do the same.

Just to clarify:
Aufbaukurs- German Language Course

WG- It's a student apartment-like living situation. It's shared by anywhere from 5 to 12 roommates. Rooms line a common hallway and roommates share a kitchen and bathrooms.

Gunpowder Plot- It was the assassination attempt of King James I and, ultimately, to blow up the British Parliament in 1605. The terrorists were using barrels of Gunpowder, but the plot was discovered by authorities before being carried out.

Stockbrot- It's a bread kebab; you wrap raw bread dough around a stick and roast it over the fire.

"Tini" is short for Christine. She was a Medicine Student and, in the semester I lived with her, finished her exams and received her Diploma.

"Dodo" is short for Dominicus. He was a second year Masters student in Computer Science. He spent most days writing his Masters thesis and eating lots of candy.