Coming to Marburg

On Sunday, Feb. 22, the group left Berlin on our voyage toward our impending studies. We stopped in a city called Eisenach for the night to visit the Wartburg Schloss. We also met our peer advisor, Cornelia, who would be helping us throughout our stay in Marburg. That night we filled out necessary paperwork and were given our room keys, as well as the news that most of us would not be receiving internet from the university. We would have to find the web on our own. I will explain that later.

The next morning we were dropped unceremoniously in front of our dorms and told to meet at somewhere called “Rudolph’s Platz” for dinner. This was the basis for the first week: We were given a time and a place and expected to be there. All 21 of us scurried around Marburg with our faces glued to our maps, hoping to catch the right bus.

Tuesday, Feb. 24, we began school in various buildings in the city.

Since coming to Marburg, I have felt a whirlwind of emotions from excitement, to homesickness to just plain culture shock. In the span of a few short weeks I have been thrust into the life of a German college student, which in many ways is quite different than the typical experience one has at the University of Wisconsin- Eau Claire. In the next few entries I will explain the class I am taking, my dorm room, the cafeteria as well as my feelings toward being a student in Germany. As always, feel free to leave comments and questions.

S.N.

Image of the group and Cornelia (front row, third from the right) when we registered with the city