It was a great privilege to guide and observe this squad of twenty-two students as they approached experiential learning in the city of Berlin. The Norwich tenets of “I will try,” and learning by doing were exemplified by the group throughout the three weeks. June 4 marked the departure day for roughly half of the people involved in this course; others ran out the apartment leases and continued their German adventures through June 8. As the last students make their way home for their next summer adventures, it seems fitting to share one last post and say auf Wiedersehen to Germany and the supportive readers who have followed our journey.
So long, farewell, auf Wiedersehen, good night I hate to go and leave this pretty sight…
As I
think about my experience in Germany with this great group of students, it is challenging to write a meaningful, grand summary of the experience. Perhaps the best
way to provide insight to the readers and impart some of the many things
learned and accomplished throughout this trip is by sharing a few short
stories.
This trip marked a number of firsts for students in the
group. For some it was their first time in another country; for others it was their
first time flying unaccompanied; for many it was their first time planning meals
for a week, and shopping for groceries while balancing a budget. It was fascinating
to see how the group approached this challenge—initially with questions and
incredulity, but eventually with ease. Even more interesting was the number of students who wrote about meal planning / grocery shopping and other aspects of
the trip as “being an adult” tasks.
Frittata -- Prof.'s tip for how to turn grocery leftovers into a meal for any time of the day.
But not too much #Adulting...
Serenity Now!
The students were asked to reflect daily on their
experiences by writing in a journal. They were challenged to go beyond writing
an itinerary for the day and to truly contemplate their experiences and discuss
what the daily activities meant to them. Many wrote about working through feelings
of frustration and confusion or a sense of being lost only to find something
amazing. Still more contemplated what the experiences they had now would mean
for their futures and how what they learned would impact their future thinking--professorial catnip.
Reflection at the Chinese Gardens in Gärten Der Welt Berlin
,,You want me to do what? I wouldn’t walk up to random people
on the street and talk to them at home—in English.’’
"Someone" had the idea to force the students to interact with locals in a number of
creative ways and on a number of different levels, definitely the assignment that
caused the most apprehension. So the students set off to: greet everyone they
passed on the street with a “Hallo or Guten Tag,” make small talk with someone based on an object in view, ask a passerby for directions, and ask a local to
share a timeline of their daily routine.
Although it wasn't readily apparent to many of the students, through this exercise it became clear to me that the perspectives of many of the students shifted. It was wonderful to hear multiple conversations
throughout the remaining weeks where the students brought
up and referred to their interviewees by name in casual conversation. And when it came time for
final projects, two groups went to local businesses and conducted first-person
interviews related to their topics. #Things That Make You Go Hmmm
To give you a window into that experience, I share a snippet of a conversation I had with a local about her perspective on her hometown.
Local: “We’re like Texas, without the guns.”
Prof: “Why do you say that?”
Local: “Because guns are crazy in America, especially Texas.”
Prof: “No, in what ways are you like Texas?”
Local: “We know who we are, we’re proud of it, and we won’t
apologize for it. And we’re very
friendly.”
friendly.”
View from the pub where the above conversation happened.
Green or Grün
Umwelt is a German word that literally translates to
environment. When navigating the town to explore urban agriculture, the
students had the opportunity to learn from the locals the depth of meaning of
that word in the German language and the poverty of word choices we have for
umwelt in English. Students reported learning that umwelt means:
- Everything around us is alive and we have to cultivate a good relationship with everything
- What we get from the earth; how our actions affect the earth; everything we put in or on our bodies matters
- It is the natural world or environment around us, what it personally means to us, and our role as a player in that environment
Der Grüne Punkt (the Green Dot), the symbol of a network of industry-funded systems for recycling packaging materials; three separate bins for recycling glass, one for each color glass.
American in Character, Global in Perspective
Early on in the course, I encouraged the students to step-back, experience their surroundings fully, and keep an open-mind. My co-chief for this endeavor, affectionately referred to as "coach" by the students, quickly challenged the group to remember as they made their way through the city: "It's not wrong or weird, it's just different." That saying became a refrain for the group throughout many excursions and it was heartening to watch as people really embraced that spirit.
Group selfie with Coach Dawn Noyes.
Given the opportunity to explore more deeply something that inspired them in Germany, a number of interesting topics emerged
from the group. The topic list included:
- Waste management
- Street art or graffiti?
- Hydrogen as energy storage
- Airport design
- Efficiencies in everyday life
- Public transportation
- The “honor system” on public transit
- Renewable energy usage
- Berlin bicycle transportation
While any of these topics could certainly be explored in the
United States, it is important to note that in Germany, all of these topics had
a facet that surprised the students and inspired them to dig deeper, gaining a more diverse or global perspective. Next time you see one of the
students, ask her or him about these topics.
'
A "Bell" photo--a student living out one of the many Norwich-isms.
I Will Try...
Lastly, and perhaps the most telling story about the
students and their experiences in Berlin, I share the following snippets from a conversation with the students. One student commented that he had traveled to other countries, and
while in those countries he operated entirely in English, never attempted to
communicate in the local language, and was never concerned about it. In Berlin, although he couldn’t put his finger on it, he found himself trying much harder
to adapt to the local language and culture because he wanted to. He wanted to
try to navigate in German, and he wanted people to know that he was trying. After
sharing this, many in the group agreed—consensus that they collectively wanted to be and
feel a part of this place.
I can't think of a more wonderful testimonial!
The group after wrapping up a wonderful class in Trier.
Until Next Time...
It is hard to believe this kernel of an idea for a course that I had back in February 2017 has matured and come to fruition. I hope the stories shared throughout this blog have provided some insight into the thoughts and feelings or minds and hearts of those on the trip.
And so I bid thee farewell and leave you with words from a student reflection upon completing the class:
experience, what would it be?"
Student: "I would remind myself that it’s the human experience/ needs that determine if an
engineering solution is a successful one or not."
Prof: ...thinking to himself, "Yes"
So long, farewell, auf Wiedersehen, goodbye
Goodbye, goodbye, goodbye
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