Nine things I notice about you: From Germany to the U.S.

by CAROLINE PREUSS

Staff Writer

Three weeks ago, I boarded a plane in Frankfurt, Germany headed for the United States. A year abroad was about to begin. 

For months, I debated where to go—Erasmus in Spain or a university exchange in Asia?—In the end, I opted for 10 months in the U.S.

America has always been part of my life, even while in Europe: through movies, TV shows and music, the culture reached me across the ocean. Today this influence is mainly found on Instagram, YouTube and TikTok, so I had this feeling of already knowing about the country and its people. 

I took the leap and found myself in the charming little town of Fredericksburg, Virginia.

From the first few days at UMW, I realized that life here is very different from my university in Germany.

Campus Cosmos

In Germany, university is almost exclusively about studying. Here, it’s about living your entire life on campus. You don’t just move to Fredericksburg — you move to UMW. 

With around 3,800 residents, the campus is a small town of its own. Most days, there’s no need to leave campus. Food, coffee, books, sports facilities and even clothes — of course all branded with the UMW logo—can be found just outside my dorm.

Student life revolves around shared living, with classes, clubs, community activities and evenings all spent together. In Germany, students usually head home after class. Meetings happen in cafes or bars, and the university plays a smaller role in daily life.

Welcome Week Wonders

In Germany, orientation or “New Student Welcome” week means pub crawls, drinking games and getting-to-know-you activities. The drinking age is 16 years old for beer and wine, and 18 years old for hard liquor and spirits. This naturally influences the way many campus parties and student events are organized, and much of the festivities revolve around drinking off-campus. 

Choosing courses and exploring the campus is secondary. Everyone is busy meeting new people in a fun, chaotic atmosphere.

At UMW, exchange students were not offered much of an official program separate from the events created for all freshmen and transfers. We had a general orientation that gave us information about how things work at UMW, but it would have been nice to be part of a peer group that connects you with other local students. However, we adapted and joined some freshman events but quickly noticed our expectations were different. 

Most students come straight from high school and are under 21 years old, which shapes the type of events hosted for first year students. Still, Playfair and Eagle Gathering made for unforgettable experiences because they were so unique to UMW.

Eagle Pride

Community is a huge focus at UMW. Stepping on campus, you feel like you are part of a big family where everyone is proud to be an Eagle. Just like a typical American university is portrayed abroad, students here routinely wear UMW-branded apparel to class.  

It’s those small, unique quirks that give UMW its very own character, as does Sammy D. Eagle who always appears at campus events and the “Get Dirty, Go Wash” motto that’s chanted in excitement. 

There are countless activities like weekly bingo, karaoke or campus barbeques, that bring students together. Recently, I really liked the First Friday BBQ on Ball Circle that had music, good food and ice cream. 

Back home in Germany, universities are more of a place to study, and less of a place to call home. Merch is quite rare, there’s not a strong “we-feeling” across the campus and faculty mostly stick to themselves. Sadly, we don’t have a mascot either, which I think is really unfortunate.

Positive Vibes Only

Yes, it’s true: Americans are friendly. 

Every day, someone wishes me a great day. People are curious, they ask questions like where I’m from and how I’m enjoying UMW and the U.S. so far. The encounters are often surface-level, but the friendliness is heartwarming.

In Germany, people are much more reserved and are usually more direct. When I go back, I’ll miss the little celebrations of effort, like clapping in class when someone does well, the openness and the encouragement.

Workload is Real

The workload in the U.S. is definitely higher than in Germany. Homework, regular exams and class participation are expected. Students are expected to stay on top of assignments, prepare in advance and balance clubs, volunteering or whatever other extracurricular they are part of. Every day here is packed.

In Germany, many students start studying seriously only two weeks before exams. Participation in clubs or sports is much less common, usually limited to a few sport classes that are incorporated into standard curriculum.

Sports Make the Spirit 

Sports aren’t just extracurricular here—they shape campus life. Even as a Division III school, athletes enjoy prestige, wear team gear proudly and draw crowds to games. Supporting the Eagles is part of daily life. This is why I’m excited to try out some different sport clubs, including tennis, badminton or UMW Girl Gains.

In Germany, universities don’t have official teams. Gyms and fitness classes exist, but athletic culture isn’t as prominent. Professional support is limited unless you attend a specialized sports university. Whereas at UMW, workout classes are offered at the campus gym and there are several clubs and organizations focused solely on getting students active.

Young and Ambitious

At my German university, I was the same age as my classmates, but at 23 years old, I feel noticeably older here. At home, students graduate after 12 or 13 years of school and it’s common to take a gap year, travel or simply take more time before starting university.

In the U.S., most students go directly to university after high school. They seem motivated, get involved in clubs and community projects and contribute to campus life nearly immediately. This makes the campus feel young and dynamic comparatively.

Four Wheels to Freedom

Without a car, you’re stuck. Since it doesn’t make sense to buy my own car because I’m only in the U.S. for 10 months, grocery shopping often requires calling an Uber. Daily life revolves around cars, with drive-thrus and parking lots everywhere. Even though the Eagle Express and Fredericksburg bus system exists, it doesn’t give you much flexibility to explore things outside of a limited range.

Public transport is limited compared to that in Europe. You can get almost anywhere by bus, train or walking. As a European, I really need my daily walks and miss pedestrian-friendly streets where people can simply stroll and meet up. Everything seems to revolve around traffic and stoplights here.

Money Talks

Being a student in the U.S. is expensive. Tuition, housing and a meal plan is mandatory for nearly all freshmen. Daily expenses unrelated to academics are high too. I saw toilet paper for over $20, which blew my mind. I know that education in the U.S. is a privilege, but I’m still surprised by the costs, especially compared to European prices. A semester at the most expensive public university costs around $460. Housing is more affordable, and students can live on a budget with cafeteria food for €2.

Living and studying at UMW has already encouraged me to see things differently, and that’s exactly the point of studying abroad: to gain a new point of view and broaden your own world. I can’t wait to see what else UMW has in store.