Thursday , Se,
Penn State vs. Dresden:
Experience of a lifetime
Penn State-Behrend classroom
extends to Germany for students
by Nadine Cross
Collegian Staff
Penn Stale meets Germany—a cultural
exchange and a good time all in one.
"I think it was one of the best new
programs I have seen at Penn State,” said
Dr. Steven deHart, associate professor of
German and humanities, describing the
study abroad program in Dresden,
Germany.
The program, held this past summer,
was the first study abroad program
sponsored by a branch location of Penn
State.
According to students, the experience
was not only about learning, but fun as
Once I saw Trier, I was ready to stay for another
three weeks. The town was something out of a
fairy taie with painted buildings, cute little shops
and cafes, and Roman ruins everywhere
"It was the greatest learning experience
of my life,” stud Joe Stiller, a junior who
made the trip to Dresden. "I think
everyone who went on the trip would say
the same. I had so much fun, I would do
it again.”
member 19,1996
Students spent four weeks in Dresden
studying one of a selection of four credit
German language courses and experiencing
local culture.
To experience the culture and practice
their German, students completed everyday
tasks such as shopping and ordering food.
"The students' assignments were
designed to thrust them into everyday life
in Germany," explained deHart. "In
Addition to attending class each day, they
had to order meals, buy stamps at the post
office, use public transportation, and shop
at the grocery store. They managed to
solve, all kinds of problems and meet
many local people who were anxious to
help them along the way.”
- Rachel Capp
According to deHart, the students
blended in to the town and a favorite
activity was going to the all-night gas
stations/grocery stores since most stores
in Germany close at 6 p.m.
"Many (local people) were pleased to see
Americans trying to speak to them in their
German
Architecture
The top picture is
one of
Germany’s many
castles. The
bottom picture
contains the
Brandenburg
Tor, which is in
what used to be
East Berlin.
Features
own language," said deHart
For some students, this hand-on
learning was their favorite part.
"My favorite part of the trip is hard to
nail down," said Stiller. "However, the
most interesting part had to be actually
speaking German and having someone
understand you.”
Dresden, located in the eastern part of
Germany near the Polish/Czcchslovakian
border, had no contact with the western
world prior to the end of World War 11.
Following the war, the area went on a
tremendous buying spree of western goods
and is still going through major
reconstruction.
"There is an incredible comparison to
East and West Germany. I'm very glad we
went to Dresden," said Gretchen Kline
secretary of the German Club. "It's
absolutely incredible to see a city dark and
grey now redone-between dark buildings
you'll see the Western influence of a
yellow house with green shutters. The
comparison between the East and the West
will always be present. It has left a
lasting impression."
“It was the greatest
learning experience of
my life. I had so much
fun I’d do it again!”
TRIER, THE OLDEST CITY IN GERMANY:
This will be the destination of next year’s trip.
- Joe Stiller
WHERE’S THE TRAM?: from l-r: Fritz Hieber, Dr, Steven Dehart, Kim
Heidler, Rachel Capp, Joe Stiller, Alex Hintenoch, Gretchen Klein, Bruce
Bennett, Ginny Schwartz, Sue from Gannon, Julie Hinetenoch, and Sam
Black at Erie International before they depart for Germany
Many American institutions can be
found in Dresden. There is McDonald’s,
Burger King, Pizza Hut and Wendy's.
Tradition does remain though, a popular
local dish is red cabbage, veal and
potatoes.
Germans do drive American cars, but the
most popular cars are Mercedes Bcnzes and
BMWs—including motorcycles, dump
trucks and garbage trucks. Many citizens
walk or take public transportation.
After their stay in Dresden, the students
ventured on to Trier, built by the Romans
in 14 B.C.
"Trier claims to be the oldest city in
Germany," said deHart.
The group took a six-hour walking tour
visiting the Roman ruins.
"Qnce I saw Trier," said Rachel Capp, a
junior from Valencia, PA, "I was ready to
stay for another three weeks. The town
was something out of a fairy talc with
painted buildings, cute little shops and
cafes, and Roman ruins everywhere. To
run through passages that have been there
since the Roman Empire was
unfathomable."
Since many students expressed an
interest in returning to Germany this
summer, deHart will continue the study
abroad program.
This time, students will stay in Trier
with a three-day trip to the German capital
of Berlin.
Anyone interested in going should
contact deHart at x 6448 or attend a
meeting of the German Club.
The Division of Humanities and Social
Sciences presented "In Europe with Penn
State-Behrend" Tuesday, lead by deHart.
The program featured a movie and
discussion of the study abroad experience.
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