My first cultural experiences

After 4 weeks, it’s time to look back at my start at Samford University in Birmingham, Alabama.

The first shock I had was right after I landed, because I landed without my luggage, which came later that night. On the way to the campus, I was really impressed by how huge everything was especially the food portions and the highways.

I was kind of disappointed at first because there were just a few freshmen students there. But right after my classes began, I made so many new friends. You cannot not make friends here on campus. Everybody’s just so nice and lovely to you and they’re all very interested in getting to know some German words or something about European culture. A lot of Samford students have never actually left the country, so they mostly hung on my words while I talked about home.

Before I got here, I actually hadn’t thought about spending half a year in the “Bible Belt”, which is most likely the most conservative region of the States. That was my second shock. Most of the people are very Christian, which is not the same “Christianity” I belong to. The majority goes to church every Sunday, doesn’t date anybody with whom they couldn’t imagine marrying and when I first heard about their way of praying, which is so dramatic, I thought it was kind of a show – but it’s real. You get used to it and after a few weeks, you see it as normal.

I really hope I don’t get fat here. With my scholarship, which covers tuition fees and residence, I can have 12 meals during the week at the “caf” You can’t eat healthily in America – you can eat fast food or salad. Healthy stuff is really expensive. But you can also go to the gym on campus which is free for Samford students. Also, if you order, for example, a small coke at a restaurant, you’ll get a cup which is almost inconceivable of what your ideas about a “small” drink are. Everything is big. Big, Bigger, America!!!

I already took my first trip after 2 weeks of being here. I went to Orlando, Florida to see a huge American football game and to go to Disney World! This brought out the little child in me… But it was so awesome! Florida is one of the hottest spots I’ve ever been to!

Studying in the United States is totally different than in Germany. After the first weeks I can say that I can’t relax here or just hang out and have a great time. If you take a class, it could be 2 or 3 times a week. You must have 12 credit points because of your VISA, so I have 4 classes now.

Also, you have to do homework!!! Next shock! And tests, quizzes, research papers, oral presentations, assignments…. during the semester! And of course there is a final exam… But I think I can learn so much here and I can’t complain myself because the American students pay about $20,000 tuition fee per year and I don’t have to pay anything. They don’t have anything like “moopaed” so you have to buy the textbooks which are quite expensive, but it’s the only thing I had to pay by myself. So stop complaining about the €500 tuition in Germany!

It’s not so much of a party semester than I thought it would be because most of the students aren’t 21 (legal drinking age) and alcohol isn’t allowed on campus (Yes, we are a Christian school.) But you just have to know the right people.

I love being here at Samford! Everybody’s so nice to me and I already made plans of coming next summer again and visiting my new friends! It is so worth the expenditure! Guys, you have to apply! You will love it!
Elisa,
Samford Student 2009