I moved from the US to Germany for college. Tuition is mostly free, but I miss the American school spirit.

06.08.2024 - 10:56 / insider.com

This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Amanda Mrokez, an American student in Cologne, Germany. The following has been edited for length and clarity.

In 2021, I withdrew from Central Michigan University and moved to Germany to pursue a teaching degree at the University of Cologne.

I grew up in a small town in Michigan and had never traveled outside the US before spending a semester abroad in Germany in 2019. It was during those months thatI realized pursuing my bachelor's degree in education overseascould broadenmy career prospects after graduation. So, after attaining the C1 level in German — considered an advanced level of language proficiency— I made the move.

Three years in, there are many things I wish I had known before I moved. Some might say it's my fault for not figuring them out, but I found that there was so much to navigate when moving countries.

Participating in school culture was a big thing for me when I was in Michigan. My closet was full of Central Michigan University apparel, and everyone thought it was cool to wear hats and sweatshirts on campus. In Germany,I can't remember ever seeing a student wear a shirt that says "University of Cologne."

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I was a member of the marching and basketball bands, as well as the cheerleading team. On game days, we woke up at four in the morning to get ready, and our school spirit really came out. In Germany, however, there's nothing that compares.

The lack of school spirit might stem from the fact that we don't live together in dorms. While I live close to the university, many other students commute hours by train.

Because of this, it's been harder for me to socialize, and I find myself having less fun. Some people will say that learning is the main priority, but I learn better when I'm enjoying school life.

When I first noticed that no one really wanted to make small talk, I thought it was rude. But I learned that it's just a different culture.

In the US, it's also common to compliment people in the street. It took me a while to realize that I should stop because they might think I was lying or weird.

I like that the professors here don't monitor everything studentsdo and take attendance at every class. It's not a big deal if you miss a lesson.

I tookclasses in the US where thefinal grade would drop if more than three were missed.In Germany, studentslearn what they must study and what's best for them. Everyone can study at their own pace.

The grading system in Germany can be more stressful. In Michigan, you can do homework and essays and still get a good grade, even if you bomb the final. But at my school, at least, grades rely solelyon the final exam. Students may study hard for the entire semester — but what matters