German Students Association

This is an ordinary story about an ordinary exchange student from Germany. Let's call him Ulrich Wörz, and let's say he is majoring in mechanical engineering. Bored of studying at the same place for three years, he wanted to try somewhere else. After some investigation, he discovered the Oregon- Baden Württemberg exchange program, which sounded good so he applied. Thank God that the University of Stuttgart, where he studied, took part in the program. The only requirements were filling out several hundred forms and visiting sixty-five public offices. Finally, his airplane departed on September 5, 2004. He took one last look at the sauerkraut fields before falling asleep and dreaming of a better life in the land of the free and the home of the brave. His destination was Oregon, the Promised Land. "Oregon is probably the most beautiful state in the U.S.," he thought, naturally knowing what he was talking about. He saw all the other 49 states on television.He saw all the other 49 states on television.


<<Back to Main	Destination: Oregon the Promised Land by Ulrich Wörz
	This is an ordinary story about an ordinary exchange student from Germany. Let's call him Ulrich Wörz, and let's say he is majoring in mechanical engineering. Bored of studying at the same place for three years, he wanted to try somewhere else. After some investigation, he discovered the Oregon- Baden Württemberg exchange program, which sounded good so he applied. Thank God that the University of Stuttgart, where he studied, took part in the program. The only requirements were filling out several hundred forms and visiting sixty-five public offices. Finally, his airplane departed on September 5, 2004. He took one last look at the sauerkraut fields before falling asleep and dreaming of a better life in the land of the free and the home of the brave. His destination was Oregon, the Promised Land. "Oregon is probably the most beautiful state in the U.S.," he thought, naturally knowing what he was talking about. He saw all the other 49 states on television.He saw all the other 49 states on television.	The 'new' Uli: As American as ever
	In this new environment, he was confronted with several cultural differences. People on the street would ask him, "How are you doing?" and he would think to himself, "You don't know me, that is not your problem." After a couple weeks however, he was reasonably acclimatized and ready to start studying at Oregon State University in Corvallis. Again, Uli encountered some differences: small classes of 30 students, professors who took their time for him, and free water everywhere. "Amazing," he thought. Then, at the end of his first class it happened. His professor said the word he had banished from his vocabulary: " homework." "Wait," he thought, "I am at a university." At this moment he understood why American students are always busy and never have time to sit around with friends, talking and drinking coffee or beer. However, even with the small cultural differences, Uli likes living and studying in the U.S. and he is glad to be at OSU. God Bless America.


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