The question about my necessary accommodation, which was an important part of those general issues, turned out to be a real melting pot: many international students inhabited this place making me feel very cosmopolitan. The decision on this bedroom had to be made back home by critically evaluating a wide range of possible locations to stay for this period of time.

In fact, I had been assigned a room, which consisted of a living room that included a small kitchen, and a bedroom with an adjoining bathroom. No kidding, but these few square meters had to be shared by 2 people. This moment was the first time he was confronted with the American concept of living with a roommate. However, there was no logical reason for an excuse, as I had to agree to this philosophy in Germany beforehand.

In case you have problems with living with your roommate, there is always a realistic possibility to change accommodation. At that time, I had the opportunity to move to another dorm (McTyeire International House) which was located on campus and divided into various international sections. I highly recommend this academic place, as living together with students from a Russian, French, Spanish and German classroom definitely becomes a real inspiration.

As well as happily savoring the exceptional and inspiring setting of the university with countless brick buildings that remind me of the Victorian century, I was also struck by the sheer number of students already arriving, efficiently even accompanied by their parents. It seemed to me like a kind of official homecoming for those students who feel safe again within this educational and spiritual environment for the next academic semester.

Now it was time to fulfill the first administrative requirements after I had settled into my bedroom. During the first days, I was forced to obtain some important cards and certificates that allowed a practical life on and off campus. There are a few select ID cards that I still hold on to as beloved remnants of my great time at Vanderbilt. The following selection of IDs reveals a first glimpse of the mandatory ‘bureaucracy’ at an American university.

The main identification that was necessary for life on and off campus that allowed basic access to all faculties, facilities, dining room or library, to name just a few. Above is the back page of the Central ID that includes required descriptions and explanations from the Social Security Administration.

Social Security ID is basically required for all US citizens and/or temporary residents, such as exchange students. This identification is called the ‘Validation Card’.

The next item on my ‘self-guided agenda’ was to take a closer look at the canteen, where my mind should be refreshed every day with things to think about. At this point in my journey, I could already sense that I would not have the opportunity to enjoy quite haute couture dining throughout my academic year, even though the cost of living on campus was considered quite high. It doesn’t matter, I just had to keep a very critical eye on calories to avoid wrong eating procedures and stay healthy as well. In fact, I gladly managed not to gain too much weight but still kept my previous BMI (Body Measurement Index). Fast food restaurants were out of reach.

Regine, the other student, who was already working for the Akademisches Auslandsamt in Regensburg, let me know that the local Sarratt cinema offered a huge number of all kinds of different and very interesting films from all over the world. This was definitely the creative place I went to quite often during my stay. It was absolutely worth going there, particularly as the tickets were definitely affordable and basically every movie I got to see there was pretty distinguished.
This cinema center turned out to be the usual meeting point for all international students.

Another prominent theme was music: concerts on and off campus played a predominant part of my life abroad. I was very proud to have been able to enjoy performances by: Bob Dylan, Fleetwood Mac, U2, Simply Red, James Taylor, Keith Jarrett, David Costello, Dave Brubeck, JL Hooker and even some Cajun music. Someone who has a personal penchant for musicians will definitely pick up a taste for this cultural subject sooner or later upon reaching their academic foundation.

I must not forget to mention that Vanderbilt offered the unique opportunity to participate in the local radio program on campus. German students were especially sought after; therefore, I jumped at the chance and joined. It was a lot of fun and a good way to gain additional experience regarding the technical presentation.

One quirk I had come across was the clever marketing strategy of being overwhelmed with coupons: the principle of taking advantage of all kinds of savings, whatever it was, was imprinted in my mind from the first days of my arrival in the United States. Certainly, you will be inundated with such small items almost every day (eg ‘241’, ‘Free Recharge’, etc.). Happy hour events also vividly incorporated this policy.

In fact, there was another unnerving event I experienced during my Urban Economics class: Looking out the windows I could hardly believe my eyes: Navy Marines parading through the library garden after Thanksgiving.

An interesting topic that I also need to talk about is the existence of a security service on campus – knowing about this organization makes you feel quite safe once you return at night from the outside world. Especially the female students wisely used this special service.

Have you ever been a member of a fraternity or sorority? If not, you may be quite surprised when you are walking around the campus and see several small houses where many students stay during their academic life. It was amazing, but unnerving at the same time, walking past the buildings with Greek letters on top of the entrance. According to popular belief, countless festivals and festivities had also taken place in these different places.

On the other hand, it soon became quite clear to me that the classic CV (Curriculum vitae) in the US explicitly contained that kind of information that was obviously considered vital.

In this context fits perfectly the fact that students with an exquisite inclination towards physical strength and sports in general had an advantage with respect to the general graduation process. The combination of mental and physical fitness definitely played a crucial role in and out of the classroom. Being a member of a soccer team could possibly have made up for other shortcomings in the normal classroom routine.

The organization of many interesting special events and excursions was mainly the task of the ‘Office of Student Organizations and Events’ (OSOE). Our connecting link throughout the academic year was a very kind and gentle person named Rosie Ashamalla, who was able to bridge the cultural gaps immediately through her outgoing and spontaneous personality and by offering many interesting events such as: International Week in Vanderbilt University, Padres Weekend, 4th of July, Thanksgiving or an international weekend of Latin American Politics with Madeleine Albright and some other Reagan Administration heavyweights.

In addition, she was eager to organize exciting excursions like an Indian Summer trip to the Smoky Mountains or have us play on an international soccer team, to mention just a few highlights. However, participating in the life of a host family was definitely the ‘Dot on the I’, at least from my perspective. This was by far the best way to mutually enrich two cultures.

Plus, there was the opportunity to be interviewed on campus, which turned out to be something special and timeless too. It wasn’t officially announced, but it turned out to be very exciting nonetheless. Since I had previously stayed in the McTyeire dorm, this was where it all started. Among all the international students, a group of them showed great interest in this souvenir. Glad to be one of them, I was ready for the preparation: I had been told to go through a list of possible frequently asked questions that could be asked during this interview; therefore, I had plenty of time to make the most of it.

Last but not least, you could take the opportunity to get a job during your academic stay.

To do this, he could have contacted the recruiting affairs office on campus, where all sorts of different jobs could have been discussed beforehand. It did not seem strange or unnecessary to me to deal with such diversification between the weeks of study and preparation for exams. In fact, there would have been a brilliant opportunity to gain even more experience abroad. In my case, I decided to help the campus law library in updating its German law books. In particular, students from Germany were welcome to fulfill that requirement.

Needless to say, you could have looked for even more attractive jobs; however, the ideal temporary job was not my main goal. However, playing one’s part and showing great interest is considered positive anyway.

Finally, I would like to summarize this exciting student life abroad mentioning the most important aspects to take into account:

It won’t take you long to think, feel and even dream in English.
Get used to the situation of living with a roommate.
Get involved at your local Office of Student Organizations and Events.
Immerse yourself in the wide cultural offer (concerts, cinema, theater).
Celebrate local/national holidays and anniversaries as well as holidays.
Try to get temporary jobs on or off campus.
If you can move into an international dorm that is divided into different language sections, just do it.
Be interested in joining a host family or find similar ways to enrich each other