I’ve received a lot of questions in the past couple of weeks asking how exactly I spend my time abroad. Honestly, as incredible as it is to venture around Europe and create memories that will last a lifetime, it’s also equally as exciting to live in a foreign country for so long. But once all of the excitement and rush dies down, you find that you fall back into your regular old habits soon enough and you become accustomed to a new routine in your new home. Here’s a little snapshot of some tips, tricks, and details I’ve discovered about Mannheim as I’ve developed my own routine here:
8:00 AM: Typically wake up, but usually sleep in. Classes vary from week to week so you need to keep yourself on a pretty strict sleep schedule so that your body doesn’t freak out!
10:00 AM: Start heading to campus. Usually there’s plenty of errands to run and things to do, whether it’s making deposits at the bank, grocery shopping, or just hanging out in a café.
11:00 AM: Usually my classes begin by this point. Mannheim has a very specific time schedule, so it’s very simple and easy to keep track of when you have your classes. Classes can run anytime from 8:00 AM to 6:45 PM.
1:00 PM: Stop by the school cafeteria and grab some food. The Mensa am Schloss carries several different types of meals, all very large portions for a fairly cheap price. These include meats, fish, pasta, vegetarian, and vegan-friendly options!
3:00 PM: Back to the work grind! By this point I’ll probably be heading over to the library to catch up on school work, take notes, and start exam preparation for the impending storm ahead.
5:00 PM: I like to stroll around Mannheim during the early evening. Going to the bookstore, grocery shopping, and even exploring different stores I’ve never entered is always a joy. There’s always something new to check out, so definitely make the most of your time here!
6:00 PM: At this point I’ll probably be heading back to my dorm, eating some dinner, and probably just relaxing after a long day of classes, schoolwork, and of course, exploring.
I was generally surprised by how quickly everything here became so normal for me. I suddenly knew exactly which stores carried the products I liked, where I could find all of the things I was looking for, and even how to communicate and interact in my foreign home. Realizing was definitely a major turning point during my stay here, especially as the time slowly winds down for me to go.
