Results for: benjamin saff

On a serious note, I want to talk a bit about the exam style here in Mannheim and also the general state of standardized exams in our education systems. Unfortunately there is too big of a focus on standardized test scores in our society today. In an excerpt from the book “Beyond Culture”, the Edward ...

Studying abroad can not only open your mind to the world but can also help you gain a fuller perspective of your country from an outside perspective. Here is my reflection on being American. I think one of my earliest associations with my country is that we are commonly known as “the land of the ...

How was your study abroad experience? What were your favorite things about your experience abroad? – These are questions people may ask on my return home. And yes I could give a simple answer like “Oh well some of my favorite things about the experience have been making great friendships, experiencing new foods and exploring ...

Today is my last day in Mannheim. I must say that the four months seem to have flown by. I this blog post I will let my thoughts flow freely and hopefully illustrate some changes that took place in me over my time here. I remember an initial anxiety upon coming here. It’s the anxiety ...

With only one month left of my residence here in Mannheim, I am reflecting more and more on this experience thus far. I began to think about my desired outcomes, how I’ve been affected and what the future holds for me. I will write this post – which is a bit personal – in hopes ...

I’ll preface this post by mentioning that Mannheim doesn’t have the best rep in Germany. I have met multiple Germans here who, after a few minutes of friendly talk, inevitably ask the question “Why Mannheim?” often times followed up with a “It’s such an ugly city,” comment. Well guys, this Germans are a bit spoiled ...

I was recently asked about potential outcomes of my study abroad experience. I thought about the changes that have taken place in me since I’ve been here. For me the impact was quite huge for me. Being an American and living in a society where, practically, you can live your entire life, whilst knowing very ...

Figured I’d write a small fact-gathering post about my host country, Germany… Overview Germany is country in west-central Europe, known as the most populous member state of the European Union and its most powerful economic force. It is also the second most popular migration destination in the world. The country’s motto is “Einigkeit und Recht ...

Culture shock is quite a real phenomenon. I was skeptical when first hearing about it and thought I would have a seamless transition into the German culture. It wasn’t exactly as smooth as I thought. Not to worry you though, culture shock is different for different and its extent always varies. The best I can ...

Prague is becoming one of the most popular travel destinations in Europe and for good reason. It is uniquely beautiful and characterized by an interesting past. In this post I will talk about a few of the things I liked about it and also things I didn’t like since it is not always talked about. ...