Jordan DeWeese, Business, Technology, and Engineering: The German Way Summer 2024
During my time in Germany, I established a daily schedule based on my class and site visit itinerary. Most weekdays, I attended lectures or activity classes that began around 9 am and continued into the afternoon. These classes focused on business, technology, and engineering in Germany. We worked on two projects, one in collaboration with German students at the school of applied sciences, which provided valuable insights into the German perspective on various industries. Additionally, I participated in collaborative exercises that taught us about optimization and lean manufacturing.
After classes, my fellow University of Pittsburgh students and I planned various activities, from sightseeing to shopping and dining. We relied on public transportation to navigate the city, meticulously planning which buses, trams, or trains to take to explore different areas and return to our accommodations. Some of our after-class activities included visiting Nymphenburg Palace, shopping in Munich’s city center, dining in popular restaurants, and exploring the city. We also had several days dedicated to on-site visits and tours of companies, including BMW and Siemens. These days often extended into the evenings, but witnessing the manufacturing and business processes firsthand was truly fascinating.
There were four days during the program when we did not have classes, allowing us to travel and experience other locations and events. The first of these days was a German holiday, and the University of Pittsburgh students, along with our German student buddies, took a day trip to the Alps. The mountains were truly breathtaking. The second and third days fell on a weekend. On Saturday, we embarked on a day trip to Salzburg, Austria, where we toured the city and learned about its history. On Sunday, a group of us purchased tickets to an FC Bayern Munich soccer match, where we had the thrill of watching them win in their home city. The final day was right before our departure, and a group of us explored the English Gardens, watched surfers on the river within the park, and enjoyed our last Bavarian meal.
Even though I was able to travel and experience a lot while in Munich, I kept to a budget on my spending and ensured I was always financially responsible. Prior to my trip, I set limits on how much I was willing to spend on souvenirs, attractions, and other non-essential purchases. I was able to stay well within my limit and felt very relieved when I returned, not being overly stressed about finances. I allowed myself to spend the necessary amount on food, hygiene items, and other necessities while there. Since I was only in Munich for two weeks, I assumed I would likely not buy too many groceries and planned a budget that accounted for dining out for most meals. Having these assumptions and plans prior to leaving made finances significantly less of a stress while I was there and allowed me to be well-prepared once I returned.
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