From left to right: Toni, Delaney, Ege, Isabel, Naomi, Ellen
This week, we got to welcome a new group of Dickinson-in-Bremen students. Delaney, Isabel, Naomi, and Ellen are going to be in Bremen for the upcoming two semesters. We are excited to have you here! We are also happy to introduce to you our new volunteers, Toni and Ege! Willkommen!
Our final farewell dinner at a restaurant in the Bremer Viertel
The time has come to say “goodbye” to our Spring Semester students of 2024. Auf Wiedersehen! You will be missed!
by McKenna Hillman ’25
The Osterdeich during sunset (photo taken by Dickinson in Bremen volunteer Ege)!
If there is anything I miss about Bremen after returning to the US, it has to be the Osterdeich. Of course, there are other things to miss, but it’s hard to beat an evening stroll along the Weser, dodging cyclists and sharing a quiet moment on a bench with a stranger. I was lucky enough to live on the edge of the Viertel, just a few minutes’ walk away from the Osterdeich—a distance I never hesitated to take advantage of.
My roommate, a public health student who shared my penchant for arts and crafts, first showed me the Osterdeich at night on a freezing February evening. I can no longer remember why we were up so late, but her suggestion of a short walk to see the moon over the Weser was enticing enough to brave the cold. We talked about preferring morning or evening (a topic we disagreed on), and I described the trials and tribulations of my German language intensive courses (anecdotes that she was equal parts bewildered and amused by). The moon was bright enough that the lack of streetlights on the path closest to the river wasn’t a problem. Looking back on it, I wish I had taken a photo or two to share, but I’m happy to say I was too caught up in the moment to think of it. It wasn’t the first time I forgot to photograph a special moment from my life in Bremen, and it certainly would not be the last.
Close to the Weserstadion (photo taken by DiB volunteer Ege)!
Chilly March rains largely kept me away from the Osterdeich, for the most part. April, however, brought warmer weather, and with the warmer weather came crowds. The weather was its own incentive to be outside, but as an avid people watcher, the crowds presented their own form of entertainment for solitary walks in the early afternoon. Picnics, games, family outings, there were so many different people to observe. There’s a large hill behind the Kunsthalle, across the road from the Osterdeich, with a great view of the Weser and a few benches to sit on. I vividly remember an afternoon spent on one of those benches eavesdropping on conversations about politics and watching kids dodge each other on their bikes. I, myself, had my fair share of Osterdeich gatherings, both with Bremen natives and with students from Dickinson and Uni Bremen.
I can’t say leaving Bremen was easy for me, but I will always remember my final evening stroll through the Osterdeich—the city skyline standing out against a brilliantly pink sunset was the best goodbye I could have gotten. I’m counting down the days until I’m able to go back and visit.
During their studies in Bremen, our exchange students want to be active members of the Bremen community. Volunteer work is a great way to give back to the city that welcomes you during your studies abroad. There is a large number of ways that young people can engage with their community in Bremen. Most of our students participated in city cleanups. For the cleanups, a group of people meets up in a specific part of Bremen to collect garbage from the streets. A few of our Spring students participated in the cleanup.
Gabe on duty!
The equipment is provided by the Cleanup organization.
After a few hours of collecting trash, this is how many cigarette butts the group found – quite shocking!
Abby’s findings at a cleanup in Schwachhausen!
The students that participated in the cleanup shared that they were most shocked by the number of cigarette butts that were on the streets. At the end of the cleanup, they looked at how many they collected in total on that day – it was almost a bucket full of cigarettes.
Noah dedicated his time to a different project: He helped a lady plant a vegetable garden. Not only was it fun but also a great way to connect with other volunteers: “I primarily volunteered at a garden in Bremen. I helped to plant, learned a bit about certain plants such as Rotkohl (red cabbage), and weeded the beds, while enjoying getting to know the other folks working there. It was a great time and they were very welcoming! When I return to Bremen, I absolutely intend to find a similar program or return to that one.”
Getting ready to plant a garden!
Growing vegetables!
by Grear Boyd ’25
At the tram stop in Gröpelingen!
As an exchange student living in a foreign city (and nation at large), you must overcome a number of difficulties that will likely vary from person to person. For me, one of the first obstacles I had to face was navigation. In the US, I was accustomed to driving a car to get everywhere and needing directions only for longer trips or infrequent routes. When I arrived in Bremen, it didn’t take long for me to realize how reliant I had become on my car and how little I now knew the area I would be living in for the next six months.
In Sebaldsbrück with fellow DiB-student Riley!
My first couple of days, my only method of transportation was by foot. I wandered the city for hours in an attempt to orient myself and get a solid lay of the land. I failed, or so I thought. I would attempt to find something of interest and get home by using just the street signs. And each time I left my beautiful Walle, I was forced to use Apple Maps (it’s superior, Riley) to return home. I was thus convinced that my undertaking was futile. And it wasn’t until a little later, when I went out with some of my Dickinson in Bremen compatriots, Riley and Gabe, that I reaped the fruit of my ventures.
I was out on the town having the time of my life when I realized my phone’s battery had died. Catastrophe, I thought. So I did what any rational man would do… I devised a plan to board a tram at Hauptbahnhof (HBF) and wait until I recognized something or got back to HBF. Luckily, I guessed correctly on the first attempt. The glorious N10 swept me off my feet and carried me to the Walle TV tower, which I easily recognized and from where I successfully walked home.
But before my tram-10 success story, I had found the use of the Deutsche Bahn train system to be a little daunting. I had stepped on my first train not realizing I was supposed to have already bought my Deutschland Ticket on the internet. I attempted to buy a day pass on the ticket machine but quickly gave up trying after a few moments of struggle and a couple of impatient Germans waiting behind me (-they were really intimidating). So, I crossed my fingers that I could get a few stops down the street without hearing “Fahrkarte Bitte!” (I know I know, I’m sorry). I got off without a hitch. Phew!
After my initial issue of the acquisition of a train ticket was resolved, I was faced with another troubling but later quite hilarious (I think) phenomenon. The German stare. I had come to the realization that every time I would take a seat on the fabled number 10 tram to Sebaldsbrück, I was the subject of an intense staredown with any number of my fellow train go-ers. At first, I thought it was all in my head. “Why in the world would these people take such consistent interest in me? I must be the most interesting man in Bremen” I thought to myself. (Kidding, but they really made me feel like the Dos Equis guy.) But after several back and forths of making eye contact with strangers and looking away (and more than a few staring contests) I decided I was, in fact, not making it up.
Lilienthal: the final destination of tram 4 (featuring Riley)!
At first, I was uncomfortable with the idea of people staring at me on the train. But it wasn’t long before I concluded that beating the Germans at their own game offered me a surprising degree of satisfaction in such an unfamiliar social environment. In other words, each day on my ride to class, or DOMSHEIDE!, or wherever else, I won staring contests for fun. Yes, I said won. I’m not sure how my own death stare made those who I deemed to have gazed upon me for slightly too long feel. But that didn’t matter. In my eyes, it was still not polite to stare so my retaliation was justified. Just joking. I came to learn that I was not the only one to notice the frequency of these staredowns and, upon the questioning of Dr. Ludwig, the DiB students and I found that staring at people in public is simply not considered rude in Germany. Go figure.
Anyways, the moral of my story is this. Placing yourself in an entirely new environment, such as an immersive semester in Bremen, with relatively few guard rails is, at times, a bit challenging. But that presents an opportunity for growth. In my situation, my apprehension of the Bremen tram system was, in reality, short-lived. I quickly learned to take advantage of Bremen’s tram system.
Exploring Bremen via tram.
Towards the end of our time in Bremen, my associate Riley and I even rode each tram to its terminal just for chat. Across our program, I think we all came to love Bremen, and Germany at large, for its public transport systems. A monthly pass to train anywhere in the country? I have yet to find anything similar to that anywhere else I’ve been so blessed as to visit.
by Riley Robinson ’25
I first discovered the Überseestadt late in February, during one of the long rainy nights typical to Bremen in that season. Having gotten bored of studying for language class, I decided to take advantage of the tepid and breezy night by going for a local exploration expedition. I decided it was also the perfect time to try one of the Lime E-Scooters I had been enviously watching people zip around on throughout the city. After a few minutes of riding around my neighborhood, I made a quick turn and crossed some railroad tracks, down a path I hadn’t seen before. It didn’t take long before I spilled out onto a main road, which I would later learn to be part of the Überseestadt. I spent the next hour weaving through the undeviating streets of the district, realizing that this was an entire area of the city I had little idea about sitting right in my backyard.
The Überseestadt is a ‘Port-Revitalization’ project by Bremen. Formerly a massive dockyard and railway hub, the area has since been rehauled and turned into a living and working district. Alongside the many modern condominiums are large commercial buildings that make up their own skyline. On the southern end, near Eduard-Schopf-Allee, is the Weser Tower. It is the tallest building in Bremen and is visible from most points on the South-western side of the city.
The Weser Tower. Below is a multi-level pavilion, where people take time off their workday to view the river, and local rappers sometimes come to shoot their music videos.
An example of the many development projects in the Überseestadt. This is construction of the Kaffee Quartier, a new residential block.
Europahafen is a central piece to the Überseestadt. It is easily accessible from the tram stops Europahafen and Konsul Smitdt Straße, serviced by the 3 and 5 lines. Once an old dock for commercial shipping, it now houses private boats, and is lined with premium condos and office buildings. On the ground floor of many, you can find restaurants, cafes, and bars to sit at and enjoy the peacefulness of the harbor. My favorite part of this area is the “Überseestadt Shack”. This is a little shipping container that has been outfitted with a bar inside and deck chairs on the top for viewing of the harbor. On Sundays they open, and you can buy beer and other drinks inside. It’s a great place to relax and enjoy a sunny day or warm night.
The Überseestadt Shack at Europahafen
A summer night’s view from the top of the shack.
Further down the promenade, there is a great restaurant for Flammkuchen.
The Flammkuchen Restaurant.
An honorable pour.
Spotted outside of the Automotive Museum.
They also serve some amazing beer. It has a nice area to sit outside, although very close to a busy road. It’s located right across the lot from the Automotive Museum, which is worth checking out if you are into historical German cars.
The Überseestadt is also home to the University of the Arts, located in a former warehouse on Eduard-Suling-Straße.
The University of the Arts.
The Art Store.
Appropriately, an art supply store is near the University. If you like to paint, draw, or do anything that may require art supplies, I recommend checking this place out. It blends an industrial, open style layout with a friendly and familiar vibe. Walk around the area, and you may discover some interesting hide-out spots to relax or to get some work done.
One of the many chill nooks in the area. On the bottom, a few couches, and chairs. Walk through the shipping container propped up, and you can also recline on the deck chairs on top.
The REWE. Accessible by the bus line 28 at the Winterhafen stop.
Adventure further into the Überseestadt, and you will find a REWE and a large urban park. The district has two main grocery stores, an Aldi at Europahafen and the REWE at Winterhafen. As someone whose grocery shopping experience is affected heavily by aesthetics, the REWE at Winterhafen was a welcome sight when I first discovered it. Large ceilings, nice lighting, and a good selection of food are part of the deal here. It also features a bakery, and a Pfand machine, the closest one to my home. I have many great memories of performing superhuman balancing acts trying to bike home from this REWE with a bag of groceries and/or plastic bottles needing to be redeemed.
The skatepark at the Überseepark.
An Art vending machine near the park. Pay four euros, choose a piece. There are many options, including regional art and themed works. Great for a tiny keepsake.
Across from REWE, the Überseepark spans horizontally across multiple blocks. It is constantly teeming with young people, usually running football matches on the turf, playing basketball, using the skatepark or the parkour gym. One fun fact about this place: it was designed by about 400 elementary school aged kids, using an online forum. Their input and ideas were prioritized when considering the layout of the park.
The Lighthouse.
At the northern tip of the Überseestadt, there is the Waller Sand, a signature aspect of the district. The Waller Sand is an artificial beach, signifying the end of the Überseestadt. While you can’t go swimming, it offers a fantastic view of the still functioning Bremen harbor. It requires a bit of a journey; however, it’s worth doing, especially in the evening hours, where you can walk along the promenade and soak in the cool river breeze while listening to some music and taking in the elongated northern German sunset. The area is surrounded by residential buildings, and many people come to chill and enjoy the view, although the crowds are never disruptive.
The Waller Sand.
Yesterday, I went up and did this exact thing, and witnessed a marriage proposal on the beach. The guy clearly went all out, with a heart-shaped trellis holding up a neon sign with the words, as well as sprinklers and drones. Congrats! Additionally, there is a lighthouse at the north-most tip, and you can walk down a trail to access it.
A sunset view over the harbor. Who said Bremen isn’t paradise?
The Groundhog Democracy Advocate.
Due to the atypical housing arrangement of this spring semester, I was able to live in an area of the city not frequented by members of Dickinson in Bremen. The Überseestadt is a very new and relatively obscure part of the city, and I’ve been grateful to experience living in this area for the past six months. Because of how new the Überseestadt is, it can feel artificial, and a lot of the architecture lacks character for this reason. However, the potential for its growth as a vibrant part of Bremen is noticeable, and the rate of development makes me interested in seeing how it will progress after a few more years. Even if you are living close to the University, I recommend going out of your way to check out the Überseestadt and explore for yourself the many quirky and unique locations of this area.
My bike* near the Waller Ring entrance to the Überseestadt. To the right, there is a factory still active that is serviced by a train every day. The district is still intertwined with the many port-serviced industries of Bremen.
The entrance to my neighborhood. This path connects it with the greater Überseestadt. Shoutout to Eintrachtstraße.
*I began renting this bike from the beginning of May. It’s a fantastic way to get around, and a great option if you ever get bored of taking public transportation, especially in the warmer months. Having your own bike and riding around the city almost feels like it should be part of the integration test. You will feel like a local, and you get to see areas of the city that aren’t visible otherwise. Tons of bike paths, and it shrinks the city when you own one. Also great for getting back from bars and clubs after 1:30, when the tram shuts down. I highly recommend Swapfiets, the bike rental company. For 6 months, you pay 17 euros a month for this bike. I use the flexible rental, so I pay 24 euros each month to be able to cancel at any time. They take care of all services for you.
by Riley Robinson ’25
Getting ready for the Bremen night run.
I first heard about the Nachtlauf at the welcome dinner shortly after arriving in Bremen. A former DiB student and Dickinson alumni listed it as a must-do during the spring semester in Bremen. However, the encouragement came with an adamant warning: “ONLY do the 5k”. It made sense at the time, given that I had never run more than a 5k even on a treadmill. However, a few months later, when our Program Coordinator Insa delivered a reminder about the Nachtlauf and how we were to register, I was immediately infatuated with the idea of running a half marathon in Germany. This decision came with a little over a month to go before the race, which, as you know, is simply not enough time to train for something like this when your cardio is in the gutter. Nevertheless, I was able to recruit someone crazy enough to run it with me, fellow DiB student and Vanderbilt representative Grear.
Throughout the next month, Grear and I trained extensively for the race. Fueled by raw determination, a slight addiction to crunching run times on the Strava app, early mornings, late nights, and a few David Goggins interviews, we were up to half marathon condition in no time. The journey was a surprisingly great way to learn about Bremen as well. It allowed us to experience new areas of the city that had previously been under our radar. Running through the tranquil, picturesque dairy pastures of Blockland offered a much-needed escape from the bustle of city life. And completing final stretches of long runs along the Weser allowed us to soak in the buzz of social life along the grassy fields adjacent to the river, reenergizing us for the final few miles. Before we knew it, race time was near. Despite the Berlin excursion being the week of the race, which obviously isn’t an expert precursor to a half marathon, we were ready.
Race day. What started out as a beautiful, sunny day, quickly turned into the most violent summer storm we’ve had in the early season. Ninety-nine percent of the time it’s the kind of storm I’d be more than content with sitting outside and watching as the rain pours down onto the earth, smelling that fresh scent of summer rain while feeling the cool breeze wash over my face. But that night, I must run 13 miles in it. What made it worse was that it’s the first rain we’d seen in weeks, and it defied the typical Bremen storm (intermittent spurts of light showers) with consistency and heaviness. But nothing comes easy.
The hum of excitement couldn’t be dampened. The beginning and end of the race was held in the Marktplatz, the plaza front and center of the Dom. The Marktplatz was alive and teaming with racegoers, all in matching blue race shirts and soaking wet from the cold rain, desperately trying to avoid the downpour. Amidst the tents, vendors, and various encampments of people, I located my team (Grear). After a messy rush to check bags and seek shelter, we were in the starting line a little after 8:55 pm. Crammed in with the other racers, we waited in anticipation. At 9:00, the starter gave us the signal. We were off.
The race was a blur. The route followed the pedestrian walkways alongside the Weser, through city streets slick with rain and dark, and muddy dirt paths with little light. Over bridges and through tunnels crowded with spectators, the rain never let up, and we trudged through puddles and mud in the dark with a thousand others. The one thing I noticed right away is that I was one of the only racers hooting and hollering at the spectators cheering us on. This is the kind of energy I typically bring to these sorts of events, but it fell flat against the silent thud of shoes on the pavement. This was much more of an American way of participating. I’d learned the Germans tend to be quieter and uniformed, and a half marathon was no exception to this attitude. I was still surprised by the lack of excited expression. My favorite part of the race was running through a tunnel under the bridge near the Beck’s factory, where a group of musicians with large drums beat to a driving rhythm that echoed off the walls, creating an acoustic effect that heightened the moment and injected much needed energy.
Finished the Night Run!
A little under two hours later, around 11:00 pm., we crossed the finish line. As the tiny sparklers went off around the path to the finish line, with crowds cheering us on, an overwhelming sense of accomplishment fell on me. Despite being drenched, chilled, and utterly exhausted, I couldn’t help but embrace the post-race euphoria that hung heavy in the air as we gathered ourselves in the crowd of racers who had finished with us. It was official. The Americans had conquered the Nachtlauf.
Found the Brandenburg Gate!
After our trip to Vienna in March, our Spring students now had the great opportunity to do a second excursion. Our destination: Berlin.
Exploring the Tempelhofer Feld.
Gabe, Grear and Riley at Tempelhofer Feld.
Vanderbilt student Grear says: “Berlin was both one of the most unique and diverse cities that Germany has had to offer me. It gave me the opportunity to experience fascinating European history alongside rich international culture.”
In between museum visits, theater plays, and sightseeing, the students had some free time to explore the city on their own. Gabe McGough finds that “even in a short amount of time, you can find so much cool stuff in Germany just by walking around!”
On our last full day, we did a day trip to the city of Weimar. This was Abby’s favorite part of the excursion: “It was so interesting to learn about how many important moments in German history took place in that quaint little town. The juxtaposition between its importance in classical literature and its Holocaust related history was especially striking.”
The Duchess Anna Amalia library in Weimar.
Painting of Goethe at work at the Goethe museum in Weimar.
At the end of the day, our excursion was a great success, or, in Riley Robinson’s words: “Between nightly adventures within the vibrant Friedrichshain district, being left in awe of the immense historical implications of Checkpoint Charlie, and exploring unique locations such as the abandoned Tempelhof Airport, the week in Berlin left me with one realization: I am not getting into Berghain.”
by Abby Jones ’25
Statue of the Bremen Town Musicians in the city center
When I began telling family and friends about my upcoming study abroad in Bremen, the first response I got was often about the famous Grimm fairy tale “The Bremen Town Musicians.” Although these famous animals never actually made it to Bremen to play music, I have been overjoyed to participate in the music scene during my exchange semester. Playing trombone has been a hobby of mine for the past 11 years, so it was a priority for me to find a way to keep playing while abroad. This has been an invaluable experience for me as a musician, but even more so as a world citizen and language learner.
The first contacts I made with musicians in Bremen were with members of the Unibigband Bremen, the big band jazz group made up of both community members and students of the university. A musician was kind enough to lend me a trombone free of charge, and I began to attend rehearsals. This experience pushed me out of my comfort zone in many ways, making it an incredible learning experience. Although meeting a whole group of new people speaking German was a bit awkward and stressful at first, through the language of music, communication came easily. In the familiar setting of a music rehearsal, speaking German began to become much more fluid for me. Many members were just as nervous about their English as I was about German, creating an environment of working together for mutual understanding. This helped me immensely in getting over my fear of making mistakes when I speak.
Abby (second to the left) at trombone practice
I am also thrilled to have the opportunity to work with a trombone instructor at the University of the Arts Bremen. Through these one-on-one lessons, I have learned so much both musically and culturally. After so many years of playing trombone, in order to improve, I have to break habits formed from years of experience and try slightly different techniques to get more out of my instrument. Because it is mostly a mental battle, it has been extremely interesting learning from someone of a different cultural background. I have gained some insight into how language is connected to many parts of life.
Together, these experiences have been crucial to my adjustment to and enjoyment of the Dickinson in Bremen program. I was able to find a community of people patient with my slow German and willing to answer my random questions about life in Germany. Many of them have taken the opportunity to ask me about American culture, leading to fun moments of connection that feel to me like what exchange programs are all about. In weeks when schoolwork gets particularly tough, having time carved out to socialize and relax with music has helped me find balance.
In addition to participating in music myself, I have also enjoyed attending performances of professional musicians in Bremen. The arts are very accessible to students, with tickets to theatre and opera productions costing only around eight euros! In this way, I have been able to get really great seats to impressive classical music productions.
Engaging in music in Bremen has made me memories and taught me skills I will carry with me long after this semester is over, but for now, I look forward to enjoying my last two months as part of this community.
by Gabe McGough ’25
The Durden Dickinson College program with Universität Bremen has been an excellent experience thus far! The Austausch (exchange) program is situated in the northwest of Germany and offers world-class courses in a multitude of fields, including but in no way limited to law, STEM, history, and art. During my time at Uni Bremen, I am focusing heavily on the University’s programs surrounding German international and domestic law as well as foreign policy. I chose Universität Bremen after first taking my academic goals, personal interests, and career aspirations into account. After weighing out the myriad pros of attending against the scarce cons, I decided that the unique academic system, the independence of living alone in a big city for the first time, and the myriad career connections and possibilities I would come across would be worth it.
When it comes to the benefits of studying abroad in Germany though, I have found that it is the small, everyday parts of life that have made the experience truly special. Of all the experiences that I have had that have had the most impact on me, the most changing have been my encounters with the local community, the differences in the academic environment, my living situation, and the exploration and travel I was able to do. Beginning with the locals, the people of Bremen are unique. In my experience, they have been incredibly polite, accommodating, and very supportive, especially when I would try to practice my (clearly non-natural) German with them. Overall, the city of Bremen has a very friendly culture. From the Easter Festival to the Latin-American Weekend, there is always something for the adventurous student to do! While the study-abroad experience is incredibly fun, there are academic requirements that I must meet to get credit for my Bremen courses back at Dickinson College. While the immense range of course options offered at the University of Bremen is incredibly impressive and the courses themselves are expertly run, certain aspects of German pedagogy have been a little strange to adapt to. For my courses this semester, virtually every assignment of substance is either a presentation, paper, or formal final exam. While cutting a lot of “graded for participation/completion” notes from the grade book seems slightly daunting at the start, the amount of free time for deep study of concepts found to be the most interesting and for working ahead on my major assignments, I believe the system supports learning more efficiently than the system adopted in the United States. Along with that and the engaging discussions led by professors and other students in Socratic-seminar-style classes, the academic environment at Uni Bremen is amazing to experience. Outside of academics though, there is quite a lot of free time for Dickinson Students.
In my free time between classes or before going to bed during the week, I spend some time in my dorm room, and by dorm room, I mean a miniature apartment with a bathroom and kitchenette. In my solo residence in Findorff, a beautiful and quiet part of the city right next to the Bürgerpark, I had to learn how to prepare every meal for myself every day, as well as meal plan (every major store in Bremen is closed on Sunday). Not only was it a delight to experiment in my kitchen cooking whatever I want, but it also allows me to be responsible for every step of independent living, including doing the dishes. The affordability of German grocery stores such as Edeka, Aldi, and Rewe make it incredibly affordable to cook delicious, sometimes extravagant, healthy meals. While studying hard and learning how to be successful on my own in one of the most beautiful and fun cities I have seen, I like to take the opportunities around me to go on fun trips with friends to see more of the beautiful part of the world I live in. Dickinson provides two week-long excursions per year to Vienna and Berlin, one in the spring and one in the fall. Luckily, my cohort and I were able to be a part of both.
Photo: taken in the Imperial Treasury in Vienna
The Vienna trip was astounding. We were taken to ornate palaces, beautiful underground restaurants, to the resting places of a large portion of the Habsburg family, and so much more. In our free time, we were able to explore the beautiful capital of Austria and take in so much of the history and culture of the city. We are set to leave for our Berlin trip soon, which we all believe will be on par with the Vienna trip! The Cold War museums and shows in the theatre will likely be incredibly fun and a great place to learn the history and nuance of the area. While Dickinson provides trips though, the ease of Deutsche Bahn and the location of Bremen in proximity to amazing things to explore allows for incredibly easy one-day or weekend trips. As an example, two months ago I went to a city in the Netherlands, called Groningen, for a day to explore with a group of friends. To do the trip, we simply bought our cheap tickets on Flixbus, met at the bus station at 8:00 AM, rode the three and a half hours to the city, explored and enjoyed the cafés all day, then rode the bus back home a little after midnight. Trips like this are incredibly easy in Bremen, there are cities like Köln, Hamburg, and Hannover all within train distance, and there are a multitude of ways to get everywhere else.
Overall, I highly recommend any Dickinson student interested in applying for the Universiät Bremen Program to do so. It is fun, scary, exciting, amazing, and the most unique thing I have ever done. If you are interested in this experience I urge you to contact the Dickinson German Department. The Dickinson staff on campus here at Bremen are incredible at their jobs and are very kind and nice to work with. Thanks for reading about my experience in Bremen so far.