Braving a German Winter

Freezing on the Rhine River

I’m very excited to become a member of this blog and hope that the experiences I am going through will help all of you who want to study in Germany. If you have read my bio you will see that I am not a student in Germany, but an American intern at the DAAD headquarters in Bonn. Even though I’m not a student, I am dealing with the same transitions, problems, and adventures many of you will soon be starting.

I can attest that most of my first month in Germany has been nothing but wonderful. Sightseeing on the Rhine, traveling to Bavaria and Paris, and eating wonderful new food such as the delicious currywurst, but there are still a few, small problems I’m dealing with. For example my German language skills are almost non existent, and the fate of me being able to stay in Germany is still up in the air. I have a meeting with the Ausländeramt this Thursday to talk about my current visa standing. The only other problem I have really had to deal with is not packing enough warm clothes.

As I was living in Southern China last year it has been quite a long time since I experienced a really cold, bone chilling winter. I tried to come here as prepared as possible, even buying a new, cute winter coat back in the States. I asked the German family I am staying with multiple times before I left the US if I should invest in new snow boots? sweaters? and long johns? And they continued to assure me that they didn’t own snow boots and I would probably be fine with my current wardrobe. Now that I am here I realize my German host are completely accustomed to the freezing temperatures I am dealing with on a daily basis.

As you can see in the picture my ‘cute’ coat doesn’t bundle up all the way to the neck, and when I do remember to wear the thin shawl I am currently using as a scarf the wind slips right through. Also the earmuffs I brought certainly don’t keep the top of my head warm. As someone who has lived in primarily much warmer climates it has definitely been a shock to me as to how cold it can get here.

Come prepared ladies and gentlemen, or at least set some money aside to buy the proper warm weather necessities for when you do arrive. If you are coming in the next couple months you will definitely need a warm winter coat that buttons or zips to the neck or chin, a warm scarf, gloves, hat, and warm shoes. Or you will end up like me sightseeing all around Europe with numb ears and toes.

Wish me luck with the Ausländeramt…I’m not ready to go home yet.