The school year is slowly coming to an end. Most of us hopefully had a good year with awesome memories and friendships. For myself, as an exchange student, it has been a special experience so far that I would like to review my last 9 months.
A special aspect that I immediately noticed was how open the people in the United States are. At school, many more people came up to me than in Germany. Many students were interested in where I came from and wanted to show me the city. I also quickly met new people outside of school, like at the gym, the beach or just downtown. The American school system has also been an experience. The lessons in school felt way more relaxed, but there is also a lot more homework and projects to do outside of school.
Of course, the weather also plays a big role. Since it is usually cooler in Germany, the pleasant weather in Ventura is a big difference. Going to the beach after school is a luxury that you don’t get in Germany, and it quickly became part of my everyday life.
In addition, there is the fact that you can reach locations like Santa Barbara and Los Angeles in half an hour, which is also a dream for every tourist.
Despite many positive experiences, it must also be said some things took time to get used to. A different language, a new culture and a life without any person you know was funny in the beginning. Cultural differences also became clearer over time.
In the USA, sport plays a much greater role than in Germany, while academic pressure is perceived. I also realised that class differences in the United States are much stronger.
Another negative point is that in California, everything is much more expensive. Food, leisure activities and other things cost much more than in Germany. In addition, there are topics such as traffic or safety problems, which are more noticeable over time.
Despite problems, I can say that the year abroad has been a great experience so far. I learned to become more independent, to be more open and to master new situations. Ventura offered the perfect mix of American lifestyle, a different culture and California as you know it from the movies. All together I will recommend the positive experiences and a year abroad to anyone in Germany who is interested.
-
Ventura, a prefect little city in Southern California.
