THE HANNOVER EXCHANGE Every year, students from Leibniz University of Hannover, Germany, arrive in San Marcos, Texas in February to participate in a month-long student exchange program sponsored by Texas State University. They will gain international experience while sitting on classes, lectures, and planned cultural events. Each year the program alernates with the Geography Department. The English Department exchange is coordinated by Dr. Dan Lochman, Associate Dean of - College of Liberal Program Director alongside Jill Schneller, program coordinator and lecturer from Leibniz Universitaet Hannover. In Spring 2007, the German students attended a barbecue event at the Freeman Ranch house in San Marcos where they were joined for a meet and are greeted by Texas State faculty, staff, and students who will be

Story and photos by Susan Rauch

more common in Germany maybe) but still I very enjoyed it.” Michael Tomala, also a 5th semester Education Major from Hannover said, “the meal was awesome, the singer performance was exhilarating and amusing. Good first meeting between Hannover and Texas students.” Dr. Lochman states, “the program differs from other abroad programs as it is an exchange program.” The Hannover students vistedTexas State University from February 9 through March 9, 2007, and resided at Jackson Hall. For Tomala and his fellow students, they were actually on a school break in Hannover. Tthe Texas State students then went to Hannover from May until June, to live with German students, and receive 6 hours of

United States it is May through August. Michael also said, “the financial funding is even more important here than in Germany since the fees in the USA are multiple times higher than in Germany.” Overall the German students have been impressed with the friendliness and how helpful people are, and how campus life is centrally located. Some of the events they participate in while in Texas are a visit to Missions San Jose, Concepcion, and Alamo, and a visit to the San Antonio Riverwalk,, attending the Texas State Mainstage Theatre for a production, as well as attending several lectures, classes, and presentations on the Texas State University campus. Professor James Petersen echoes much of what Professor Lochman said, “the students are a mix of Geography and English/American studies majors. This year we had 11 students from Hannover. Each student from Hannover was partnered with a student from Texas State. In addition to their classes, we took the the German students on field trips to Fredericksburg, Enchanted Rock, Austin, Gruene, and the Borderland Region. They also visited San Antonio, and other towns and regions. The German students will host us (12 Texas State Students and faculty) in Hannover, Germany, from May to June and the students will take Geographic Field Studies and work on an Independent Study project (for presentation

at the end of our exchange) on some aspect of the geography of Germany” When the the American students visit Germany, they will also participate in “field trips” to include Berlin, Braunfels (the namesake of New Braunfels), northern Bavaria, and a short trip to Poland during a school holiday in Germany. All of the German exchange students will speak English. Students will gain 6 hours of credit for GEO 4390/5390 and GEO 4310/5308. The program will not be offered in Geography again until 2010.

“...the program differs from other abroad programs as it is an exchange program.”

In Texas

attending the Hannover exchange abroad program over the summer. The Hannover students as well as Texas State University faculty, staff, and students were entertained with some traditional Texas music by recording artist Rosie Flores and enjoyed traditional barbecue catered by Railroad Barbecue of Kyle. Max Klussman, 5th semester Education Major from Hannover, said of the barbecue, “I especially liked to meet our exchange partners. The Ranch itself was impressive and the house quite fascinating. I expected something like roasting beef over fire (somewhat

Im Deutschland 17

All Abroad Fall 2007

university credit.” Dr. Lochman further explained, “the program was started in 1988 by now retired professor Dona Reeves and evolved into alternating every year with the English Department and Geography Department.” The 2007 year program was sponsored by the English Department. There are some differences between college life in Texas and Hannover, Germany. Max said, “I have to travel all around Hannover to go to different courses. We don’t have a campus as here in San Marcos.” Michael hoped to “gain some insights into the American lifestyles as lived by campus students, university schedule, etc. Some students in Texas enroll in only one major field, whereas in Germany you mostly need two of them.” A big difference is the time of vacation.” Germany vacation breaks are July through October whereas the in the

Auf Wiedersehen! Tschuss! All Abroad

Fall 2007

18

THE HANNOVER EXCHANGE Student Feature

Buchenwald I saw where bodies swing still, from meat hooks evenly spaced. I looked in ovens swept clean but wind still carried the stink. I have tread where dead still live, where whispers are the breeze and trees remember names once said. I have been where wildflowers smell of death like millions – and rubble gleams, crystal chips, each unique. I went where fog hangs like smoke and burns eyes just the same, where clouds reign over sun and drizzle stung like shrapnel.

By Heather Robinson 1st year MFA Creative Writing Graduate student

19

All Abroad Fall 2007