“This trip served as a travel seminar where we explored Berlin, Potsdam, Lüneburg, Hamburg, Freiburg, and lastly Frankfurt,” said McElwee. “While it took us the first few days to adjust to Germany due to jet lag, immersing ourselves in the culture allowed us to quickly settle in and feel more comfortable.”
Having toured historical landmarks, museums, and cultural sites in Germany, McElwee’s favorite part of the trip was visiting the University of Freiburg. She found it fascinating to compare the education systems between America and Europe.
“We were able to observe their Sport Science program, and I was able to compare it to the one I am pursuing at Mount Union,” explained McElwee. “It was interesting to see the differences in academics, where their priorities were on education, and the opportunities they had readily available to their students.”
McElwee added that traveling abroad allowed her to learn about the German healthcare system and to research in the field of exercise science; she noticed that Germans are much more conscious of environmental health, as they lead eco-friendly, active lifestyles.
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Brass '28 (far left) with two other students at a museum in Triberg, Germany.
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Brass (second on the left) and McElwee (far right) with other students touring Germany.
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McElwee (left) with Connie Boller '28 (right) in Germany.
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Several students with Dr. Mendel waiting to leave to their next destination in Germany.
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McElwee '28 (left) and Brass '28 (right) at a fair in Germany.
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Students exploring a waterfall in Germany.
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Brass '28 (front) and other students touring a museum in Germany.
Brass, who had already traveled outside the United States twice with Mount Union, was fascinated by the German culture and language.
"One of my favorite parts of this trip was learning about the unique characteristics and stories of each town we visited, like the myth of the wild boar in Lüneburg, the cuckoo clocks in Triburg, and the water canals throughout Freiburg,” explained Brass.
Immersing herself in the German culture allowed Brass to appreciate others’ beliefs and build relationships with new people, thereby enhancing her worldview.
"I truly believe that human connection is such a powerful thing in so many ways - from gaining empathy, to networking, to simply building relationships and sharing the love you have to give, regardless of a language barrier!” Said Brass.
Both Brass and McElwee returned with more independent mindsets and enhanced confidence in themselves.
Learn more about how Mount Union prepares you for a meaningful career through study abroad.
