To be fair, I’m not a clingy person – in any sense. I’d even say that I’m completely and utterly terrified of everything permanent in this life. I do need changes and dynamics. That was the main reason for my confusion when everyone in Moscow kept asking me how I could go to another country for a year all by myself. Alone.

I was fine at the moment and I’m more than fine now when I found new, fascinating, kind, mesmerizing friends here. And I chat with my Moscow gang and call them every week! I can confidently promise you that all those people who say that you’re going to lose contact with your hometown people are wrong. If you truly want it, you’ll keep them.

Actually, my main concern was about survival alone. I mean, for the first time in my life I had to cook, do the groceries, do the laundry, deal with bureaucracy and finances by myself. Moreover, I had to survive in Germany without any decent knowledge of german per se. Splendid!

Besides, I was quite insecure about talking to people when I just arrived since I had no idea what they are like here – in a completely different place, in a different environment. Should I be more reserved? Or more active? Can I talk at all?

But eventually, it turned into a truly thrilling journey for me! As I said, I met lots of interesting people and even made some friends (great success)! We cook and bake together, celebrate holidays, go on trips, play volleyball, chat a lot, laugh a lot a lot and support each other. By the way, I learned to cook as well and you can read about this experience in my latest post! Finally, I turned out to be a responsible person and now I know a little more about paying taxes, planning my finances, and dealing with documents. I even cleaned the windows in my room, can you imagine that!

And my german level now allows me to order my favorite pastry in the bakery nearby which is also a great achievement for me :)

So yeah, I can promise you that going abroad alone might be scary at first but it will teach you independence which sounds pretty cool. Go for it!

While writing my latest posts I was trying to make them as informative and beneficial as possible but today I suggest chilling and discussing something nice. For example, food.

Fun (or not) fact about me – I had no idea how to cook or bake before coming here. I don’t have a clear explanation really.. I guess, everyone in my family just got used to my mom being in charge of all the meals and I never was encouraged to start.

But then I came here and realized that I need to survive. If only you knew how excited and terrified I was.

The first thing I learned and which I believe should be taught in the schools – rice increases if you boil it. You should have seen my eyes when I was standing in the kitchen of my dorm in the middle of the night with an immense pan of rice. I ended up with two huge food containers full of rice in my fridge. I was eating it for two weeks. I think it affected me a lot..

I also remember how I was trying to cut an onion and there were a lot of people in the kitchen. Basically, I got really nervous, the onion slipped and flew away guys. I am so gifted. Still struggling to cut this beautiful vegetable though, we’re definitely not best buddies.

Oh, I almost forgot! I was so scared to cook in front of my neighbors that I used to get up at 6 every morning to learn to cook something new. And I am not a morning person. I am still surprised I was so eager to learn this stuff.

So yeah, the very first stages were a real journey for me. Eventually, I started checking new recipes and trying them out – it turned out to be easier than expected! Pasta, new variations of breakfasts, gnocchi, salads. At some point, I discovered the world of baking and that was one of the most mesmerizing moments of my life here.

You probably need to know that I’ve never had an oven at home in Moscow so for me it looks like something potentially hazardous. However, one day my friend and I decided to make a cheesecake and I tried to memorize the process of dealing with this novelty. Pretty soon I made my very first pasta in it and started trying out all those recipes I was saving and afraid to use. So far I’ve made muffins, cakes, cookies, tofu, oatmeal, vegetables, cinabonnes (my love), and croissants. I think I enjoy baking almost as much as eating (and I love to eat let’s be honest here).

My goal for this month – pizza and bread! Let’s see how I’m going to learn making those. Man, I do love pastry.

As you can see, I found out a lot of new things after coming to Germany on my own. I really enjoy comparing myself today to me in October and see these differences. So believe me – you will definitely learn something new here besides those courses in your uni schedule! And good luck with that! :)

I consider myself a rather sociable person so usually I try to check out all local activities I can participate in. One of the things I was surprised with most when coming to Karls was the number of initiatives it has. There you can not only find a group of people sharing same interests and ideas, but also discover an environment where you can develop your skills and knowledge on various topics. Let me walk you through all the initiatives and tell you a little bit about each one of them.

First of all, we have Hakuna Matata (sounds good, I know!) – a place when students are encouraged to interact with each other, exchange cultures and grow personally and socially. It is a safe space that can be especially comfortable for international students.

We also have KarlsStorytellers – an initiative where people get an opportunity to tell their stories in any imaginable format – articles, video blogs, podcasts and so on. It doesn’t matter how experienced you are. Even if you struggle with a new topic, editing or shooting the video, people are always here for you! It is a real opportunity to master your creative abilities.

Student Board (or STuV) consists of people representing student community of Karls. These guys gather all sorts of feedback from the students and help to make our uni a better place. It doesn’t cover just the educational side, the board also pays attention to the university facilities, events and atmosphere in general.

KarlsforFuture is a group of people who share the eagerness to care about nature, lead a sustainable lifestyle, stay green and promote these values around Karls students. They organize events and exhibitions and communicate with others on relative topics.

KarlsBeratung is another initiative and, as my german is good enough already, I know that Beratung means consultancy (just kidding, I translated in on google). Here, students of Karls who search for a way to develop their start-up or who seek a job can find potential employers. It can be especially helpful for those who just start their career without any connections.

KarlsBuddies are people who don’t let international students get lost or experience something what is known as culture shock. Personally, I had a buddy when I just arrived in Germany (and I still have – we chat from time to time which is pretty cool) and I can say that it helps you a lot! Your buddy can support you emotionally, show you the cafes with the most delicious waffles in the neighborhood, help you to buy a sim-card, exchange money and deal with some annoying bureaucracy stuff (so you won’t suffer alone!).

KarlsGamers is a place where you can play online and offline games, chill, talk to people, have fun and, moreover, learn stuff! Sometimes they call speakers from the gaming industry and listen to the lectures on Gamification processes.

If you’re into sports and soccer in particular, KarlsKickers are waiting for you! It’s a university team of soccer players which is always glad to see newcomers!

Karls is about diversity and open mind. That’s why you can feel safe when discussing various topics which excite or worry you with others. We even have a place where students come with this purpose – and that’s Voices@Karls. Questions, answers, debates, discussions, support – come and get it all here.

Guys from KarlsConcerts do a really great and hard job since they literally organize concerts by themselves. They look for the artists, locations and finances and make the uni life even brighter.

Finally, we have KarlsMUN – Model United Nations initiative. Here, students represent various countries as their delegates and speak on recent topics within their committee – that’s a place for people truly interested in politics!

So yeah, I did my best to tell you a little bit about our rich social life in Karlshochschule. I do hope that you’ll find something for yourself and won’t miss an opportunity to talk, share and develop!

When I was planning my exchange semester, one of the questions I had to deal with was where should I live – in a student dormitory or in a shared apartment. I’ve been living in a dormitory for 4 months already and I can say that it was one of my best decisions so far. Especially during the lockdown.

To begin with, it’s relatively cheap – on average, dormitories cost less than any other type of accommodation. It doesn’t mean that conditions here are worse. On the contrary, usually you get a nice, not large yet cozy room you can organize however you want to. Apart from that, you get all necessary and not really necessary facilities which can liven your days here up. For instance, in my dormitory, we have music rooms, gyms, metal and wood workshops, photo lab and photo studio and more. Of course, we have such things as electricity, heating, bathrooms, kitchens and the internet (because we need to survive).

Besides, you meet a bunch of new people you’re going to spend lots of your time with after moving in – your neighbors. From my experience, the majority of dormitories residents tend to be really friendly and sympathetic people. I distinctly remember how lost I was on my first day in the dormitory. I didn’t have my own fridge and shelf in the kitchen yet, I didn’t know where I could do laundry and how to sort the garbage. But as soon as I got acquainted with one of my neighbors, she organized a whole excursion for me explaining and showing every detail. Now I’m making cookies for her :)

You also should know that I arrived with really poor knowledge of German. One day one of my neighbors asked me if I can speak it and I answered as always – “ein bisschen”. She switched to German, I panicked but played along. Now I can speak muuuch better thanks to this practice and it really encourages me to keep learning and speaking (but I’m still panicking a little bit though).

Finally, as you probably know, lockdown is going on in the whole Germany. We can’t travel much and we’re advised to decrease the number of people we meet every day. I am a quite sociable person so I was frustrated at first. However, soon I realized that you are not affected by the regulations that much if you live in a dormitory. I am always surrounded by people - we cook together, do puzzles, play games, sing and have fun! Dorm 1 – 0 quarantine.

As you can see, I’m having a nice experience living in a dormitory. I thoroughly recommend you consider this option while planning your exchange semester in Karls since here a lot of outstanding people and moments are waiting for you. :)

(I didn't know which photo i should attach here so look - in this one I'm drinking coffee and meeting sunrise on the rooftop of our building)

I can honestly say that the year 2020 was the biggest irony in my entire life so far. And here’s why: studying abroad became my main goal when I was enrolled at my uni in Russia. I really wanted to see other places, to meet new people, to dive into different environments. That’s why I decided to make as much effort as possible to get this opportunity. And, you know, I tend to believe that if you’re really committed to something, if you devote your time and energy to it, it’s definitely going to pay off. But 2020 came and shook this faith and optimism even in me. Hashtag coronavirus.

All spring and summer were quite strange and uncertain. I kept on preparing for my exchange program with a fear of failure deep inside. Finally, I realized: there’s literally nothing I can do to control COVID-19 (if I could, I would, I promise :) ). So the best thing I could do was to calm down and wait.

To be honest, I’m so bad at calming down. That’s why I was still nervous at the airport and even on the plane. And only when we got through passport control in Stuttgart I managed to breathe out and smile in spite of the exhausting flight. I don’t know how, but I reached Germany in the middle of the pandemic. The feeling was mesmerizing!

That’s when I found the first advantage of the whole situation. Because of all these difficulties and stress, you learn to appreciate every good thing which happens to you. Even if it’s something small and insignificant. And it works the other way around as well – all those little troubles suddenly become not so frustrating! I hope I'm going to keep this mindset in the future.

I am not going to lie and say that my semester here turned out to be perfect. Of course, as always there are some unpleasant moments. For instance, I am a rather sociable person and attending classes physically means a lot to me. However, the main part of online classes at Karlshochschule is organized really well. And I can eat pancakes listening to the lecturers (I really love pancakes).

Due to the restrictions, it has become hard to travel around Germany now which is another important point. However, it’s still possible in case you keep social distance and wear your mask. I think these a little bit annoying, yet simple steps are definitely worth it! My friends and I have already visited a bunch of places nearby - for instance, Freiburg. I'm going to attach a photo from there since we really loved the town!

Last but not least: I can vividly remember how much I struggled while looking for accommodation in Karlsruhe for my exchange semester. The thing is, I’ve never lived in a student dormitory before. That’s why I was torn between a shared apartment and a dorm. And you know what? Going for the dorm was the best decision I could make! Here, I’m surrounded by people from different parts of the world. We chat, cook together, play games, learn funny useless phrases in various languages and throw parties (with no more than 10 people of course ;) ). So, if you are planning to spend your exchange semester in Karlsruhe, especially during the pandemic, I thoroughly recommend you living in a student dormitory!

As you can see, I do not regret spending my semester abroad in 2020 – not at all! On the contrary, I try to consider this a unique experience. And if you still have doubts as to whether you should go all the way to Karlsruhe in such a peculiar time – cast them aside and come!

Barcelona! What a great city! I wish I could go back in time and be there again with the relatively perfect weather, warm and open-minded people and great sights, food and gastro spots. Here is a picture I took in front of the daunting Sagrada Familia on a beautiful but windy day. Here I thought that there is ever only ever construction in Germany!? Anyway, I was lucky enough to beat the outbreak of Covid19 and my trip went seamlessly. However, at the moment, most of us are camped out inside, as most people back in the US are. As I’ve been working since age 16, I always think that with too much free time, I’ll end up with cabin-fever and go insane. After not having much to do a few summers ago apart from work, I realized that boredom can be the pathway to creativity and discovery. As I’ve also learned in quite a few snowstorms, being shut inside with friends and family can sometimes drive us crazy, but we can also enjoy intimate times together playing card games, listening to music or podcasts gathered around the fireplace. Whether you have a fireplace or not (and I’m missing mine), I hope that everyone is able to make the best of an unfortunate turn of events and most importantly, I wish you and yours health and safety in these trying times. As always, feel free to message me with any questions you have about Karlsruhe, Karlshochschule or if you’d just like to have a chat!

Finally, back to Germany to celebrate the holidays with family and friends, well I guess not any blood family, for that matter, but it feels like my home-base/family in Europe. I was anxious to get back and see everyone for the holiday and to continue on the same topic of being an American in Europe, in this case, Germany specifically, I wanted to talk a bit about the holidays here.

This year, I had the pleasure and privilege of celebrating the holiday with my girlfriends family, which made for a genuine Badisch cultural experience! Since it’s generally tradition in many Catholic regions to eat fish on Christmas eve, Baden-Wurttemberg being one of them, we had salmon and then some traditional meat dishes such as duck and roulade(pickle and bacon rolled up in beef slabs and then broiled) on the following two days of Christmas. In Germany, both the 25^th and 26^th are Christmas days. Christmas gifts are generally opened on Christmas Eve as in most of Europe (to my knowledge). Quite a few people asked me how I liked the holidays in Germany, and I found it pretty similar to the US, since there is plenty of good food and games and it’s a great time to relax with family. Of course, not everyone celebrates Christmas, but even if you don’t, some of the traditions can be curious to learn about!

For New Years eve, there is of course bubbly to drink, normally raclette at the table and fireworks fill the streets!

Enough of the holiday, back to the complexities of being an American in Germany! While there is definitely a level of entitlement from the American corner, as the current German constitution took some direction from the American Constitution and the US was in charge of helping a section of Germany to get back on its feet after the war, the general attitude of both nationalities is pretty friendly and welcoming on both soils, regardless what each might think of one another’s culture or politicians. Of course, in every population, there’s always people who aren’t quite so well-read and blindly use stereotypes as a blanket statement.

Another complexity in Germany is the language. In the inner-city, most people can speak high German and/or English, but there are many regional dialects and if the people can’t speak even a bit of high German, communication can get complicated. As much as people might tell you to just focus on learning high German, learning a few of the regional greetings and sayings can put a smile on peoples face and show them that you are making an effort to integrate.

If you still have questions about other areas of daily life here, are concerned about paperwork or just flat-out disagree with what I have to say, please drop me a line or a letter! I’m anxious to hear from you! Otherwise, Happy New Year!

Being an American expat in Lithuania has been much different from my experience in Germany.
Seeing how Germany is the country with the most American expats in the world, there has
already been a chance for a very strong stereotype of Americans to take hold. America’s role
regarding international relations also plays a large role in how people in Lithuania regard
Americans.

After the end of USSR occupation in Lithuania, the US served as a sort of role model as to how
a modern and current western country could look or be like. While the culture quickly changed
to pursuing “freedom” and the American dream of buying your own house on your own land with
a big SUV to drive, the social culture in Lithuania remains what foreigners would describe as
“cold” or “reserved”. However, it isn’t just foreigners that would describe it this way, I have also
heard my teachers describe how they prefer a culture where you aren’t required to smile at
people you don’t know or talk to the person ringing out your groceries, as they find this
expectation exhausting. At times, or at least at first, it’s difficult not to take these standoffish
interactions personally, but if you take a second to consider the motivation and culture driving
these gestures, you realize you might be just as tired as they are of (at times) forcing a smile.

When I tell someone that I’m American, their general reaction is to ask where I’m from and they
tell me where they’ve been or where they have relatives in the states. People are generally
distrusting or suspicious of their neighbor in Lithuania, and reasonably so, having undergone a
long occupation by the USSR, but once they hear where I’m from they’re generally warm and
welcoming, trying to relate and asking what brings me to their quaint little country.

Being a smaller country that is underrepresented, people are much more likely to want to be
friends and make connections and also are quite reserved. These observations are of course
based on my own perceptions and interactions, where I’ve mainly only spent time in the city of
Vilnius and I’m sure my perception would be different were I spending more time in the country
where there are next to no foreign people visiting or living.

I hope this answers some questions about my experience and if you get the chance, definitely
come up to the Baltics and make some friends! Please write me if you have further questions or
disagree with my opinions! =)

Picture is at the Vilnius Christmas Market!

“You’re cool, for an American!” “Did you vote for Trump?” The list of interesting and sometimes upsetting things people say to you all over the world, even in your own country for that matter, grows longer every day, doesn’t it? The concept of being an American outside of the US, an “expat”, as it were, raises many questions from fellow Americans as well as just about every person I get the chance to converse with. 

While we could all just ignore the fact that we were brought up in different contexts with different beliefs in different settings, social and otherwise, seemingly ignorant questions about living abroad and each other’s cultures in general, always come to surface in some way or another.  

It’s great to tackle these questions head on and educate ourselves about other people’s cultures, however there are sometimes pitfalls to being open and curious. With the best of intentions, you also run the risk of offending others or might feel insulted by the direct nature of people asking you questions or even pressured to properly answer questions as a sort of ambassador for your country, even if for a small number of people. It might seem like nothing can ever go right within the intercultural context, but through interactions and conversations with others, I have come to some realizations and learned a lot about different perspectives. 

Living in the US, you learn a lot about the US’ role in the world and about American views on other countries. There is a lot of speculation about how citizens of other countries feel about the US, but I guarantee you that you will be surprised about what some people have to say, whether the dialogue is in support or criticism of the US or other countries. People that are willing to discuss such in-depth topics with you are generally willing to listen to what you have to say and very respectful of your point of view. 

In the following two posts, I will be discussing my experiences as an American in Lithuania as well as in Germany, covering experiences both in talking about the US and it’s culture as well as trying to learn about other countries.  

Picture is from my recent trip to Riga, which was a bit colder than Vilnius, in front of the House of the Blackheads.

Trakai Island Castle! While tourists don’t necessarily bother taking a tour of the inside of the castle, taking a quiet stroll around the island outside the castle walls is a great breath of fresh air from the city. Only 20 minutes by car or 45 minutes by public transport, the village of Trakai is a great day (or evening) trip idea from Vilnius. Many have said that one of the greatest things about Vilnius is leaving it, and once you see the nature and countryside of Lithuania, you will surely agree. There’s a good reason why so many Lithuanian last names have to do with nature! I’m certainly learning more about the country, thanks especially to my ‘Lithuania and Lithuanians Today: Sociocultural Issues’ class, for which I will be completing a research project about the role of music from pre- to post USSR occupation. I’m really looking forward to conducting interviews and learning something new about this area of Europe! More content to come! 

Yes, another city, I know, my life just seems like non-stop travel, but this time it was for good reason! I just had to meet my mother where she lived as a young girl, Florence (Firenze). I haven’t been to many Italian cities, but of the cities I’ve visited in Europe, it has to be one of the nicest! The sites and culture of all levels are something to behold. You won’t feel like the only American here as each time I visit, there are more and more, but if you want to immerse yourself deeper into Italian culture and to work on your Italian, like I have been trying to, there’s plenty of places to practice where very few tourists will make it to. Yes, being away from home is hard, but what I always tell people is that if you make it to Europe, I will find a way to meet you! With budget flights, trains and buses, it’s all feasible. When you make it over to Karl’s, who will you miss the most and what countries and cities do you plan on seeing together when they come to visit? Maybe you have a friend that is interested in studying with you abroad? Regardless, you might make friends in the most unsuspecting of places. Definitely take the chance to visit Italy, with plenty of coffee, pasta, pizza and friendly faces, you won’t be disappointed. Pictured is the view from Piazzale Michelangelo.

At the “Karls,” as we call our University, we are encouraged to think critically about social norms and what society tells us is acceptable and then to question these potential falsehoods. We often have opportunity to conduct more current research, rather than run-of-the-mill. Social media is one of the under-fire subjects these days since we often compare all of our struggles and hardships to other people’s “highlight reel” moments that they post on social media. Of course, I don’t want to share all of life’s difficulties, but rather focus on the positive, like when I get to finally make it out for an evening stroll to Užupis, one of the more artsy sections of Vilnius, which is about a mile away. As you can see from the sign, they are their own republic and even have their own laws and Constitution. The people there seem a little bit more outgoing and inviting than the rest of the city, but that may require further investigation! While I am privileged to travel quite a bit, I think social media is about being able to make the things in your life that might seem mundane to you, interesting. Do you think this is the only skill required to be a social media guru, or do I need to work on my gif and boomerang game? P.s. That is indeed a swing hanging over the water under the bridge =). At the “Karls,” as we call our University, we are encouraged to think critically about social norms and what society tells us is acceptable and then to question these potential falsehoods. We often have opportunity to conduct more current research, rather than run-of-the-mill. Social media is one of the under-fire subjects these days since we often compare all of our struggles and hardships to other people’s “highlight reel” moments that they post on social media. Of course, I don’t want to share all of life’s difficulties, but rather focus on the positive, like when I get to finally make it out for an evening stroll to Užupis, one of the more artsy sections of Vilnius, which is about a mile away. As you can see from the sign, they are their own republic and even have their own laws and Constitution. The people there seem a little bit more outgoing and inviting than the rest of the city, but that may require further investigation! While I am privileged to travel quite a bit, I think social media is about being able to make the things in your life that might seem mundane to you, interesting. Do you think this is the only skill required to be a social media guru, or do I need to work on my gif and boomerang game? P.s. That is indeed a swing hanging over the water under the bridge =).

Jolly old London was where I was headed for the weekend! Though the weather was a bit rainy, as one might expect in the motherland, I had a great weekend of exploring the city with it's various sites, cafes, pubs and people! I would definitely recommend at the very least, a weekend stay there, as I'm sure even a week there will leave you wanting to see other parts of England. There's something in London for everyone and the people there are very open-minded and will have plenty of recommendations for places to visit and things to do. My personal favorite area was Camden, but in a weekend, there was only time to see so much! I even talked to someone about a place to stay for more extended amounts of time if I'm ever in the city, which if you're familiar with the city, isn't always easy to come by. There are plenty of budget flights into city airport which is about 30-45 minutes from most of the downtown action, so find yourself a cheap flight for a weekend excursion!

Behold! Vilnius Cathedral! Though it's already starting to cool down and winter feels like it's just around the corner, it's nice to get out for a walk on a beautiful day in Vilnius. The process of acclimating to a new city, country and culture might not be a quick, nor an easy one, but at Karls, we mostly agree that leaving our comfort zone will bring the most personal growth. After attending the first few classes of each of my lectures, finding an apartment and seeking out a suitable gym, I am yet again reminded of how much of a home I have made in Karlsruhe in the mere 3 years I have spent there. In a way, I can be homesick not only for my home in New England, but also for the friends and home I have made in Germany. Through the homesickness though, we can always remind ourselves of the great opportunities we have to travel and experience different cultures and that we will see our friends and family again, so that's all the more reason to seize the day and take advantage of the time and opportunity that has been given to us. Tomorrow, I have yet another opportunity, since Vilnius Airport is 5 minutes away! Stay tuned to see where I'm headed!

When you show up in a new city, the single best thing you can do is open your mouth and tell people how clueless you are! When I went into a vinyl shop and was asking about a few albums, the shop owner told me that I should really check out the International Vinyl Festival in a week and a half. I was free, considering that my Sundays are usually always free, as in Germany, Sundays are generally a day of rest where you can stay in your pajamas without judgement! The festival was much smaller and intimate than I had expected but with no lack of great vinyl booths from various shops in the region, as well as live music, cold beverages and food! Vilnius is generally much more soft spoken and reserved, but when people find out where you're from, they're generally eager to exchange words and chat to you for a while. I probably walked away with a few too many vinyls, but that's a well spent Sunday to me! Stay tuned for more Lithuanian adventures!

It's been a long time coming but I'm finally in Vilnius! Luckily, we stumbled upon a homey and warm little studio apartment that, at first glance seemed a bit on the rougher end of town. Another reminder not to judge a book by it's cover! Even after looking at an apartment that was freshly renovated, it was clear that a gut feeling of warmth, rather than something fancy and freshly constructed, was what was more important. In addition to an apartment, it's important to have relaxing work spaces with great coffee and snacks as you slave away at school work and I couldn't imagine a better one than the cafe pictured. While the roastery that provides the coffee is just around the corner, the cafe at Baliwood offers a nice atmosphere with the many plants, artwork and furniture the store has to offer. I'm afraid one of the many plants that live here might have to come live in our apartment! Stay tuned for more Lithuanian content!

Being on the road for 2 days just to move to my ERASMUS location might seem a bit drastic, but as you can see, my girlfriend and I both have our hobbies and passions, Gourmet Food and Coffee being just one of them. As I sit in a little specialty cafe in Wroclaw to write this, I look forward to road ahead of me, especially since I find the Polish highways much easier to drive on, at least with a slower car that is packed with records, coffee brewing supplies and warm weather clothes. Since I have no idea where we'll be headed after this semester, it made the packing and moving out of the apartments seem much more worth it. Now we can easily pack up and drive to the next city, if our hearts aren't won over by Vilnius, which, from what I hear, could likely happen. Yes, that is a sweet omelette with pomegranate and maple syrup, filled with oats, just in case you were wondering! As always stay tuned for more content from my end and enjoy your summer! 

Undergoing the process to move to another country, whether for 6 months or 6 years, is never an easy one and is quite stressful! As I plan my move to Lithuania, I have been doing research about what each neighborhood has to offer, for some it's green parks and churches and others, street art and hip cafes. While a lot of people might associate Lithuania and the Baltic countries in general with Russia, you can see from this picture that the people think for themselves, regardless of your opinion of either politician. I'm looking forward so much to my move in just over a week, despite the stress and daunting hourglass that is quickly running out of time. Next Tuesday, my girlfriend and I will make the 17-hour drive to Vilnius, with one stop in Wroclaw, Poland. Hopefully once there, we will be able to secure an apartment as soon as possible since orientation week starts on the 30^th and classes, the week after. Stay tuned for more Lithuanian content and enjoy your summer!

 I had been looking forward to the past week for 6 months, when my brother would finally make it over to visit me and we would get to go to arguably one of the best metal festivals in the world, Brutal Assault in Czech Republic! It was definitely a great time with very reasonably priced tickets, concessions and a relaxed and friendly atmosphere! The week flew by and I would definitely do it again as it was under 100 Euros per ticket and only a 6 hour drive from Karlsruhe. After seeing so many great bands for such a low price, I could understand why so many people here in Europe regularly attend 3-5 day festivals. Now that that is over with, it’s back to work selling my furniture, dealing with bureaucracy and organizing accommodation in Vilnius! Stay tuned for more content!

P.S. If you could attend one festival in Europe, which one would it be and why? =)   

With the recent heatwave, it's important to stay cool, but also to get some fresh air! One of my favorite ways to do that here is to visit one of the many lakes in the area. There are many man-made as well as natural lakes where you can relax, read a book, take a dip and catch some rays. The park and lake culture here in Germany is really relaxed and most people realize the dangers of burnout. It’s of course important to work hard and play hard! In other news, I’m really looking forward to my journey to Lithuania and working more on the organizational side of things day by day. I’ll be sure to post some content from my journey as well as the orientation week that starts August 30^th! Stay tuned for more content and my impending change of location!

DAS FEST 2019! This festival set a record for number of attendees in 2009 with 400,000 and since then, a ticket is required to enter the mainstage. I imagine with lower security and more people, the party was a bit more intense and according to many locals, “It’s not as good as it used to be when it was free!” but that doesn’t mean that the party doesn’t go on! With acts from Funk to Folk to House tech, there’s something for everyone, plenty of cold drinks and great festival food! I’m personally only going to make it to the fest on Sunday to see Rival Sons, but the city is already crawling with festival tourists on this muggy Friday afternoon as the fest is, as every year, sold out for friday and saturday. I hope that you are able to make it to DAS FEST when you move to the area and can experience the true festival spirit of community and being part of something bigger! As always, I’m looking forward to hearing from you and stay tuned for more content!

Who would have thought so many different artists would make their way through Karlsruhe?! This week I had the opportunity to see God is an Astronaut, who are a post-rock band from Ireland. I’m really stuck on living in Oststadt, since it puts you right near both Substage and Jubez, as most of the rock bands I like to see play in either venue. Of course, there are more underground venues for all types of subgenres and subcultures. I was originally just attracted to the university’s image and ideas about what an education really means and ended up in one of the most commonly toured cities in Germany (and western Europe). Since networking is probably one of your fortes as an incoming Karls student (or existing one), it isn’t hard to make all kinds of interesting connections in a reasonably small city. Stay tuned for more summer fun content! 😉

All I need is a suit of armor and I would look like I belonged on the iron throne, right?! I had a blast in Belfast at the Game of Thrones exhibition which was full of all kinds of weapons, costumes as well as the original iron throne used on set. Belfast was full of great cafes, pubs and restaurants, not to mention very friendly and accommodating people. Though my time in Belfast was rather short, I felt it was well deserved after all the stress of the semester and it’s really nice (not to mention necessary) to get out of Karlsruhe every once in a while. Compared to a typical vacation to Disney World or Virginia Beach, I would say this would be much more affordable, were it not for my expensive taste in cafes and craft beer!? This week I’ll be sure to post about Dublin, which I also briefly visited, but am looking forward to visiting again. There was so much to see and so little time, but there’s always affordable budget flights and plenty of vacation time here to go out and explore! As always don’t hesitate to write me, I’d be glad to answer questions or even just have a chat! =)

Every year, Scruffy’s and Linden’s Irish Pubs host a St. Patrick’s Day Parade between the two pubs. While this is always a hectic day for myself being an employee of Linden’s, the camaraderie among the irish, locals and expats always makes for an exceptionally good time. Next year, get in on the Craic! Slainte!

Hosted in KOHI Kulturraum by Eduard Mucha, one of Karlshochschules finest, Loose Lips storytelling nights take place the first thursday of every month in english. In such a digitalized age, it’s refreshing to forget about social media for an evening and share life experiences the old fashioned way. Pictured is Alexandra Caruso from Michigan, who also studies at Karls, sharing a story on the evenings topic of ‘Police’. Looking forward to seeing more Karls students take the stage!

It might come as a surprise to you how many artists come through Karlsruhe, as it did me when I first moved here. Just recently, the NYC-based jazz-fusion group Alex Skolnick Trio performed in KOHI, an arts and cultural center that provides just the right setting for an intimate and heartfelt performance. Stay tuned for more Arts and Cultural Content!

To be fair, I’m not a clingy person – in any sense. I’d even say that I’m completely and utterly terrified of everything permanent in this life. I do need changes and dynamics. That was the main reason for my confusion when everyone in Moscow kept asking me how I could go to another country for a year all by myself. Alone.

I was fine at the moment and I’m more than fine now when I found new, fascinating, kind, mesmerizing friends here. And I chat with my Moscow gang and call them every week! I can confidently promise you that all those people who say that you’re going to lose contact with your hometown people are wrong. If you truly want it, you’ll keep them.

Actually, my main concern was about survival alone. I mean, for the first time in my life I had to cook, do the groceries, do the laundry, deal with bureaucracy and finances by myself. Moreover, I had to survive in Germany without any decent knowledge of german per se. Splendid!

Besides, I was quite insecure about talking to people when I just arrived since I had no idea what they are like here – in a completely different place, in a different environment. Should I be more reserved? Or more active? Can I talk at all?

But eventually, it turned into a truly thrilling journey for me! As I said, I met lots of interesting people and even made some friends (great success)! We cook and bake together, celebrate holidays, go on trips, play volleyball, chat a lot, laugh a lot a lot and support each other. By the way, I learned to cook as well and you can read about this experience in my latest post! Finally, I turned out to be a responsible person and now I know a little more about paying taxes, planning my finances, and dealing with documents. I even cleaned the windows in my room, can you imagine that!

And my german level now allows me to order my favorite pastry in the bakery nearby which is also a great achievement for me :)

So yeah, I can promise you that going abroad alone might be scary at first but it will teach you independence which sounds pretty cool. Go for it!

I consider myself a rather sociable person so usually I try to check out all local activities I can participate in. One of the things I was surprised with most when coming to Karls was the number of initiatives it has. There you can not only find a group of people sharing same interests and ideas, but also discover an environment where you can develop your skills and knowledge on various topics. Let me walk you through all the initiatives and tell you a little bit about each one of them.

First of all, we have Hakuna Matata (sounds good, I know!) – a place when students are encouraged to interact with each other, exchange cultures and grow personally and socially. It is a safe space that can be especially comfortable for international students.

We also have KarlsStorytellers – an initiative where people get an opportunity to tell their stories in any imaginable format – articles, video blogs, podcasts and so on. It doesn’t matter how experienced you are. Even if you struggle with a new topic, editing or shooting the video, people are always here for you! It is a real opportunity to master your creative abilities.

Student Board (or STuV) consists of people representing student community of Karls. These guys gather all sorts of feedback from the students and help to make our uni a better place. It doesn’t cover just the educational side, the board also pays attention to the university facilities, events and atmosphere in general.

KarlsforFuture is a group of people who share the eagerness to care about nature, lead a sustainable lifestyle, stay green and promote these values around Karls students. They organize events and exhibitions and communicate with others on relative topics.

KarlsBeratung is another initiative and, as my german is good enough already, I know that Beratung means consultancy (just kidding, I translated in on google). Here, students of Karls who search for a way to develop their start-up or who seek a job can find potential employers. It can be especially helpful for those who just start their career without any connections.

KarlsBuddies are people who don’t let international students get lost or experience something what is known as culture shock. Personally, I had a buddy when I just arrived in Germany (and I still have – we chat from time to time which is pretty cool) and I can say that it helps you a lot! Your buddy can support you emotionally, show you the cafes with the most delicious waffles in the neighborhood, help you to buy a sim-card, exchange money and deal with some annoying bureaucracy stuff (so you won’t suffer alone!).

KarlsGamers is a place where you can play online and offline games, chill, talk to people, have fun and, moreover, learn stuff! Sometimes they call speakers from the gaming industry and listen to the lectures on Gamification processes.

If you’re into sports and soccer in particular, KarlsKickers are waiting for you! It’s a university team of soccer players which is always glad to see newcomers!

Karls is about diversity and open mind. That’s why you can feel safe when discussing various topics which excite or worry you with others. We even have a place where students come with this purpose – and that’s Voices@Karls. Questions, answers, debates, discussions, support – come and get it all here.

Guys from KarlsConcerts do a really great and hard job since they literally organize concerts by themselves. They look for the artists, locations and finances and make the uni life even brighter.

Finally, we have KarlsMUN – Model United Nations initiative. Here, students represent various countries as their delegates and speak on recent topics within their committee – that’s a place for people truly interested in politics!

So yeah, I did my best to tell you a little bit about our rich social life in Karlshochschule. I do hope that you’ll find something for yourself and won’t miss an opportunity to talk, share and develop!

Bubble tea! It might not be for everyone, but I’m sure there’s one Asian restaurant in Karlsruhe that you’ll enjoy! When you consider the waves of immigration to Germany, it’s not a surprise that there’s tons of great Asian, Syrian and Turkish restaurants and grocery stores to be discovered. Instead of going out for a Schnitzel and Apfelschorle (sparkling apple juice), why not change it up and discover something new with one of the other options in Karlsruhe!? Of course, this comes with fewer Jamaican and Mexican and Central/South American options which I always miss, but after a semester or internship abroad, you might find yourself missing at least one of the restaurants in Karlsruhe, like I did. Be sure to contact me or one of the other KarlsAmbassadors if you are curious about the local restaurants and tasty spots in Karlsruhe! I look forward to hearing from you!

That’s me at the Karl’s Semester Abroad Market Place! I was happy to participate despite the ongoing, somewhat hectic search for an internship! It was great to talk to a few of the Foundation Year, 1^st and 3^rd semester students not only about Lithuania, but also about how I came to decide on Lithuania. While I had visited quite a few of the western European countries, I had my curiosities about the lifestyle and values in some of the northern and eastern countries, perhaps since I come from the northeast of my country!? It has been great to regroup with a few fellow Karl’s students, discussing exciting prospects of internships, interesting experiences during semester abroad as well as where we’ll work and live, after studies (eventually) finish up. Now is when everything we have learned in class starts to manifest into reality and gradually carry over into our daily work lives. Not only has my experience at Karl’s influenced my work life, but also the decision to stay in Europe (at least for the near future) and has further shaped my worldview. Education has always been an ongoing journey, one that I don’t plan to stop after graduation and Karl’s has fuelled my thirst for adventure and exploration, especially of different theories and cultures. Stay tuned as I delve into my sixth semester!

Finally, back to Germany to celebrate the holidays with family and friends, well I guess not any blood family, for that matter, but it feels like my home-base/family in Europe. I was anxious to get back and see everyone for the holiday and to continue on the same topic of being an American in Europe, in this case, Germany specifically, I wanted to talk a bit about the holidays here.

This year, I had the pleasure and privilege of celebrating the holiday with my girlfriends family, which made for a genuine Badisch cultural experience! Since it’s generally tradition in many Catholic regions to eat fish on Christmas eve, Baden-Wurttemberg being one of them, we had salmon and then some traditional meat dishes such as duck and roulade(pickle and bacon rolled up in beef slabs and then broiled) on the following two days of Christmas. In Germany, both the 25^th and 26^th are Christmas days. Christmas gifts are generally opened on Christmas Eve as in most of Europe (to my knowledge). Quite a few people asked me how I liked the holidays in Germany, and I found it pretty similar to the US, since there is plenty of good food and games and it’s a great time to relax with family. Of course, not everyone celebrates Christmas, but even if you don’t, some of the traditions can be curious to learn about!

For New Years eve, there is of course bubbly to drink, normally raclette at the table and fireworks fill the streets!

Enough of the holiday, back to the complexities of being an American in Germany! While there is definitely a level of entitlement from the American corner, as the current German constitution took some direction from the American Constitution and the US was in charge of helping a section of Germany to get back on its feet after the war, the general attitude of both nationalities is pretty friendly and welcoming on both soils, regardless what each might think of one another’s culture or politicians. Of course, in every population, there’s always people who aren’t quite so well-read and blindly use stereotypes as a blanket statement.

Another complexity in Germany is the language. In the inner-city, most people can speak high German and/or English, but there are many regional dialects and if the people can’t speak even a bit of high German, communication can get complicated. As much as people might tell you to just focus on learning high German, learning a few of the regional greetings and sayings can put a smile on peoples face and show them that you are making an effort to integrate.

If you still have questions about other areas of daily life here, are concerned about paperwork or just flat-out disagree with what I have to say, please drop me a line or a letter! I’m anxious to hear from you! Otherwise, Happy New Year!

Trakai Island Castle! While tourists don’t necessarily bother taking a tour of the inside of the castle, taking a quiet stroll around the island outside the castle walls is a great breath of fresh air from the city. Only 20 minutes by car or 45 minutes by public transport, the village of Trakai is a great day (or evening) trip idea from Vilnius. Many have said that one of the greatest things about Vilnius is leaving it, and once you see the nature and countryside of Lithuania, you will surely agree. There’s a good reason why so many Lithuanian last names have to do with nature! I’m certainly learning more about the country, thanks especially to my ‘Lithuania and Lithuanians Today: Sociocultural Issues’ class, for which I will be completing a research project about the role of music from pre- to post USSR occupation. I’m really looking forward to conducting interviews and learning something new about this area of Europe! More content to come! 

At the “Karls,” as we call our University, we are encouraged to think critically about social norms and what society tells us is acceptable and then to question these potential falsehoods. We often have opportunity to conduct more current research, rather than run-of-the-mill. Social media is one of the under-fire subjects these days since we often compare all of our struggles and hardships to other people’s “highlight reel” moments that they post on social media. Of course, I don’t want to share all of life’s difficulties, but rather focus on the positive, like when I get to finally make it out for an evening stroll to Užupis, one of the more artsy sections of Vilnius, which is about a mile away. As you can see from the sign, they are their own republic and even have their own laws and Constitution. The people there seem a little bit more outgoing and inviting than the rest of the city, but that may require further investigation! While I am privileged to travel quite a bit, I think social media is about being able to make the things in your life that might seem mundane to you, interesting. Do you think this is the only skill required to be a social media guru, or do I need to work on my gif and boomerang game? P.s. That is indeed a swing hanging over the water under the bridge =). At the “Karls,” as we call our University, we are encouraged to think critically about social norms and what society tells us is acceptable and then to question these potential falsehoods. We often have opportunity to conduct more current research, rather than run-of-the-mill. Social media is one of the under-fire subjects these days since we often compare all of our struggles and hardships to other people’s “highlight reel” moments that they post on social media. Of course, I don’t want to share all of life’s difficulties, but rather focus on the positive, like when I get to finally make it out for an evening stroll to Užupis, one of the more artsy sections of Vilnius, which is about a mile away. As you can see from the sign, they are their own republic and even have their own laws and Constitution. The people there seem a little bit more outgoing and inviting than the rest of the city, but that may require further investigation! While I am privileged to travel quite a bit, I think social media is about being able to make the things in your life that might seem mundane to you, interesting. Do you think this is the only skill required to be a social media guru, or do I need to work on my gif and boomerang game? P.s. That is indeed a swing hanging over the water under the bridge =).

Behold! Vilnius Cathedral! Though it's already starting to cool down and winter feels like it's just around the corner, it's nice to get out for a walk on a beautiful day in Vilnius. The process of acclimating to a new city, country and culture might not be a quick, nor an easy one, but at Karls, we mostly agree that leaving our comfort zone will bring the most personal growth. After attending the first few classes of each of my lectures, finding an apartment and seeking out a suitable gym, I am yet again reminded of how much of a home I have made in Karlsruhe in the mere 3 years I have spent there. In a way, I can be homesick not only for my home in New England, but also for the friends and home I have made in Germany. Through the homesickness though, we can always remind ourselves of the great opportunities we have to travel and experience different cultures and that we will see our friends and family again, so that's all the more reason to seize the day and take advantage of the time and opportunity that has been given to us. Tomorrow, I have yet another opportunity, since Vilnius Airport is 5 minutes away! Stay tuned to see where I'm headed!

When you show up in a new city, the single best thing you can do is open your mouth and tell people how clueless you are! When I went into a vinyl shop and was asking about a few albums, the shop owner told me that I should really check out the International Vinyl Festival in a week and a half. I was free, considering that my Sundays are usually always free, as in Germany, Sundays are generally a day of rest where you can stay in your pajamas without judgement! The festival was much smaller and intimate than I had expected but with no lack of great vinyl booths from various shops in the region, as well as live music, cold beverages and food! Vilnius is generally much more soft spoken and reserved, but when people find out where you're from, they're generally eager to exchange words and chat to you for a while. I probably walked away with a few too many vinyls, but that's a well spent Sunday to me! Stay tuned for more Lithuanian adventures!

With the recent heatwave, it's important to stay cool, but also to get some fresh air! One of my favorite ways to do that here is to visit one of the many lakes in the area. There are many man-made as well as natural lakes where you can relax, read a book, take a dip and catch some rays. The park and lake culture here in Germany is really relaxed and most people realize the dangers of burnout. It’s of course important to work hard and play hard! In other news, I’m really looking forward to my journey to Lithuania and working more on the organizational side of things day by day. I’ll be sure to post some content from my journey as well as the orientation week that starts August 30^th! Stay tuned for more content and my impending change of location!

DAS FEST 2019! This festival set a record for number of attendees in 2009 with 400,000 and since then, a ticket is required to enter the mainstage. I imagine with lower security and more people, the party was a bit more intense and according to many locals, “It’s not as good as it used to be when it was free!” but that doesn’t mean that the party doesn’t go on! With acts from Funk to Folk to House tech, there’s something for everyone, plenty of cold drinks and great festival food! I’m personally only going to make it to the fest on Sunday to see Rival Sons, but the city is already crawling with festival tourists on this muggy Friday afternoon as the fest is, as every year, sold out for friday and saturday. I hope that you are able to make it to DAS FEST when you move to the area and can experience the true festival spirit of community and being part of something bigger! As always, I’m looking forward to hearing from you and stay tuned for more content!

Who would have thought so many different artists would make their way through Karlsruhe?! This week I had the opportunity to see God is an Astronaut, who are a post-rock band from Ireland. I’m really stuck on living in Oststadt, since it puts you right near both Substage and Jubez, as most of the rock bands I like to see play in either venue. Of course, there are more underground venues for all types of subgenres and subcultures. I was originally just attracted to the university’s image and ideas about what an education really means and ended up in one of the most commonly toured cities in Germany (and western Europe). Since networking is probably one of your fortes as an incoming Karls student (or existing one), it isn’t hard to make all kinds of interesting connections in a reasonably small city. Stay tuned for more summer fun content! 😉

Yet again, we come to the end of another semester and what better way to celebrate all of our hard work than a BBQ put on by the Karls!? The APRO company project presentations went swimmingly (quite literally as we were all dealing with the recent heatwave in Europe) and many of the students who were away on internships and semester abroad were back to party, visit and present their reports for transfer week. Not only was it a BBQ for the end of the semester, but the Karls is also celebrating it’s 10^th anniversary this year.  It was rather bittersweet to see everyone just briefly, as many students will be making their way back home for summer and many will also be leaving before the semester in Germany begins, such as myself. For my semester abroad, I chose University of Vilnius in Lithuania, which I am very excited about! The semester in Lithuania begins in the second week of September, but I will be leaving Karlsruhe at the end of August to attend their orientation week. Fear not! I am still available and earnestly awaiting your emails and skype-sessions! Stay tuned for Lithuania and vacation content to come! Enjoy your summer and hope to talk soon!

Every year, Scruffy’s and Linden’s Irish Pubs host a St. Patrick’s Day Parade between the two pubs. While this is always a hectic day for myself being an employee of Linden’s, the camaraderie among the irish, locals and expats always makes for an exceptionally good time. Next year, get in on the Craic! Slainte!

Hosted in KOHI Kulturraum by Eduard Mucha, one of Karlshochschules finest, Loose Lips storytelling nights take place the first thursday of every month in english. In such a digitalized age, it’s refreshing to forget about social media for an evening and share life experiences the old fashioned way. Pictured is Alexandra Caruso from Michigan, who also studies at Karls, sharing a story on the evenings topic of ‘Police’. Looking forward to seeing more Karls students take the stage!

It might come as a surprise to you how many artists come through Karlsruhe, as it did me when I first moved here. Just recently, the NYC-based jazz-fusion group Alex Skolnick Trio performed in KOHI, an arts and cultural center that provides just the right setting for an intimate and heartfelt performance. Stay tuned for more Arts and Cultural Content!

While writing my latest posts I was trying to make them as informative and beneficial as possible but today I suggest chilling and discussing something nice. For example, food.

Fun (or not) fact about me – I had no idea how to cook or bake before coming here. I don’t have a clear explanation really.. I guess, everyone in my family just got used to my mom being in charge of all the meals and I never was encouraged to start.

But then I came here and realized that I need to survive. If only you knew how excited and terrified I was.

The first thing I learned and which I believe should be taught in the schools – rice increases if you boil it. You should have seen my eyes when I was standing in the kitchen of my dorm in the middle of the night with an immense pan of rice. I ended up with two huge food containers full of rice in my fridge. I was eating it for two weeks. I think it affected me a lot..

I also remember how I was trying to cut an onion and there were a lot of people in the kitchen. Basically, I got really nervous, the onion slipped and flew away guys. I am so gifted. Still struggling to cut this beautiful vegetable though, we’re definitely not best buddies.

Oh, I almost forgot! I was so scared to cook in front of my neighbors that I used to get up at 6 every morning to learn to cook something new. And I am not a morning person. I am still surprised I was so eager to learn this stuff.

So yeah, the very first stages were a real journey for me. Eventually, I started checking new recipes and trying them out – it turned out to be easier than expected! Pasta, new variations of breakfasts, gnocchi, salads. At some point, I discovered the world of baking and that was one of the most mesmerizing moments of my life here.

You probably need to know that I’ve never had an oven at home in Moscow so for me it looks like something potentially hazardous. However, one day my friend and I decided to make a cheesecake and I tried to memorize the process of dealing with this novelty. Pretty soon I made my very first pasta in it and started trying out all those recipes I was saving and afraid to use. So far I’ve made muffins, cakes, cookies, tofu, oatmeal, vegetables, cinabonnes (my love), and croissants. I think I enjoy baking almost as much as eating (and I love to eat let’s be honest here).

My goal for this month – pizza and bread! Let’s see how I’m going to learn making those. Man, I do love pastry.

As you can see, I found out a lot of new things after coming to Germany on my own. I really enjoy comparing myself today to me in October and see these differences. So believe me – you will definitely learn something new here besides those courses in your uni schedule! And good luck with that! :)

I consider myself a rather sociable person so usually I try to check out all local activities I can participate in. One of the things I was surprised with most when coming to Karls was the number of initiatives it has. There you can not only find a group of people sharing same interests and ideas, but also discover an environment where you can develop your skills and knowledge on various topics. Let me walk you through all the initiatives and tell you a little bit about each one of them.

First of all, we have Hakuna Matata (sounds good, I know!) – a place when students are encouraged to interact with each other, exchange cultures and grow personally and socially. It is a safe space that can be especially comfortable for international students.

We also have KarlsStorytellers – an initiative where people get an opportunity to tell their stories in any imaginable format – articles, video blogs, podcasts and so on. It doesn’t matter how experienced you are. Even if you struggle with a new topic, editing or shooting the video, people are always here for you! It is a real opportunity to master your creative abilities.

Student Board (or STuV) consists of people representing student community of Karls. These guys gather all sorts of feedback from the students and help to make our uni a better place. It doesn’t cover just the educational side, the board also pays attention to the university facilities, events and atmosphere in general.

KarlsforFuture is a group of people who share the eagerness to care about nature, lead a sustainable lifestyle, stay green and promote these values around Karls students. They organize events and exhibitions and communicate with others on relative topics.

KarlsBeratung is another initiative and, as my german is good enough already, I know that Beratung means consultancy (just kidding, I translated in on google). Here, students of Karls who search for a way to develop their start-up or who seek a job can find potential employers. It can be especially helpful for those who just start their career without any connections.

KarlsBuddies are people who don’t let international students get lost or experience something what is known as culture shock. Personally, I had a buddy when I just arrived in Germany (and I still have – we chat from time to time which is pretty cool) and I can say that it helps you a lot! Your buddy can support you emotionally, show you the cafes with the most delicious waffles in the neighborhood, help you to buy a sim-card, exchange money and deal with some annoying bureaucracy stuff (so you won’t suffer alone!).

KarlsGamers is a place where you can play online and offline games, chill, talk to people, have fun and, moreover, learn stuff! Sometimes they call speakers from the gaming industry and listen to the lectures on Gamification processes.

If you’re into sports and soccer in particular, KarlsKickers are waiting for you! It’s a university team of soccer players which is always glad to see newcomers!

Karls is about diversity and open mind. That’s why you can feel safe when discussing various topics which excite or worry you with others. We even have a place where students come with this purpose – and that’s Voices@Karls. Questions, answers, debates, discussions, support – come and get it all here.

Guys from KarlsConcerts do a really great and hard job since they literally organize concerts by themselves. They look for the artists, locations and finances and make the uni life even brighter.

Finally, we have KarlsMUN – Model United Nations initiative. Here, students represent various countries as their delegates and speak on recent topics within their committee – that’s a place for people truly interested in politics!

So yeah, I did my best to tell you a little bit about our rich social life in Karlshochschule. I do hope that you’ll find something for yourself and won’t miss an opportunity to talk, share and develop!

Barcelona! What a great city! I wish I could go back in time and be there again with the relatively perfect weather, warm and open-minded people and great sights, food and gastro spots. Here is a picture I took in front of the daunting Sagrada Familia on a beautiful but windy day. Here I thought that there is ever only ever construction in Germany!? Anyway, I was lucky enough to beat the outbreak of Covid19 and my trip went seamlessly. However, at the moment, most of us are camped out inside, as most people back in the US are. As I’ve been working since age 16, I always think that with too much free time, I’ll end up with cabin-fever and go insane. After not having much to do a few summers ago apart from work, I realized that boredom can be the pathway to creativity and discovery. As I’ve also learned in quite a few snowstorms, being shut inside with friends and family can sometimes drive us crazy, but we can also enjoy intimate times together playing card games, listening to music or podcasts gathered around the fireplace. Whether you have a fireplace or not (and I’m missing mine), I hope that everyone is able to make the best of an unfortunate turn of events and most importantly, I wish you and yours health and safety in these trying times. As always, feel free to message me with any questions you have about Karlsruhe, Karlshochschule or if you’d just like to have a chat!

Bubble tea! It might not be for everyone, but I’m sure there’s one Asian restaurant in Karlsruhe that you’ll enjoy! When you consider the waves of immigration to Germany, it’s not a surprise that there’s tons of great Asian, Syrian and Turkish restaurants and grocery stores to be discovered. Instead of going out for a Schnitzel and Apfelschorle (sparkling apple juice), why not change it up and discover something new with one of the other options in Karlsruhe!? Of course, this comes with fewer Jamaican and Mexican and Central/South American options which I always miss, but after a semester or internship abroad, you might find yourself missing at least one of the restaurants in Karlsruhe, like I did. Be sure to contact me or one of the other KarlsAmbassadors if you are curious about the local restaurants and tasty spots in Karlsruhe! I look forward to hearing from you!

That’s me at the Karl’s Semester Abroad Market Place! I was happy to participate despite the ongoing, somewhat hectic search for an internship! It was great to talk to a few of the Foundation Year, 1^st and 3^rd semester students not only about Lithuania, but also about how I came to decide on Lithuania. While I had visited quite a few of the western European countries, I had my curiosities about the lifestyle and values in some of the northern and eastern countries, perhaps since I come from the northeast of my country!? It has been great to regroup with a few fellow Karl’s students, discussing exciting prospects of internships, interesting experiences during semester abroad as well as where we’ll work and live, after studies (eventually) finish up. Now is when everything we have learned in class starts to manifest into reality and gradually carry over into our daily work lives. Not only has my experience at Karl’s influenced my work life, but also the decision to stay in Europe (at least for the near future) and has further shaped my worldview. Education has always been an ongoing journey, one that I don’t plan to stop after graduation and Karl’s has fuelled my thirst for adventure and exploration, especially of different theories and cultures. Stay tuned as I delve into my sixth semester!

Being an American expat in Lithuania has been much different from my experience in Germany.
Seeing how Germany is the country with the most American expats in the world, there has
already been a chance for a very strong stereotype of Americans to take hold. America’s role
regarding international relations also plays a large role in how people in Lithuania regard
Americans.

After the end of USSR occupation in Lithuania, the US served as a sort of role model as to how
a modern and current western country could look or be like. While the culture quickly changed
to pursuing “freedom” and the American dream of buying your own house on your own land with
a big SUV to drive, the social culture in Lithuania remains what foreigners would describe as
“cold” or “reserved”. However, it isn’t just foreigners that would describe it this way, I have also
heard my teachers describe how they prefer a culture where you aren’t required to smile at
people you don’t know or talk to the person ringing out your groceries, as they find this
expectation exhausting. At times, or at least at first, it’s difficult not to take these standoffish
interactions personally, but if you take a second to consider the motivation and culture driving
these gestures, you realize you might be just as tired as they are of (at times) forcing a smile.

When I tell someone that I’m American, their general reaction is to ask where I’m from and they
tell me where they’ve been or where they have relatives in the states. People are generally
distrusting or suspicious of their neighbor in Lithuania, and reasonably so, having undergone a
long occupation by the USSR, but once they hear where I’m from they’re generally warm and
welcoming, trying to relate and asking what brings me to their quaint little country.

Being a smaller country that is underrepresented, people are much more likely to want to be
friends and make connections and also are quite reserved. These observations are of course
based on my own perceptions and interactions, where I’ve mainly only spent time in the city of
Vilnius and I’m sure my perception would be different were I spending more time in the country
where there are next to no foreign people visiting or living.

I hope this answers some questions about my experience and if you get the chance, definitely
come up to the Baltics and make some friends! Please write me if you have further questions or
disagree with my opinions! =)

Picture is at the Vilnius Christmas Market!

“You’re cool, for an American!” “Did you vote for Trump?” The list of interesting and sometimes upsetting things people say to you all over the world, even in your own country for that matter, grows longer every day, doesn’t it? The concept of being an American outside of the US, an “expat”, as it were, raises many questions from fellow Americans as well as just about every person I get the chance to converse with. 

While we could all just ignore the fact that we were brought up in different contexts with different beliefs in different settings, social and otherwise, seemingly ignorant questions about living abroad and each other’s cultures in general, always come to surface in some way or another.  

It’s great to tackle these questions head on and educate ourselves about other people’s cultures, however there are sometimes pitfalls to being open and curious. With the best of intentions, you also run the risk of offending others or might feel insulted by the direct nature of people asking you questions or even pressured to properly answer questions as a sort of ambassador for your country, even if for a small number of people. It might seem like nothing can ever go right within the intercultural context, but through interactions and conversations with others, I have come to some realizations and learned a lot about different perspectives. 

Living in the US, you learn a lot about the US’ role in the world and about American views on other countries. There is a lot of speculation about how citizens of other countries feel about the US, but I guarantee you that you will be surprised about what some people have to say, whether the dialogue is in support or criticism of the US or other countries. People that are willing to discuss such in-depth topics with you are generally willing to listen to what you have to say and very respectful of your point of view. 

In the following two posts, I will be discussing my experiences as an American in Lithuania as well as in Germany, covering experiences both in talking about the US and it’s culture as well as trying to learn about other countries.  

Picture is from my recent trip to Riga, which was a bit colder than Vilnius, in front of the House of the Blackheads.

Trakai Island Castle! While tourists don’t necessarily bother taking a tour of the inside of the castle, taking a quiet stroll around the island outside the castle walls is a great breath of fresh air from the city. Only 20 minutes by car or 45 minutes by public transport, the village of Trakai is a great day (or evening) trip idea from Vilnius. Many have said that one of the greatest things about Vilnius is leaving it, and once you see the nature and countryside of Lithuania, you will surely agree. There’s a good reason why so many Lithuanian last names have to do with nature! I’m certainly learning more about the country, thanks especially to my ‘Lithuania and Lithuanians Today: Sociocultural Issues’ class, for which I will be completing a research project about the role of music from pre- to post USSR occupation. I’m really looking forward to conducting interviews and learning something new about this area of Europe! More content to come! 

Yes, another city, I know, my life just seems like non-stop travel, but this time it was for good reason! I just had to meet my mother where she lived as a young girl, Florence (Firenze). I haven’t been to many Italian cities, but of the cities I’ve visited in Europe, it has to be one of the nicest! The sites and culture of all levels are something to behold. You won’t feel like the only American here as each time I visit, there are more and more, but if you want to immerse yourself deeper into Italian culture and to work on your Italian, like I have been trying to, there’s plenty of places to practice where very few tourists will make it to. Yes, being away from home is hard, but what I always tell people is that if you make it to Europe, I will find a way to meet you! With budget flights, trains and buses, it’s all feasible. When you make it over to Karl’s, who will you miss the most and what countries and cities do you plan on seeing together when they come to visit? Maybe you have a friend that is interested in studying with you abroad? Regardless, you might make friends in the most unsuspecting of places. Definitely take the chance to visit Italy, with plenty of coffee, pasta, pizza and friendly faces, you won’t be disappointed. Pictured is the view from Piazzale Michelangelo.

At the “Karls,” as we call our University, we are encouraged to think critically about social norms and what society tells us is acceptable and then to question these potential falsehoods. We often have opportunity to conduct more current research, rather than run-of-the-mill. Social media is one of the under-fire subjects these days since we often compare all of our struggles and hardships to other people’s “highlight reel” moments that they post on social media. Of course, I don’t want to share all of life’s difficulties, but rather focus on the positive, like when I get to finally make it out for an evening stroll to Užupis, one of the more artsy sections of Vilnius, which is about a mile away. As you can see from the sign, they are their own republic and even have their own laws and Constitution. The people there seem a little bit more outgoing and inviting than the rest of the city, but that may require further investigation! While I am privileged to travel quite a bit, I think social media is about being able to make the things in your life that might seem mundane to you, interesting. Do you think this is the only skill required to be a social media guru, or do I need to work on my gif and boomerang game? P.s. That is indeed a swing hanging over the water under the bridge =). At the “Karls,” as we call our University, we are encouraged to think critically about social norms and what society tells us is acceptable and then to question these potential falsehoods. We often have opportunity to conduct more current research, rather than run-of-the-mill. Social media is one of the under-fire subjects these days since we often compare all of our struggles and hardships to other people’s “highlight reel” moments that they post on social media. Of course, I don’t want to share all of life’s difficulties, but rather focus on the positive, like when I get to finally make it out for an evening stroll to Užupis, one of the more artsy sections of Vilnius, which is about a mile away. As you can see from the sign, they are their own republic and even have their own laws and Constitution. The people there seem a little bit more outgoing and inviting than the rest of the city, but that may require further investigation! While I am privileged to travel quite a bit, I think social media is about being able to make the things in your life that might seem mundane to you, interesting. Do you think this is the only skill required to be a social media guru, or do I need to work on my gif and boomerang game? P.s. That is indeed a swing hanging over the water under the bridge =).

Jolly old London was where I was headed for the weekend! Though the weather was a bit rainy, as one might expect in the motherland, I had a great weekend of exploring the city with it's various sites, cafes, pubs and people! I would definitely recommend at the very least, a weekend stay there, as I'm sure even a week there will leave you wanting to see other parts of England. There's something in London for everyone and the people there are very open-minded and will have plenty of recommendations for places to visit and things to do. My personal favorite area was Camden, but in a weekend, there was only time to see so much! I even talked to someone about a place to stay for more extended amounts of time if I'm ever in the city, which if you're familiar with the city, isn't always easy to come by. There are plenty of budget flights into city airport which is about 30-45 minutes from most of the downtown action, so find yourself a cheap flight for a weekend excursion!

Behold! Vilnius Cathedral! Though it's already starting to cool down and winter feels like it's just around the corner, it's nice to get out for a walk on a beautiful day in Vilnius. The process of acclimating to a new city, country and culture might not be a quick, nor an easy one, but at Karls, we mostly agree that leaving our comfort zone will bring the most personal growth. After attending the first few classes of each of my lectures, finding an apartment and seeking out a suitable gym, I am yet again reminded of how much of a home I have made in Karlsruhe in the mere 3 years I have spent there. In a way, I can be homesick not only for my home in New England, but also for the friends and home I have made in Germany. Through the homesickness though, we can always remind ourselves of the great opportunities we have to travel and experience different cultures and that we will see our friends and family again, so that's all the more reason to seize the day and take advantage of the time and opportunity that has been given to us. Tomorrow, I have yet another opportunity, since Vilnius Airport is 5 minutes away! Stay tuned to see where I'm headed!

When you show up in a new city, the single best thing you can do is open your mouth and tell people how clueless you are! When I went into a vinyl shop and was asking about a few albums, the shop owner told me that I should really check out the International Vinyl Festival in a week and a half. I was free, considering that my Sundays are usually always free, as in Germany, Sundays are generally a day of rest where you can stay in your pajamas without judgement! The festival was much smaller and intimate than I had expected but with no lack of great vinyl booths from various shops in the region, as well as live music, cold beverages and food! Vilnius is generally much more soft spoken and reserved, but when people find out where you're from, they're generally eager to exchange words and chat to you for a while. I probably walked away with a few too many vinyls, but that's a well spent Sunday to me! Stay tuned for more Lithuanian adventures!

It's been a long time coming but I'm finally in Vilnius! Luckily, we stumbled upon a homey and warm little studio apartment that, at first glance seemed a bit on the rougher end of town. Another reminder not to judge a book by it's cover! Even after looking at an apartment that was freshly renovated, it was clear that a gut feeling of warmth, rather than something fancy and freshly constructed, was what was more important. In addition to an apartment, it's important to have relaxing work spaces with great coffee and snacks as you slave away at school work and I couldn't imagine a better one than the cafe pictured. While the roastery that provides the coffee is just around the corner, the cafe at Baliwood offers a nice atmosphere with the many plants, artwork and furniture the store has to offer. I'm afraid one of the many plants that live here might have to come live in our apartment! Stay tuned for more Lithuanian content!

Being on the road for 2 days just to move to my ERASMUS location might seem a bit drastic, but as you can see, my girlfriend and I both have our hobbies and passions, Gourmet Food and Coffee being just one of them. As I sit in a little specialty cafe in Wroclaw to write this, I look forward to road ahead of me, especially since I find the Polish highways much easier to drive on, at least with a slower car that is packed with records, coffee brewing supplies and warm weather clothes. Since I have no idea where we'll be headed after this semester, it made the packing and moving out of the apartments seem much more worth it. Now we can easily pack up and drive to the next city, if our hearts aren't won over by Vilnius, which, from what I hear, could likely happen. Yes, that is a sweet omelette with pomegranate and maple syrup, filled with oats, just in case you were wondering! As always stay tuned for more content from my end and enjoy your summer! 

Undergoing the process to move to another country, whether for 6 months or 6 years, is never an easy one and is quite stressful! As I plan my move to Lithuania, I have been doing research about what each neighborhood has to offer, for some it's green parks and churches and others, street art and hip cafes. While a lot of people might associate Lithuania and the Baltic countries in general with Russia, you can see from this picture that the people think for themselves, regardless of your opinion of either politician. I'm looking forward so much to my move in just over a week, despite the stress and daunting hourglass that is quickly running out of time. Next Tuesday, my girlfriend and I will make the 17-hour drive to Vilnius, with one stop in Wroclaw, Poland. Hopefully once there, we will be able to secure an apartment as soon as possible since orientation week starts on the 30^th and classes, the week after. Stay tuned for more Lithuanian content and enjoy your summer!

 I had been looking forward to the past week for 6 months, when my brother would finally make it over to visit me and we would get to go to arguably one of the best metal festivals in the world, Brutal Assault in Czech Republic! It was definitely a great time with very reasonably priced tickets, concessions and a relaxed and friendly atmosphere! The week flew by and I would definitely do it again as it was under 100 Euros per ticket and only a 6 hour drive from Karlsruhe. After seeing so many great bands for such a low price, I could understand why so many people here in Europe regularly attend 3-5 day festivals. Now that that is over with, it’s back to work selling my furniture, dealing with bureaucracy and organizing accommodation in Vilnius! Stay tuned for more content!

P.S. If you could attend one festival in Europe, which one would it be and why? =)   

With the recent heatwave, it's important to stay cool, but also to get some fresh air! One of my favorite ways to do that here is to visit one of the many lakes in the area. There are many man-made as well as natural lakes where you can relax, read a book, take a dip and catch some rays. The park and lake culture here in Germany is really relaxed and most people realize the dangers of burnout. It’s of course important to work hard and play hard! In other news, I’m really looking forward to my journey to Lithuania and working more on the organizational side of things day by day. I’ll be sure to post some content from my journey as well as the orientation week that starts August 30^th! Stay tuned for more content and my impending change of location!

All I need is a suit of armor and I would look like I belonged on the iron throne, right?! I had a blast in Belfast at the Game of Thrones exhibition which was full of all kinds of weapons, costumes as well as the original iron throne used on set. Belfast was full of great cafes, pubs and restaurants, not to mention very friendly and accommodating people. Though my time in Belfast was rather short, I felt it was well deserved after all the stress of the semester and it’s really nice (not to mention necessary) to get out of Karlsruhe every once in a while. Compared to a typical vacation to Disney World or Virginia Beach, I would say this would be much more affordable, were it not for my expensive taste in cafes and craft beer!? This week I’ll be sure to post about Dublin, which I also briefly visited, but am looking forward to visiting again. There was so much to see and so little time, but there’s always affordable budget flights and plenty of vacation time here to go out and explore! As always don’t hesitate to write me, I’d be glad to answer questions or even just have a chat! =)

I consider myself a rather sociable person so usually I try to check out all local activities I can participate in. One of the things I was surprised with most when coming to Karls was the number of initiatives it has. There you can not only find a group of people sharing same interests and ideas, but also discover an environment where you can develop your skills and knowledge on various topics. Let me walk you through all the initiatives and tell you a little bit about each one of them.

First of all, we have Hakuna Matata (sounds good, I know!) – a place when students are encouraged to interact with each other, exchange cultures and grow personally and socially. It is a safe space that can be especially comfortable for international students.

We also have KarlsStorytellers – an initiative where people get an opportunity to tell their stories in any imaginable format – articles, video blogs, podcasts and so on. It doesn’t matter how experienced you are. Even if you struggle with a new topic, editing or shooting the video, people are always here for you! It is a real opportunity to master your creative abilities.

Student Board (or STuV) consists of people representing student community of Karls. These guys gather all sorts of feedback from the students and help to make our uni a better place. It doesn’t cover just the educational side, the board also pays attention to the university facilities, events and atmosphere in general.

KarlsforFuture is a group of people who share the eagerness to care about nature, lead a sustainable lifestyle, stay green and promote these values around Karls students. They organize events and exhibitions and communicate with others on relative topics.

KarlsBeratung is another initiative and, as my german is good enough already, I know that Beratung means consultancy (just kidding, I translated in on google). Here, students of Karls who search for a way to develop their start-up or who seek a job can find potential employers. It can be especially helpful for those who just start their career without any connections.

KarlsBuddies are people who don’t let international students get lost or experience something what is known as culture shock. Personally, I had a buddy when I just arrived in Germany (and I still have – we chat from time to time which is pretty cool) and I can say that it helps you a lot! Your buddy can support you emotionally, show you the cafes with the most delicious waffles in the neighborhood, help you to buy a sim-card, exchange money and deal with some annoying bureaucracy stuff (so you won’t suffer alone!).

KarlsGamers is a place where you can play online and offline games, chill, talk to people, have fun and, moreover, learn stuff! Sometimes they call speakers from the gaming industry and listen to the lectures on Gamification processes.

If you’re into sports and soccer in particular, KarlsKickers are waiting for you! It’s a university team of soccer players which is always glad to see newcomers!

Karls is about diversity and open mind. That’s why you can feel safe when discussing various topics which excite or worry you with others. We even have a place where students come with this purpose – and that’s Voices@Karls. Questions, answers, debates, discussions, support – come and get it all here.

Guys from KarlsConcerts do a really great and hard job since they literally organize concerts by themselves. They look for the artists, locations and finances and make the uni life even brighter.

Finally, we have KarlsMUN – Model United Nations initiative. Here, students represent various countries as their delegates and speak on recent topics within their committee – that’s a place for people truly interested in politics!

So yeah, I did my best to tell you a little bit about our rich social life in Karlshochschule. I do hope that you’ll find something for yourself and won’t miss an opportunity to talk, share and develop!

That’s me at the Karl’s Semester Abroad Market Place! I was happy to participate despite the ongoing, somewhat hectic search for an internship! It was great to talk to a few of the Foundation Year, 1^st and 3^rd semester students not only about Lithuania, but also about how I came to decide on Lithuania. While I had visited quite a few of the western European countries, I had my curiosities about the lifestyle and values in some of the northern and eastern countries, perhaps since I come from the northeast of my country!? It has been great to regroup with a few fellow Karl’s students, discussing exciting prospects of internships, interesting experiences during semester abroad as well as where we’ll work and live, after studies (eventually) finish up. Now is when everything we have learned in class starts to manifest into reality and gradually carry over into our daily work lives. Not only has my experience at Karl’s influenced my work life, but also the decision to stay in Europe (at least for the near future) and has further shaped my worldview. Education has always been an ongoing journey, one that I don’t plan to stop after graduation and Karl’s has fuelled my thirst for adventure and exploration, especially of different theories and cultures. Stay tuned as I delve into my sixth semester!

Finally, back to Germany to celebrate the holidays with family and friends, well I guess not any blood family, for that matter, but it feels like my home-base/family in Europe. I was anxious to get back and see everyone for the holiday and to continue on the same topic of being an American in Europe, in this case, Germany specifically, I wanted to talk a bit about the holidays here.

This year, I had the pleasure and privilege of celebrating the holiday with my girlfriends family, which made for a genuine Badisch cultural experience! Since it’s generally tradition in many Catholic regions to eat fish on Christmas eve, Baden-Wurttemberg being one of them, we had salmon and then some traditional meat dishes such as duck and roulade(pickle and bacon rolled up in beef slabs and then broiled) on the following two days of Christmas. In Germany, both the 25^th and 26^th are Christmas days. Christmas gifts are generally opened on Christmas Eve as in most of Europe (to my knowledge). Quite a few people asked me how I liked the holidays in Germany, and I found it pretty similar to the US, since there is plenty of good food and games and it’s a great time to relax with family. Of course, not everyone celebrates Christmas, but even if you don’t, some of the traditions can be curious to learn about!

For New Years eve, there is of course bubbly to drink, normally raclette at the table and fireworks fill the streets!

Enough of the holiday, back to the complexities of being an American in Germany! While there is definitely a level of entitlement from the American corner, as the current German constitution took some direction from the American Constitution and the US was in charge of helping a section of Germany to get back on its feet after the war, the general attitude of both nationalities is pretty friendly and welcoming on both soils, regardless what each might think of one another’s culture or politicians. Of course, in every population, there’s always people who aren’t quite so well-read and blindly use stereotypes as a blanket statement.

Another complexity in Germany is the language. In the inner-city, most people can speak high German and/or English, but there are many regional dialects and if the people can’t speak even a bit of high German, communication can get complicated. As much as people might tell you to just focus on learning high German, learning a few of the regional greetings and sayings can put a smile on peoples face and show them that you are making an effort to integrate.

If you still have questions about other areas of daily life here, are concerned about paperwork or just flat-out disagree with what I have to say, please drop me a line or a letter! I’m anxious to hear from you! Otherwise, Happy New Year!

Being an American expat in Lithuania has been much different from my experience in Germany.
Seeing how Germany is the country with the most American expats in the world, there has
already been a chance for a very strong stereotype of Americans to take hold. America’s role
regarding international relations also plays a large role in how people in Lithuania regard
Americans.

After the end of USSR occupation in Lithuania, the US served as a sort of role model as to how
a modern and current western country could look or be like. While the culture quickly changed
to pursuing “freedom” and the American dream of buying your own house on your own land with
a big SUV to drive, the social culture in Lithuania remains what foreigners would describe as
“cold” or “reserved”. However, it isn’t just foreigners that would describe it this way, I have also
heard my teachers describe how they prefer a culture where you aren’t required to smile at
people you don’t know or talk to the person ringing out your groceries, as they find this
expectation exhausting. At times, or at least at first, it’s difficult not to take these standoffish
interactions personally, but if you take a second to consider the motivation and culture driving
these gestures, you realize you might be just as tired as they are of (at times) forcing a smile.

When I tell someone that I’m American, their general reaction is to ask where I’m from and they
tell me where they’ve been or where they have relatives in the states. People are generally
distrusting or suspicious of their neighbor in Lithuania, and reasonably so, having undergone a
long occupation by the USSR, but once they hear where I’m from they’re generally warm and
welcoming, trying to relate and asking what brings me to their quaint little country.

Being a smaller country that is underrepresented, people are much more likely to want to be
friends and make connections and also are quite reserved. These observations are of course
based on my own perceptions and interactions, where I’ve mainly only spent time in the city of
Vilnius and I’m sure my perception would be different were I spending more time in the country
where there are next to no foreign people visiting or living.

I hope this answers some questions about my experience and if you get the chance, definitely
come up to the Baltics and make some friends! Please write me if you have further questions or
disagree with my opinions! =)

Picture is at the Vilnius Christmas Market!

Trakai Island Castle! While tourists don’t necessarily bother taking a tour of the inside of the castle, taking a quiet stroll around the island outside the castle walls is a great breath of fresh air from the city. Only 20 minutes by car or 45 minutes by public transport, the village of Trakai is a great day (or evening) trip idea from Vilnius. Many have said that one of the greatest things about Vilnius is leaving it, and once you see the nature and countryside of Lithuania, you will surely agree. There’s a good reason why so many Lithuanian last names have to do with nature! I’m certainly learning more about the country, thanks especially to my ‘Lithuania and Lithuanians Today: Sociocultural Issues’ class, for which I will be completing a research project about the role of music from pre- to post USSR occupation. I’m really looking forward to conducting interviews and learning something new about this area of Europe! More content to come! 

You might be wondering how academic life in Vilnius is different from at Karlshochschule. Pictured is the Library of Scientific Communication and Information Center where I have spent quite a bit of time studying and researching. The facilities at the Communication Faculty are newer and more modern while the other campus, located in the Old Town, is one of the oldest universities in Europe and you often find yourself navigating tourists making your way to the various buildings. Both campuses are great and each faculty is very different from the next. Coming from a school of about 700, about half of which are international students to a school of about 21,000, 1,300 of which, are international is quite different, but has been a very culturally rich experience thus far. Each of the courses has something unique to offer, my favorite so far being Lithuania and Lithuanians Today: Sociocultural Matters. The university also offers courses in five different languages which I find quite interesting. More academic content to come, but also some more travel coverage, which is one of the great perks when you’re abroad!

Undergoing the process to move to another country, whether for 6 months or 6 years, is never an easy one and is quite stressful! As I plan my move to Lithuania, I have been doing research about what each neighborhood has to offer, for some it's green parks and churches and others, street art and hip cafes. While a lot of people might associate Lithuania and the Baltic countries in general with Russia, you can see from this picture that the people think for themselves, regardless of your opinion of either politician. I'm looking forward so much to my move in just over a week, despite the stress and daunting hourglass that is quickly running out of time. Next Tuesday, my girlfriend and I will make the 17-hour drive to Vilnius, with one stop in Wroclaw, Poland. Hopefully once there, we will be able to secure an apartment as soon as possible since orientation week starts on the 30^th and classes, the week after. Stay tuned for more Lithuanian content and enjoy your summer!

Yet again, we come to the end of another semester and what better way to celebrate all of our hard work than a BBQ put on by the Karls!? The APRO company project presentations went swimmingly (quite literally as we were all dealing with the recent heatwave in Europe) and many of the students who were away on internships and semester abroad were back to party, visit and present their reports for transfer week. Not only was it a BBQ for the end of the semester, but the Karls is also celebrating it’s 10^th anniversary this year.  It was rather bittersweet to see everyone just briefly, as many students will be making their way back home for summer and many will also be leaving before the semester in Germany begins, such as myself. For my semester abroad, I chose University of Vilnius in Lithuania, which I am very excited about! The semester in Lithuania begins in the second week of September, but I will be leaving Karlsruhe at the end of August to attend their orientation week. Fear not! I am still available and earnestly awaiting your emails and skype-sessions! Stay tuned for Lithuania and vacation content to come! Enjoy your summer and hope to talk soon!

APRO – one of the busiest and most stressful, but also most looked-forward-to 4^th semester modules at the Karls, where each team is assigned a company or community project and act as consultants to fulfill multiple tasks. These tasks often include things like a stakeholder analysis, marketing plan or even creating a tourism video, followed by a presentation of your finidngs. While it makes for a very busy two weeks, it can be one of the most rewarding experiences during your time here at the Karls. Pictured is one of the two groups working on a project for Daimler Automotive, that I happen to be sharing an “office” room with. We aren’t the only class who is busy though, 6^th semester is finishing up their internships and working on their theses and 2^nd semester students are busy with case studies and exams. I think we are all looking forward to next week’s Sommer Fest for a cold beverage and Barbecue!

Hello! Salut! Buongiorno! Guten Tag! My name is Derek and I have always had an affinity for languages, as well as traveling to visit the beautiful places and fascinating people all over the world. These experiences have been so fulfilling and perspective-altering, that I would like to share what I have found and help others to experience the same. Since Karlsruhe is in such an optimal traveling location, many people can be found traveling on a regular basis, not to mention the exceptional amount of vacation days provided here in Germany. While there is a level of culture-shock coming from the states, I believe you'll find that there are also many similarities to your life back in the US. In an era of fear and polarization, it's my personal feeling that the way forward is to overcome your fears and be open to people from different walks of life, as it can be such a rewarding experience. The journey is much less daunting with support and community on your side and I, for one, look forward to getting in touch with you and talking about all the imaginative and exciting (yet academic) possibilities for you at Karlshochschule!