Traurig, aber wahr: My year in Seattle is slowly but surely coming to an end and it’s not long before I get on my flight back home to Germany. I arrived in Seattle back in September 2023 as this year’s Münster exchange student, not knowing what to expect from my time, my work and the people I would meet here at the University of Washington. I needn’t have worried though, since everyone at the German Department welcomed me with open arms from the beginning, starting quite literally from the airport-pick-up service on my first day – thanks again, Matt!
Teaching at UW has been an incredibly enriching experience for me. Not having taught a language class before, teaching my own class every day here was a daunting prospect. However, after shaking off the initial nerves, I quickly realised how much I enjoyed standing in my classroom and engaging with my students on this regular basis. It is still fascinating to me to observe the immense progress that students show in their language learning, having started from zero in German 101 last September to now having casual conversations with me in German even before or after class. The students’ curiosity about German culture and day-to-day life not only allowed me to share a lot of my own stories and experiences, but also made me realize time and time again that many things that seem normal in Germany end up seeming at least a little quirky when explained to a classroom of American students. So, needless to say, my months at UW have been eye-opening in many ways.
I will miss many things about Seattle once back in Münster, the nature of this part of the world being one, of course. I got to visit a rainforest for the first time and even managed to spot some orcas during my time here. But most of all I will miss the daily walks across campus, the conversations inside and outside the classroom and the kindness of all the people I have been surrounded by over the last nine months. Danke an Euch!
Catherine