From Hamburg to Harper: The Cultural Exchange Adventure

Written By Kim Reichenbecher

Imagine you are trading a fish sandwich for burgers and the small river Alster in Hamburg for Lake Michigan in Chicago and suddenly finding yourself on another continent at the Harper College. As an exchange student from Germany, my journey at Harper College has been all about exploring the differences and similarities, between German and American culture.

Hamburg is a city that cannot be categorized. It is historic and modern, industrial and artistic, and city life and green spaces. As the second largest city in Germany, Hamburg is a mix of the brisk trade of its port and peaceful nature, where you can find everything from great architecture to small cafes. Growing up there, I was always surrounded by a wide range of cultural activities. Whether at a concert in one of Hamburg’s countless pubs, the many museums or the regional food scene in northern Germany. The diversity of the city makes it a unique place, where tradition
and innovation come together in a way that is sometimes hard to explain.

Living in the USA as an exchange student is an exciting experience, especially when I
compare it to my life in Hamburg. In Germany, things are a bit more organized and
structured, and people tend to be more reserved when it comes to approaching strangers. Here in the US, the people are more open, friendly and definitely super hospitable. That’s exciting, but it took me a while to get used to the openness and that asking “How are you?” at the checkout in a grocery store is super normal here.

As an exchange student, you have to learn to see things from a new perspective, whether it’s finding your way around a new college system, understanding the new language or simply getting used to the size of the portions in the restaurant (which are much bigger than in Germany!). But it is particularly these differences that make the experience so rewarding. It’s not just about adapting to a new city, it’s also about new experiences, personal growth and expanding your world view in a way that you can’t imagine.