As I write this, the last day of my 4-week program in Marburg, Germany comes to a close. Amidst the torrent of emotions this brings — sadness, the relief that comes with the end of final presentations and exams, and a preparatory feeling of nostalgia — I find that the greatest emotion of all is joy. Not joy that it’s over, of course, but rather for the community the participants forged over the course of the past month. Through full days of classes, loud karaoke nights, and impromptu weekend trips to Köln and Berlin, every member who attended the ISU Marburg program has been able to forge unforgettable friendships, connections and memories.

I chose this program nearly a year ago now, and I am incredibly happy I did. At the time, it was all about the classes, the programs, the rich cultural history of the city of Marburg. While I didn’t think I would be spending all of my time exploring these things alone, I hadn’t dared to imagine the kinds of friendships that would arise from this experience. During the first week, I had fantastic experiences spending time with students from a variety of backgrounds, including the U.S. (even a fellow Mizzou student), Egypt, Turkey, Mexico, Peru and Brazil – just to name a few. These friendships only deepened over the course of the program, through late night excursions and last minute presentations, into bonds that I hope will remain intact even as we part ways.

Studying abroad is an opportunity I would happily recommend to anyone. Being in a different country, learning about its language, culture and history while in the middle of all of it is something that cannot be replaced within the comfort of a home university. For me, studying in the city of Marburg — which has a particularly close connection to German cultural heritage as a major inspiration for the Grimm Brothers — was an opportunity to really explore some of the concepts and ideas I’ve always been interested in. But beyond the learning you do, one of the greatest impacts it has is exposing you to other people, each with new perspectives, ideas and experiences of their own. That, I think, is the thing that makes studying abroad such a singular experience.

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Learn more about this blogger’s study abroad program: Philipps University of Marburg