Alumni Interview with Cedric Seaman

What inspired you to go abroad?

I study global culture and language, and have always wanted to travel internationally.

Why did you choose USAC Germany? 

University Studies Abroad Consortium had the program which I could apply for and be accepted in quickly, and was located in North Germany which was a plus for me.

What was your favorite part about Lüneburg? 

Lüneburg is a gorgeous town that's easy to walk through. I spent a lot of free time walking through the park in the middle of town which is a nature reserve for a small mountain in the area.

What made your experience abroad unique? 

I was essentially not primed for the travel; I applied about three days before the deadline and was leaving the country about a month later. I had set no expectations and had a blast as a result.

How did local staff support you throughout your program? 

The entire staff was incredible. From helping me navigate housing situations to giving me cultural insights when I was curious about what I was seeing, the USAC staff is one of the best teams I've had the pleasure of working with.

What's one thing you wish you would have done differently?

I wish that I had planned my first day in Germany a little better- getting from Berlin to Lüneburg is a tough trip when landing at 9:30 PM!

Describe a typical day in the life of your program. 

I would wake up at about six, get ready and leave for campus by foot at about seven. The campus was only a few kilometers away from my apartment, so it would be about a forty minute walk. After class I'd go out with friends for food and explore the surrounding area. We played a lot of music together, too.

What did you enjoy doing in your free time? 

Walking through Kalkberg with friends was one of my favorite things to do in Germany, hands down.

What was your accommodation like? What did you like best about it?

I lived in a WG on the edge of town with two local students. The area was nice and quiet, and the walk to campus was gorgeous.

What is one thing every participant should know before participating in your program?

Make an effort to do things you wouldn't be able to do at home. You're in another country, and there are so many things to do and places to explore. You can take the train through the region for free. Go on as many adventures as you can!

What was the hardest part about studying abroad?

Getting used to the necessity of planning. At home, I improvise trips and things a lot but in an unfamiliar country it's a lot more difficult.

What surprised you most about Germany?

The total absence of spicy food. I could pretty much only get spicy food on pizza.

How difficult was it to communicate with locals?

Harder than I was led to believe. Most people speak English, but there are a lot of (generally older) people who speak very little to no English.

What is one thing you wish you would have known before studying abroad in Germany?

You can't use debit cards almost anywhere. I didn't bring any cash and it was painful paying a ton of ATM fees.

If you could study abroad again, where would you go?

Probably back to Germany; honestly even studying with USAC again would be pretty cool. I'd like to explore Western and Southern Europe a little more next time though.

What do you feel the biggest benefit of studying abroad is?

The adventure and independence.

Do you have any packing tips for individuals headed to Germany?

Pack fewer clothes to fit other quality of life things. Washing machines are pretty small and you'll likely be air drying your clothing so having fewer clothes is totally doable.

Now that you're home, how has your program abroad impacted your life? 

My German is much more fluent, I am willing to leave my comfort zone more, and I have friends all around the world now.

Would you recommend USAC to others? Why? 

Absolutely. USAC is a well run program with friendly staff and a structure that allows for a lot of freedom. I'd go back in a heartbeat.