ASSE International Student Exchange

I went to Germany for a year through the Congress-Bundestag Youth Exchange scholarship, so I'm not sure how much it differs from the regular ASSE Germany exchange programs. It was one of my first times abroad, and I had a wonderful and supportive host family to help me along the way. The program itself was relatively hands-off, so I really had the chance to make the experience the way I wanted to beyond the required orientation, language camp, meet ups, and reentry conferences. I grew so much during my year abroad, and learned a language I never expected I would learn. I fell in love with Germany and have been back to visit my host family and friends a few times since returning.

My year in Germany was one of the hardest but also the greatest times of my life! Coming to Germany not knowing any German was definitely the first struggle that I had but thankfully I was able to learn the basics at the language camp the first month. The German culture and American culture are similar in some but different in others and you have to keep that in mind when you are there. Don't assume that just because we do it differently in the United States that they will do it as well. School is another challenge that you will have to overcome, being in german-only classes (with the exception of English) you will be lost and have no idea what is going on. But make sure to try and write notes down, it will help and over time you will slowly come to understand. When you are at that moment of giving up, don't. You can and will overcome it. Be willing to push yourself and become uncomfortable with messing up, it really is the best way to learn. If you push through the hardships you will be rewarded with the fun times. The friends that you create will be for a lifetime...they are your new family! My year abroad not only taught me a new language and culture but it also taught me more about myself​ and how to be okay with messing up and being far from home. I fell in love with Germany and am glad to call it a second home!

Participating in the Congress-Bundestag Youth Exchange allowed me to explore places, make connections, and learn new skills that I had never even considered before. Coming from Hawaii, I was uncertain of how I would fit in, but I’ve made friends for life through this program and am ready to take on any challenge that awaits me in the future. I now plan to study Linguistics and German in college after discovering my passion for language during my exchange year. Complete immersion was difficult for the majority of the year, especially since I could not speak a word of German upon arrival in Germany. But through lots of perseverance, late nights studying vocab with my host mom, and making friends in school, I was able to discover how much I could push myself to grow intellectually as well as socially. During my exchange year, I was also able to meet German and American government officials, which is such a unique experience that I will remember forever. I would recommend this program to anyone who is willing to put in hard work that will benefit them in all future endeavors!