The new AIB's Alumnus of the Month feature will showcase some outstanding alumni per year. The program is designed to recognize alumni who are doing interesting and exciting things, or who have made exceptional contributions to their chosen field of profession.
This month we are proud to introduce Singer/Songwriter Alison Geddie. She participated in the FITS Europe - Film & Television Semester Program in Fall 2004 and Spring 2005.
This semester's Media Arts students from Indianapolis spent 3 weeks in Germany.
Not only did they get an inside view of their field of study by attending specialized classes that focused on theory they also got to see different facets by traveling Germany and gaining first-hand experience in media.
In the photo you can see David Ebert presenting to the students about the well-known “Rheinkultur” festival, which is the biggest of its kind in the country with 170,000 visitors in 2009.
Trips to the enchanting Rhine Valley and Cologne were included in the program, as well as a 4-day excursion to Berlin, which was one highlight of the students' stay in Germany. Various company visits throughout the region offered possibilities to connect with experts, discuss current issues and experience professional life in the fields of media and event management directly.
Altogether, the group was impressed by the program, which was compact and intensive in career terms, but also a lot of fun for the participants.
Congratulations to our runners!
The tenth Bonn Half Marathon (21,1 km) was contested by our New Europe Students Colin O'Malley, Nikki Martinez and Carly DeLine as well as AIB Program Director Ture Petersenn.
Angela Vincent, Paulina Zäck, Will Buss and Tricia Kaminski successfully participated in the marathon relay (42,2 km) which was offered for the first time as part of the Bonn Marathon.
Student blog: Looking back on "History of Medicine"-Program 2009/2010
by Daniel Grunden
When it snowed a few weeks ago, all the Germany memories just flowed into my head, and I can indeed say that I feel changed. I had more experiences on the study abroad than I had throughout the rest of my college career. Actually, my friends are tired of hearing all my Germany Stories. Now, whenever I tell a story, they will ask, "did that happen in Germany?"
The responsibility that the trip spits in your face in retrospect taught me how to live. The drastic dynamic between Germany and the United States and even the drastic dynamic between the big city of Berlin and a rural village like College Station was mind boggling. Now that I'm back, I just want to get out! I miss the late night adventures trying to locate the hotel, asking random people on the street for directions when they don't speak English. I miss the bitter cold where ears will freeze even if a hat is worn. I miss actually being required to wear shoes.
The material learned on the trip inside the hospitals has been much more helpful to my current studies than I ever expected. To be able to visualize a working clinical dialysis machine when learning about it in class forces the material to stick better. I find myself not being grossed out by smells anymore either. Nothing is worse than a necropsy or rectal exam! It's nice to see the faces of patients with recently implanted heart pumps and know that my field of study will make a difference in someone's life.
Now, I never see a pug now without thinking of Olaf. His obsession with dogs is like nothing I've ever seen in America, and the strange thing is that most Germans are just like him!
Isn't this the CUTEST?
One of the biggest things I miss about Germany is the public transportation system. I'll be driving the 2 hour drive to my mother's house thinking, "If I lived in Germany, I could be sleeping on the train right now!" I can't imagine why passenger trains aren't as big here as they are in Europe. Train stations are so convenient. If I need some soap, I could just pick it up at the train station on my way to school. It's amazing how little elementary school kids ride the tram like it's no big deal.
Some things I am happy to return to are: free water, waiter tips (a simple doubling of the tax), free refills, flip flops, shorts, the SUN
Some things I miss from Germany are: Snow, Snowballs, Snowball fights, Snowmen, Snowgirls, friendly Germans, Olaf, city life, Foreign Girls, free healthcare, no sales tax, German food.
Finally after a long winter hiatus, the city fountains in Bonn have been turned on this week, simulating the spring and summer seasons in parks.
All 98 ornamental fountains in Bonn, like the Sterntor fountain or the Martinsbrunnen at the Bonner Münster are springing back to life, once again giving Bonners spectacular backdrops for their photographs and cool, soothing places to sit on hot summer days.
This semester's VIZ students from Texas got to experience for themselves why some call Berlin the only German metropolis. A four-day trip to Germany's capitol opened up possibilities to get to know the city and all its facets first hand.
Not only did the students get an inside view on Germany's eventful history by visiting different museums like the famous Jewish Museum, the impressive Museum Island and attending a guided tour through Sachsenhausen Memorial, but they also learned about contemporary aspects of Berlin's city life while touring the most interesting districts by bike, exploring the streets and trying the huge variety of food Berlin has to offer. Attending the reputable Pictoplasma Festival with its international line-up was another memorable highlight for the Texas group.
Berlin really got the participants hooked, as the following quote of a Texas student shows: “Total awesomeness!”
Another eventful day for the New Europe Students...Kicking it of in good old Germany, the Aachener Cathedral and the Cathedral's treasury were the first point on the agenda. The oldest cathedral on Northern Europe has a lot to offer: it is not only known as the "Imperial Church" that witnessed the coronation for 30 German Kings but also keeps the remaining of Charlemagne, the famous Emperor of the Romans, relics of the bell of Mary as well the loincloth that Christ wore on the cross.
After a tasty lunch break with Aachener Printen, the students continued their journey to Maastricht via the Three Country Corner "Vaalserberg". Being in three countries (Belgium, Germany and the Netherlands) at the same time: wow! In Maastricht, the caves of Mount Saint Pieter, an underground labyrinth of over 20,000 passageways dating back to Roman times, was another highlight of our trip. And what could have been a better way to end the excursion than munching some original Dutch French Fries right on the Maastricht Market Square.Yummi!
Yes, even Germany has skyscrapers, as the New Europe and Visualization students discovered on their trip to Frankfurt last Wednesday. And even though they might not be as high as in the States, they are still impressive...
Starting their day with a visit of the European Central Bank, the New Europe students had an insightful presentation and discussion on the European Union's monetary and fiscal policy and the current measures taken against the economic crisis. The visit was followed by individual activities as well as a city tour through the old and new parts of Frankfurt. Fascinating, how much the city is changing: the work on the new “Palace Quarter” is completed, the University about to start its remodelling process, and the demolition of the Technical Town Hall and the Historical Museum are in full activity.
Meanwhile, the Texas group explored art in public spaces and were astonished to learn that the Paulskirche is not used as a church anymore and the buildings on the "Römerberg", Frankfurt's old town square, are not as old as they seem. Before getting the chance to talk to professionals at a local video game company, the students enjoyed the perfect view and "Mainhattan feeling" from one of Frankfurt's highest buildings, the Main Tower.
A nice dinner in the renown and picturesque wine region "Ahr Tal" concluded this exciting day and made our American guest aware of the fact that good red wine is cultivated just a little south of Bonn.
Watch the trailer for the city of Bonn's new image campaign right here or on our new YouTube-Channel! Do you like it?