Bethany is a recent graduate of Texas A&M University, where she was a member of the Texas Aggie Dance Team. During her time on the team she was part of American rapper Soulja Boy's performance; and, performed at Big 12, NIT, and NCAA basketball tournaments and season games across the nation...
Read more about Bethany in our exclusive Alumni of the Month-Feature!
The first Karneval event of the season - at least for me and the students! EinsLive, a popular youth radio network, invited our New Europe and Visualization students to join them for a typical German event. And what could be more German than Karneval - at least in the Rhineland?
The WDR2-Hörfunk-Sitzung, a Karneval event where Germany's biggest public broadcasting institution WDR records its Karneval radio program, took place at the Kölner Gürzenich, an impressive festive hall that dates back to 15th century.
And everyone made an appearance from the Bläck Föös to the Paveier and the Räuber - Cologne Karneval at its best. Not only were all students greeted by a member of the Elferrat, the famous council of eleven, who presented them with a much sought-after Karneval medal. Emily and BreeAnn even met "Seine Tollität" Frank I, the offical prince of the 2011 Cologne carneval Season. Wow!
Judging from the pictures, the students are ready for Karneval. So am I. Are you....?
Written by Jessy Jovel
Participant New Europe Program 2011
The New Europe Program kicked off their first excursion in the history-rich city of Berlin and Prague! The AIB sent the NEP to Berlin for the first four days, and the students continued their journey in Prague for the next three. The excursion was loaded with great activities that allowed for a lot of learning and life changing experiences.
The NEP was met by Robin at the beautiful Berlin Hauptbanhof where they received a guided bus and walking tour through the city of Berlin. Though a rainy day, the group saw a lot of historical sites such as: The Reichstag, Berlin Wall, Brandenburg Gate, and the Cathedral of Berlin. A lot was covered in the first 4 hours of our arrival, which sparked a lot of interest in the students and would set the tone for the rest of the jammed packed excursion. The first day was ended with a delicious meal at an Italian restaurant, which is known to have the best pizza in Berlin. The following day would prove to be a lot more meaningful.
Bright and early the NEP students found themselves hiking towards the Sachsenhausen Concentration Camp Memorial Site. The group was able to walk through the doors that many victims of the Nazis were forced to walk through. Our tour guide Sion provided information on the cruelty of the treatment that the prisoners received while there. He explained how the concentration camp was strategically made into a triangle in order to have a clear shot at the prisoners with the machine guns placed at the entrance of the concentration camp. The tour guide also went through the different experiments the doctors performed on the prisoners such as, injecting them with drugs and making them walk non-stop in order to examine how shoes would last. These shoes that were being tested were the ones that would eventually be made for the Nazi troops. In addition to learning of the atrocities, the NEP students were able to go inside the barracks where the Jewish prisoners were detained. Needless to say, this visit was life changing to all.
The visit to the Sachsenhausen Concentration Camp was followed by a visit to the Reichstag. After going through extensive security the NEP got the great opportunity of visiting the beautiful rooftop dome of the building and got to sit inside the German Parliament. Though the students spent the whole day learning of Germany, they ended the night celebrating a uniquely American event, the Superbowl! The NEP bombarded Belushi's Bar to watch the Pittsburgh Steelers face the Green Bay Packers. Many were pleased with the Packers victory, especially visiting professor, David Mathison.
The next day also started early. The NEP visited another site that was infamously known for its torturous and violent tendencies, the Hohenschönhausen Memorial Site, the site of the main remand prison for people detained by the former East Germany Ministry of State Security, or 'Stasi'. At this site the NEP got a guided tour of the whole prison. The were able to go into prison cells, interrogation rooms and the dark isolation rooms. They also received further information on the type of control East Germany had on its inhabitants.
This bone chilling experience was followed by a visit to the Pergamon Museum and the Jewish Museum. At the Pergamon Museum students were able to witness collections of classical antiquities. The Pergamon Altar, the Market Gate and the magnificent Ishtar Gate were amongst the displays. Before the NEP headed to the architecturally unique, Jewish Museum, they enjoyed some of Berlin's famous currywurst. After a filling lunch, the NEP had the chance to go inside the Jewish Museum where they went inside very interesting sections. One of the most riveting parts of the museum was a large, dark, cold room that had a very small crack in the ceiling, just enough for a little light to shed. This was a section specifically dedicated for the Holocaust.
The last day in Berlin was by far the student's favorite day. The day was called "My Berlin.". Students were divided into four groups: GDR, Cold War, Urban Art, and Multicultural Berlin. The groups were able to explore Berlin all day in their respective groups. From the Checkpoint Charlie museum to the East Side Gallery of the Berlin Wall, the groups were able to explore Berlin in a more intimate way as they were able to speak with locals from the area that were experts of the groups topic.
The following night the group took a walking tour with Ladi around Prague. The group was able to visit Old Town main square where they saw the Astronomical Clock and the Old Town Hall Tower, as well as other historical churches and a historic Jewish synagogue. The tour reached its peak when the group was able to cross the Vitava River by taking the Charles Bridge, which provided a beautiful view of the Prague Castle. The group got to the top of the castle and got to see the best view of the beautiful city of Prague.
The excursion was brought to a closing at a very nice Czechoslovakian restaurant where many were able to enjoy a delicious traditional plate of duck. The first excursion of the AIB was extremely successful. From visiting the Sachsenhausen Concentration Camp to enjoying the beautiful Italian opera "La Traviata" in Prague, the AIB gave the NEP an amazing European experience!
Written by Jill Bragdon
Participant Visualization Program 2011
The Texas A&M group had the opportunity to spend some travel time in the Netherlands this past week. Bright and early Wednesday morning the students loaded up on a charter bus and headed to Amsterdam. After a 4 hour bus ride, they arrived to their destination.
Once in Amsterdam the group hopped off of their bus and directly on to a canal tour through the city. The students were then set off to find their own lunch. Some trying traditional Dutch fries, others finding small cafes to dine.
Then the group had the opportunity to tour the Anne Frank house. This was such a neat experience for the group. Most of the group had read the book during their younger years, so to see this book become a reality was somewhat surreal.
For dinner the group dinned together at "Mother's." Here, the students experienced their first Dutch rice meal. There was so much food, and it was all delicious. After being stuffed beyond belief, and worn out from walking the city end to end, the students went back to their hotel for some rest and relaxation.
After an eventful couple of days in the lively city of Amsterdam, the students took a bus to Zandvoort, a smaller beach city in the Netherlands, to continue their journey. After getting settled into their hotel rooms, the group met up to have a Skype conference with their fellow NSF participants.
On the last day of their adventure the students had a project on the coast of the North Sea. For a bunch of Texans, the weather was quite a challenge. Although the weather was cold, the sun was shining! The students spent most of the day on the beach working on their project, to break for lunch of course. After the projects were complete, the students loaded up and headed back to Bonn!
Overall the excursion to The Netherlands was a great experience full of fun, adventure, and of course, a little bit of learning.
Colin Hanks is the eldest son of the well-known actor Tom Hanks. After school, he decided to study acting and in 1998 he graduated from Loyola Marymount University after spending one semester studying abroad here at the AIB participating in the Fall 1997 New Europe Program!
Here's what he thinks about studying abroad and his time at the AIB:
"My Time at AIB was a monumental chapter of my young adult life. Before I had even left Germany, I had begun telling people that my decision to study abroad was “One of the the best decisions I have ever made”.
The friendships and memories I made while in Bonn are as strong now as they were when I attended and I cannot recommend the program enough. Anyone who has the chance would be a fool not to go!"
Read more about Colin in our Alumni of the Month-Feature!
Written by Sylvana Insua-Rieger
Participant New Europe Program 2011
The entire New Europe group took a brief and peaceful morning train ride for their excursion to the nearby city of Cologne. Once there, students were divided into small groups and given instructions for a fun and multi-faceted scavenger hunt throughout all of beautiful downtown Cologne. Each group bonded further as they worked together to follow their maps to the next location, and decipher each clue and photograph. Many students expressed feeling as if they were on a TV game show like "The Amazing Race," and they darted throughout market squares, courageously accepting the challenge. During the hunt, students learned about different churches, puppet theatres, statues, the Rhine river, fountains, breweries, and other culturally important sites. As a result of the hunt, AIB students learned about the cultural history of Cologne, often through friendly interaction with the locals, who are experts on the city's rich history and folklore. Many unsuspecting locals even became translators of the local German dialect, Koelsch, teaching the AIB students a handful of useful words.
Next, the entire group reunited at an old Cologne pub, where they enjoyed authentic German dishes while listening to German music of the early 20th century. While happily awaiting their meals, the students and coordinators went over the answer key to all the hunt's questions, and had the opportunity to share stories about their exciting scavenger hunt. The romantic dimness of the old-fashioned tavern was hardly noticeable, as each face was beaming with accomplishment and an indistinguishable curiosity about the development of the fascinating city. When the food arrived, the merriment continued, as did the learning (for many, this was their first time experiencing classic German foods such as sauerkraut and bratwurst!). Once all were satisfied, they moved next door to Marco Polo gelateria. Despite the chilly weather, almost every student opted for a scoop or two -- or three -- of the delicious, creamy, home-made gelato.
Then the students were led to the ornate Old City Hall, which they could then compared to the sleek new City Hall. Inside, they observed a 3-D city model to become oriented with the geography of a city much larger than Bonn. They then visited some ancient Roman ruins in the Archaeological Museum. The first structure they encountered was an ancient Roman sewer system, which they were able to walk through to comprehend first-hand the richness of Roman ingenuity and urban development. The students' giddiness did not wear off before their next encounter: genuine ruins of Roman buildings which were once built in Cologne. Students observed enlarged photographs of the disastrous effect of World War II on Cologne. About 90% of Cologne was obliterated. One photograph featured the Old City Hall which they had just admired, and they saw how much of the breathtaking structure was shattered by bomb raids. However, only one building was lucky to survive the war, which became the highlight of everyone's day: the Cologne Cathedral.
After a couple of hours of free time during which to shop, stop at a cafe, visit the Chocolate Museum or Musuem Ludwig, or just further explore the town, the students then had an exclusive guided roof top tour of the famous Cologne Cathedral. They ascended its immense height, and learned all about the construction and history of the building, as well as its contemporary uses and programs. As they climbed ever higher inside areas of the cathedral that are not accesible for public tours, students of the AIB were fortunate enough to tour within the skeleton of the magnificent building founded in 1248. They were overwhelmed with photo-ops as they walked along the outer balconies of the tower, an experience reserved only for birds, cathedral remodelers, and VIP groups. From the top of one of the spires of the cathedral, they could see the entire city of Cologne, as well as the spectacular Rhine river, as the sun set on the Rhineland.
Written by Jesse Jovel
Participant New Europe Program 2011
To celebrate the inauguration of the Spring 2011 semester, the AIB invited the three different programs that are exploring Germany for the semester.
Both Loyola Marymount University and Texas A&M were present at the Drachenfels on Sunday, January 23, 2011. The event was started by a very steep hike up to the Drachenfelsburg. Though a very strenuous hike, both the students and the host families were able to go up to the ancient castle that was built in the 1200's!
The hike was followed with some of Germany's finest soup and desserts. The highlight of the event however were the performances done by the students of the AIB. The Visualization group from Texas A&M performed a song done by Queen and customized the lyrics to reflect on their situation as visualization students studying abroad in Germany.
The Theater Program from Loyola Marymount University decided to showcase what they have learned in the movement classes and display how they could all do different motions while being a part of a large group movement.
The New Europe Program from Loyola Marymount University stole the event with their reenactment of American Idol! The ladies from the program decided to sing California Girls, by Katy Perry and the boys sang Hotel California by the Eagles. Needless to say the woman of the New Europe Program impressed everyone with their great choreography.
After the entertainment came the beautiful tour of the fascinating castle of Konigswinter. The success of the event could be seen in the smiling faces of everyone present. Not only did the students and family get to do activities together but they also had an opportunity to further strengthen the bond.
written by Chris Levert
Regardless of your field of study, most of your time at the University is spent analyzing classical problems fraught with theory and derivations. Less time is spent looking at not only the practical application but specifically the realistic implimentation of the theories and equations that students spend so many sleepless nights memorizing and practicing. Keeping this in mind makes the opportunity that Otto Bock graciously gave us that much more special and impressive.
Having the opportunity to tour their actual production facilities and not just see the technical mechanics of how the advanced devices they design was an important part of our education. It was impressive to note how something that most engineers and other research oriented students would not consider important, the transfer of goods and information from different sectors of the company such as manufacturing, storage and logistics, was flawlessly executed using a highly sophisticated automated conveyor belt and software system.
Allowing us to see how even the smallest portions of running a company can not only become problematic but can be solved using the same problem solving skills that we are taught in our engineering classes was both instructional and a postive reinforcement of the skills that we are trying to develop. Along this note, when the research and design engineer that Otto Bock sent to guide us through the company walked us through the problem solving methods that Otto Bock used when designing the latest state of art prosthetic feet/ankle devices I could almost hear the silence as all the engineering students saw how the same troubleshooting techniques we learn about were applied in the real world design and implementation of a biomedical device. It was interesting to note the manner in which Otto Bock manufactured the parts that they were designing into their devices.
The metals, classical materials used in medical devices for years, could be manufactured efficiently using automated machines that could manufacture almost any part that Otto Bock desired. The carbon, a more advanced material that has only begun to be incorporated in medical devices in the last ten or twenty years, still requires the precision that only handmade materials can provide. For biomedical engineers, being able to see the different materials that we have studied used for different purposes, and the different challenges that each material presents to the company helped to solidify the reasoning behind study the wide variety of topics that we are required to study.
Then, seeing these materials applied to new and exciting products like the C-Leg was exciting for any material science inclined engineers. For those that appreciate the software side more, Otto Bock was kind enough to walk us through how the different tranducers on the foot, a rather simple device by itself, could be implemented in such way that it could profoundly help patients suffering from conditions such as dropfoot and improve their lives dramatically.
To see simple theoretical devices applied in such new and exciting ways helped to reinvigorate our drive to understand those concepts so that we too can design devices as well as giving many of us hope that we could design useful devices, not just after years of study, but with the knowledge that we have now.
This opportunity that Otto Bock gave us was at the same time both a fun and exciting way to see the latest and greatest bioengineering products as well as an excellent opportunity to see how classwork is applied in the real world.
The AIB team wishes to all parents, host families, partners, students, alumni and friends
A HAPPY NEW YEAR FULL OF JOY AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS!
Liebe Freunde der AIB und des Films,
wir laden Sie herzlich zur Filmpremiere von sechs Kurzfilmen unserer amerikanischen Filmstudenten
am Freitag, 17. Dezember 2010
um 19:30 Uhr
im WOKI Filmpalast in Bonn
ein.
Die auf Bonns größter Leinwand gezeigten Kurzfilme werden am Abend zuvor von einer internationalen Jury ausgewählt. Alle Filme wurden von amerikanischen Filmstudenten während ihres Auslandssemesters in der Bundesstadt unter professionellen Bedingungen produziert.
Die Film & Television School Europe (FITS Europe), ein Joint Venture der Akademie für Internationale Bildung (AIB) und der Loyola Marymount University Los Angeles, war zunächst im Düsseldorfer Medienhafen angesiedelt und fand 2008 am Rande der Bonner Altstadt gegenüber der Volkshochschule ein neues Zuhause. Die derzeit über hundert Teilnehmer aus verschiedenen Programmen der AIB leben während ihres viermonatigen Aufenthaltes in Bonner Gastfamilien.
Die unterschiedlichen Interessen der angehenden Regisseure spiegeln sich in der Auswahl der Themen wider: das Engagement einer Bonner Gastfamilie für mehr Nachhaltigkeit wird ebenso portraitiert wie"der lustigste DJ der Welt" aus Köln oder ein junger Winzer bei der Eisweinlese. Alle Filme haben eines gemeinsam: sie behandeln regionale Themen aus der Sicht junger US-Amerikaner.
Neben den Jungregisseuren aus Los Angeles begrüßen wir am Premierenabend folgende Ehrengäste:
Detaillierte Information zur Veranstaltung sowie zur Reservierung für kostenlose Tickets erhalten Sie hier.
