Maximilian F.
Destination: Strasbourg Business School
Duration: 1 semester (Fall)
Program: MBA
High School: Ursuline College Chatham, Chatham
What was the best thing that happened to you while on exchange?
During exchange, I was able to develop a network of friends in Strasbourg that I still keep in contact with today. These friends come from all over the world including Portugal, Spain, Brazil, Germany, Belgium, England, Czech Republic, and more. Anytime I traveled to see different countries or experienced new things, I was able to share those experiences with the friends I made overseas.
What was the worst thing that happened to you while on exchange? How did you manage it?
The worst thing that happened to me on exchange was missing a late train from Stuttgart to Strasbourg, therefore being forced to wait three hours at Stuttgart station during the middle of the night. Fortunately, I planned ahead to make sure I was traveling with others rather than by myself because the area we were in was considered a bad part of town. It always helps to do research ahead of traveling to determine which areas you plan to travel to might be considered unsafe in certain circumstances.
What was the biggest cultural shock you experienced?
The biggest cultural shock I experienced was the international aspect of the city of Strasbourg. Due to Strasbourg being located in the middle of Europe and holding European political significance, many individuals from all over Europe live in Strasbourg. This means that different languages, cultural norms, and personalities are evident throughout the city.
If you were to recommend exchange to your best friend, what would you say?
The best part of exchange is learning the different cultures and having an appreciation for different perspectives
on all aspects of life. This is an experience that would be impossible to receive at home. It is also a great way
to step out of your comfort zone and expose yourself to new experiences. I can say from experience that your
comfort zone will be much larger and flexible once you finish your exchange term.
Is there anything else that you would like to share?
Exchange can be a wonderful experience, but it will only be as good as you make it. You have to get
involved, join clubs, meet new people, attend social events, and travel to different locations to get the
full utility that exchange has to offer. I advise anyone committing to exchange to also research their
university destination. Take some time to look at safety concerns associated with the city. No
matter the place, there will always be something you have to prepare and keep an eye out for.
A sample of the classes taken:
- Logistics and Distribution Management
- Sustainable Marketing
- Negotiations: Bridging the Cultural Gap