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Kim Liao, now a first year international political economy major at Georgetown University in our nation’s capital, won a scholarship and a year in Germany after her high school graduation. The experience turned out to be one of her most memorable ever. Funded jointly by the American and German governments, the scholarship was part of the Congress-Bundestag Youth Exchange Program. Kim lived with her host family in Wuppertal, a city known for its incessant rain (it’s even nicknamed the Seattle of Germany) and the Schwebebahn, a tram which spans the length of the Wupper River and links the two ends of the city. Despite arriving in Germany just prior to the September 11 terrorist attacks, Kim’s life in Wuppertal eventually settled down. Here is a glimpse into Kim’s typical day in Deutschland:

6:20A.M. – Kim’s day begins with a wakeup call at an unthinkably early hour. There is an advantage to getting up early, however: she gets to have the last remaining slices of white bread with Nutella, a scrumptious chocolate hazelnut spread, instead of the cold cuts, cheese, and dark bread that dominate the typical German diet.

7:00A.M. – Kim takes a 30-minute bus-ride to the Karl-Fuhlrott Gynmasium, one of the more competitive schools in Germany. Since her host family’s home is basically in the middle of nowhere, Kim must use this form of transportation if she wants to get anywhere outside of the house.

7:40A.M. – Zero hour begins. Depending on the day, Kim goes to several of the ten different classes that she takes. Much like American colleges, tests occur twice per semester. To receive a satisfactory grade, class participation is crucial.

2:00P.M. – If she doesn’t have after-school activities, Kim goes home and has her only hot meal of the day: lunch. This meal is extra special because she gets a respite from the aforesaid cold cuts, cheese, and dark bread. Instead, she eats lip-smacking Spätzle (fried noodles usually served in a sauce), Goulasch Suppe (a heavily spiced soup with meat and vegetables), Birne Helene (dessert consisting of pears covered with a fruity sauce), Schnitzels (pork with a breaded crust), or the greasy but totally worth it Thüringer Roastbratwursts, “the absolute best sausage you’ll ever have in Germany,” according to Kim. On most days, Kim opts for extracurricular activities such as volunteering with a children’s group, playing percussion in the band/orchestra, tutoring other students, and attending a community college class to improve her German. Although social life in Germany revolves around drinking and smoking, Kim prefers to stop by the mall, the movie theater, and the bowling alley, while occasionally enduring the smoke-filled clubs and bars.

6:00 P.M. – Kim usually gets home around this time. The bus doesn’t run at all after 7:00 P.M. in her area of the city, which means she would have to wade through the muddy forest adjacent to her house just to get back home.

7:00 P.M. – Dinner begins at 7:00 sharp, and whoever gets home late gets in trouble. Over a dinner consisting of the infamous cold cuts, cheese, and dark bread, the family shares their events of the day. After the meal, Kim retires to her own room to finish whatever homework she has and to study some more German.

11:30 P.M.- 1:00 A.M. – At the end of the day, a good night’s sleep is always welcome. “Weil morgen ein anderer Tag mit vielen schönen Erinnerungen wird – because tomorrow will be another day with many great memories.”