Trading Places - Students Share Cultural Differences in Exchange Program with Germans

July 24, 2025

By Christi Mays

What do meeting a prime minister and visiting a Buc-ee’s have in common? The two experiences were some of the many “wow” moments that students from UMHB shared with German students as they visited each other’s countries this past semester.

After receiving a grant from the German Apprenticeship Training Exchange (GATE) Program, the Johanniter-Akademie in Leipzig, Germany selected UMHB as its American partner to host six exchange students for experiential learning and cultural immersion. This past December, six UMHB students traveled to Germany for two weeks (and met the prime minister of Saxony while there); and, in February, their German counterparts came to learn about all things UMHB and Texas (including an obligatory trip to Buc-ee’s).

Some of the other “wow” moments in Germany included a walking tour of Berlin with a stop at the Berlin Wall Memorial, a trip to a concentration camp in Weimer, and a tour of a family-owned wooden toy factory. While in Texas, the German students were treated to a trip to the state capitol, hiking the massive granite boulders at Enchanted Rock, and a day exploring the Fort Worth Stockyards. UMHB students also took them on field trips to Foster Love, Helping Hands and Hope for the Hungry.

“What makes this program unique is it’s not a study abroad; there’s no class attached to it. The students just spend their whole time immersed in the other culture,” said Dr. Stephen Baldridge, dean of the UMHB College of Humanities and Sciences. “The students plan the schedule for the two weeks they’re here, so they also plan in time to hang out, go with them to class, and just see what day-to-day life is like with them.”

While the UMHB students were in Germany, senior EC-6 education major Eva Marx, said she and her group enjoyed being there during the Christmas season and experiencing the markets, Christmas concerts, baking cookies and celebrating Saint Nicholas Day on Dec. 6. They also toured a few schools, including a school for students with special needs, visited a workshop for adults with disabilities, and went to the Leipzig English Church on Sunday mornings and Tuesday evenings with the six students from Johanniter-Akademie.

One thing that stood out to Eva on the trip was how welcoming, kind and generous everyone was.

“No matter where we went, the people took great care of us,” she said. “Another thing that blew me away was how much I felt at home with the Leipzig English Church's college group. They welcomed us with open minds and hearts, showed us love in many ways and we had a lot of rich conversations. This group showed me what it truly means to be fully united in Christ no matter our differences.”

Since the trip was limited to only six students, Baldridge said there was an application process that required students to share in a video why they wanted to be a part of the exchange program. Baldridge also said the trip was limited to students studying social work, nursing, education and pre-physician assistant (since those would match up with the training that Johanniter-Akademie offers in those fields).

Eva said the trip helped prepare her for her future career in education by challenging her to be flexible and problem-solve.

“We had to use both while we navigated public transportation, and when things didn’t go as planned, we had to improvise or make new plans,” she said. “This trip also pushed me out of my comfort zone because I really dislike crowds, and I was forced to be in major crowded areas like the Christmas markets and the trams or subways.

It helped me learn to try to find comfort even in uncomfortable situations.”

Her biggest professional takeaway, however, was seeing how the community continues to support people with special needs even into adulthood.

“Not only do these people receive money from the state, but they also have a special needs workshop facility where they give them jobs, teach them life skills, and provide physical therapy services and daily transportation.”

German social work student Alessio Friske also said he and his group felt really welcomed to Texas and enjoyed experiencing the cultural differences. He especially appreciated how the group was invited into professors’ homes on several nights for dinner and fellowship, which doesn’t happen in Germany.

“I was really amazed by that,” he said. “I think it makes a closer community.”

At the end of each two-week stint, the 12 students gathered with their professors to discuss everything they experienced and learned. During their time in each country, they created a personal learning plan as well, which was shared with the GATE program which provides tiered funding for the exchange program for four years.

“The point is to make this sustainable financially long-term, and that’s what we’re exploring here right now,” Baldridge said.

As for Eva, even though she’s graduating in December, she hopes the program continues after she is long graduated.

“This exchange program has really opened up my eyes to the world and helped me to appreciate the variety of people and cultures that live on this planet. There is so much more to this world!” she said. “I feel very connected to Germany now that I have experienced daily life there and bonded with six very special people in Germany.”

She says she is thankful and excited to be given the opportunity to go on this trip because of her love of travel, learning new things and meeting new people.

“I am just beyond grateful for this experience! I have been blessed in so many ways, I have grown as person, and I have made what I hope to be lifelong friends."

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Trading Places - Students Share Cultural Differences in Exchange Program with Germans

July 24, 2025

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