- August 28, 2021
It was so interesting to spend time working in a new country and culture, and I definitely learned a lot from it. The biggest cultural difference that struck me was how seriously the German people take the divide between work and free time. When they are on the job, everyone is working very diligently and efficiently, and when they are off, they really are sure to care for themselves and to enjoy their free time. To me it felt a lot healthier than the workaholic type culture often seen in the US and it was interesting to see how seriously the two different spaces were regarded.
The PREP Program at TUM was a wonderful summer opportunity, as it allowed me to pursue my research interests as an engineer while also enjoying a new cultural experience. I was able to live abroad and improve my German skills and at the same time to advance in my field of study - a unique opportunity that a normal internship wouldn't have offered.