Germans are obsessed with bread, in love with rules and punctual?
Anyone who comes to Germany hears many things: punctuality is sacred, rules are irrevocable - and bread is more than just a side dish. Sound like clichés? Perhaps. But how much truth is there in them?
On April 14, 2025, 28 international Master's students from the Faculty of Engineering - from the Embedded Systems Engineering and Computer Science courses - started their studies not with lectures, but with an intercultural workshop run by Ursula Epe and Svenja Andresen.
Even in the first few hours, it became clear that culture is not only reflected in big concepts, but also in small everyday things: For example, in the fact that not all Germans are always punctual or don't cross the road at a red light - or eat bread every evening.
Between the introductory question “What is culture?” and practical tips on everyday life as a student in Germany, the participants learned how to find their way around a new university system - and at the same time reflect on their own cultural perspectives.
They not only took home tips on email etiquette and group dynamics, but also other insights such as: respect other cultures, be independent, give yourself time to settle in - and yes, try the walnut bread, but also the one with pumpkin seeds!
Intercultural training courses like this one are a particular concern of the Faculty of Engineering: they provide orientation, promote cultural exchange and make it easier for international students to settle into their studies and everyday life in Germany - between cliché and lived reality.
Contact:
Kerstin Steiger-Merx
Representative PR/Marketing
Faculty of Engineering
University of Freiburg
Tel.: 0761/203-8056
E-Mail: steiger-merx@tf.uni-freiburg.de
Ursula Epe
Study Coordinator
Faculty of Engineering
University of Freiburg
Tel.: +49 761 203-8340
E-Mail: studienkoordination@tf.uni-freiburg.de
Svenja Andresen
Study Program Coordination Microsystems Engineering
Faculty of Engineering
University of Freiburg
Tel.: 0761/203-97940
E-Mail: andresen@tf.uni-freiburg.de