As much as we emphasize our exchange programs abroad, we fail to highlight the many exchange students we have right here studying at Purdue University. Mario Davidi is an exchange student from Germany studying at Purdue the 2005-2006 Academic Year majoring in Aeronautics and Astronautics Engineering. He has taken some time to enlighten us on a different perspective of Purdue and his country, Germany.

1) Where is your hometown in Germany?

I was born about 30 miles away from Cologne in a town called Mönchengladbach close to the Dutch border. I still consider this my hometown although 4 years ago I moved to a city called Braunschweig, which is about 2 hours south of Hamburg, to study at that university.

2) What university did you back home?

The university I am enrolled at in Germany is called Technical University of Braunschweig. It is the oldest technical university in Germany founded in 1745. The university is located in the region with the highest research and development density of Europe. I chose to attend the University of Braunschweig because it has a very good reputation in the field of aerospace engineering, it has many international partner universities and exchange programs, it has Europe’s only research airport, and it works closely together with partners in the industry.

3) What was the hardest thing to adjust to?

The homework! I really do not like doing busywork and I sometimes get the feeling that the professors think you don’t have a life besides school so they have to keep you busy with unimportant stuff. Maybe that’s just because I’m not used to doing homework though. We don’t have to do any homework at university back in Germany.

4) What is your fondest memory of Germany?

There really is not just one single thing that I remember. I don’t tend to miss people all that much but miss the things I did with them much more. I would love to fly over to Germany for a weekend and just party with my friends like I used to do before I left. Having a BBQ in the public parks was always a nice way to relax in the summer time. I miss the good times with my close friends.

5) Why did you decide to study at Purdue University?

It is a very good university in the field of aerospace engineering that is just establishing an exchange program with my home university at Braunschweig. I am part of the first group of students send over along with 4 other people. So the quality of the school was the reason I came here.

6) What do you enjoy doing with your free time?

If I was back in Germany I would have to say: “restoring classic American cars” but since I don’t have the room and tools to work on cars in the States I don’t get to do that here. I really enjoy meeting new people and finding out about their lives. I am part of the Purdue kayaking outdoor club, Passport, and also like to work out. However most of my free time I spend with friends at the bars or parties just talking and enjoying myself.

7) What is the biggest difference you have noticed between the U.S. and Germany?

Senseless bureaucracy and useless work! I was very surprised to find out that the bureaucracy is even worse here than it is in Germany. We Germans consider Germany the country of bureaucracy. Confirming my application to Purdue University was the first time I noticed that. It took me a couple of hours to get all the required paperwork and I pretty much had to walk from one room to another to receive useless papers. Back in Germany that would take 5 minutes maximum and ONE person would do it all using a computer. Maybe that’s why our unemployment rate is so highJ. We don’t have people getting paid minimum wage to basically stand around and greet customers at Wal-Mart.

I also noticed that public transportation is rather bad here and that you really need a car to get around which is different from Germany.

8) Where is your favorite place to visit in Germany?

The place that I’ve missed most since I’ve been here is probably Hamburg. This is a little weird because I’ve only been there twice but I really like the city. I liked the harbor, the fish market that starts at 6 a.m. on Sunday mornings when everybody is coming home from the clubs, the nice architecture and the very laid back attitude of the people living there.

9) What is your favorite thing about Purdue?

What I really like about Purdue is the fact that the bars are all located close to each other and that I live about 3 minute away from them.

10) How is the University you attend back home structured?

German Universities in general tend to be very different from American universities. Here the professors pretty much tell you what to do, they give you homework and assignments, they sometimes take attendance, and there are quizzes and exams throughout the semester. Back in Germany in the technical studies (e.g. Engineering) you have to study more on an individual basis and there is just one final exam at the end of the semester that determines your grade. It is helpful to attend the lectures but not required, no homework, no papers.

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