AIB`s Student Handbook

Transcription

Landscape Architecture
SPRING 2013
Student Handbook
Bonn, Germany
AIB Program Handbook | Penn State University | LA Program Spring 2013
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Table of Contents
Introduction.......................................................................................................................3
Akademie für Internationale Bildung (AIB)............................................................................4
Directions to AIB................................................................................................................6
Medical Care.....................................................................................................................8
Prescriptions.....................................................................................................................8
List of medical doctors.......................................................................................................8
General Emergency Numbers..............................................................................................9
Other helpful numbers.....................................................................................................10
Safety Information...........................................................................................................13
Introduction to Germany...................................................................................................14
Introduction to Bonn & Bonn Region..................................................................................23
Personal Finances...........................................................................................................29
Practical Information........................................................................................................31
Business/Opening Hours.................................................................................................33
Newspapers....................................................................................................................33
Postage..........................................................................................................................34
German Holidays.............................................................................................................35
Church Services..............................................................................................................35
Garbage Separation.........................................................................................................36
Tips for Lunch.................................................................................................................37
Public Transportation in Bonn...........................................................................................38
Tips for Traveling Internationally........................................................................................39
Popular Destinations........................................................................................................42
Frequently Asked Questions.............................................................................................45
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Introduction
Dear Penn State Landscape Architecture 2013 Participants,
We would like to welcome all of you to the LA Spring Program 2013! All of us at the Academy for
International Education (AIB) would like to thank you for coming to Bonn and are looking forward
to having a great program.
We are very excited to soon welcome you in our beautiful city. For most of you this might be the
first time you are going to a foreign country for purposes other than a vacation. We understand
that it takes some courage to take that first step and leave your familiar surroundings for this
kind of extended stay. Be assured that we appreciate your decision to join this program and let
us stress that we will certainly be here to help you with any issues that may arise. So please
don't hesitate to contact us regarding any issue, great or small!
Going abroad for such an extended period of time means that you will experience amyn evry new
and different things and will need to make a lot of adjustments. A prime example is that you will
be living in a host family and going to school by public transportation. As a rule of thumb we
recommend being as open-minded as you possibly can. We would like to suggest that you strive
to get to know your host family on a personal level; language and cultural differences can act as
sparks for further communications.
Don't feel intimidated by the fact that you cannot ask for directions or order a meal in German
right away when you arrive. You will find out soon that most Germans don't mind being asked in
English or will even volunteer their English knowledge once they realize they are talking to a nonnative speaker, since, unlike Americans, we are not used to having visitors who can converse in
our mother tongue. Your German Language & Culture Class will certainly be a help for you, but
you should also take the initiative and try to practice your Geman with your host family and AIB
staff a much as you can.
The next few months will very likely lead you to new places, a few new insights, some new and
creative ideas and maybe even change your outlook on life. If so, we would love it if you share it
with us! We will be more than happy to make this experience possible for you and would like to
accompany you on this journey into another culture. If you have any questions or require any
assistance from our office, please feel free to ask anyone of the staff.
Willkommen in Deutschland!
Ture Petersenn, Program Director
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Welcome to Bonn!
Your AIB Staff
Akademie für Internationale Bildung (AIB)
AIB is a private, non-profit, and independent organization for higher education in Bonn, Germany,
and was founded in 1993.
The main emphasis of AIB is the curricular design and implementation of innovative study and
training programs for the academic and business communities, as well as for the public
administration.
The AIB is specialized in developing individual and group-specific programs, which provide new
professional skills, international experience, and inter-cultural awareness.
The clients and cooperation partners are foreign universities and colleges, as well as other
national
and
international
educational
institutions,
research
institutes
and
business
corporations. More than 250 participants from various nations take part in the programs every
year.
• Undergraduate and Graduate Students,
• Experts and Executives from business corporations and public administration.
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Directions to AIB
Getting from your airport to the Bonn main train station
If you are confused anywhere along the way don’t hesitate to ask someone for help. Just ask
politely if they are able to speak English and they will be happy to point you in the right direction.
Arriving at Cologne/Bonn airport
After you have your luggage and have passed through customs you want to look for signs and
maps to the buses. An airport shuttle bus to Bonn (SB 60) is available outside of Terminal 1
(travel time to Bonn approx. 30 min.). A one-way ticket costs about 7€. You will have to pay in
cash upon entering the bus.
Taxi
The airport is also close enough to the town that it is possible to take a taxi, to the city center
you can expect to pay around 35 to 40 euros. Taxis can also be found near the bus station.
(Cologne-Bonn Airport)
Arriving at Frankfurt Airport
maps to the train platforms in the Airport. You should look for signs that say “Bahnhof”, the
German word for train station or for signs that say “Züge”, the German word for trains. On the
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airport map below you will be going to the “Long-distance” trains at the bottom. (Fernbahnhof)
(Frankfurt Airport)
In the AlRail Terminal you want to find the DB Travel Center (Reise Zentrum). In English, you can
ask the agent for a direct train to the Bonn Main Train Station (Bonn Hbf). You should ask for an
InterCityExpress (ICE) train, as it is the fastest. To make things as simple as possible try to get
a train with no stopovers. If there are no direct trains near the time of your arrival, the most you
will have to change trains is once. The agent will make sure you understand where and how you
have to change trains. Again just tell the agent where you have to go and he/she will help you
get what you need.
Arriving at Düsseldorf International
maps to the train platforms in the Airport. You should look for the “Sky Train” and take it to the
Airport Rail Station (Bahnhof Düsseldorf Flughafen). Once there, go to a ticket machine
(Fahrkartenautomat). Select English as your language, and then select “Purchase Ticket”. Your
destination will be Bonn main station (Bonn Hauptbahnhof). Choose any train that is an RE
(Regional Express) train, otherwise you will have to change trains at least once. It will take you
about an hour to get to Bonn. Tickets are 14,40 € (NRW-Tarif) one way.
Rail Station
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Medical Care
If you are suffering from any disease, in particular if your medical condition requires a special
treatment, it is strongly recommended that you get in touch with the AIB office to get further
advice: AIB can help you identify a doctor who is able to continue with a special treatment etc.
Please make sure that, during your stay in Germany, treatments are covered by a special study
abroad insurance. The insurance covers most of the cases (limited coverage for medical
conditions existing prior to the beginning of coverage, pregnancies, some dental treatment,
replacements, etc; please ask for details). It might happen that a special doctor or hospital
require to obtain approval before treatment or pay in advance. In such cases please get in touch
with our office.
There will be no problem to find the appropriate doctor or hospital for all kinds of diseases.
Therefore: please be sure that you will get the right treatment. The following list will give you an
overview. Please ask us for further advice.
Helpful links:
• CDC Health Information
http://www.cdc.gov/travel/westeurp.htm
• StudyAbroad.com Handbook: Prescriptions
http://www.studyabroad.com/handbook/health.html#scripts
• World Health Organization: International Travel and Health
http://www.who.int/countries/deu/en/
• U.S. Department of State: Road Safety
http://www.travel.state.gov/travel/tips/safety/safety_1179.html
Prescriptions
If you take prescription medications regularly, you should bring a supply to last throughout your
time abroad, if practical. You are free to bring in medication that is already in use (in your carry
on luggage). Some prescriptions may need to be renewed by a German doctor. Foreign drugs are
not necessarily closely related to those standard in the United States, so it would be wise to get
a doctor's signed prescription for any medication you have to bring with you to Germany. Be sure
to have your doctor include in the letter the medication and its generic name, the dosage, and
the condition being treated. For more information on German pharmacies, etc. get in touch with
the AIB office before you leave the US.
List of medical doctors
The AIB staff will provide you immediately with the necessary English-speaking specialist. You can
also check the following list of medical doctors (which are all located close to the AIB):
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Dermatologist (Dermatologe, Hautarzt)
Dr. Uwe Manske
Kaiserplatz 14
phone: 0228-634765
Zahnklinik Medeco
Welschnonnenstr.1-5
phone: 0228-985900
Dr. Karlheinz Matthies
Kaiserplatz 14
phone: 0228-636143
Dentist (Zahnarzt)
Ear, Nose and Throat Specialist (HNO-Arzt)
Dr. Claudia Sawert
Am Hofgarten 1-2
phone: 0228-2433080
Dr. Eberhard Waltert
Kaiserplatz 16
phone: 0228-636565
Kaiserplatz 16
phone: 0228-633114
Eye doctor (Augenarzt)
Dr. Heinrich Brenig
Family doctor (Allgemeinmedizin, Praktische Ärzte)
Dr. Christine Fabian
Am Hofgarten 1-2
phone: 0228-9140446
Dr. Hannah Liese
Kaiserstr. 233
phone: 0228-223519
Dr. M. Meyer
Prinz-Albert-Str.334
phone: 0228-225146
Gynecologist (Gynäkologe, Frauenarzt)
Dr. Georgia Harder-Faigel
Heinrich-von-Kleist-Str. 19a phone: 0228-224262
Dr. Konstantin Stathakis
Kaiserplatz 16
phone: 0228-650638
Internal Doctor (Arzt für Innere Medizin)
Dr. Hans-Georg Peter
Kaiserplatz 18
phone: 0228-633424
Dr. Franz-Josef Klassen
Weberstr. 100
phone: 0228-219074
Bonner Talweg 62
phone: 0228-255543
Psychotherapist (Psychotherapeut)
Monika Zaiss-von Heydebrand
Dr. Sträter Universitätsklinik Venusberg (Psychatrie)
phone: 0228-2875750
Urologist (Urologe)
Dr. Gerd Wegner
Münster-Str. 20
phone: 0228-654086
Although most German doctors speak English, please contact AIB staff for specific
recommendations.
General Emergency Numbers
Polizei/Notruf (Police/Emergency)
110
Feuerwehr (Fire Department)
112
Rettungsdienst (Ambulance)
112
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Bereitschaftsarzt (Medical Assistance)
19 292
Vergiftungsfälle (Poison Control)
28 73 211
Botschaft der Vereinigten Staaten von Amerika
030-2385174
(US Embassy)
American Consulate Duesseldorf
0211-470610
Other helpful numbers
Telefonauskunft (Operator)
National
International
11833
11834
Fundsachen (Lost & Found)
Bürgeramt Bad Godesberg
77 32 11
Bürgeramt Beuel 77 51 29
Bürgeramt Hardtberg
77 61 53
Bonn Innenstadt
77 25 92
Fundbüro der Verkehrsbetriebe
71 13 17
(Transportation Authority -Lost & Found)
American Express Office
0221-92 59 010
Tourist Information Bonn
77 34 66
Information for Bus & Tram
71 13 21
Postamt (Post Office)
0180-23 333
American Church Bonn
916 71 11
Please note that if you are calling from outside of Germany & in Europe, you will need to dial
0049 before the phone number and drop the first zero of that telephone number.
For example, to dial the AIB from outside of Germany, you would dial:
0049 228 33 88 39-20.
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Safety Information
In all cases, the AIB has a 24/7 service phone number (0700-AIB 4 HELP) and you find the
most important numbers in the beginning of this handbook: Please do not hesitate to call!
Here is some specific advice:
Be aware of the fact that German laws are not necessarily the same as the American laws. The
differences are rather marginal (for more complete information on German laws and the German
legal system, visit the official website of the U.S. Department of State). Nevertheless, respect
all German laws: Steeling a beer stein at the 'Hofbräuhaus' in Munich is not a peccadillo and
can get you in trouble!
Travel Warnings and Consular Information Sheets
Read the U.S. Department of State’s Travel Warnings and Consular Information Sheets for
information on the legal system in Germany and in the countries to which you will be traveling.
•
Assistance to U.S. Citizens Arrested Abroad:
http://travel.state.gov/travel/tips/emergencies/emergencies_1199.html
•
US Department of State travel warning on drugs:
http://travel.state.gov/travel/living/drugs/drugs_1237.html
•
US Department of Homeland security: customs and border protection:
http://www.customs.ustreas.gov/xp/cgov/travel/
Make copies of EVERYTHING, including passports, credit cards (whatever important cards you
carry in your wallet). Always keep the originals in a safe place and have copies with you in your
wallet (if you are stopped by the police and you have neither your passport or a copy thereof you
must pay a fine). Do not keep important documents in your wallet in case you lose it. It is a
hassle to get new documents while you are abroad!
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Introduction to Germany
Background
As Western Europe's richest and most populous nation, Germany remains a key member of the
continent's economic, political, and defense organizations. European power struggles immersed
the country into two devastating World Wars in the first half of the 20th century and left the
country occupied by the victorious Allied powers of the US, UK, France, and the Soviet Union in
1945. With the advent of the Cold War, two German states were formed in 1949: the western
Federal Republic of Germany (FRG) and the eastern German Democratic Republic (GDR). The
democratic FRG embedded itself in key Western economic and security organizations, the EC
and NATO, while the communist GDR was on the front line of the Soviet-led Warsaw Pact. The
decline of the USSR and the end of the Cold War allowed for German unification in 1990. Since
then, Germany has expended considerable funds to bring Eastern productivity and wages up to
Western standards. In January 1999, Germany and 10 other EU countries formed a common
European currency, the Euro.
Source: http://www.studentsabroad.com/Germany/advantagesabroadlangstudy.html
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Geographical Facts
Physical Setting
Roughly the size of Montana and situated even farther north, unified Germany has an area of
356,959 square kilometers. Extending 853 kilometers from its northern border with Denmark to
the Alps in the south, it is the sixth largest country in Europe. At its widest Germany measures
approximately 650 kilometers from the Belgian-German border in the west to the Polish frontier
in the east.
The territory of the former East Germany (divided into five new Länder in 1990) accounts for
almost one-third of united Germany's territory and one-fifth of its population. After a close vote in
1993, the Bundestag, the lower house of Germany's parliament, voted to transfer the capital
from Bonn in the west to Berlin, a city-state in the east surrounded by the federal state of
Brandenburg.
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Area
Total:
357,021 sq. km
Land:
349,223 sq. km
Water:
7,798 sq. km
Area (comparative):
slightly smaller than Montana
Land boundaries
Border Countries: Austria,
Belgium,
Czech
Republic,
Denmark,
France,
Luxembourg,
Netherlands, Poland, and Switzerland
Elevation extremes
Lowest point:
Freepsum Lake -2 m
Highest point:
Zugspitze (Mountain in the German Alps) 2,963 m
Topography
With its irregular, elongated shape, Germany provides an excellent example of a recurring
sequence of landforms found the world over. A plain dotted with lakes, moors, marshes, and
heaths retreats from the sea and reaches inland, where it becomes a landscape of hills
crisscrossed by streams, rivers, and valleys. These hills lead upward, gradually forming high
plateaus and woodlands and eventually resulting in spectacular mountain ranges.
Nearly 34 percent of the country's area is arable; 17 percent consists of meadows and
pastures; 30 percent is forests and woodlands; and 19 percent is devoted to other uses.
Geographers often divide Germany into four distinct topographic regions: the North German
Lowland; the Central German Uplands; Southern Germany; and the Alpine Foreland and the Alps.
Climate
Most of Germany has a cool, temperate climate in which humid winds from the west
predominate. The northern extension of the Gulf Stream affects the areas bordering the North
Sea including the area along the Rhine, which flows into the North Sea. Therefore the climate in
the northwest and the north is oceanic and relatively mild. Summers tend to be cool, though
temperatures can exceed 30°C (86°F) for prolonged periods. In the east (Berlin-region), the
climate is more continental; winters can be very cold, summers can be very warm. Central and
southern Germany are transition regions which vary from moderately oceanic to continental.
Social Facts
Population
81,7 million (2011)
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Ethnic groups
German 91.5%, Turkish 2.4%, other 6.1% (made up largely of Greek, Italian, Polish, Russian,
Serbo-Croatian, Spanish)
Languages
German is the mother tongue of 100 million people with substantial differences in regional
dialects
Religions
Protestant 34%, Roman Catholic 34%, Muslim 3.7%, unaffiliated or other 28.3%
Country name
Conventional long form: Federal Republic of Germany (Bundesrepublik Deutschland)
Conventional short form: Germany (Deutschland)
Government and Politics
Government type
Federal parliamentary republic
Capital
Berlin
National holiday
rd
Day of German Unity, October 3 (1990)
Constitution
23 May 1949, known as Basic Law; became constitution of
rd
the united Germany on October 3 ,1990
Suffrage
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch
Chief of state: President Christian Wulff (since 2010)
Head of government: Chancellor Angela Merkel (since 2005)
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Economic Facts
Economy
Germany is the largest economy in the European Union and the third largest in the world. With
the highest GDP and the largest number of inhabitants in the EU, Germany is Europe’s most
important market. Gross Domestic Product comes to EUR 2,423 billion (2007), GNP per capita
is EUR 29,455
Export
Germany is one of the world’s leading exporters: the volume of goods exported came to EUR
969 billion in 2007. Key trading partners: France (9.5%), USA (8.7%), Great Britain (7.2 %), Italy
(6.6%)
Structure
Alongside internationally active corporations, SMEs form the backbone of the German economy.
Around 70% of all employees work in small and medium sized enterprises
Key sectors
Car-making; mechanical, electrical and precision engineering; chemicals; environmental
technology; optics; medical technology; biotech and genetic engineering; nanotechnology;
aerospace; logistics
Investment magnet
Germany strongly attracts foreign investors. The world’s 500 largest corporations are present
here, a total of 22,000 foreign companies with a total staff of 2.7 million. Foreign direct
investments amounted to US$ 503 billion in 2005.
Infrastructure
Germany has a highly developed infrastructure that is growing dynamically. Its rail network
covers 36,000 km, and the road network 230,000 km. The country boasts one of the world’s
most modern phone and communication networks
Trade fairs
About two thirds of all the world’s keynote trade fairs take place in Germany (about 160
international trade fairs.
Food
The main meal of the day in Germany tends to be lunch with a light snack eaten at about seven
in the evening. Breakfast served in homes and hotels usually consists of a boiled egg, bread
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rolls with jam, honey, cold cuts and cheese slices. Available from snack bars, butcher shops,
bakers and cafés are grilled, fried or boiled Wurst (sausages) with a crusty bread roll or potato
salad. There are also bread rolls filled with all kinds of sausage slices, hot meat filling (such as
Leberkäse), pickled herring, gherkins and onion rings or cheese. In bakeries, Strudel with the
traditional apple filling, a variety of fruits and fromage frais, is available. There is also an
astonishingly wide variety of breads. A set menu meal in a simple Gasthof or cafe usually
includes three courses: soup is the most popular starter. The main meal consists of vegetables
or a salad, potatoes, meat and gravy. For pudding there is often a sweet such as a blancmange,
fruit or ice cream.
Restaurants often serve either beer or wine. Cakes and pastries are normally reserved for the
afternoon with Kaffee und Kuchen (coffee and cakes) either at home or in a café. Cafés serving
Kaffee und Kuchen are not only in cities, towns and villages but are often near popular
excursion and tourist spots. International specialty restaurants, which serve Chinese, Greek,
Turkish and other kinds of food, can be found nearly everywhere. Waiter or waitress service is
normal although self-service restaurants are available. Bakeries and dairy shops specialize in
lighter meals.
In general water is safe to drink out of the tap. But, please find out if water is generally safe to
drink in different regions of Germany and in the countries to which you will be traveling. To avoid
risk, many travelers drink bottled water.
German wines are among the finest in the world. Some of the most famous are grown in the
Rhine and the Moselle Valley but also in the Ahr region, Franconia and Baden area. Try Äppelwoi
(cider) in Frankfurt am Main, Cannstatter (white wine) in Stuttgart and Kirschwasser (cherry
schnapps) in Baden.
The national drink is beer in its many forms. Regional flavors vary from light pilsner-type lagers
to heavy stouts. Several of particular note are Bayrisches G'frornes (frozen beer) and Weizenbier
from Bavaria and Mumme (bittersweet beer without hops), which can be found in Hannover.
Bars can either have table service and/or counter service, although customers will often find
that the number of drinks ordered is marked down on a beer coaster, which is used to figure out
the bill. The legal age for drinking alcohol in a bar or cafe is 18. Minors are allowed to go into a
bar if accompanied by an adult but they will not be served alcohol. Please note that it is a
prejudice that Germans are heavy beer drinkers. Observe that in general Europeans drink slowly
and many people order mineral water or soft drinks in pubs.
Opening hours depend on the proprietor but generally bars in major towns and resorts are open
all day and close around midnight or later. Exceptions are Berlin and Hamburg where every pub
can stay open for 24 hours.
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Famous Germans
Konrad Adenauer (1876-1967)
Became the first chancellor (1949-63) of the new Federal Republic of Germany
and helped lead West Germany to postwar recovery and prosperity. Adenauer
held the record for the longest term in office until the former German chancellor
Helmut Kohl broke it. Bonn was chosen as West Germany's "provisional"
capital, in part because it was Adenauer's hometown.
Martin Luther (1483-1546)
German theologian and religious reformer, who initiated the Protestant
Reformation, and whose vast influence, extending beyond religion to politics,
economics, education, and language, has made him one of the crucial figures
in modern European history. Luther became a public and controversial figure
when he published (October 31, 1517) his Ninety-Five Theses, Latin
propositions opposing the manner in which indulgences were being sold in order to raise money
for the building of Saint Peter’s in Rome.
Alois Alzheimer (1864-1915)
German neuropathologist who identified the memory-loss ailment named after
him in 1906. He was born in 1864 in Markbreit, Germany. Excelling in science in
school, he later studied medicine in Berlin, Tübingen, and Würzburg. Alzheimer
was buried next to his wife in the Jewish Cemetery in Frankfurt am Main.
Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827)
Born in tiny Bonn, he moved to Vienna, the musical capital of Europe, at the age
of 22. Beethoven's Ode to Joy became the official anthem of the European
Community in 1986, and the unofficial anthem of German unification in 1989.
Beethoven's grand symphonies, chamber music, and other classical works are
still enjoyed throughout the world.
Karl Benz (1844-1929) and Gottfried Daimler (1834-1900)
Each invented the first practical internal-combustion-powered
automobile independently (Benz in 1885, Daimler in 1886), even
though they never met. The two firms merged in 1926 to form
Daimler-Benz, today Germany's largest industrial concern. Benz,
born in Karlsruhe, invented the differential drive and other
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automotive technology, including two types of internal-combustion engines and electrical
ignition.
Wernher von Braun (1912-1977)
Born in Wirsitz in eastern Germany (now Poland), von Braun worked at
Peenemünde developing the V2 rockets that struck Britain in 1944-45. One of
the first true rocket scientists, he and about 120 other German scientists were
brought to the U.S. to work on rocket systems. The U.S. space program was
enhanced by their work, culminating in the Saturn V rocket that sent Americans
to the moon on the Apollo mission in 1969, when von Braun was the head of NASA's Marshall
Space Flight Center in Huntsville.
Marlene Dietrich (1901-1992)
American actress and singer. She was born Maria Dietrich von Losch in
Berlin, and trained for the stage at the school of the noted theatrical
director Max Reinhard. During the 1920s, she became an important
performer in the Berlin theater and in silent films. The American film
director Josef von Sternber cast her in the leading female role of The Blue
Angel, filmed in Berlin during 1929-1930, in both German and English versions. Her haunting
and sensuous singing and acting in this film created a sensation. As a result, Dietrich was
brought to the U.S., where she starred in a series of films under Sternberg's direction.
Denouncing the nationalism of post-World War I Germany, she became an American citizen in
1939.
Albert Einstein (1879-1955)
Published his theory of relativity in 1905. Born in Ulm, Germany, Einstein later
attended university in Zurich, Switzerland, where he received his Ph.D. In 1916,
while a professor at the University of Berlin, Einstein published his general
theory of relativity, a significant expansion of his earlier work. He received the
1921 Nobel Prize in physics. In 1933 Einstein moved to Princeton, New Jersey,
where he lived for the rest of his life. Einstein's letter to President Roosevelt helped start the
Manhattan Project and the development of the atomic bomb by the United States. Einstein
became a U.S. citizen in 1940.
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749-1832)
The "Gothic Shakespeare", along with contemporaries Schiller and von
Kleist, began the German literature movement known as Romanticism.
This giant of German culture wrote the famous two-part drama, Faust,
many classic poetic works, and an international best-selling novel, The
Sorrows of Young Werther, that precipitated a rash of youth suicides
across Europe. Goethe was also interested in science. His Metamorphose der Pflanzen
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(Metamorphosis of Plants) was more accurate than Farbenlehre (Theory of Color). The year 1999
was "Das Goethe-Jahr", a year-long celebration of the 250th birthday of Germany's best-known
cultural icon.
Johannes Gensfleisch zum Gutenberg (ca.1397-1468)
Working in Mainz, he started printing the Bible in Latin in 1450. It took five years
for Gutenberg and his assistants to produce just 200 copies. Today his 42-line
Bible is the most valuable book in the world, but Gutenberg actually lost money
on the deal. Only 48 Gutenberg Bibles are known to still exist. Gutenberg
revolutionized the world with his printing press that used movable metal type.
Michael Schumacher (1969-present)
Michael Schumacher is a German Formula One (F1) driver. He is statistically the
most successful F1 driver ever, with the most career victories, and a record
seven world driver championships. In 1995 Michael became the youngest
double Formula 1 World Champion (1994 and 1995 seasons) ever. He ended
his career as a driver after finishing last year’s season.
Information Resources on Germany
The following websites are recommended if you want to find out more about Germany,
its history, culture, economy and other aspects you might be inetersted in.
http://www.tatsachen-ueber-deutschland.de/389.0.html
http://www.germany.info/
http://www.germany.travel/en/index.html
http://www.bundesregierung.de/Webs/Breg/EN/Homepage/home.html
http://www.deutschland.de/en/home-page.html
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Introduction to Bonn & Bonn Region
The Rhine Area
The Rhineland is Germany's oldest cultural center.
Names such as Cologne, Aachen and Mainz are
synonymous with soaring Gothic architecture and with
the history and lives of many of the great names of
Western Europe. However, the area consists of more
than a mere series of riverside towns: vast plains of the
Lower Rhine farmlands, the crater lakes of the Eifel
Hills, the Bergische Land with its lakes and the
Siebengebirge.
Visitors are attracted to the Rhineland and the Moselle
Valley not only for their beauty and romanticism, but
also for the convivial atmosphere engendered by wine
and song. After all, “Rhineland is Wineland”. Like most
of its tributaries, the Rhine is lined with vineyards
wherever the slopes face the sun. Alternating with the vineyards are extensive orchards, which,
in the spring, are heavy with blossoms. The Ahr Valley in the Eifel region is particularly famous
for its lush scenery and its red wine; nearby is the famous Nürburgring racing circuit. Trier, the
oldest German town close to the Luxembourg border, is situated on the Moselle River. The city
is home to the most important Roman ruins north of the Alps.
The Rhine Valley between Cologne and Mainz is world famous for its wines and wine festivals,
which take place in the fall. Some of the numerous gorgeous castles nestled along the Rhine
include Stolzenfels, Marksburg Castle, Rheinfels at St. Goar and the Schönburg Castle at
Oberwesel. Along the Cologne-Mainz route, the KD German Rhine Line operates boats between
Good Friday and the end of October, enabling passengers to enjoy the view of both sides of the
river with vineyards and picturesque villages lining the banks.
Kennedy Bridge
United Nations Plaza
21
Bonn
IBonn, the Rhine River and the Seven Mountains
Bonn served as the seat of government of the Federal Republic of Germany from 1949 to 1999
and still retains some governmental functions as Bundesstadt (Federal City). The "small town in
Germany" (as John Le Carré saw it in 1968) attracts travelers interested in visiting the city
where Ludwig van Beethoven was born and Robert Schumann died. Beethoven's home, which
was made into a museum, can be seen in the Bonngasse. Other sights include the Poppelsdorf
Palace (with Botanical Gardens), Bonn University (formerly the palace of the Prince-Elector of
Cologne) and the Bundeshaus (former Parliament House). Just south of Bonn begins the
romantic Middle Rhine valley with its vineyards and ruined
castles.
In Bonn there is a large university with around 30,000 students.
There are cultural offers like an opera, some theaters and
museums
(the
Museumsmeile
was
opened
in
1993).
Additionally, Bonn is only 25 minutes away from Cologne (by
train), so it is easy for students to enjoy the perks of not only
Bonn, but a larger city as well.
For 50 years, Bonn has been identified with the German federal
government, which established itself in the Gronau district
between the town centers of Bonn and Bad Godesberg in 1949.
Bonn's Most Famous Son:
The parliamentary office building Langer Eugen long dominated
Ludwig van Beethoven
the river view. But in 2003, with the completion of the
22
Posttower, the focus of attention shifted. 162 meters tall, the
Posttower is now the highest building in Bonn. A red arrow-like
steel sculpture, "Illumination" by Marc di Suvero, on the Rhine
embankment points out the former Parliament House to
strollers on the promenade and passengers on the river boats
alike. Since its completion in 2003, the Posttower, with its
modern architecture, has become the new center of attention.
Bonn's tradition as capital, however, is much older: It served
for centuries as the residence of Cologne's elector, an
important prince of the Holy Roman Empire. The Baroque
palaces of Bonn, Poppelsdorf and Brühl (15 km/10 miles
Th
e Deutsche Post/DHL Tower
northwest of Bonn) and the spa of Bad Godesberg all date
from this period.
Since the 19th century, the university has established Bonn's international reputation. Its main
building is the former electoral palace; which stretches along the southern boundary of the
pedestrianized town center. A
one kilometer- long Baroque
avenue,
Poppelsdorfer
the
Allee, connects the university
´s main building with the
Poppelsdorf
houses
palace,
the
Department
which
Mineralogy
and
museum
and is surrounded by the
Botanical Garden. The garden
front of the main building
Poppelsdorf Palace in Bonn
overlooks the Hofgarten park
with
the
Akademisches
Kunstmuseum (Academic Art Museum, built in 1825 as anatomic theatre) and its river-front
extension, the Stadtgarten and Alter Zoll, a remnant of the old fortifications with a great view of
the river and the Siebengebirge (Seven Hills) at the southeastern outskirts of the city. The main
road to the south (towards the federal district, Bad Godesberg and ultimately Koblenz) passes
through the university building by way of an ornate gatehouse, the Koblenzer Tor.
23
Where as the river front of the city center was completely transformed after World War II with the
construction of the modernist Opera House and a new access road to the Rhine bridge, most of
the old town center has preserved its medieval street plan, now almost completely reserved for
pedestrians. This is the main shopping area with a lively, daily (except Sundays) fruit and
vegetable market in the market square ( Markt). The Baroque Altes Rathaus (Old Town Hall)
forms the southeastern end of the market square. Next
to it you find Em Hottche, one of Bonn's most
traditional restaurants (going back to 1389). Six streets
radiate out from the Markt.
Brüdergasse, leading you to the Gothic Minorite Church
St. Remigius (beautiful, intricate tracery in the apse),
where the young Beethoven practiced on the organ,
Bonngasse to the mainly baroque Jesuit Church
(Namen-Jesu-Kirche, now
Roman-Catholic
university
church), the Beethoven House and the chamber music
hall. The two main shopping streets are Sternstraße
(the name is a derivation of Pisternenstraße, from the
Latin for "street of the bakers") and Remigiusstraße,
which
leads
to
the
second
main
square,
the
Münsterplatz. The Romanesque Münster basilica,
Hi
Bonn’s premier landmark, dominates the square.
storic Town Hall
Around the corner (Am Hof 32-34), you find hidden
behind a 19th-century facade a 12th-century private
chapel, the Helenakapelle, a gem that even few Bonn citizens know. On the opposite side of the
square stands the Beethoven statue, erected in 1845 for the first Beethoven festival, which is
nowerdays still an annual event in Bonn.
It
turns
its
back
Fürstenberg'sches
to
the
Palais
former
(which
now
houses the main post office), where the
guests
of
ceremony
honor
were
for
the
assembled
unveiling
on
the
balcony, among them Queen Victoria and
the
Prussian
king.
Alexander
von
Humboldt is said to have saved the day
when he remarked that Beethoven had
always been a rude fellow. Vivatgasse
(the apparently Latin "Vivat" actually
derives from Viehpfad, "cattle path"; too
humble
T
he United Nations Building in Bonn
a
name
for
a
prosperous
university town, it seems) leads to the
Sterntor, a reconstruction of one of the
24
city gates (originally located at the end of Sternstraße) and a remnant of the 14th century city
wall. In the Alter Friedhof (Old Cemetery), just outside the historic center between the 1970s
high-rise Stadthaus (City Hall) and the railway line, many prominent Bonn were laid to rest,
among them Beethoven's mother, Robert and Clara Schumann, the astronomer Friedrich
Argelander and the romanticist August Wilhelm von Schlegel.
In the late 19th century, Bonn expanded and the residential districts of Weststadt and Südstadt
were developed. The elegant upper-middle-class quarters of the Südstadt have largely survived
World War II and post-war redevelopment (between Poppelsdorfer Allee, Adenauer Allee and
Reuterstraße). The university's science departments expanded during that period in the
Weststadt
(mainly
Nußallee
and
Meckenheimer Allee).
Bonn
boasts
number
of
a
large
museums
covering a diverse range
of subjects from history
and archaeology to arts
and sciences to politics.
The
long
history
and
prehistory of Bonn and
the Rhineland, beginning
with
the
Neanderthal
original
man,
Art & Exhibiton Hall of the Federal Republic of Germany
is
documented in
the
Rheinisches
Rh
ine River Promenade with Bonn Opera
Landesmuseum. The constitutional convention for the future Federal Republic of Germany met in
25
the zoological Museum Alexander König with the stuffed animals staring down on the assembled
politicians in 1948. A museum building boom in the 1980's added three big institutions to the
former Regierungsviertel (government district) along the main road from the city center to Bad
Godesberg; these are somewhat arbitrarily grouped together with the historic Museum König in
the Museumsmeile (museums' mile). Many famous people lived at least for a period in Bonn.
The homes of some of them (Ludwig van Beethoven, Robert Schumann, Ernst Moritz Arndt,
August Macke, and, in Rhöndorf just south of Bonn, Konrad Adenauer) can still be visited.
26
Living in Bonn/Germany
Host Families
Our carefully selected host families enjoy living and
becoming friends with an individual from another
country. The host families volunteer their homes hoping
that they can learn about another culture.
The host families respect the students' privacy within
their home and at the same time treat the students as
a member of the family. Your cooperation, friendliness
and respectfulness of the house rules will be
necessary. Interacting with the family and children is an
important part of living with a host family. Many
students find that their experience with the host
families is a thrilling aspect of their stay in Germany.
However, students should be aware that living with a
host family could be a significant adjustment to their
lifestyle.
Beergarden "Alter Zoll" Overlooking the
Rhine
We will meet the students' expectations concerning
vegetarian meals, smoking or non-smoking households. The students are guaranteed a private
single bedroom and two meals per day.
Personal Finances
The Euro
The Euro was introduced in January 2002 in twelve European countries. The exchange ratio of
EUR to US$ is approx. 1 EUR = 1,29 US $ (September 2012). With the Euro you can pay in the
following countries: Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece,
Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, and Spain.
Credit Cards
VISA and Master Card are the best options in Germany, as they are the two most commonly
accepted cards. American Express cards are the best when you need cash in advance because
it offers the possibility to cash personal checks drawn from your bank account at home at any
American Express office in Germany and Europe. In addition, it allows you to purchase Traveler's
Checks from your American bank for a minimal fee. The only disadvantage of this card is that it
is not as widely accepted in stores!
An AmEx office is situated in Cologne (Burgmauer 14), opening hours of the Cologne office are:
27
Monday-Friday 09:00 AM - 6:00 PM and Saturday 10:00 AM - 1:00 PM
Please note: In Germany it is not as common to pay with credit card as it is in the United
States. Especially when purchasing small items for just a few Euros, stores in most cases will
not except a credit card. Similarly, small restaurants or bars often don’t accept credit cards, no
matter how much you spent there. Therefore always make sure to check with a salesperson/
waiter beforehand, or make sure that you have enough cash at hand.
Money transactions
Please make sure you have an account with a bank that will allow you to access your account
directly or through Bank Card/Pin Number while in Germany. Most of the US banks allow you to
take out money by credit card or ATM card. Make sure you have received a valid four-digit PIN
NUMBER so you can use the ATM's in Europe. This way your parents can deposit money into
your account in the States, and you can withdraw it at your convenience throughout Europe. The
transaction will debit the money from your checking account in the US at that day's exchange
rate. Be sure that you and someone back home know your pin number just in case, and it may
be wise to carry traveler's checks as back up cash in case your bankcard becomes
demagnetized.
Note: When you make a transaction via your Bank Card, at a bank other than your own (e.g.
Deutsche Bank), you will not receive a balance statement, and you will be charged a service fee
of about 5 Euro.
However, if you have your bank account in the US at the ‘Bank of America’ you will be able to
withdraw money at the German ‘Deutsche Bank’ without being charged the service fee. Think
about getting an account there before your departure.
Exchange Money
You can exchange money at most of the banks in Bonn, but you should pay attention to the
exchange rate between the U.S. dollar and the Euro. Remember that there are daily fluctuations.
Good currency converters are available online. You may also contact the AIB for information on
current exchange rates.
Getting Money in an Emergency
If you run out of money or an emergency comes up while you are abroad, there are several
options for getting money from home. Cash or traveler's checks can be wired to you through
companies such as Western Union or an American Express office (located in major cities.) This
service is fast but expensive. Postal Money Orders are another option. A family member or
friend can buy a money order from a US post office and send it to the student abroad. They will
be paid the amount of the money order at their local post office. Postal money orders have the
advantage of being inexpensive, but the disadvantage of being slow - they take as long to get
abroad as an airmail letter.
28
Practical Information
Before coming to Germany, there are a few technical things you should know to make your
transition into a European lifestyle easier.
Adapters
While the U.S. runs on a standard 110 volt current, Europe runs on a 220 volt current. You
should check to make sure that any electrical items that you bring would work on the 220 volt
standard here. This can usually be checked by looking at the electrical plug or chord of the
electrical device. There should be information that will state the voltage input. Most should read
"100-240 Volt" This is an acceptable device that will run on both 110 Volt and 220 Volt
electrical lines. If it reads only "100 or 110" or nothing at all you will need an electrical
converter to use this device in Europe. Items such as hairdryers usually will not work on the
European electrical current and also need a converter. Check the link in our website to see
examples of acceptable devices that do not need converters and devices that do need
converters.
Even though your electrical device may be able to work on a 220 Volt line, you will not be able to
plug the device into an electrical outlet without a plug adapter. This has nothing to do with the
electrical current input; it only allows you to fit an American plug into a European outlet. You can
rent the plug adapters at AIB or purchase them in any electric warehouse in Germany.
Wireless Internet
Our facilities are equipped with wireless Internet to make connecting to the net quick and easy,
no strings attached. Be sure that if you plan to bring a laptop computer that you have a
compatible wireless card that supports our system. Our wireless network supports AirPortenabled and AirPort Extreme-enabled Mac computers, as well as Windows PCs with Wi-Fi
certified 802.11b and 802.11g cards installed. Please purchase one of these cards if you wish
to make use of our wireless Internet. You can always plug directly into our network without a
wireless card as long as you have a standard Ethernet card installed.
Calling Home
Calling the U.S. from Germany is generally as expensive as calling from the US to Germany.
There are providers other than the official TELEKOM that often have better prices. Please ask
the Academy about these rates when you arrive.
Tip: Try to get a calling card (e.g. “GoBananas”). This is an advantage particularly when staying
with a host family. This way you avoid discussions about the phone bill. You can also use your
calling card when traveling to different countries. You can buy Banana cards for 5, 10 or 20
Euro. With a 10 Euro card you can speak 500 minutes.
Receiving Calls from Home
Make sure to tell everyone who might want to call you from the U.S. that Germany’s country
29
code has to be added to every telephone number. Pre-dial 01149 for Germany, then drop the
area code’s first 0.
Calling from a Telephone Booth
You do not need the service of an operator, as the German network is fully automatic. Direct
dialing is available to nearly any country in the world. For local calls you need at least a ten-cent
coin and for long distance calls a minimum of 50 Cent. Most of the booths in Germany are card
operated by now. Those "Telefonkarten" are sold for either 5 or 10 Euro at various places. To
dial the US from a phone booth, you must only insert your card, dial 001, area code (without the
1 in front), plus the phone number. Experience shows that the cheapest way to call the US is to
buy a “Go Bananas” prepaid phone card. They are available in stores at the main train station in
Bonn or newspaper stands.
Credit Card Calls
There are various options for credit card calls, which you should check with your card company.
Special phone booths operate with credit cards, usually the three 'big ones' VISA, MasterCard
and AmEx.
Telephone Language
When answering the phone in Germany, it is customary to give your name rather than simply
saying 'hello”.
If you want to speak to someone, the phrase is "Könnte ich bitte Herrn/Frau (or the student's
name) sprechen?”
When asking if you could leave a message, it would be "Kann ich eine Nachricht hinterlassen”".
For saying good bye, the formal phrase is "Auf Wiederhören!" pronounced 'owf viederheren',
less formal is the phrase "Tschüss", pronounced "choos".
Cell Phones
Cellular phones have become more common and less expensive around the world. Cell phones
are especially helpful to have during your time abroad if you want to meet up with friends or if
you are lost or are in an emergency situation.
Most US based cell phones do not yet have international access, although some are available.
Often, US-based companies have a calling plan that will allow you to have international calls for
just a few months, but that may be dependent on the type of phone you have.
A popular option is to obtain a prepaid cell phone. You can either purchase one from a store in
town (e.g. Vodafone) or simply borrow one from the AIB with a 25 Euro deposit. You will then
need to purchase minutes for the phone, which you can get from most stores like Vodafone or
the Kiosks or supermarkets. You will usually need to call a number to activate your balance, and
then as you place calls or send text messages (SMS), the money will be deducted from your
original balance. Text messages are a relatively cheap way of communicating with friends
instantaneously - and it works overseas!
30
Internet and E-mail
During your stay in Bonn you will have access to computers that enable you to send and to
receive e-mails from your personal account. You will have access to the Internet, as well. There
are also Internet cafes throughout Europe if you'd like to email while you are traveling. Most
hotels and hostels have Internet access as well, but often for a fee.
E-mail is a great and inexpensive way to keep in touch with family and friends, but you should
avoid the temptation to sit at a computer all day instead of exploring daily life in other countries.
You should be aware not to let your real experience become a virtual study abroad!
Developing Film
In general, film rolls and the cost of developing are considerably more expensive than in the
States. However, German packaged film sometimes includes developing. Inside the package will
be an envelope and a list of addresses where you can send the film to be developed. Most
common way get paper film developed is in a professional Photo-Shop or Drugstore (called DM).
At the drugstore it is not as expensive and it is possible to get your digital photos printed on
paper as well (from USB device, flash card or CD). It is also possible to get photos on a CD.
Tipping
For students, it is not necessary to pay any extra tips in restaurants or bars. However, it is
customary to round up the amount to the next full amount in Euro. That is, if you have to pay 7
Euro and 30 Cent, you would round up to 8 Euro and say "Stimmt so!" to indicate that you do
not expect any change.
Business/Opening Hours
Offices
Monday - Friday:
9 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Banks
Monday – Friday
9 a.m. – 1 p.m. and 2 p.m. – 4 p.m.
Shops
Monday - Friday:
9:30 a.m. - 7/8 p.m.
Saturday:
9:30 a.m. - 4/6/8 p.m.
Generally, there is no 24-hour shopping in Germany. Stores are closed on holidays and Sundays.
Note: Opening hours may change soon as a result from current discussions about changing the
laws. They also vary from town to town and from store to store. Ask the AIB staff about recent
developments.
Newspapers
You can get international papers at the "Hauptbahnhof" (main train station). Among others:
•
Financial Times
31
•
USA Today
•
Wall Street Journal Europe
Postage
The post office at Münsterplatz in the heart of the city provides everything you need in terms of
postage and packaging. In order to buy stamps or get letters weighed, look for one of the
counters marked "Briefmarken" (stamps). Stamps can also be bought from a vending machine
in front of the post office if you know how much the letter needs. Prices vary with size and
weight of the mail. To be sure, send the smallest sized envelope or go to the post office before
sending to have it checked.
Remember to allow for extra time when mailing abroad or expecting letters or packages from
home. Airmail typically takes about a week to send, but packages take longer! Also, don't forget
to include the country name as a final line in the address of the postcards and packages you
send to ensure delivery.
Operating hours of post offices differ all over Germany depending on the state and the city. They
are usually open 8 a.m. - 6 p.m. on weekdays, and until 2 p.m. on Saturdays.
Prices for mailing letters to the US are:
Aerogram (up to 5 g):
1,00 Euro
Airmail postcard:
1,00 Euro
Airmail letter up to 20g (reg. size):
1,70 Euro
Airmail letter up to 50g (reg. size):
2,00 Euro
Within Germany:
Letter up to 20g:
0,55 Euro
Letter up to 50g:
1,00 Euro
Letter up to 500g:
1,44 Euro
Letter up to 1000g:
2,20 Euro
Postcard within Europe:
0,65 Euro
To address an envelope within Germany and other European countries you must write the zip
code first and then the name of the city.
For example, the Academy's address is:
Name:
Akademie für Internationale Bildung
Street:
Wilhelmstr. 27
Zip code, city:
53111 Bonn
Country:
Deutschland
32
German Holidays
On public holidays, all shops, offices and even some restaurants are closed in Germany; buses,
trams and trains follow a special holiday timetable (indicated on the schedules at the bus
stops).
Holidays – Spring 2013:
February 16:
Karneval Begins
February 20:
Final Day of the Karneval season; informal day off for most
businesses in the Cologne/Bonn area
April 6 & April 9:
Easter Holiday
Mai 1:
Labor Day
Church Services
Sunday / Sabbath
In Germany, Sunday is a day for the family. No stores are open, and people really enjoy the
Sunday as a day of rest. The Business in the European Union-Program recognizes and
encourages the practice of a faith life while you are studying here. Your host family and the AIB
staff can give you more information about churches in your neighborhood, but the following
information may help you.
The Rhineland is historically more Catholic than Protestant, but there is a wide selection of
faiths in this area. If you wish to celebrate with an English-speaking congregation, you may want
to visit:
33
•
St. Thomas More Catholic Community
Cheruskerstr. 11
53175 Bonn
Tel.: 0228 - 37 35 26
Mass: Sundays at 9:30 a.m. (please check schedule changes at www.stmbonn.de)
Father Healey is a native English speaker and would be glad to assist you with any
concerns while you are in Bonn
•
American Protestant Church
Kennedyallee 150
53175 Bonn
Tel.: 0228 – 37 41 93
Mass: Sundays at 11:00 a.m. (www.apcbonn.de)
•
International Baptist Church Cologne
c/o Friedenskirche
Rheinaustr. 9
50676 Köln
Tel.: 0221 - 943 35 57
For those more interested in a German-language experience, the following churches are located
near the AIB:
•
Bonn Münster
Catholic cathedral in the town square.
Masses are held Saturday 6:30 p.m./Sunday 7 a.m./9 a.m./10 a.m./12 p.m./6:30
p.m.
•
Kreuzkirche
Protestant church near the main train station.
•
Jewish Community
Tempelstrasse 224
53111 Bonn
0228-21 35 60
The Münster is not the only Catholic and the Kreuzkirche is not the only Protestant church in
Bonn. There are many more all over the city.
Garbage Separation
As you may have already noticed, Germans are very interested in preserving the environment
and cutting down waste - this is especially evident in their extensive recycling system. In order
for this system to work, however, the people must participate by dividing their trash into four
different groups:
34
1) Paper
2) Plastics and other recyclables
3) Non-recyclable trash
4) Glass
5) Organic Trash
Please note the locations of the right can for your trash and take the extra couple of steps to
the right one:
1) Paper
is collected separately. Please don’t throw any paper into other containers.
2) Plastics and everything with the green recycling symbol shown above
(Styrofoam and almost all packaging materials) is collected in the yellow colored containers.
3) Non-recycable trash
(Almost everything not in the previous categories) is collected in the black trash cans but
please no glass!
4) Glass and aluminum cans
Pay attention to the bottles/cans that you buy because many of them have a refund available
when you bring them to a store. This "Pfand" is added on to the purchase price when you buy
the product. Look for the word "Pfandflasche" (refundable bottle) on the label before you throw
any bottles away (including large plastic soft drink bottles and some cans) because of the
refund. Throw any other glass in the containers on the street corner right across the academy.
The AIB appreciates your participation in keeping Germany clean!
Tips for Lunch
Mensa Nassestrasse
The Mensa at the Nassestrasse 11 is the biggest cafeteria of the University of Bonn.
Opening times during the semester:
Monday through Thursday:
11:30 a.m. to 2:15 p.m.
5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
Friday:
11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.
During semester-breaks:
11:30 a.m. to 2:15 p.m.
Friday:
11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Carl´s Bistro
Another cafeteria of Bonn University’s that serves warm food throughout the day. Carl´s Bistro is
situated next to the Mensa on the corner of Nassestrasse and Kaiserstrasse.
35
10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
(Warm food from 11:00 a.m. to 4 p.m.)
Friday:
10:30 a.m. 3 p.m.
(Warm food from 11:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.)
Café Blau
This café is a popular student place where you can have warm food, salads and coffee. You find
it at Franziskanerstrasse next to the University.
Ding-Dong
This Chinese fast-food restaurant (also take-away food) is situated on Oxfordstrasse, next to
McDonald´s at the Bertha-von-Suttner-Platz.
Subway
Of course, you know this sandwich place from back home... In Bonn, one is located close to the
main train station, near McDonalds and the second is at the Bertha-von-Suttner Platz.
Pizza Hut
You will find Pizza Hut at the Münsterplatz just behind the Kaufhof department store.
Döner Imbisses
There are a number of Döner take-away Imbisses spread around the inner city. There is a bakery
and a Turkish Döner Kebab restaurant next to the Sterntor. For "belegte Brötchen", the German
sandwich, you can go to one of the many bakeries all over the Münsterplatz and Bonn.
Kaufhof
There is a supermarket in the basement of the Kaufhof. They have a huge salad bar and bakery.
There is also a Spanish and a Sushi food bar.
Public Transportation in Bonn
In general, you should have no problem getting around Bonn 24/7. As you will discover, Bonn is
conveniently small, so you will soon find your way around, especially with the transportation
pass provided for the duration of the program. Note: When you leave the Bonn area, you will
have to pay additional fares.
Please note that each ticket is worth up to $200! Make sure you don t́ lose it because it
cannot be refunded!
Using Buses and Streetcars
36
Tickets different from your transportation pass (most likely you will not need any other tickets
though) can be purchased from the bus driver (it is always good to have exact change). At major
stops you will find vending machines which sell tickets. Look for the name of your stop on the
list and push the respective buttons. If you want to get off at the next stop while being on the
bus (most buses indicate the next stop electronically on a band or by voice), push one of the red
stop buttons inside the bus.
Tip: Your host family will be your best source of information on everyday life, local places to visit
in the surrounding area, or any questions you might have about how things are done here in
Germany.
Tip: Memorize (or even photograph) your bus, S-Bahn, or U-Bahn schedules and numbers or
have a copy on you. Remember that schedules are usually the same Monday to Friday and
change on weekends and holidays. If you go out in Bonn at night, make sure you check the time
of your last bus or streetcar. If you miss your last scheduled bus, you can always take a night
bus (which takes much longer than regular buses) or a taxi. Taxis tend to be expensive, though.
Tips for Traveling Internationally
Maybe you would like to use long weekends for traveling around Europe. Here are some tips!
Please feel free to get in touch with the Academy’s office for further help. We have lots of
information and would be pleased to help you.
Low Cost Carriers
Besides taking the train (with a Eurorail pass) another cheap way to travel Europe is with the so
called low-cost-carriers. These airlines offer tickets for about 50 € to destinations all over
Europe. You won’t be able to find those offers in travel agencies but you will need to search and
purchase your tickets online (with credit card).
Low-cost-carriers departing from the Cologne/Bonn Airport (CGN):
-
Air Berlin
(www.airberlin.com)
-
Condor
(www.condor.com)
-
Germanwings
(www.germanwings.com)
-
HLX
(www.tuifly.com)
-
Easyjet
(www.easyjet.com)
When flying with one of those airlines, you won’t be able to make seat reservations (first come,
first served) and you won’t be served food (but you can purchase it). Those are some reasons
37
why the fares can be so cheap.
Be aware that the destination airports are sometimes small, remote and provincial but might
have misleading names (like Frankfurt/Hahn which is supposed to sound close to Frankfurt
Main Airport but in fact is over 150 kilometers away from Frankfurt and very dif ficult to reach by
public transportation) - always check where exactly the plane leaves/ takes you!
Traveling by Train
When traveling within Germany you will be bound to make use of the main German Railroad
authority Deutsche Bahn (www.bahn.de). On their web site you can switch
to the English presentation, by clicking on the word English, underneath
the search-engine in the middle of the page. You will need to specify the
following: When exactly do you want to go? Is it going to be one-way or
round trip? Which class would you like to travel in? (Always choose 2nd
class! It is almost as comfortable as 1st class, but less expensive!) Do
you want to go on the fast ICE train, with fewer stopovers, or would you rather like to take the
slower regional trains that are cheaper? A general suggestion is that regional trains are fine for
38
a range of about 150-200km, if you would like to go further than that, you should definitely
consider taking the fast trains, because it is going to be worth the price.
Going by train is quite expensive in general, but you can save money if you book your trip in
advance. Depending on the amount of days that lay in between your booking and the actual
journey, you will be able to get various discounts. But please note: you will have to specify the
exact time and date of your trip, if you miss the train, your ticket will be invalid and not be
refunded! (Note: book trip to Amsterdam 3 days in advance, there are special deals online)
You can also look up connections to other countries on the homepage of Die Bahn but you
might use other companies’ trains in this case. When going to Paris for example, you will ride on
the French speed-train Thalys, which goes from Cologne to Paris daily. You will find special
offers and discounts if you check on www.thalys.com. For discount usually have to book 14 days
in advance! The Thalys is also the best way to get to Belgian cities like Brussels and Liège.
If you don’t want to book online, of course you can always go to the travel center ( Reisezentrum)
at the main station in Bonn to book your train tickets. But make sure to ask for offers and
discounts. Especially during the summer and other holiday seasons of the year the companies
have various specials. You might also want to ask for Night-trains, if you are planning to go as
far as Vienna, Prague, Rome etc.
Approximate duration of train ride to major cities in Europe:
From Bonn to:
-
Amsterdam: 3:24 hours
-
Berlin:
4:48 hours
-
Frankfurt
1:47 hours
-
Hamburg:
4:28 hours
-
Munich:
5:00 hours
-
Prague
9:00 hours
-
Vienna:
9:00 hours
From Cologne to:
-
Brussels:
2:30 hours
-
Paris:
4:00 hours
Eurail Passes should be bought in the US prior to your arrival or sent over by family or friends.
You can also get them at the main station in Cologne. Eurail Pass holders must show their
passes when making a reservation. www.eurail.com or www.raileurope.com
Another international Train connection is via “Thalys” which is a fast train, operating between
cologne, Brussels and Paris. The trip Cologne Paris takes only 4 hours and costs around 40
39
euros, but often there are special offers for early booking. A reservation is mandatory. The
Thalys ticket shop is located at Cologne central station, across the square by the main
entrance. www.thalys.com
Accommodations
Hostels are the cheapest accommodation you can get and will be able to find in all major cities.
Prices include breakfast (most of the times) and vary from € 15 - € 40. Be aware of the fact
that you will share the room with up to ten people, but there might be smaller rooms or even
double rooms – just ask when calling the hostel (usually hostel staff speaks English!) In some
hostels rooms have their own bathroom, but usually you will need to share the bath- and
restrooms with the people on the hall. Nevertheless, hostels are fun to stay at, because you will
easily meet young people from all over the world!
The German hostel association is called „Die Jugendherbergen“ and you will find them online at:
www.jugendherberge.de
Internet-pages & booking-agencies with hostel rankings for Germany& Europe:
www.hostelworld.com
www.hostels.com
Also check your destination for Tips, Hostels etc. at lonely planet (best guidebook!)
www.lonelyplanet.com
Hotels in every price class and country are easy to find at www.hrs.de (booking agent)
Popular Destinations
Paris
You can easily take a fast train from Cologne to Paris, which only takes four hours and is faster
than traveling from airport to airport. Once there, you have every possibility you can think of: You
could walk around in the beautiful quarter of Marais with its impressive mansions and palaces,
climb the Eiffel Tower to see Paris from above, visit Notre Dame, one of the most beautiful
cathedrals in the Gothic style or simply some of the best museums in the world. There are
plenty of opportunities to go shopping, for a start choose Les Champs Elysées. Besides that a
trip to La Defense "a kind of future city" is definitely worth it. Just get a little guide and start
walking through this great city, you will definitely enjoy it!
Bruges
Walking around in Bruges will make you feel as if you were back in the Middle Ages. Its town
center is of amazing beauty and reflects the prosperity of a city that used to be one of the main
trade centers of Belgium many centuries ago. You might get the best impression of it if you
participate in a typically "tourist" boat trip when you arrive. Then just stroll around and find little
beautiful places, paths and parks everywhere. And don't forget to try the wonderful Belgium
40
chocolate, which is famous all over the world! It takes 3 hours by train to get from Cologne to
Bruges.
Amsterdam
Enjoy the pleasures of the city’s numerous museums (e.g. Van Gogh museum) complement
outdoor concerts at Vondelpark and boat trips on the canals, many of which date from the
imperialist years of the 17th century. Or visit the colorful flower market. You will see that there
are a lot of things to do in Amsterdam, which is a very liberal place. That may be the reason why
so many interesting people from all over the world live there. It only takes around 2 hours by
express-train (ICE) to get from Bonn to Amsterdam; you could leave on Friday evening and come
back on Sunday.
Brussels
A city with a lineage of leadership, Brussels has become "the capital of Europe". The European
Commission is situated here as well as other important political institutions of the European
Union. Brussels also has many cultural sights to see. Victor Hugo dubbed the magnificent
collection of guildhalls and public buildings that is the Grand Place "the most beautiful square in
the world". Three blocks behind the Town Hall at rue du Chêne is Brussels’s most giggled-at
sight, the Mannekin-Pis, a fountain of a small boy urinating. One story goes that a 17th-century
mayor of Brussels promised to build a statue in the position that his lost son was found;
another says it commemorates a boy who ingeniously extinguished a fuse, which had been lit to
blow up the Town Hall.
Hamburg
Being Germany’s second largest city after Berlin, Hamburg has become one of the most popular
cities for Germans to live. Though partially devastated in World War II, the copper-roofed brick
architecture so characteristic of northern Germany has survived. Germany’s largest port has
been welcoming and bidding farewell to goods and passengers from all over the world for
centuries; the result is a vibrant and cosmopolitan, yet very green metropolis. And it is actually
supposed to have more bridges than Venice.
Heidelberg
In 1386, the sages of Heidelberg turned from illuminating manuscripts to illuminate young
German minds. Heidelberg is the oldest university town in Germany. Set against a backdrop of
wooded hills along an ancient river, the crumbling edifices of the once-majestic Schloß and the
cobble stone streets of the Altstadt exert a magnetism that draws thousands of shutter-clicking,
beer-swilling tourists every year. It takes 2:30 hours to get from Bonn to Heidelberg.
London
Going by shuttle train to London takes 5 hours and 30 minutes from Bonn. Its been described
by one observer as the flower of all cities and by another as a great cesspool. Though London
41
probably experienced an economic slump with the departure of the Romans, the city endured
and became by the eighth century what the historian Venerable Bede described as a mart of
many people coming by land and by sea. London today wears it 2,000 years of history with
dignity. Though constantly undergoing renewal of some sort, reminders of the past are carefully
guarded, for example the Tower, Buckingham Palace, Hampton Court Palace, etc. Despite the
great numbers and size of manmade structures in central London, there are also acres of green
space. Londoners are proud of their well-tended and beloved parks and are quick to point out
that you can walk for more than two miles in one direction and be nearly surrounded by grass
and trees. The route referred to is from Kensington Palace east through Hyde Park to Green
Park, St. James´ Park to Whitehall, then through the Embankment Gardens to Waterloo Bridge.
Luxembourg
More than 1,000 years old, the capital city of Luxembourg was once one of Europe’s most
important fortresses, with strategic advantages that were the envy of neighboring countries.
Through the years the city’s controlling powers encircled it with three protective walls and dug an
underground labyrinth of connecting passages and shelters. Visitors can explore a section of
this maze. The city of Luxembourg also has a modern side; along with Brussels, it serves as cocapital of the European Community (EC), which was created in Luxembourg. The European
Center complex is an impressive, 22-story contemporary steel and glass tower. From Bonn to
Luxembourg it takes about 3 hours by train.
Munich
This cosmopolitan city originated as a village alongside a medieval monastery. Though the town
dates from the ninth century, it did not begin to prosper until it was granted market rights in
1158. Munich was heavily bombed and partly destroyed in World War II. The traditional center of
the old city is the Marienplatz, which marks the intersection of medieval trade routes.
Dominating this venerable square is the Neues Rathaus, Munich’s neo Gothic town hall. At the
center of the square stands a column topped by a statue of the Queen of Heaven, who is
dispensing her blessing on the city. Visible over the gabled rooftops is the twin towered
Frauenkirche, the most familiar landmark of Munich. The Hofbräuhaus was once the royal
brewery. Now owned by the state of Bavaria, it is one of Munich’s most celebrated festive beer
halls.
42
Frequently Asked Questions
Before leaving for Germany:
Should I bring my laptop?
YES. YOU WILL NEED IT FOR CLASSROOM WORK.
Also, it might be inconvenient to use your host family's computer, and the computers at
the AIB may all be in use. It is nice to have the freedom to use your computer whenever
and wherever you want, especially if it's nice outside. Just make sure you have wireless
Internet, otherwise it might not be worth it.
What bank should I get an account with?
Most ATM/debit cards will be accepted at most banks, but Bank of America is a partner
of Deutsche Bank, and therefore will not charge you to take out money there. All other
banks will most likely charge you a service fee of about 5 Euros.
What kind of personal supplies do I need to bring? Do they have the same brands in Germany
as in the US?
This question applies mainly to the girls but it is still important. They should know that
you can find most of the same brands here so there is no need to take up precious space
in your suitcase.
Can you find over-the-counter medication?
Yes, over-the-counter medication is available, although you need to go to a special store
to get them. Unless you need prescription drugs, don't worry about spending a small
fortune on an emergency medical supply before you leave.
Things to do/bring with you:
•
Bring a small pocket dictionary with you. (They are cheaper in the US.)
•
Bring an extra memory stick/card for your camera or buy one that holds lots of
pictures.
•
Don’t bring a power converter. We have found they work better when bought here in
Germany.
•
Bring a Nalgene or water bottle; the tap water in Germany is excellent
•
Bring a credit card (MasterCard or Visa are commonly accepted, especially for
reserving rooms, hostels or flights online you will most likely need one!)
•
Your debit card will not always be accepted!
•
Bring an umbrella.
•
Bring a flash drive - you will not always be working on the same computer and email is
not always reliable to transfer your information!
43
Once You Arrive in Germany:
If I feel I need a doctor what should I do?
AIB has a list of specialists that we refer students to. If you feel you need to visit a doctor
just tell anyone on the staff and they will make an appointment for you and help you get
there.
How can I take money from my U.S. account?
There are ATM’s all over German cities called Geldautomaten that you can use to
withdraw funds from your account just like in the U.S. The usual fee is about 4 euros per
withdrawal plus a tiny .02% or so for the currency conversion.
What are the best calling cards and where can I buy them?
Go Bananas! seems to be the best card for your money (10 Euros gets you about 530
minutes of talk time!) You can buy them most commonly in the Lotto Toto stores (similar
to newsstands.) Bookstores and other similar stores might also sell them. Remember to
dial 001 before the area code and number of the US place you are trying to call.
Will the Germans understand English?
A large portion of the population speaks at least a little English. Simply ask politely if they
can speak English and most will be happy to help. For a better chance of finding someone
that speaks English ask the younger generation rather than the old.
How does public transportation work?
The U-Bahn (subway) is a great way to get around. It can be a little intimidating, though,
when you are first trying to figure it out. When entering an U-Bahn station, make sure you
know simply the name of the stop you are going to and what direction it is. There will be
two entrances to the tracks - follow the entrance that is labeled with whatever direction
you are heading (all trains on that side will go in that direction.) Then you can check the
times each train comes and what places they go to when you are near the tracks. This
applies to all trams and buses as well. Remember to push the buttons on or nearby the
train doors to make them open when you want to get off the train! You can also ask your
host family or someone in the AIB office to help you figure out specific train lines, etc.
Where are some good places to eat? Traditional German, 'fast-food,' cheap, etc.?
The StehCafes and Bakeries are great for cheap/on-the-go 'German' food, like belegte
Brötchen or sweet pastries. Another recommendation is a Turkish sandwich called Döner.
There are Döner shops all over Germany and they are delicious and cheap. Of course you
can also find Pizza Hut, McD's, Burger King and Subway around.
44
BIS BALD IN BONN!
See you soon in Bonn!
45

AIB`s Student Handbook

Transcription

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