I can’t believe I have already finished my first semester here in Reutlingen. It has been an incredible opportunity so far, and I have learned so much about culture and society here in Germany. For example, one of the cultural aspects I had to adjust to when coming to Germany was the heightened bureacracy in the country. While moving here, there was a lot of paperwork that I had to do to complete my “Aufenthaltserlaubnis” process, internship applications, registering with the city, etc. Much of the paperwork is still completed on paper, and one always has to have an appointment. Oftentimes, there are no opportunities to make appointments online, and one has to call or email the office. Usually, the appointments tend to also be packed together, since many utilize the governmental and social offices here. Specifically in Reutlingen, there is a large group of foreigners, including a large international student body at the Hochschule.
When I first got to Germany, I found the bureacracy very frustrating. The Visa process tends to be slow, and the office had made a mistake on my Visa when I obtained it in person. It was a little nerve wracking, since I needed it for my internship onboarding process at BMW. Additionally, it was a little hard learning about the German system, such as the health insurance requirements. Even though the process still frustrates me, I have learned to get used to the system and appreciate it for what it is. I find it kind of cool how Germany tends to be less digital than the United States, and I have gained a greater sense of patience. It also became even more exciting when I obtained my Visa, since I had to wait a few months to obtain it.
Personally, I believe that other Americans would also find the slow bureacratic process a bit frustrating. The United States tends to have a faster-pace environment compared to Germany. Especially with how Americans respond to bureacracy at the DMV, I imagine it would be frustrating for others. However, I think that other Americans would also get used to the process with more time spent in Germany. I also believe that a lot of the bureacracy is specifically targeted toward immigrants here and strangely helps foreigners bond with each other. I imagine it is also similar for immigrants and study abroad students in the United States, which makes me respect immigrants in the United States even more.
Moving to another country and getting used to the cultural aspects here has made me more prepared to enter situations with understanding and patience. It has also made me look into things deeper. For example, since I took business law here, I understand many of the reasons why the bureacracy is heightened here. The legal system is very specific, which leads to less flexibility. It is very interesting looking at things from a scholarly perspective. I will take the lessons I have learned here moving on to my next semester here in Reutlingen.