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Finals

4/29/2013

It feels like I have just arrived in Boston and now, the first semester is already over! Time flies, especially when you are in a completely different environment, city, and country and every day is totally new and exciting. However, the end of the semester also means final exams!

My favorite place to study is in Mugar library, BU’s largest library. It is the place where I get least distracted and have access to all the media I need (computers, scanner, printer etc.). Fortunately, the opening hours are much better than other places around campus such as the Fitrec. The fact, that I can work there almost every day till 2 a.m. not only supported my personal preference to work at night but was also essential because of the short period of time we had for preparations. When I talked to other BU students I often hear that all-nighters are pretty usual when it comes to deadlines, final projects, and exams. So I tried to start studying early and, thankfully, avoided an all-nighter. Nevertheless, I was pretty nervous about what final exams would be like, and whether I could get good results or not.

The first exam I took was for my Innovative Marketing Techniques class. Thanks to our excellent professor, Behdad Shahossini, and the projects he assigned as well as my hard studying, I was pretty well prepared. Compared to the exams I took in Germany there were some interesting differences. One is the style of the exam. In Germany we have nearly no multiple choice or “true or false” questions in an exam but more essay questions. Furthermore, the timeframe for the exams are much tighter in Germany. There I usually finished in the last minute and normally wish I had more time whereas here the timeframe seems to be looser. Obviously, the style of the exams (essay vs. multiple choice) are one reason for this difference but another reason seems to be that the professor at BU are more interested in learning what you know rather than putting you under pressure.

Now that finished my last exam I am looking forward to getting my results back. I’m also looking forward to enjoying Boston in the short break between spring and summer term!

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MET International Mentor Program

4/26/2013

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When I started my semester at Boston University I had no clue what it would be like to be a student in American culture, so I thought it might be interesting and helpful to take advantage of the mentor program offered at MET International! The idea of this program is to bring together a small group of international students from different countries and different degree programs with an American student who has already lived in Boston for a while. In my case it was Vanja who gave us a little insight into her experiences in Boston and around BU.

We would meet on a regular weekly basis at the different locations Vanja wanted to show us. These places were for instance, a cool study lounge in the basement of the GSU building (that I would never have found on my own), a typical student bar, and downtown Boston. However, it was not only the locations that made me enjoy the program, but more so the conversations (sometimes discussions ;) ), the food, and the general experience of exchanging ideas and different opinions with nice people from different cultural backgrounds!

In my opinion the mentor program is definitely a very good activity to join if you are going to study abroad in Boston. I can highly recommend it not only because it helps you get familiar with the city and its diverse cultures but, like in my case, the program also provides you with the opportunity to make new friends.

“Friendship is unnecessary, like philosophy, like art... It has no survival value; rather it is one of those things that give value to survival.”
C. S. Lewis

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Super Bowl XLVII (47)

4/16/2013

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Super Bowl – one of the biggest sports games worldwide and an event you can’t miss when you are in America! I was already following the NFL in Germany even though I could rarely see the games because of the time differences. They took place mostly in the middle of the night in Germany and that is why I was even more excited to finally see the Super Bowl 47 LIVE in the USA.

Unfortunately the New England Patriots lost against the Baltimore Ravens and didn’t make it to the Super Bowl but nevertheless I was really looking forward to be part of this mega event on February 3rd, 2013 – Baltimore Ravens vs. San Francisco 49ers.

We decided to reserve a table at The White Horse Tavern in Allston/Brighton. The atmosphere was incredible throughout the entire day. It felt like an informal holiday. Arriving at the restaurant we were glad to see that there were everywhere big monitors hanging so that we all had a good view from our table. We started the big game with “American game day food” and ordered different chicken wings, nachos, and burgers with fries as well as American beer like Budweiser, Miller, and Sam Adams.

The national anthem was sung by Alicia Keys and finally the game started. Ravens vs. 49ers – a sibling rivalry among the coaches – competing for the most prestigious NFL title. What a great setup! It was an exciting game with some interesting individual stories of players and their families. I guess that is what makes everyone get emotionally involved and makes you root for one of the teams. In the first two quarters the Ravens built a good 21-6 lead and with this score we were looking forward to the second half of the game but first came the halftime show.

As a business student majoring in marketing I was also particularly interested in seeing the new commercials during the halftime break and it seems like I wasn’t the only one because nearly everyone stopped eating and looked up at the monitors when the first advertisement showed up. Not surprisingly, everyone expected something special since a 30-second commercial cost about $4 million dollar! The “GoDaddy” commercial, in particular seemed to have caused much enthusiasm among the crowd since people started applauding and yelling when top model, Bar Rafaeli, kissed a computer guy. I really enjoyed the atmosphere and the halftime show from Beyonce and (as a special surprise) the rest of “Destiny’s Child.” It even seems that many people were more interested in the halftime show than in the game itself.

The second half literally started with a big bang. After the Ravens scored an early touchdown there was a power outage and the Superdome partially blacked out. The game was suspended for about 30 minutes! Something that was unimaginable for us Europeans. How could there be such a long power outage during such an important game? I don’t know the answer, but what I did find out is that power outages are relatively common in the US and that, in this case, the outage probably boosted some companies’ income because of extra commercials shown during this time. After the lights went back on the 49ers made the game a little bit more interesting and shortened the Ravens’ lead to 28-23. However, it was too late to catch up and therefore the Ravens won the Super Bowl 34 – 31.

So this long night finally came to an end and we said goodbye before walking home through the snowy cold Boston streets, but this time with a lot of good memories and new impressions!

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Joining the BU Soccer Club

4/16/2013

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Back in Germany I used to do a lot of sports in my spare time, from table-tennis and soccer to working out at the gym and running. Doing sports is my compensation for a high workload and studying stress. Because it is the best way for me to free my mind I do sports nearly every day averaging about 12 hours a week. Therefore I am really glad that BU offers the free use of the FitRec (www.bu.edu/fitrec/) for its students. The amazing variety of sport clubs and facilities offered to us like the gym, the swimming pool, the climbing wall, table-tennis tables, squash courts, racket ball, basketball and soccer courts are like heaven for me. But unfortunately I have to study as well and to accommodate my schedule to the FitRec’s open hours. That is why I had to choose which of the sports activities I wanted to do.

In the first weeks I tried to get an overview of which activity would fit my interests and schedule and so I looked at many different activities like the table-tennis club (mainly Friday and Saturday) and several fitness courses. But in the end – as you probably expected a German to do – I decided to join a soccer club.

We first met for an open court play evening at the court and I was impressed at how many people wanted to play! I estimate there were about 50-60 people spread out along 3 courts waiting for their turn to play. During this waiting time I met many cool and open-minded people from different countries such as France, Mexico, China, Brazil, Korea, India, Bulgaria and of course the USA. We were all connected through our same passion – soccer. After playing with some of the guys and getting to know each other, I joined a team and we started to play in the BU division against other teams. The matches were 6 vs. 6 and lasted 40 minutes (2x20 min). Even though it was just an amateur tournament there were 2 referees and an advisor who coordinated the matches, which once again showed Americans’ passion for sports that I really admire!

Unfortunately, we didn’t perform very well but nevertheless I had a lot of fun, met very nice people and am now looking forward for the summer season to start.

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Eating Around the BU Campus: Scoozi

4/16/2013

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Who isn’t starving after an evening class that end at 9 p.m? But where to go to get a good dinner? We decided to try the Italian restaurant SCOOZI right on Commonwealth Ave. (T-stop Blandford Street). I really recommend that restaurant especially after class if you don’t want to travel too far. The prices where all right and the portions big, just like it should be. There was a variety of people, reaching from students to even ‘older’ folks.

Additionally, I think the location looks quite nice; when you enter, they have couches and sofas on the right side and tables where you can eat on the left side.

It is a restaurant with an open kitchen, so you can really see how your pizza is made. They mainly serve Pizzas, Paninis, Pastas and Salads. What else do you need in an Italian restaurant? We had a BIG Pizza Margherita and a spinach salad. Both were delicious!

My resume for this restaurant: absolutely recommendable. The food is great and the prices are totally acceptable! Perfect for students to go there!

Rating:

If you want to do a Margherita yourself try the following easy receipt:

I think it is a little bit too difficult to do the dough so I would take a 12 inches thin pizza crust (for example Boboli 12-inch thin crust).

1. Preheat the oven to 450°F.
2. Drizzle the olive oil over the pizza shell. Use a brush to spread it around and make sure to get the crust!
3. Next, disperse the finely chopped garlic evenly.
4. Spread the mozzarella cheese throughout the top, but keep it thin.
5. Place the thinly sliced tomatoes across the entire pizza.
6. Lightly salt and pepper the tomatoes with the kosher salt.
7. Spread the fresh basil leaves, making sure to get some on tomatoes and on just the cheese itself.
8. Cook the pizza in the oven for about 9-10 minutes, or until sufficiently crispy and melted to your liking.
9. Add a little Parmesan cheese and (optional) crushed red pepper and enjoy!

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Eating Around the BU Campus: Nud Pub Thai Cuisine

4/16/2013

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Another place on Commonwealth Ave. is the Thai restaurant Nud Pob. It is right at BU Central and also perfect to for after class.

Since the place was quite crowded, we thought it must be good. I ordered the Pad Thai with Chicken, which is actually one of my favorite Thai dishes. But unfortunately, it was not outstanding and it looked and tasted a little bit boring. Maybe I just ate the wrong dish. A thing that is really good for students is that they have free Wifi so I would recommend this place more for your lunch break than for a place to have a casual dinner.

My resume for this place: the food is ok but not really special.

Rating:

You want to try Pad Thai yourself? Try this receipt:

You need: 8 ounces rice noodles; ¼ cup salted peanuts, finely chopped; ½ teaspoon lime peel, grated; 3 tablespoons fish sauce; 2 tablespoons fresh lime juice; 2 tablespoons brown sugar; 4 1/2 teaspoons rice vinegar; 1 tablespoon chili sauce; 3 tablespoons cooking oil; 1 lb chicken breast, cut into bite-sized strips (boneless, skinless); 1 tablespoon garlic, minced; 1 egg, lightly beaten; 1 cup fresh bean sprout; 1/3 cup green onion, sliced; 2 tablespoons fresh cilantro, chopped

1. Place noodles in a large bowl. Add enough hot tap water to cover; let stand for 10 to 15 minutes or until pliable but not soft. Drain well in a colander.
2. Meanwhile, for peanut topping, combine peanuts and lime peel; set aside.
3. In a small bowl combine fish sauce, lime juice, brown sugar, rice vinegar, and chile sauce; stir until smooth. Set aside.
4. In a 12-inch nonstick skillet heat 1 tablespoon of the oil over medium-high heat. Add chicken and garlic; cook and stir for 6 minutes until chicken is tender and no pink remains. Transfer to a bowl.
5. Add egg to the hot skillet and cook for 30 seconds. Turn egg with spatula and cook for 30 to 60 seconds more, just until set. Remove and chop egg; set aside.
6. In same skillet heat remaining 2 tablespoons oil over high heat for 30 seconds. Add drained noodles and sprouts; stir-fry for 2 minutes. Add fish sauce mixture and chicken; cook 1 to 2 minutes more until heated through.
7. Divide noodle mixture among four plates. Sprinkle each serving with egg and peanut topping. Garnish with green onion and cilantro.

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Quincy Market

4/16/2013

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A really famous spot I think everyone should see in Boston is Quincy Market – a beautiful old market place right at the Government Center T stop. Farmers and traders started selling their goods around this area about 200 years ago. The actual Quincy market building was constructed between 1824 and 1826. Today, it’s a popular location for people to grab a bite to eat or drink a cup of coffee. You can find approximately 30 small restaurants with multicultural cuisine from typical Boston chowder and Philadelphia cheese steak to Greek, Thai, Japanese, and Italian food along the market hallway. But, of course, there are still traditional markets from time to time. The whole scenery is very impressive and it offers plenty of discussion topics, especially if you go there with a multinational group with different cultural backgrounds.

The outdoor area surrounding the market is very idyllic with several old buildings and some trees and benches. You literally feel the history of this place and it is really easy to imagine how it looked about 150 years ago. And just a short walk away from Quincy Market, you will find the Boston Harbor.

So I would recommend everyone to take the time to experience this piece of Boston’s tradition.

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Spring Break in Miami

4/16/2013

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Spring break time = time to travel and see new places.

To escape from the hard winter in Boston we wanted to travel to a place where it would be sunny and warm for spring break. Fortunately, the US is so big that we had the option to choose from nearly every climate and a variety of cultures from North to South and East to West. After discussing several options, we decided to travel to Miami Beach in southern Florida. This way I could visit some of my friends from Munich who are studying at FIU in Miami while enjoying the warm weather at the same time!

About Miami

Miami is about a 1,300 mile flight south from Boston. A trip by car would take about 22-23 hours. To give you a better idea of the distance, let’s just say it is comparable to a trip from Frankfurt (middle of Germany) to Istanbul (western Turkey). Miami is really close to the Bahamas and Cuba and benefits from the warm climate the Gulf of Mexico brings.

Palm trees and business buildings – something I had never seen before.

Miami has about 400,000 inhabitants and it is not only famous for its beaches, everglades, and beautiful weather, but also for its economic power. What I found really interesting is that many large company headquarters are based there, for instance, American Airlines, Bank of America, Kraft Foods, Cisco Systems, and Nokia Corp to name a few.

Cultural Differences

Breakfast in a beautiful restaurant with interesting Spanish history – Manolos.

And of course, the amazing beaches!

Boston and Miami are both American cities and yet totally different in every way; from the Architecture and fauna & flora to the everyday life. What you can easily detect is the Hispanic influence. With its proximity to South America and a high population rate of Hispanics, Miami seems to be a cultural mix between different Hispanic cultures and the European-American culture. This attempt to try to classify American cultures leads me to the conclusion that there is no typical American culture but rather state and regional cultures.

The Hispanic influence on the city quickly became obvious in various situations. For example, you could find many authentic Cuban, Mexican, and even Venezuelan restaurants that served traditional dishes. Nearly everyone spoke Spanish, In some little stores, it was even necessary to speak Spanish in order to communicate with the people working there because they didn’t speak English. I had the feeling that the Hispanic influence was also integrated in people’s behavior – everyone was very hospitable and friendly. There was no rush and no stress. Furthermore, the city seemed to never sleep. It wasn’t just the nightlife opening hours that gave this feeling, but also the fact that people where walking their dogs at midnight and simply sitting out and enjoying conversations and playing games.

My Résumé

A beautiful city with amazingly friendly people and the perfect climate in March! It is definitely a good place to go for Spring Break vacation!

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