University of Applied Sciences, Fulda

Part Two

Foreigners have a stereotype of Germany; that in Germany everything is in great order [Ordnung]. The stereotype view of Germany being a very orderly place can push up the level of expectations. "At the beginning I was very surprised because about some, some organisational things, because for me Germany it is the country where Ordnung muss sein [orderliness is a must], and everything must be in order and . . . I thought I it would be different, but it was really bad . . . "
The other aspect which is quite foreign is the Referat system. ". . . just presentations, all these presentations . . . I go to a lecture, and instead of the professor there is some group of people who really, really don’t have any idea of the subject. And they are supposed to teach me something . . . I can’t understand it, so it should be the professor who teachers, not the students . . . it never happens in Poland . . .
The positive side of presentations is clear to most of the participants, but sympathising with the method being used does not reduce the amount of anxiety which is caused by it. ". . . I can’t understand it, I know that it is very interactive it is a very modern word, but I don’t understand it really . . ."
The three divisions of the program do not help clarify the picture either: ". . . but this program for me is confused, very confused, it is that I don’t know what is the connection between the European studies and intercultural communication. I can’t see any connections and people suffer from that . . ."
The low power distance relationships are seen as positive and helpful. "I like the attitude of the professors, because they are very helpful. I like this very, very, they are very patient. Yes this kind of contact I had never experienced in Poland and I like it." The significance of good relationships is once again emphasised: ". . . [the relationship] with the people was rather simple, I would say, yes it was really opposite the Polish situation . . . here is different, which is, of course, good, and is the advantage of the place . . ."
It seems that in Poland you have to be careful about what you say, because you could end up creating an embarrassing situation for yourself: ". . . it is different from this place in Poland, because here it is very so easy so, so—I wouldn’t like to say without respect—but it is different. People sometimes make, really make very stupid remarks or give very not relevant questions, which I would never give in Poland, because I would be ashamed of to give such questions. People are very tolerant, sometimes too tolerant . . . in Poland you must just, you must­— how to say it—you must really take care of what you say and taking attention of what you say . . ."
The interviewee was one of the few participants who had a positive view about the city: "It is really calm, and peace, and I can really relax here. Some people say that it is boring, but I don’t know– one can never be bored here when he wants, so no problem for me . . ."