GERMANY 2008
Hi! Time for a pop quiz: What do Boris Becker, Porsche
cars, and Claudia Schiffer have in common? Correct! They
are all from Germany!
Now
it’s time for you to explore their country of
origin and… earn credits! LSUS is going to Germany
again.
As
part of a collaboration between LSUS and Germany’s
Universität Lüneburg, LSUS students will
be studying Issues in European Business on location!
The two-week course takes place between the Spring and
Summer semesters. Students earn three elective
credit hours.
Don’t
miss this wonderful opportunity to learn about international
environments and to increase your understanding
of foreign practices and cultures. Widen your horizon,
have fun, make friends, learn for life…and all that
while earning credit towards your LSUS degree!
Check
out the FAQ section below and get in touch with Dr. Tim Shaughnessy in the College of Business if you are interested:
(318) 797-5334 or tim.shaughnessy@lsus.edu.
We are looking forward to having you on board!
Germany
2008: Frequently Asked Questions
(To see answer, click on question or scroll down)
ORGANIZATION
What is this course all about?
When does the course take place?
Where exactly are we going?
How will the participating students be chosen?
Who is the instructor?
Where are we going to stay?
When will I receive my host's name and address?
Who is taking care of the travel arrangements?
Will I be picked up at the airport upon arrival?
How much will it cost to participate?
SURVIVAL
Help, I don't speak any German!
What if I get lost?
How much money do I need to bring?
Should I bring cash or a credit card?
What if my parents need to contact me?
What are Germans like?
What is the German weather like?
Is Germany dangerous?
Anything else I need to know about Germany?
I have never traveled. What should I bring?
ACADEMIC
What are the prerequisites?
Do we earn credit hours?
Do I need to buy a textbook?
Where and when do I have to register?
When are the payments due?
Are there going to be pre-trip meetings in Edinburg?
What kind of classes are we going to attend in Germany?
Is class attendance mandatory?
What kind of trips are we going to make?
Will the instructor be with us all the time?
How will we be graded?
What will the Final Exam be like?
ACTIVITIES
Will our German hosts spend a lot of time with us?
Do I have to pay for activities?
Will we have time to go shopping?
How are we going to move around?
Are we going to go to parties?
STUDENT RESPONSIBILITIES
I was accepted! Now, what do I have to do?
What kind of papers and visas do I need to bring?
Do I have to buy the ticket by myself?
POST-TRIP ISSUES
Can I stay in Lüneburg for a few more days?
Who is giving me a ride to the airport?
I would like to travel through Europe...
CONTACT
Who should I talk to if I have additional questions?
ORGANIZATION
What
is this course all about?
This two-week course, a collaboration
between Louisiana State University in Shreveport (LSUS)
and
Universität Lüneburg, is an official three-hour
credit course. As part of 2008 Summer undergraduate
electives, participants will be studying
Issues in European Business on location! For
most of the time, students will be staying with German
families and students in Lüneburg, a town approximately
30 miles south of Hamburg. They will be attending seminars
at the
Universität Lüneburg and visit companies in and around Lüneburg. Additionally,
students will make trips to Hamburg and Berlin and several
other places of academic and professional interest. The
field trip is a wonderful opportunity for all participants
to increase their understanding of other business practices
and cultures.
When does the course take place?
The course takes place between the Spring and Summer semesters (May 19-31).
Where exactly are we going?
We will be hosted by the
Universität Lüneburg in Lüneburg, a town 30 miles south of Hamburg in the North of Germany. You will have to fly into Hamburg (airport code HAM). LSUS students should look for tickets from Dallas (DFW) to decrease ticket costs.
How will the participating students be chosen?
Since the number of participants is limited, students will be chosen on a first-come-first-served basis.
Who is the instructor?
The 2008 course is designed and coordinated by Dr. Tim Shaughnessy, Associate Professor of Economics at LSUS.
Where are we going to stay?
We will be staying with German students and families in
Lüneburg. If staying with students, female students
will be staying with females, and male students will be
staying with males. Most of us will be living within walking
or cycling distance to the university.
When will I receive my host's name and address?
You will receive your host's name in late April or early May, or - at the latest - upon your arrival in Hamburg.
Who is taking care of travel arrangements?
YOU! YOU! YOU! The students are responsible for their
own travel arrangements. Prices vary, so do your homework.
Last year students paid between $450.00 and $950.00 for
exactly the same flight. Dr. Shaughnessy will not
be involved with the travel arrangements. Students from LSUS should look for tickets from Shreveport [SHV] or Dallas
[DFW] to Hamburg [HAM] (typically via Frankfurt or Paris
or Amsterdam or Brussels or Zurich).
Will I be picked up at the airport upon arrival?
Absolutely YES! You will be picked up at Hamburg Airport (HAM) by your hosts or other students. All you have to do is provide Dr. Shaughnessy with your detailed itinerary. Keep in mind that Dr. Shaughnessy may be leaving a few days before you, so submit your information early and expect a confirmation. If Dr. Shaughnessy does not confirm the receipt of your itinerary, he probably didn't receive it! And if he didn't receive it, you will not be picked up because nobody is expecting you.
How much will it cost to participate?
Your total expenses will depend on your spending behavior
in Germany. You are responsible to pay tuition if you
wish to earn course credit. You are also responsible to
buy your own plane ticket (approx. $750-900). Furthermore,
you have to pay a $550
fee that takes care of the major expenses
associated with the trip (for example, bus for excursions,
hotel accommodation in Berlin, tour guides, on-location
transportation during special events, instructor expenses
and transportation, aide compensation, administrative
expenses, preparation expenses, and various other design
and coordination expenses, etc). A nonrefundable down payment of $250 of that fee has to be paid
at the Division of Continuing Education and guarantees your right to participate. The remaining $300 of that fee will have to be paid in Germany.
All you need in addition to that is spending money and
money for food (accommodation is free). The amount of
spending money depends on your personal purchasing behavior.
I have seen students living off $100 a week, and I have
seen students spending $3,000 and more over the course
of three weeks. Please note that although you will be
staying for free, you are expected to pay for meals (just
as you would be at home) and some individual transportation.
SURVIVAL
Help, I don't speak any German!
Not a problem. All classes will be in English, and most Germans have a working knowledge of English. Nevertheless, once there, we may offer you a free crash course in German.
What if I get lost?
Germany is a relatively safe place if you take the usual precautions (don't walk dark alleys at night, etc.), so DON'T PANIC. If you are lost, you can ask any German in the street for help. Most Germans are very supportive in those situations. You may also find a phone booth and dial one of the three numbers that will be provided to you (your host's number, your instructor's number, the International Office's number). If you have money, you could take a taxi. In severe cases you might want to call the police (dial 1-1-0). On trips, we will always identify specific points where we could meet every other hour or so if someone is lost.
How much money do I need to bring?
Good question. How much are you planning to spend? You can definitely get along with about $150 per week, probably even with $100. But don't calculate with less than that. If you bring $400 to $600 spending money for two weeks, you will certainly have enough money to have a very good time.
Should I bring cash or a credit card?
Both. Even better, bring American Express Traveler's Checks.
Credit card usage is not nearly as common in Germany as
it is in the United States. If you don't like to carry
too much cash, bring Traveler's Checks! You have to order
them through your bank and can turn them into cash at
every German bank (during their office hours: M-F 9:30
a.m.-4:00 p.m.).
What if my parents need to contact me?
You should provide your parents with your host's phone
number and the number
of the International Office in Lüneburg.
What are Germans like?
Very, very different. Just check them out, you will have fun...
What is the German weather like?
In May, it could be anything between a rainy and windy 55 degrees F, and a warm and sunny 90 degrees F. The truth is probably in the middle. Bring some light summer clothes, but definitely also a warm sweater and a rain jacket!
Is
Germany dangerous?
Lüneburg itself is a very safe place. Hamburg and
Berlin are like any large city in the United States, you
are fine as long as you take the usual precautions. The
probability of becoming a victim of a violent crime is
very low in Germany. However, as everywhere, the more
alcohol you drink, the greater the likelihood of becoming
involved in some ugly stuff. Therefore, the consumption
of alcoholic beverages is strongly discouraged. If you drink enough alcohol to put yourself or others at risk (as evaluated by Dr. Shaughnessy), you will be sent home at your own expense.
Anything else I need to know about Germany?
There are many things you may want to know. For example, you need to bring an adapter if you want to use your blow-dryer. For this kind of information, just surf the Internet. It's packed with information. A good place to start could be the German Embassy in Washington (http://www.germany-info.org).
I have never traveled. What should I bring?
Okay. Place everything you ABSOLUTELY POSITIVELY need on your bed. Then take 25% of it. In other words, we are usually taking too much, rather than too little. Remember, Germany is a developed nation, so even if you leave something behind that you will suddenly need, you will be able to obtain it over there. You may also want to ask students who went in the past or have a practice run. Pack everything you intend to take in one suitcase and then LIVE OUT OF THAT for two weeks. If you can't, then you need to repack. Also, at the end of the week, if you didn't use something, then don't take it (except for the warm sweater and the rain jacket!). You definitely need to bring shoes that are comfortable for walking (tennis shoes or alike); there will be a lot of walking.
ACADEMIC
What are the prerequisites?
You need to be an LSUS undergraduate student. You need
to be approved by Dr. Shaughnessy. Other than that, there are
no general prerequisites.
Do we earn credit hours?
Yes, you will earn 3 undergraduate credit hours if you
register and pass.
Do I need to buy a textbook?
No, there will be no textbook. Reading materials will be distributed. German professors work with handouts.
Where and when do I need to register?
First of all, you can only register after receiving Dr.
Shaughnessy's confirmation that you are on board. Do
not register online or by phone. Come and see
Dr. Shaughnessy before you register, otherwise
your registration will not count and you will not be able
to go.
When are the payments due?
For planning purchases and to indicate your definite intent
to participate, you are asked to pay the $250 nonrefundable
fee as soon as possible.
There is no specific due date for that contribution. However,
as soon as you are absolutely certain you will go, you
should make the contribution, because slots will fill
up fast (the contribution guarantees your right to participate).
The tuition for the course is due by May (before we leave).
Are there going to be pre-trip meetings?
Yes, there may be meetings before we actually leave.
Dr. Shaughnessy will keep you posted on the exact dates and
locations.
What kind of classes are we going to attend in Germany?
There will be classes in marketing, management, finance, economics, organizational behavior, business law, and business psychology, among others. Most classes will focus on Europe.
Is class attendance mandatory?
Absolutely YES, YES, YES. If you want a passing grade
for the course, you will have to attend all classes and
be punctual. The German professors will prepare classes
JUST for us, so it would be outright disrespectful not
to attend. Dr. Shaughnessy will take attendance and will also
administer a final exam.
What kind of trips are we going to make?
We will definitely make trips to Berlin (with overnight stay) and Hamburg, visit companies (for example, Volkswagen in Wolfsburg), check out a ship elevator, and see a former concentration camp. In addition, there are a number of leisure activities.
Will the instructor be with us
all the time?
During all activities outside Lüneburg, yes, Dr.
Shaughnessy will. During the normal everyday schedule, no, he
may not. As a matter of fact, the professor will be largely
invisible during your activities within Lüneburg,
and you (the students) will be by yourselves. This is
part of the the whole experience. The long-leash principle
has worked well in the past so we'll stick to it.
How will we be graded?
Attendance, Final Exam, and general behavior and attitude. The grade will be PASS or FAIL.
What will the Final Exam be like?
This is up to the German professors. The exam is not too hard.
ACTIVITIES
Will our German hosts spend a lot of time with us?
Some will, some won't. They are not required to, but if they are willing to, you should certainly take advantage of it.
Do I have to pay for activities?
The major costs for the activities (hotel, transportation, etc.) will be covered by the fee. You will be required to cover the typical basic expenses yourself (food, beverages, tips, barbecue, etc.).
Will we have time to go shopping?
For those of you who want to spend some extra money, we'll
have a shopping day in Hamburg and sufficient shopping
time in Berlin and Lüneburg .
How are we going to move around?
You will walk or cycle to school, or you hosts will give you a ride. We will have a bus available for the road trips.
Are we going to go to parties?
Definitely! You may even be able to go to the famous Haifischparty , a party previous participants are still talking about.
STUDENT RESPONSIBILITIES
I want to go! Now, what do I have to do?
First of all, you are asked to see Dr. Shaughnessy. You will
then have to pay the nonrefundable
$250 fee. The contribution has to be paid at the Division of Continuing Education and guarantees
your right to participate. Also, you have to keep in touch
with Dr. Shaughnessy through the email list (please read all
incoming emails carefully!). You will need to bring a
picture to Dr. Shaughnessy and fill out a sheet with some basic
information about yourself (smoker/nonsmoker, allergies,
fear of dogs, ability to ride a bicycle, etc.). You need
to buy an airplane ticket and get a passport. Provide
the instructor with your itinerary so that you will get
picked up at the airport in Hamburg! AND: If you decide
not to go after all, please let the instructor know.
What kind of papers and visas do I need to bring?
You need a valid passport! Please keep in mind that the process to obtain a passport can take two or more months; apply early (you should have a passport anyway, whether or not you go on this trip - passports are valid ten years and you never know when you will need one at a short notice, so it's money well spent)! For other requirements, check out the German embassy in Washington (http://www.germany-info.org) or any other country you are a citizen of.
Do I have to buy the plane ticket by myself?
Yes. The students are responsible for their own travel arrangements.
POST-TRIP ISSUES
Can
I stay in Lüneburg for a few more days?
Generally not a problem. However, you will have to talk to your host about it.
Who is giving me a ride to the airport on the way back?
Your host or some other student.
I would like to travel through Europe...
The most important thing here is to organize yourself BEFORE leaving. The cheapest rail passes can only be bought while you are still in the United States. You should try to talk to some of the other students who are going, and definitely also to students who have gone in the past.
CONTACT
Who should I talk to if I have additional questions?
For
questions regarding donations, program design, hosting,
or travel, and for general information and concerns, please
contact:
