Trier Germany

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micamaca

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Hi,

just on the off chance there are people with knowledge of the town Trier here, how did they find the town, the people etc.

Did anyone attend the Universitat Trier as Erasmus student or otherwise? What were their experiences?

Have looked up Trip Advisor, but there's not a whole lot there.

thanks mica
 
Spent some time in Germany, but didn't get around to visiting Trier. It is supposed to be a lovely well preserved Medieval town....Germany's oldest, looks good on the net...want to go now....:mad:
 
Well how did you find germans in general then? I'm trying to suss out whether I could go to Germany for my year abroad.

However, I don't know much about germans and have a feeling I have stereotypes in my head which are clouding my judgement. Very strict, punctual, no sense of humour, don't mention the war...that kind of thing.

How did you find germans on your travels? cheers mica
 
micamaca said:
However, I don't know much about germans and have a feeling I have stereotypes in my head which are clouding my judgement. Very strict, punctual, no sense of humour, don't mention the war...that kind of thing.
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You're not a fan of 'Allo 'Allo by any chance?
 
I'd say beware of stereotyping the Germans. I have family in N Germany and visit 4 times a year. You wouldn't meet friendlier people in their area and I was quite amazed to find that the use of the formal 'Sie' is changing rapidly especially among younger people. Their ability to speak English has improved also. I think that the huge influx of emigrants has had an effect also. I'm sure that University towns have an international feel anyway.

There is still a sense of order and punctuality which means that the streets are clean and trains run on time. Nothing wrong with that. As to the sense of humour....let me tell you a little story. My German son-in-law lived in Ireland and took a lot of good-humoured stick from the 'lads' in work. He said very seriously one day that it was time that the slagging stopped, that his father had died in a concentration camp. There was a horrified silence. He waited just long enough and said "Yes, he got drunk one day and fell out of the guard-tower". Nothing wrong with that sense of humour!
 
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Hi Mica

I actually did a year out in Germany on an Erasmus programme (1992), worked there as well as attending the local Fachhochschule (equivalent of IT here). Worked there during all the summers when I was in college here. Stayed in Karlsruhe, a city of about 250,000 people in SW Germany. I have to say I really enjoyed it. The Germans are grand - they love the Irish, and a good lot of them had visited here. Things I saw them do there have influenced me to this day, in particular their attitude towards the environment. You can recycle everything (and I mean EVERYTHING!).

German students are generally older then their Irish counerparts, due to military service and longer secondary school education, and take the whole college thing pretty seriously. It's a different attitude to here, and you definitely won't see the level of drinking that goes on here, but enjoyable experience nevertheless.

As a nation, they are pretty punctual, but the whole country is so efficent I can see why. As Pat says, the public transport is second to none, we're years behind here. It's also very clean and tidy. Also plenty of opportunities to see other parts of Eurpoe - IO trabvelled to Frane, Austria ans Switzerland when I was there, as well as all over southern Germany. I would recomemnd it if you have the opportunity, Trier sounds nice.
 
Yes Clubman, I am a fan of Allo Allo and Fawlty Towers too!

Pat, that's encouraging to hear. and funny! good for him!

I visited Germany for the first time recently, Munich. Found people surprisingly friendly (of course have been told that southerners friendlier than northerners), very helpful (except at hotel), and good for a laugh.

I know I have strong stereotypes in my head, I just need to get past them. I did an exchange with a girl last year and I accused her of not being german at all as she was ten minutes late one day!! :)
 
(of course have been told that southerners friendlier than northerners)
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Hmm...not sure if I would go along with that. Southerners can be louder thats for sure. However, no more than what was mentioned previously about stereotyping, its not accurate to generalise.
They always say the irish are one of the friendliest bunches on the planet and the germans the coldest, but mileage varies. My experience is that it can often be the opposite.

To the OP: I have been to Trier a couple of times - but just a couple of Sunday afternoons. A work colleague was living round that area at the time (Bitburg - just up the road). Its a very scenic part of germany and looks like a nice town. Also, Luxembourg is within an hours drive - and it has its own buzz.

Most important thing - go with an open mind.
 
Hi quinno,

thanks for that. It sounds promising then. I think in a way it would be better for me to go to Germany as I feel I might learn more as I know so little. Makes sense!

I know their transport is second to none, and I'm sure their universities are well run. Was just a little concerned, no-one really mentions the 'friendly or welcoming germans'. So it's great to hear you had such a positive experience. It encourages me to go.

Serotoninsid,

thanks for your input too. My husband kept telling me that Southerners were friendlier than Northerners so that was making me think the worst too. I've no problem with people not drinking, I'm a mature student so am well past all that. Would be more comfortable with an older crowd anyway. I really would like to go to Trier as I love pretty architecture and I love nature and it seems to offer both. I think you're absolutely right on your last point...I need to open my mind more and not go with preconceived expectations. Thanks for advice...I'm sure I can manage that. The girl I met last year is from the North and she was lovely with a great sense of humour. So I should know better!!

cheers to you both, mica
 
micamaca said:
....no-one really mentions the 'friendly or welcoming germans'
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I forgot to mention the friendliness - most Germans's that I worked with invited me to their houses for a meal, to meet their families, etc. It seemed to be standard practice to do this.... it was really nice, and something we don't do here a lot. Mind you, that was 1992, so not sure if that has changed. I found German's to be generally inquisitive about where you came from and faily knowledgeable. However, as Pat mentioned, they still have a sort of barrier between formality and informality that is hard to fathom until you get to know it - for example, addressing your boss by his first name, although you've been to his house, met his family, and had a few beers with him, was frowned upon.

Germans' were also very courteous, a bit of a change from here....
 
quinno said:
they still have a sort of barrier between formality and informality that is hard to fathom until you get to know it - for example, addressing your boss by his first name, although you've been to his house, met his family, and had a few beers with him, was frowned upon.
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Yeah, I always found this a nuisance - never got used to it!
 
Trier is a pleasant place with Roman ruins and a thriving wine-making industry.

This place is very nice - http://www.blesius-garten.de/ Beer garden with good value food and fantastic beer brewed on the premises, inside they have a posher hotel and pricier restaurant. Also a very good Spanish place - I can't quite remember the name - something like Goldenes Lamm.
 
quinno said:
However, as Pat mentioned, they still have a sort of barrier between formality and informality that is hard to fathom until you get to know it - for example, addressing your boss by his first name, although you've been to his house, met his family, and had a few beers with him, was frowned upon.

Germans' were also very courteous, a bit of a change from here....
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Duly noted, it's a strange ole life. But good to hear that they are friendly and polite.

I'm sure I could manage calling people by Herr or Frau for a year! ;) Think the students will be less formal anyho. But good to bear that in mind. Anyway, that's the whole point of experiencing a new culture...vive la différence or whatever the german equivalent is :D
 
quinno said:
However, as Pat mentioned, they still have a sort of barrier between formality and informality that is hard to fathom until you get to know it - for example, addressing your boss by his first name, although you've been to his house, met his family, and had a few beers with him, was frowned upon.
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I should have added that as a 'foreigner' it's as well to use the formal until you are invited by the person to whom you are speaking to do otherwise. That way you won't offend anyone! With casual strangers, with shop-assistants, bar staff, public-transport officials etc, it's always formal. The only obvious situation I can think of when you can always safely dispense with it, is when you are speaking to a child. The work situation does tend to operate on the fromal level.

The point I was making previously is that younger people nowadays are quicker to use the informal than heretofore.
 
That can be edited even more succintly to "Stawry, bud?"

One needs to preserve one's precious energy banks.
 
I stayed in a place called wintersdorf about 10 years ago,which was just outside Trier , it is an old town ,home to a young carl marx if my memory serves me correctly.
 
Thanks for all the contribution. I'm really beginning to look forward to this now!

I had decided on going to Belgium for ages and majoring in French, but just recently thought I should really be doing German as it's my weaker language. But had not opened my mind to it...must work on this personal fault.

But from what you're all saying, it could be just what I'm looking for. A town with character, history, university should meet my requirements too and a beautiful location for a year. Was just concerned about Germans, but I think I just have to realise that they're not Irish (in some cases that's a good thing) and get on with it. Thanks for all the positive feedback, I know it won't all be good but sometimes you need a extra shove to make you choose the right path. I feel this will be the better path for me. I'm dying to check out all those places you mentioned! :)
 
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