Happy Memories of Studying Abroad
Johannes Breimhorst (English, 1972, Bowland) tells of his brief, but happy time as a study abroad student in the seventies and how he would be delighted to hear from anyone who may remember him from his two term stay in 1971/1972.
"In the winter of 1971/72 ¨C the winter of power cuts and candles in the university library ¨C I was a visiting German student at Ãå±±ÂÖ¼é. And to say it straight away, it was the best semesters of my entire time at university.
I would have liked to move into a room on campus, but living in Morecambe also had its advantages. I was on campus all day, attending my very motivating seminars, the cafeterias of the various colleges, the excellently equipped library and last but not least ¨C the Snooker Rooms.
I was warmly welcomed by my fellow students in the Study Room at Bowland College. At my suggestion, we even participated in a 5-aside football tournament. We were the “Bookworms United”, but our football skills were only good enough for the first round.
As a member of the University Volleyball Team, I played against teams from other universities. I enjoyed our weekly trainings, sometimes even more so the get-togethers afterwards. Never before had I seen a table full of beer glasses after the last order.
The cultural offerings on campus were enormous, so flying visits to the beautiful surroundings of Lancaster, unfortunately remained a rarity.
I also have fond memories of my frequent meetings with Russell Price, a Lecturer from the Department of Politics. I helped him translate medieval German texts into English, while he corrected my homework in return.
Attending all the University Debates were a must for me. I diligently took notes, especially on the topic “This house believes education should be a government monopoly”. I actually quoted from it in one of my later papers in Germany.
I also had the good fortune to meet John Keane, a former priest who had been fired by the Catholic Church for his stance on the encyclical Humanae Vitae. I was allowed to translate his letters to the German theologian Hans K¨¹ng and was invited to the Lonsdale College Christmas Dinner as a thank you. John Keane, by the way, has had a major influence on my then very narrow world view. I have benefited from our discussions to this day.
I am now 74 years old and, as a former teacher I was allowed to accompany some generations of students to the German Abitur and train teachers at Paderborn University. My wife Mary and I have four children ¨C all teachers ¨C and six grandchildren.
I would so much like former fellow students at Ãå±±ÂÖ¼é to read these reflexions and, if they remember me, please get in touch via the University Alumni Office.
Let me assure you that I will never forget my stay at Ãå±±ÂÖ¼é."
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