Farina Stickamp, a social work student in the Faculty of Applied Social Studies(Opens in a new tab) , began her semester abroad in the Sociology Department at Metropolitan State University of Denver (MSU)(Opens in a new tab) a week ago. Here she gives a personal insight into her impressions and exciting experiences of the first few days.
The cooperation between the Metropolitan State University of Denver (MSU) in the USA and Fachhochschule Dortmund has already existed for several years. In 2023, the cooperation was extended to the Faculty of Applied Social Studies thanks to the initiative of Prof. Dr. Jochem Kotthaus(Opens in a new tab) . He has been working intensively with colleagues from Denver for several years.
Since then, students in the Faculty of Applied Social Studies have had the opportunity to gain experience abroad in the USA during their studies and experience internationality. Just like Farina Stickamp is doing now.
Founded in 1965, the Metropolitan State University of Denver is a state university in Denver in the US state of Colorado with around 25,000 enrolled students from all over the world. Denver is famous for the Rocky Mountains and is the capital of the US state of Colorado.
Farina StickampThe drive through the vast landscapes of Colorado was impressive. I saw old farmhouses, endless fields and typical American neighborhoods, the kind you only see in movies. When I arrived in the evening, I could hardly believe that I was really in America.
Impressions that I previously only knew from movies
On Friday, I set off on an adventure that I had planned for a long time and was looking forward to. My flight went from Düsseldorf via Munich to Denver, where my host father picked me up. The suburb of Denver, where I will be living for the next few months, was our first destination. The drive through the vast landscapes of Colorado was impressive. I saw old farmhouses, endless fields and typical American neighborhoods that you usually only see in movies. When I arrived in the evening, I could hardly believe that I was really in America.
Half a year of sociology at MSU Denver
In Denver, I will be studying at the Metropolitan State University of Denver from Monday. I am enrolled there for one semester in the faculty of sociology. I'm particularly looking forward to exciting courses such as Death and Dying, Criminology and Sociology of Mental Disorders.
Farina StickampThe decision to go to Denver was made during a course at my home university. There we got talking to students from Belgium and the USA. This international exchange really inspired me to go to the States.
Motivation and scholarship
The decision to go to Denver was made during a course with Prof. Dr. Kotthaus at my home university. There we got talking to students from Belgium and the USA. This international exchange really inspired me to go to the States. With the support of Prof. Kotthaus, I finally applied for the semester abroad and even received a scholarship for my stay.
My first days with the host family
I've only been here for a few days. Nevertheless, I have already been able to gather some unforgettable impressions. For example, I attended a concert with my host father's son and his fiancée at the famous Red Rocks Amphitheatre, an impressive open-air theater located in the mountains.
The following day we hiked to the Flatirons, a rock formation near Boulder, and had an overwhelming view. The sloping sandstone cliffs are a landmark of the region and offer a sweeping view over the town and the surrounding countryside. The view up there was overwhelming.
Outlook
I am excited to see what the coming months will bring professionally, personally and culturally. I'm looking forward to getting to know new perspectives, meeting people from all over the world and experiencing everyday life in America up close.