Oktoberfest Flashmob on Youtube!

Gorecki dining room ...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8V87eQ7Qnkc&feature=youtu.be

Internships Available in Germany!

These were provided by Aline Anliker, Executive Director. German American Chamber of Commerce of the Midwest, MN Chapter, St. Paul, MN: www.gaccom-mn.org

• www.daad.de/en
• http://www.amchaminternship.org/
• https://www.cbyx.info/
• http://www.steuben-schurz.org/index.htm
• http://www.studentenwerke.de/
• http://www.cdsintl.org/
• http://www.europa-pages.com/german/
• www.WispGermany.org

This is the link to the internship programs of Allianz (for whom Mike Nimmo interned in Mpls this past summer) at their head office in Munich:  

https://www.allianz.com/en/careers/join_us/subpages_students/interns.html#

Semester School + Semester Internship in Germany ~~ All Expenses Paid ~~ Ages 18-24 ~~ Apply Soon!

 

From Fr. Mark: If you are interested, I am happy to help you fill out this application. Email me at mthamert@csbsju.edu .

Official Annoucenment:
I am pleased to announce that the Congress-Bundestag Youth Exchange for Young Professionals (CBYX), a fully-funded scholarship opportunity, is currently accepting applications from your students. Please make this information available to your students, and encourage them to apply in advance of the December 1 deadline:
_______________________________________

The Congress-Bundestag Youth Exchange for Young Professionals (CBYX) is a year-long fellowship to study and work in Germany. CBYX is open to applicants in all career fields, though preference is given to students in STEM fields, agriculture, business, and vocational fields. Students traditionally underrepresented in study abroad opportunities are especially encouraged to apply.

The fellowship is funded by the US and German governments through a grant provided by the US Department of State, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, under the authority of the Fulbright-Hays Act of 1961, as amended. More information can be found at www.CBYX.info.

The CBYX program annually provides 75 participants with:

• 2 months intensive German language training

• 1 semester of study at a German university or university of applied sciences

• 5-month internship with a German company in the participant’s career field

• Transatlantic airfare, health insurance, and monthly living expense stipends

Prior German language knowledge is not required, though it is preferred. Applicants should have clear career goals and some relevant work experience in their career field, which may include summer, part-time, or internship work. Participants must be between the ages of 18-24, possess a high school diploma or equivalent, and be US citizens or permanent residents.

Interested applicants can apply online at www.CBYX.info. The application deadline for the 2014-2015 program is December 1, 2013. We look forward to receiving applications from your students!

From Fr. Mark:  If you are interested, I am happy to help you fill out this application. Email me at mthamert@csbsju.edu

Mark Thamert's translation of Anselm Grün's Zeit der Erfüllung was published in October

 

(click on image to magnify)  

OKTOBERFEST in the Reef on October 1st ~~ Come with a Hearty Apetite!

Join us at the SJU Dining Service Refectory for OKTOBERFEST on Tuesday, October 1st. German Pot Roast, Spatzle, Pork Schnitzel, Jumbo Pretzels with Aged Cheddar and Beer Sauce, Red Cabbage with Caraway, and more! German specialties will be available at dinner. Meals may be paid for using punch or DiningBucks. Cash and credit also accepted. Auf Wiedersehen!

Dessert Night -- Kaiserschmarrn! The Emporer's Watchamacallit!

 

Good food. Good friends. Good fun!

Einen kulinarischen Abend im Zeichen Österreichs verbrachten 25 Studenten letzten Donnerstag. Es wurde Kaiserschmarrn gemacht, deutsche Musik gehört und natürlich auch Deutsch gesprochen. Alles in allem, eine „riesen Hetz“ (ein großer Spaß)!

Last Thursday, 25 students gathered together at the McKeown Center to experience an  Austrian cultural evening. They cooked Kaiserschmarrn (a traditional Austrian dessert), listened to German music and practiced their German speaking skills. All in all, it was a blast!

 

 

 

 

Megan Boetcher Returns from 15-Month Adventure Abroad

Liebe Saint Ben's and Saint John's Freunde!

    As I set out for Switzerland in May, 2012, I did not realize I would be embarking on a 15 month, world-wide adventure.
    I started by living in Germany and Switzerland for 8 months. This greatly benefited my German skills, especially conversationally. Even though I was nowhere near perfect, the locals still appreciated my efforts and helped me progress along the way. Sometimes, they seemed to assume my level of German was more advanced than in actuality, leaving me a bit lost at times. However, I found my niche, persevered and kept improving.
    Unfortunately, my time in Germany came to a halt as I was headed to yet another exciting destination, Taiwan. Even though my time in Taiwan did not allow me to practice my German, which left me missing it, I still tend to think in German and haphazardly say the occasional word or phrase.
    However, the more places I traveled and people I met, my love for venturing and living abroad flourished. If anyone is even entertaining the idea of living abroad, I recommend it whole-heartedly as I, too, plan on continuing my adventures in the near future.

Joe Wocken (SJU 2015) Heading to Lueneburg near Hamburg for Spring Term 2014

I am really excited about this program in northern Germany. I looked online for student exchange programs and this one seemed a good decision in terms of cost. Students from all over the US will be there. I will send more news when I am there.

A Secial Thanks to Our Friends and Partners 2012-2013

 

Thank you Lonnie Johnson in Vienna for guiding our Fulbright TA Recipients each year -- as well as the TAs who have joined us from Austria; Dave Lyndgaard, Provost Rita Knuesel, and Vice-Provost Joe Desjardins for supporting our new German Studies curriculum and paving the way for Fulbright TA positions at CSB/SJU. Thank you John Taylor for your work with foundations on our behalf; Tory Oelfke for finding fine living quarters for our visiting Fulbright TA/Scholars; Tom Kroll for superb management of our Salzburg Program; Nicole Clements and Peggy Retka from the Office of Education Abroad for your efforts in finalizing our new exchange program with the Catholic University of Eichstätt and for aiding in every aspect of our program at the University of Salzburg; Joe Rogers, Paula Ramaley and John Hasselberg for helping us create a vision for European and German Studies and German internships abroad; Karen Erickson, Sarah Pruett and Mary Niedenfuer for creatively and energetically leading our Languages and Cultures Department through departmental review and for guiding registration and curricular processes through the right channels; Lisa Ohm for your superb administration of the national German exam interviews for Minnesota high schools students and the awards banquet which followed; Stuart Goldschen for your astonishing photography and moral support; and thank you student leaders and language partners who created a very ambitious co-curricular program for German Studies, including a top-notch film series, Oktoberfest in the fall, Karneval just before Lent and Sustaina-Polka-bility in the spring. We couldn't do it without you!!

Interview with Chris Chambs about Study Abroad and His Career in Munich

Major: Accounting
Year of Graduation: 2001
Current Job: Senior Consultant, Financial Director for Allianz in Munich Germany

How were you introduced to the idea of working abroad? What opportunities did your work allow you to travel to another country?

In my junior year at CSB/SJU, 1999, I studied abroad on the Greco/Roman program. It spent 6+ weeks in Athens, a week in Istanbul, and 6+ weeks in Rome. Following the program, I travelled a month throughout Europe. It was an amazing experience and one of the key pieces that brought me to CSB/SJU. It allowed me to learn art and history on site and allowed me to spend Christmas in Paris, and the millennium celebration in Munich, where I just happened to return to live now. After leaving college, I worked at Deloitte & Touche, LLP in public accounting. I even explored some abroad opportunities then. I left Deloitte for Allianz Life in Minneapolis. The company's parent is Allianz SE in Munich, Germany. I spent 4+ years and always thought about the opportunity to go to Munich. A very good opportunity arose and my wife and I took it. It is at least a 2-year assignment working in the Finance function concentrating on planning and financial analysis.

You started out working for Deloitte & Touche, but then moved on to Allianz. What made you change your mind about working for this company?

Deloitte was a wonderful place for me to get my start. They brought me in after my sophomore year for a summer program and made me an offer then, so I have much to be thankful for. Further, things went extremely well for me there and I learned more than I could ever learn in any graduate school. I was learning a lot and had much success.
I never really "changed my mind." I got from Deloitte what I wanted to get from Deloitte...a great experience. I left for two reasons: (i) I wanted to work for a single company and help them be successful rather than working for 10 clients per year with minimal influence on how they do business, and (ii) personal reasons including the fact that I traveled probably a bit too much and worked perhaps too many hours. I know that I could have gone the partner route if that is what I wanted to do. I never felt that was the track that I wanted for myself from a holistic view.

How has a liberal arts education affected your career? What about the emphasis on language?

To me a liberal arts education has absolutely been key to my career. I have seen far too many cases of people that have the technical skills but lack the communication and soft skills to get by. A well-rounded person seems to be in a better spot to be successful. For instance, in public accounting, I worked with clients a great deal. The people that were able to speak and communicate with the client got noticed. The client always felt better served, which is the most important factor in client-service work, which is what public accounting is all about. The technical skills are important, but are not enough on their own. Likewise, someone in public accounting cannot just be a good communicator without solid technical skills.
Regarding language: a second language would only be helpful if the job specifically could leverage that. For instance, I never felt that I needed a second language at Deloitte or Allianz, and I include my time here in Germany. However, if you have a second language, you can seek jobs that can leverage that language. I can almost guarantee you that your odds become better as the interviewee-talent pool is smaller for a bilingual job. I would definitely recommend studying a location-specific language before moving to a place that speaks it. It just makes things far easier. Other countries may not be as accommodating to English.
I have been highly motivated since arriving to learn German. I have had about 30 private lessons and things are starting to really come together. I feel better about living here and it is a wonderful experience to learn and use another language. It is a great opportunity.
We are unfortunately deprived of this experience growing up. Language courses were not available for me until Junior High. Students here in Germany start learning English very early on. I hope that our daughter (10 months) is able to have such an opportunity to learn language as well.

What role did your major here at CSB/SJU play for your current career?

My experience with the "real world" is that you never know where you are going to end up. I started with public accounting and am far from that now. I would suggest rounding yourself out beyond just the major. Stay in close contact with the Career Resource Center and the professors in your field, because they are best positioned to answer your question specific to that major. Enjoy the liberal arts education, because I have always felt that was a key differentiator early in my career. I knew I had different skills than my colleagues from the U of M or UND, etc. And, this was to my advantage.
Overall, the job market is going to be looking for talented individuals with a business background, whether in accounting, management, or finance. Business is business. I always felt that the major was only a prerequisite. It was how I surrounded that major with experiences and stories to tell in an interview that was able to help me land the job I wanted. Grades and a major are very important as well.

How does a student start up an international career? Do you recommend going abroad right away or building experience at home?

When I started my career search at CSB/SJU, I did not look to start internationally. I think it is probably easier to do so later when the world doesn't seem quite as big, at least that is how it felt for me.  However, if you are interested, you should pursue your dreams. It may just require a bit more research, which is the key. The fun part of this is that you can look at companies, like Allianz, that are based internationally. Most large US companies (many of which are based in Minneapolis) also would have an international presence (Cargill, Carlson Companies, maybe Best Buy).
You can get a lot of info by looking at the career web pages. I have always thought this has been very insightful about how the company is organized along with what are the opportunities that are out there. You will also find that perhaps some of those opportunities are only possible after a few years experience. This info is still good in that it could tell you a lot about the company and what possibilities are available from a career path standpoint.
My experiences here have been very positive. I have been here for 7 months and have learned so much. I, personally, have really enjoyed working in finance for a company's headquarters. Before, I worked for the subsidiary company, which is obviously a very different viewpoint.

What challenges have you faced with a career abroad?

The challenges have primarily been logistical in relocating to another country. Where can we get the right baby food? Where can we find the best doctor that speaks English? What do we do if X happens? The triumphs come in figuring all these things out. Now, we are having visitors come reasonably often and it feels very good to be able to take them to less touristed spots that the locals like. We are slowly starting to feel like locals.
From a career standpoint, the triumph here is that I feel that I am making myself very marketable. International experience, whether in the form of studying abroad or working abroad, is very valuable in the market. I feel that I am getting better experience and learning more than I could ever get in any post-graduate studies.

Ed. Note: This interview can be found at http://www.csbsju.edu/Career/Students/ExploringMajors/Alum-Profiles/Chris-Chambs.htm