What is there to do in Pforzheim?

October 12, 2008 10:09 AM

What is there to do in Pforzheim, Germany?

I am an exchange student living in a small village outside of Pforzheim, Germany. I have been here for 1 1/2 months, and so far I have been feeling a little at a loss for what to do around my town. I have lived my whole life in a city, and to me, Pforzheim seems a little small and depressing.

What is there to do in Pforzheim besides going to the ugly mall and the Schmuck museum? I do not drink, but I like coffee, art, music, etc. I also have no friends, so I need suggestions for solitary activities (no bowling, for example.)

Any suggestions you have would be greatly appreciated.

posted by comfortinsound to travel & transportation (3 comments total)

I'm also an exchange student in Germany right now, and the easiest way to find things to do is to ask the locals. Ask that cute guy/girl sitting next to you in class what a good nearby coffee shop is. Or just ask your coordinator on this side of your exchange. Look out for emails/notices about exchange-student meetups, and even if you want to be solitary, you can still scope out the location of the meet-up and maybe check it out later.

You're also in Baden-Wurttembert (me too!), which is an absolutely gorgeous place to totter around. You could take weekend trips to the Schwartzwald in Freiburg, go down to Konstanz (about 3 hours by local rail), which is gorgeous, up to Heidelberg (also gorgeous), and Stuttgart's not that far. All very cheap, especially if you have a Bahn Card.

I know that wasn't exactly what you would call information about the city itself, but there's tons to do in the area. Oh, and a friend of mine has this book of coupons for Baden-Wurttemberg castles that get her in for cheaper. If you manage to track one of these down, you could make it a personal mission to visit all the castles?

I hope your exchange experience turns around a bit, if you're in Heidelberg at all, I can show you around :)
posted by Planet F at 10:31 AM on October 12, 2008

Do you know ToyTown, the English language speakers' expat website for Germany? It might not help you much in your small village but you can find people in bigger places nearby. Maybe try posting on the South Germany forum and finding other people in town..
posted by mannequito at 11:41 AM on October 12, 2008

I have a lot of thoughts on this... but I will try to keep from overwhelming you with random bits of advice. I lived in Germany for two years, once as a high school exchange student with a host family and once during college in a U.S. university program at a Geman university.

They were both amazing experiences and really enriched my life and expanded my perception of the world... I wouldn't have done it otherwise, the things I learned about Germany, Germans, Europe, and about myself (and my American cultural background) have been hugely positive, but it's not always easy by any means. As I'm sure you may have heard, there is a kind of general emotional timeline for exchanges. I can't find a link, but basically around this time (assuming you arrived in late summer / early fall), the newness wears off and you've got to start dealing with being in this crazy place where people are so weird and maybe you don't know the language that well.

ah, here's a text description of the phases for people coming to the U.S. (just reverse for your use). Here's another good guide to adjusting to life abroad as a student. The first part about cultural is particularly important and well written, I think.

So, here's my specific advice for your situation:

Make (German) friends - What is your school situation? Depending on what grade level you're in, and especially in a small town, you might be in with a class that's been together forever. There are probably lots of pre-existing cliques, and it might not be so easy to break into one. German schools are notoriously short on extracurricular activities in comparison to US high schools, but if you play sports, you could look for a Sportverein nearby... if you sing or play an instrument, try to find a choir or band or something where you can meet people doing that. It'll help alleviate the boredom too. Overall, it takes Germans a little longer to warm up to new people, so don't give up after one or two meetings/rehearsals/whatever. Are you religious? Is your host family? Consider going to services with them so at least you'll meet some people that way.

Practice your German - you didn't mention how much German you speak / read / write. Improving (even from good to great) will smooth your way in many things, especially in school and making friends. It shows you're making an effort to integrate yourself into your host culture, school, & family life. Plus it's probably the most concrete thing you can point at later from your exchange.

Be adaptable - the reality of student exchange is that not everyone (in fact most people) don't get to be in glamorous cities or big towns. I spent my first year in a village of about 2000 people and the nearest about 30k was where I went to school. BUT the people who live in your small village must spend their time doing something. They find fulfillment in their everyday lives somehow. It might not be stuff that you're usually interested in, but I generally tried to view my exchange year as a bit of a cultural experiment. So even if you don't drink, if you get invited to a party or to go out to a club, why not? Maybe you'll meet someone who likes coffee, music, and art.

If you'd like to hear more reminiscing about my time in Germany, feel free to MeFiMail me.
posted by polexa at 5:06 PM on October 12, 2008