Since Stephanie Deig is traveling to Germany for the next two semesters, she will get to see her best friend, who will be in London, England, more than when they both live in the U.S.

“She lives in Vermont, and it’s funny because we’ll see each other more over there than we do here,” Deig said. “It’s cheaper and closer.”

After studying political science and German at USI for the past three years, Deig will spend this academic year at the University of Osnabrück in Osnabrück, Germany. Classes there begin in October.

More than 18,000 miles separate Evansville andOsnabrück.The sister cities creating a student exchange program that has lasted for over 25 years between the two universities.

While in Osnabrück, Deig said she plans to soak in the culture of the historical town and travel throughout Europe.

“It’s going to be a lot different from what I do over here,” she said. “I can’t get crazy involved so it’s going to be a lot of focus on studying and improving my language because all of my classes will be in German, which is a little freaky to me.”

The University of Osnabrück does offer some classes in English, but they are oriented around business and health professions, Deig said.

“As far as my education is concerned, I wanted to really work on my German, so I chose to take all German classes,” she said. “It’s always been a huge part of my culture. My family’s from Germany, historically.”

Deig began to learn German in the seventh grade.

“I always really enjoyed learning another language,” she said. “I’m semi-fluent in it now, but I’m not thinking in it … . I have to translate. That translation is a huge effort. It’s an addition to everything I’m trying to learn… I think there are going to be some growing pains. Most people don’t have to sit down and translate their homework when they do it and then do the homework.”

Deig said she wants to experience the culture and see things from another perspective.

“All of our exchange students are from Osnabrück,” she said. “I’ve been talking to them a lot about (the university and culture) because I’m one of those people who over-researches.”

Elena Schreiner, a graduate student from the University of Osnabrück, is one of the students helping Deig.

“I explained how it looks like, where the buildings are, what can she do there… in her free time,” Schreiner said. “For example, she can go and watch movies. She can go out. There is a zoo.”

She said she believes Deig will adjust well there.

“It’s not that different, and it’s kind of easy because she doesn’t need a car,” Schreiner said. “She can use the transportation, like buses and trains, which is very easy. And she will live pretty close to the university, I guess. It’s like a 10-minute walk.”

Schreiner helped Deig with her schedule and signing up for classes.

“We also have something like BlackBoard in Germany… . I showed her mine, so she knows how to use it when she is over there because it’s kind of complicated at the beginning,” she said.

German Associate Professor Silvia Rode assisted Deig in applying for the DAAD scholarship, which Deig received.

“She came to me and asked if she would be somebody who could qualify for one of those, and I had hoped she would do that,” Rode said. “She applied for it and I told her, ‘Don’t be upset if you don’t get it because it is highly competitive. You compete with students from Harvard, from Yale, from Berkeley, from UCLA.’”

The DAAD scholarship is offered by the German Academic Exchange Service and is sought after nationwide, seeking students with high academic integrity and ability. Deig was one of 50 students awarded the scholarship out of 250 applicants.  It allows students to spend one academic year studying in Germany and return to their community with new cultural experiences.

“I think that’s … . another attribute… one of her characteristics, that she knows what she wants, and she goes for it,” Rode said. “She aims high but maintains modesty on a personal level, which I really appreciate. And she has that openness, that curiosity, which is tremendously important …. I love, love somebody like her to pick up the ball and run with it as fast as she can – she has the brains, the intellect, and the personality to get (the) most out of her studies and she represents this department to its finest.”