In his home country of Germany, senior George Grossbach began his school day at 6:00 am by biking to a train station, riding a train to another town, and then hopping on a second bike to reach school. For George, life in Germany was very different from life in the United States, especially when it came to daily routines and independence.

After school, his train left at 1:49 p.m., and he would return to his home town, walk around, shop, relax, and often help at his dad’s practice before attending his own practice from 7:00–9:00.

School was also structured very differently compared to American schools. Instead of having the same classes every day, George followed a weekly schedule, and students stayed in one classroom while teachers came to them. Unlike American schools, sports were not connected to school and were done through clubs, with most people playing only one sport. The school had around 1,000 students, every class had iPads and a few books, and the school day ended at 1:00 p.m. George began learning English in third grade as one of his main subjects, and because his dad lived in the U.S. for 18 years, English came easily to him, which helped him here in the States.

George’s experience in Germany shows how different student life can be outside the United States. From independent daily travel to a different school structure, his routine highlights the independance expected of students in German schools. By sharing his experience, George offers a glimpse into another education system and shows us a clearer vision of everyday life in Germany.