Written by Meg DeMarsh
As an exchange student from Hamburg, Germany, 22-year-old Lilly Hamann has found a home at Colorado College. She speaks with an inherent fondness of Germany; the same affection many CC students have for their hometown. Yet, Hamann’s journey to CC was a much farther one. “I grew up in Hamburg and I lived there all my life,” said Hamann. “I never really moved—well, just once—but it was just a block away from where I lived before.”
Hamann plans to return to Germany next semester. As she is nearing the end of her study abroad, she happily reflected upon her family back home. “I grew up with my mom from the very beginning,” Hamann said. “I would always consider my family to be my mom, my aunt, and my grandparents. Since my mom had to raise me alone, my grandparents helped a lot. When I speak about family, it’s always that.”
Growing up with a working mom, Hamann attended a preschool and daycare program at a young age. Many of the kids who attended remain her friends today. “All of the kids my age were from families of single mothers, so we got really close,” Hamman said. “My male best friend grew up with only his mother too. Our moms bonded just as well as we did. Since we met so early, it was just kind of special. It was more like family.” Home follows Hamann wherever she goes. Her independent spirit and love for travel encouraged her desire to study abroad. “It’s natural to go to other places and be away,” she said. Throughout high school, Hamann and her friends took road trips to the Netherlands and Denmark and ski vacations to Austria and France. After graduation, Hamann spent a year in Australia as a nanny. She speaks highly of the relationships and experiences she gained there.
This ease in adapting to new places and experiences made the transition to CC a smooth one. A mutual friend of Hamann’s attended CC in an exchange program and loved it. After learning of a similar program at her home school, Leuphana Univeristy in Lüneburg, Hamann decided on CC. “I want to become a language teacher,” she stated. “I studied English and Education back in Germany. I want to work abroad as a professor for German Language and Literature. I thought it was necessary that I study abroad [in the United States], so I could make sure that’s what I wanted to do.” Following her graduation, Hamann hopes to return to the United States as a teacher.
Hamann praises the inclusivity of the CC community and her resulting friendships. With the exchange program at her home university facilitating a network of international mentors and support, Hamann felt instantly welcomed. In addition, international students are allowed to attend NSO and Priddy trips. This proved to be a refreshing introduction to the U. S. and CC. “There was no time for me to be homesick or anything,” said Hamann. “I got here and felt at home immediately. From the moment I got here, honestly, I never regretted anything.”
Nonetheless, cultural differences are bound to present themselves. At German universities, it is uncommon to live in dorms. “You would either move to a shared flat or you would live alone, like I lived alone for two years,” Hamann said about her university’s housing options. “I had my own apartment that I didn’t share with anyone. But we [my roommate and I] got along super well. She welcomed me into her group of friends from the beginning.”
Hamann was pleasantly surprised by CC’s friendly environment. “If you are a bit open-minded, people will just invite you to study together, grab a coffee together,” says Hamann. “I feel like in Germany it’s a bit more like…you stick to the friend group you meet at the beginning, and then you don’t really try to expand your friendships or meet new people in class. It’s not as open as it is here.”With this open-minded attitude, Hamann explored Colorado College’s dance program. Although initially concerned about her lack of experience, dance quickly became a passion of hers. Hamann hopes to continue ballet when she returns to Germany. “Take every opportunity you can get” Hamann exclaimed about dancing. “You have no idea of what is out there in the world if you don’t try.”
Over 80 percent of CC’s students study abroad. Yet, CC is also a destination for international education. Hamann encourages CC students to consider an international and intercultural experience, like her own.“The experiences that you have are so different from the experiences you might have when you study at home in a familiar environment. Just go for it!”