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A letter from our "Foreign Correspondent"-Jake Newsome
My friends Alicia (left), Simona (right) and I showing off the "American delicacy" known as the Rice? Krispy Treat |
Me, sitting in front of the fountain in Marburg's Altstadt, or 'Old City' |
My friends Alicia (left), Lisa (right) and I on our way to visit? the castle.
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A view of the castle that rests above Marburg. |
A photo of the 'Old University' (Altuniversit?t) |
Grüße von Marburg!
W. Jake Newsome, ACES Foreign Correspondent
Greetings from Marburg to my fellow Autonomous Coalition of Exceptional Scholars! For those who may not know me, I served as HSA Vice-President last year, 2007-2008. However, I am not at VSU this year; instead, I am participating in a year-long ISEP exchange program to Marburg, Germany. So, I suppose I will be acting as HSA’s “Foreign Correspondent” for the next year.
The city of Marburg is a very historic one, located about an hour’s train ride north of Frankfurt, in the German state of Hesse. The university that I’m attending, Philipps-Universität Marburg, was founded in 1527 and is the oldest Protestant university in the world. Philipps-Universität is world renowned for its medical and science programs (the first ever Nobel Prize for Medicine was awarded to one of its professors), but it also boasts a very strong Humanities department. Its two most famous students (to Americans, anyway) were the Brothers Grimm.
I will begin studying history in mid-October when the semester begins. Until then, I will be brushing up on my German by taking language classes every day, because all of my classes will be taught in German!
The city itself is very beautiful, but its dominant focal point is the large castle perched on top of the hill. What an amazing sight! About 50,000 people live at the heart of Marburg, and the university has about 20,000 students; so you can see that Marburg, like Valdosta, is definitely a university city!
I have heard from several people that the ACES are off to a good start there in Valdosta. I wish the officers the best of luck, and all of you much luck throughout the semester.
Until next time,
Tschüss!