The Clampetts go to Germany

Corner Post reporter Megan Perry contributed this journal entry about her experiences during the Study Abroad trip to Germany over Thanksgiving break.

Nov. 28, 2002 - The Ag Systems Management club "engineered" an excursion to Germany over Thanksgiving break. It was a pioneer trip in the College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources' history. The original plan consisted of 15 Ag Systems Management students touring the Coburg University and various agriculture-related factories, but the trip roster exploded when it was opened up to all of CAFNR, regardless of major.

Eighty students were soon purchasing plane tickets, packing their bags and preparing to take part in the largest group of students to travel overseas from MU.

This is our story.

Friday, Nov. 22, after a hearty breakfast at Country Kitchen in Columbia, we boarded buses and headed to the airport in St. Louis. While going through airport security, many students displayed their travel smarts.

When asked for his carry-on baggage, Clint Youse, ag systems management major, said, "Sir, my underwear is in my pocket. What else do I need?"

After roughly 10 hours in flight, all 80 of us arrived in Frankfurt, Germany, without any other incidents. Due to the seven-hour time difference, it was 7:30 a.m., and we were ready for a long day.

Once we were loaded on to buses, we were on to the first destination - Rothenburg. The town appeared to be an old fortress. It was enclosed by an enormous wall, but the quaint town within embodied medieval spirit and folklore charm. The shops along the cobblestone streets offered donners - German specialty pita pockets - pastries and souvenirs.

After touring the town and taking in the architecture, we headed to the Lamm hostel where we settled in, but then we headed back into town for dinner. It was here that we learned with youth hostels, you never knew what you are going to get. These government-funded, inexpensive "hotels" were an experience in themselves.

The next morning, after repairing the brakes on one of the buses, we headed out of the stucco town and within two minutes were surrounded by rolling rural countryside dotted with houses and dense stretches of trees.

The first stop was Nurenburg. The bus driver used the interpreter to explain historic Nazi landmarks.

We also went down the street Hitler had prepared for his army to march on. It looked like eight lanes of traffic could easily have traveled this expanse, which was flanked by concrete platforms used by the public to watch the soldiers. This road passes directly by the People's Hall, a building large enough to hold 20,000 people. It was supposed to be the precursor to the coliseum Hitler planned to build, which would house 1 million people and would be large enough to create its own weather, or at least Hitler thought so. We also took a picture on the platform where, during the 1930s, only Hitler was allowed.

Then we headed into town, where many experienced the awe of St. Laurenz.

"It was tall enough to put a grain leg in," David Strobel, agribusiness management major, said. On the same day, we also had the opportunity to tour the Vierzehnheiligen basilica, which was built in 1771.

That night, we headed into Coburg for a reception at the Museum of Art and Archeology and were allowed to tour the facility with university faculty members.

On Monday, we sat in on a lecture and toured the university, home of 2,500 students. Many noticed that MU isn't the only school with a parking shortage.

At the university, we saw experiments on biodiesel; computer-aided manufacturing equipment; computer and electrical engineering facilities; and a laser lab. We were also able to meet with the Lord Mayor of Coburg, who discussed economical issues and the uniting of Germany.

The Technical University of Munich was our next stop. There, we listened to research project presentations on vehicle automation and technical systems and in the evening took part in a truly German dining experience at Haufbrauhaus, home of the liter beer mugs, in Munich. We were entertained by traditional German songs and dances.

On Wednesday, we toured the Fendt factory. The highlight of the tour was test driving the Fendt tractors after being cautioned "no bumper cars and a black flag means game over!" Leaving the factory with only one near collision, (and I still say I had a solid foot to spare), was a miracle.

The Neuschwanstein castle, home of Ludwig the Second and model for the Disney castle, was the next stop. After parking at the base of a hill, overachieving Ag students made the 20-minute, almost vertical hike, in 12 minutes. We toured 15 rooms of the 67 that were finished and learned that Ludwig had only lived in the castle 172 days before his mysterious drowning, after which, the castle has never been finished.

We visited the Mercedes museum in Stuttgart on Thursday. There, we walked through the history of the corporation and examined various models of cars. That night, we enjoyed the Christmas market, ice skating rink and night life of Stuttgart.

The final tour was the John Deere 6000 factory. At the museum and factory, we learned that the first tractors were built in 1918 and listened to a presentation on the differences in European and American agriculture.

The day was rounded out in Heidelburg, where we picked up souvenirs and enjoyed our last night in Germany.

The next morning came bright and early since the buses were loaded at 6 a.m. to head back to the airport in Frankfurt. After another 10-hour flight and only a couple of delays, we arrived back in Columbia safely.

Many said they felt the trip was a success.

"It was more than I ever expected," Ben Bradley, ag systems management major, said.

It seems that everyone took something away from the trip, and Germany will never be the same.

Posted 12/11/02

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