Coffee Connections

Today's Coffee Connection is another musical episode. I chatted with Ngoc Vu, DAAD Music Scholarship Alumnus. He has won several national and international piano competitions over the years. Ngoc debuted in Semperoper Hall in Dresden when he turned 15, and he played at Carnegie Hall during the annual DAAD Sound Understanding Concert. Ngoc is originally from Dresden, Germany. What started as a mere coincidence turned into a successful career as a pianist. After graduating with an artist diploma from the University of Southern California 2018, he moved to Miami, FL. Recently, he finished his Artist Diploma in Piano Performance at the University of Miami Frost School of Music. Throughout the episode, you'll hear several pieces he enjoys playing.

Find the transcript on DAAD.org - Podcast Since 1925, DAAD has supported around three million students and academics from Germany, Europe, and worldwide. In this episode, I feature Henry Thompson, an associate professor of Political Science at Arizona State University who received DAAD not once, but four times. Henry received a Semester Scholarship, followed by 2 Graduate Scholarships and a Summer Fellowship. For more, have a listen!

--- Transcript at www.daad.org/en/about-us/who-we-are/podcast/ --- This episode features Russell Berman, a DAAD alumnus, shared his experiences of receiving DAAD funding twice: a post-BA year in Munich in 1972 and a dissertation fellowship from 1977 to 1979. These scholarships significantly influenced his career, steering him towards German Studies. His dissertation focused on literary criticism in the mass press from the late 19th to early 20th century. Berman emphasized the transformative impact of studying abroad, advising young scholars to consider turning their post-BA year into an MA for career advancement. He highlighted the importance of international exchange for gaining diverse perspectives and building networks.

This week: I spoke with 3 RISE alumnae who share their experiences and best practices on how to apply. I spoke with: Elizabeth: interned at Munich University of Applied Sciences and researched on 3-d printing with concrete project Nandana: interned at the Hochschule Kaiserslautern and worked on an advanced usability and gamification project And Lauryn went to Freiberg and studied iron oxide catalysts for the catalytic converters for the oxidation of methane gas.

In this episode, I share 11 more interviews from the NAFSA conference in May for my special project as part of the 2023-24 Diversity Abroad Communities of Practice: Career Advancement and Belonging. My conversations revolve around career advancement and the sense of belonging within one's professional journey. A big thank you to my interviewees for sharing their stories during a very busy conference week, oftentimes in crowded, loud spaces: Alyssa Slager (1:36) Anna Hayes (7:25) Sally McLeod (12:22) Travis Pentz (16:10) Ximena Ospina (23:26) Kate Campbell (31:35) Lee Rivers (35:00) Lindsay Calvert (41:50) Katherine Haan (46:15) Mar Roig Ripoll (55:48) Tiff Pierskalla (1:06:13).

In this special episode of Coffee Connections, my conversations revolve around career advancement and the sense of belonging within one's professional journey. Thanks to Peter Kerrigan, Andreas Mai, Katja Simons, Nicole Saverschek and Stephen Sechrist, who share their experiences, and insights on how they entered the field, the steps they took to advance, and the importance of transferrable skills. Whether you're just starting or looking to take the next step in your professional career, or you are just curious about other experiences from professionals in the field of International Education, this episode offers valuable advice and personal stories. Have a listen!

In this special episode of Coffee Connections, my conversations revolve around career advancement and the sense of belonging within one's professional journey. My fellow members of the 2023-24 Diversity Abroad Communities of Practice: Career Advancement and Belonging Claudio Castenada, Gabrielle Cascio, Emma Freese, Tiffany Komon, Sherene Awong, and Stephanie Ramin share their experiences and insights on how they entered the field, the steps they took to advance, and the importance of transferrable skills. They also talk about what they love about their work. Whether you're just starting out or looking to take the next step, this episode offers valuable advice and personal stories.

Today's Coffee Connection is another musical episode. I chatted with composer Philipp Kaspar, a DAAD alumnus and recent NYU graduate. Philipp is originally from Germany and now works in the music industry in New York. We chatted about his musical path and how New York played a big role in what he does today. My highlights of our conversation were hearing about the reading parties he plays at and learning about contemporary German music. If you are in New York, keep an eye out for Philipp's performances. Relevant links https://open.spotify.com/artist/5hdlsna9Z2wKwBbYaWDR8d?si=fcr_l0anSrSkFequ1Ka8qQ https://hmc.chartmetric.com/deutschrap-german-hip-hop-rappers/ Philipp's projects: - @emonightbrooklyn - @gimmegimmedisco - @readingrhythms

In today's Coffee Connection I had the chance to speak with one of our dedicated Young Ambassadors, Paige Lyles, a Civil Engineer at UC Berkeley. Paige spent last summer as a research intern at the Hochschule München with DAAD RISE (Research Internship in Science and Engineering) focusing her research on 3D printing of concrete. Paige shares her experience as a RISE intern, how she found out about the program, what the application was like, and she shares some tips and best practices to successfully apply. Paige summarizes her experience: “whatever your experience is, you won't regret it.” She says it will help you grow as a human for your next opportunities and the next chapter of your life. All content is created and edited by me, Hanni Geist. If you would like to get in touch, send an email to geist@daad.de.

In today's Coffee Connection, I had the chance to speak with 3 of our 2023-24 Young Ambassadors. Every year, DAAD selects students from the US and Canada to share their Germany experience with their peers on their respective campuses. In August, DAAD invited the new Young Ambassadors for training in New York. I had the opportunity to sit down with 3 Young Ambassadors: Vicky, Hannah, and Grace. You can find their and the other YA's info on our www.daad.org website. Check out our DAAD USA Instagram account where we regularly have student takeovers from our Young Ambassadors, and Gilman-DAAD and RISE alumni, who share their Germany experience.

A few weeks ago, I went to the Society for Women Engineers conference in Los Angeles to represent Research in Germany. One day RISE alumna and Industrial Engineer, Alaina Washington came to the booth and shared a bit about her experience at the Hamburg University of Technology. In this short episode Alaina' describes the application process, and her work as an intern. She also shares more about her time outside the lab. Have a listen to hear her excitement about the time in Germany and her experience with DAAD Research Internship in Science and Engineering.

In today's Coffee Connection I had the chance to speak with one of our 2023-24 Young Ambassadors, Meg Takezawa, a chemistry major at the University of Washington, who participated in the DAAD RISE program. Meg shares her experience as a RISE intern, how she found out about the program, what the application was like, and shares some tips and best practices to apply successfully. She describes in detail her day-to-day experience in and outside the lab. One sentence stood out “the RISE internship changed my life!” You can find her and the other YA's info on our www.daad.org website. Check out our DAAD USA Instagram account where we regularly have student takeovers from our Young Ambassadors, Gilman-DAAD and RISE alumni, who share their Germany experience. All content is created and edited by me, Hanni Geist. If you would like to get in touch, send an email to geist@daad.de.

Today's Coffee Connection is another musical episode. I chatted with oboist Ann Lemke, a DAAD Alumna and current Research Ambassador, who recently released her CD Oboe Salon. You can find Ann on her website www.lemkestudio.com/ann-lemke, on Facebook and Instagram @lemkestudio.

Today's Coffee Connection is the second episode of a new format, 3 short interviews in one episode. Every year, DAAD selects students from the US and Canada to share their Germany experiences with their peers on their respective campuses. In August, DAAD invited the new Young Ambassadors for training in New York. I had the opportunity to sit down with 3 Young Ambassadors, Emily Hawkins, Ian Albreski, and Madison Schimizu. The answers each Young Ambassador gave were quite different, but they all had one thing in common: Their enthusiasm and love for Germany.

Today's Coffee Connection is a new format, 3 short interviews in one episode. Every year, DAAD selects students from the US and Canada to share their Germany experience with their peers on their respective campuses. In August, DAAD invites the new Young Ambassadors for a training in New York. I had the opportunity to sit down with 3 Young Ambassadors, Anna Holle, Cameron Morgan, and Avalon Pernell. The answers each Young Ambassador gave were quite different, but they all had one thing in common: Their enthusiasm and love for Germany.

Today's Coffee Connection is another musical episode. I chatted with Martina Barta, a current DAAD scholarship recipient, and Jazz Singer. Martina is originally from the Czech Republic and is now at the Manhattan School of Music where she pursues a master's degree. We talked about her career path, her impressions of New York and her goals as an artist. Facebook: Artist profile: https://www.facebook.com/martinabarta.official Personal profile: https://www.facebook.com/martinabarta Instagram: martinabartamusic YouTube: Martina Barta https://youtube.com/user/MrsBartas

Today's Coffee Connection is another musical episode. I chatted with Alexander Liebermann, a current DAAD scholarship recipient, and a German-French composer. Alexander is originally from Berlin and is now at the Manhattan School of Music where he pursues a doctoral degree. He shares three of his recent pieces that show his talent as a composer. You can find Alexander on Soundcloud, Youtube and Instagram.

To commemorate Yom HaShoah, or Holocaust Remembrance Day, I had the honor of speaking with Evelyn Lueker, a 3rd generation Holocaust survivor, about her family's history and the important role her grandparents played in the Nuremberg trials. Now, Evelyn works as an international educator in the US where her personal story and professional career intersect. A disclaimer: We recorded this episode in 2020, so you will hear some references that are not as recent. The overall conversation though is as relevant today as it was then.

Today's Coffee Connection is a musical episode. I chatted with Felicitas Schiffner, a current DAAD scholarship recipient, and a German violinist. Felicitas is originally from Luebeck and is now a Master's student at the New England Conservatory in Boston. She shared her path from playing a tiny violin as a four-year-old to being accepted at Julliard to studying in Boston. Felicitas talks about her love of classical music, and she shares two of her beautiful performances.

Zachary Nanji is currently a Senior Honours International Development and Management Student at McGill University in Canada. Originally from the UK, he started learning German at Eaton College and visited Munich and Bonn via a school exchange that planted the seed for a 6-month stay at the Ludwig Maximilan University of Munich during the 2019 academic year. As a DAAD Young Ambassador, he shares his passion for international travel and offers insightful best practices to get the most out of an international university exchange. In 2021 he was nominated by DAAD to participate at the Diversity Abroad Global Student Leadership Summit where he got to reflect further on his experience and further develop skills related to global diversity, equity, and inclusion. You can find Zachary at https://www.linkedin.com/in/zacharynanji/

Today's Coffee Connection is my DAAD colleague John Paul Kleiner who is responsible for our Canada office in Toronto and who is also a historian with a special interest in the GDR. John Paul is the creator of the blog GDR Objectified where he presents his collection of objects produced in, or related closely to, the German Democratic Republic (GDR)with the aim of providing a window into East German history in a historical and/or personal way. John Paul has a unique point of view as a Canadian historian who personally experienced Germany before, during and after the fall of the Wall. I was born in East Berlin and was only 7 years old when the Wall came down. In this episode we talk about our experiences with the GDR from our unique viewpoints . We talked about his blog, GDR movies, cultural artifacts and East Berlin architecture. Our conversation led to the Palace of the Republic, as an example of the challenges of reunification and how Ostalgie fits into the negotiation of the past and present. Links: DAAD Canada www.daad-canada.ca GDR Objectified blog https://gdrobjectified.wordpress.com/ Kanopy (free streaming through public library) https://www.kanopy.com/

Today's Coffee Connection is Amy Lebanoff, DAAD RISE Germany and DAAD Young Ambassador Alumna. Amy participated in the DAAD RISE Germany program – a paid 10-12 week summer research internship program for undergraduate STEM students. In our conversation, she talks about her experience as a research intern at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) and her activities outside of the lab. For interested applicants, Amy shares detailed information about the application procedure and what applicants can do to stand out in the selection process. You can connect with Amy via Amylebanoff@gmail.com.

Today's Coffee Connection is Tony Jackson, German Master's Graduate and Voice-Over Artist from Arizona. Tony shared his strategies for engaging with German, Germans, and German culture from the US. For Tony, his German experience was limited to immersion at home, because as a student with a disability, he was faced with challenges that prevented him from studying abroad. Despite that, he completed a Master's degree in German and worked as a teaching assistant. We discussed whether you can be an authentic language teacher when you've never actually spent time in the country where the target language is spoken. Finally, I asked Tony how to approach someone with a visible disability. Visit Tony's website for more information at www.tonyjacksonvo.com.

Today's Coffee Connection is Peter Rosenbaum, Executive Director of the University Alliance Ruhr office in New York. In our conversation, Peter shares some insight into his work and the Ruhr region he represents as the Executive Director of the University Alliance Ruhr. We both grew up in the GDR, so I asked Peter about his childhood memories and how he reflects on the divided and now unified Germany. And finally, Peter has a few travel suggestions: Jena, Unna and Rügen, and also Scotland as a great place to visit in Europe. I yet have to contributed to the travel suggestions: this week I recommend the Spreewald, around the world most notably known for its pickles, but the region itself is worth a visit. University Alliance Ruhr online: http://northamerica.uaruhr.de/. You can reach out to Peter via peter.rosenbaum@uaruhr.de.

Today's Coffee Connection is Carol Anne Costabile-Heming who is one of our most dedicated long-term Research Ambassadors. She is a Professor of German at the University of North Texas, Denton. I had the opportunity to chat with Carol Anne about her path from focusing her studies on Chemistry to graduating with a PhD in German. Carol Anne spent time in Germany and specifically Berlin in 1990 and she shares her unique experience during these tumultuous times. Some of her experiences are reminiscent of the movie Good Bye, Lenin! (7:40 - 22:00) As a Research Ambassador she has a lot of experience advising researchers and students on funding applications – during our conversation she shares valuable tips for success. (25:30 - 34:30) This week's travel suggestions are Leipzig and Marbach.

Today's Coffee Connection is another music episode – this time I chatted with Lukas Akintaya, a German-Nigerian Jazz drummer and composer. Between 2018 and 2020, Lukas studied as a DAAD scholar at New York University (NYU). In our conversation, Lukas shared his path to pursuing a professional career as a jazz composer and percussionist, and he compared his experience as a musician in Berlin with his most recent one in New York. We also talked about the unique challenges as a jazz musician and Lukas shared how to best support young emerging artists. You can find out more about Lukas and his music at Lukasakintaya.com as well as www.holontrio.com. A great platform for supporting indie artists is www.bandcamp.com.

Today's Coffee Connection is Sandra Navidi, University of Cologne Alumna, international attorney, bestselling author, consultant, media contributor and public speaker. She is the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of BeyondGlobal, an international strategic consultancy. Hanni chats with Sandra about her best-selling book $uperhubs, networks and networking – so important, but dreaded by so many, including Hanni. Sandra also provided some insight on working in an international environment, how to navigate uncomfortable situations and she shared her experience as a women in a male dominated environment. You can find more about Sandra and her work at www.beyond-global.com.

Today's episode highlights the perspective of a student with disabilities studying abroad in Germany. Transcript for this episode available at http://bit.ly/daad-podcast. My Coffee Connection is Michelle She, CBYX High School Program Alumna, Teacher of students with visual impairments, and disabilities advocate. For more information for students with disabilities wishing to go abroad, visit www.miusa.org.

Today's episode highlights include • How to strategically plan for an international career • German and US Work culture • Why Cologne is a great city, especially for students and during Carneval • Not to miss: Germany during a soccer championship

Today's episode is a highlight in itself. Today's Coffee Connection is Maxine Troglauer, DAAD Music Scholarship recipient, Bass Trombonist and Master's student at the Manhattan School of Music. In our conversation, Maxine shared how she became first interest in the Trombone, we talked about her experience as a musician, the history of the Trombone, and different career opportunities. We also talked about being a women in a male dominated space, trends in classical music and how the current pandemic affects musicians. Find out more about Maxine at www.maxinetroglauer.net.

Today's episode highlights include: • Working for the University Heidelberg Association at the German House in New York • First-generation student study abroad experience and tips for success • Using the abroad experience for your career advancement • This week's travel suggestions are Heidelberg and Norderney. Plus, find out what happens during a box factor tour. Today's Coffee Connection is Amanda Rohm Daquila, who is the Executive Director of Heidelberg University Association. You can get in touch with Amanda via adaquila@heidelberguniversity.org.

Today's episode focuses on German language learning and teaching - highlights include: • Learning German: fluency, cultural competency, confidence and accents • Support for students with learning disabilities • Raising a bilingual child • Child care and parental leave in Germany vs. the US • And this week's travel suggestion is visiting Iserlohn and attending a hockey game

Today's episode highlights include • The CBYX program – tips for a meaningful, successful year and how to leverage the experience after • German friendships 101 • Language learning during and after the abroad experience • Engagement with refugees in Munich • In this week's travel suggestion, you hear why Munich is a must visit beyond Oktoberfest and the usual sights.

Today's episode highlights include: • International education: the importance of it, trends, and career opportunities • Diversity, access and equity in US education • Strategies to prepare for living abroad • German and American work culture • This week's travel suggestion is Sylt and you'll find out more about Frankfurt and Stuttgart

Today's episode highlights include • From student to representative of the University of Freiburg • How to break into field of higher education • The college experience in the US vs Germany • Tips to learn and improve German And • This week's travel suggestions include Freiburg and Staufen

Today's episode highlights include: • Career Development opportunities through the Robert Bosch Fellowship • Insights into the DAAD Bonn headquarter • Higher education internationalization in Germany • German office culture quirks • This weeks travel suggestions include the Zeche Zollverein in Essen, the Bauhaus museum in Dessau and several cities in the former East.

Today's episode highlights include • How to obtain a PhD choosing the individual path • Strategies to find a mentor and lab • Cancer research • Carneval in Cologne - Kölle Alaaf! • And this week's travel suggestions: Germany's national parks and Düsseldorf. You can get in touch with Lin via Lin.Song@ucsf.edu.

Today's episode highlights include: • Vietnamese – American – German connections • Refugees and how to support the community • Fulbright Teaching – Diversity Program • This week there are a few travel suggestions: Aachen, Monschau, Bonn, Cologne and Düsseldorf For Monschau, I highly recommend you search for it online and virtually travel to this beautiful town.

Today's episode highlights include • Growing up in Germany in a military family • Culture shock, adjusting and professional opportunities as a global citizen • The US and German education system compared • The concepts of “where are you from” and “where is home” • And this week's travel highlights include Weimar, Eisenach, Garmisch You can get in touch with Kati via kati.bell@dominican.edu.

Today's episode highlights include: • How to obtain a PhD in Germany via the individual track • The German perspective on US and Canadian research • Germany in the 21st century - reunification, immigration and national identity • This week's travel suggestion is the German-Polish city Görlitz/Zgorzelec – you may already know it from movies. Today's Coffee Connection is Swen Steinberg, Post-Doctoral Fellow at Queens University in Canada and one of our dedicated DAAD Research Ambassadors.

Today's episode highlights include • How study abroad sets you apart to advance your career and career opportunities with German • Funding opportunities for study and research through the German government • Green Germany I public transportation I Individual responsibility and work life balance • This week's travel suggestion is Freiburg and the cities and countries nearby. You can get in touch with Haley via harmstrong@icac.com.

Today's episode highlights include: • Why the German language isn't so awful and what you can do with a German degree • What German – American exchange programs are behind the acronyms GAPP and CBYX • Germans: welcoming, well informed, and eco-friendly • And the travel recommendations for today are: Goslar, Regensburg, Rügen • Plus we hear about Vienna – not in Germany, but rich in Germanic history, culture and language CBYX website: cbyx.info and get in touch with Daniel via dvillanueva@culturalvistas.org

Today's episode highlights include • Advice on applying successfully to a research grant • Information for young families • German directness in academia – and the benefits after the initial shock • American/German lost in translation AND • And we have a travel recommendation: visit the Harz mountains for its local beer and witchcraft – and hear what's to see in the town of Halbestadt. You can get in touch with Jonathan Fine at Jonathan_Fine@brown.edu.

Today's episode highlights include: • German health care system • Germany: small country with lots of different culture and language variation • Renu's tips on how best to connect with a researcher in Germany • Renu's interdisciplinary research at the Helmholtz Center and Max Planck Institute in Munich • Travel highlights North, South, East and West And today's bonus: Renu talks about her TedX Berlin talk “Strike a Pose”. You can get in touch with Renu Singh at renu.singh.87@gmail.com.

Today's episode highlights include: • Aravind's journey from undergraduate in India, to graduate student in Germany to postdoc in the US • Living and studying in Germany not knowing any German • What NASA and RWTH Aachen have in common • Why Aravind believes Germany is the most student friendly country and • Why Aachen should be on your list of places to visit You can get in touch with Aravind at aravind.mb@gmail.com.

Today's episode highlights include: • The German Jewish community in Germany today • Germany as a diverse country • Going to Germany as a researcher with a family • Navigating German bureaucracy AND • Travel highlight: Baltic Sea islands Rügen and Hiddensee, Bamberg, Berchtesgarden & parks in Berlin Hanni's Coffee Connection today is Max Lazar, PhD student in the History Department at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill and DAAD Research Ambassador since 2019. You can get in touch with Max at maxlazar(at)live.unc.edu.

Today's episode highlights include • a deep dive into Weimar beyond Goethe, Schiller and the Republic • a discussion about Germany's debate culture • advise on how to navigate German bureaucracy • why you should visit the Baltic Sea and • what surprising food, beyond Currywurst and Döner, you should eat in Berlin. Hanni's Coffee Connection today is Elizabeth Harrington Lambert, Director of Fellowships at the Meijer Office of Fellowships at Grand Valley State University and DAAD Research Ambassador since 2012. You can get in touch with Elizabeth at elambert(at)daad-alumni.de.

Welcome to Coffee Connections, a podcast about studying, researching and traveling in Germany and the unique experiences told by students and researchers. This podcast is created, hosted and edited by me, Hanni Geist. Have you studied or researched in Germany and want to share your story? Get in touch with me – podcast@daad.org.