UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — When eight Penn State undergraduates boarded their flights in spring 1990 as acquaintances, they could not have imagined the life-changing educational and cultural experiences awaiting them in Germany.  A few months prior, the Berlin Wall had fallen. For Penn State students like Jim Reifer (class of 1992, the College of the Liberal Arts), it was a once-in-a-lifetime global learning opportunity. Reifer recently hosted a small group of alumni, their families, and their former professor for a weekend full of reminiscing and looking through photo albums and mementos.

“When I think back on my experience, I find it amazing how many memories I have from just a four-month semester,” said Reifer. “The most meaningful memory for me was the whole experience of living in Germany and meeting new people. It was exciting to learn about history, politics and culture while living in Germany.”

Rainer Prawitt was an instructor at University of Flensburg who was tasked with overseeing the Penn State exchange students and helping them adjust to life in Germany.  He planned train and bus trips to Berlin, Kiel, and the countryside.  Students benefited from his vast knowledge of German history and economics, while his lessons in the classroom were matched by real-world experiences, including a very impactful visit to the area where the Berlin Wall had stood for nearly 30 years.

Scott Lynn (class of 1993, College of Agricultural Sciences) recalled, “Looking back, it is kind of surreal what a significant point in history that represents.” Three decades later, Lynn maintains a small display in his home commemorating the visit to the wall as a reminder of visiting both the East and West Berlin areas with Prawitt and his fellow Penn Staters.

Through social media the students reconnected with Prawitt and extended an invitation to join the group for a 30th anniversary reunion in Pennsylvania, which would mark Prawitt’s first-ever trip to the United States. After a few delays due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the crew was finally able to reunite in Wellsboro, Pennsylvania, to mark the 33rd anniversary of their education abroad experience. 

Although the timing didn’t go as planned to mark the 30th, Lynn explained that the number 33 is a “Schnapszahl” in Germany, which represents good luck. The group agreed that it was a fitting anniversary for a very fortunate group of students who are now alumni.

Although Penn State no longer maintains an exchange program with University of Flensburg, current Penn State students can study abroad in many locations in Germany or more than 50 other countries. The education abroad opportunities at the University have expanded greatly since 1990, but the objective of such an experience remains the same — building cross-cultural connections and understanding.

“This group’s education abroad alumni reunion speaks to the impact that this intercultural learning experience had on them as undergraduate students in 1990. That Professor Prawitt and his daughter were able to join the anniversary celebration here in Pennsylvania is just another example of the strength of the Penn State global community,” said Kate Manni, director of Education Abroad.

Both Reifer and Lynn said they hope that current Penn State students will take advantage of the education abroad opportunities available during their academic careers.  

Lynn said, “There is a whole world to explore, and Penn State Global can help you open the door. Studying abroad is such an amazing opportunity for growth and enrichment. Learning about the world through first-hand experiences is a profound growth experience.” 

Believing so strongly in the power of global education, Reifer encouraged his daughter, a current Penn State student, to study abroad in Italy this fall. 

Penn State Global will host its annual Education Abroad Fair on Oct. 25 at University Park campus to promote its 300+ study abroad programs and scholarship opportunities to current students. For more information about the event, visit the 2023 Education Abroad Fair webpage. With further questions, please contact the Education Abroad Outreach & Engagement team at EAOutreach@psu.edu.