25
IN S IT E S
ST UDY ABROAD: G E R MANY ANNA FARB, LAEP GRAD STUDENT Just a few years back, I was unaware of the existence of
USA?” I always laugh and think in my head, “Why not?” But
landscape architecture. Now, from studying at Hochschule
the other part of the answer is a bit more complicated. In fact,
Anhalt in eastern Germany, I see that this field has the
one reason I chose USU was to be able to take advantage of
power to break down borders. My peers in Germany come
this study abroad option. I studied abroad for two semesters
from various fields. An interior architect from Bangladesh.
during my bachelor’s degree as well, so this wanderlust is
A real estate agent from Ghana. A production designer
part of my bones. Moreover, Wolfram Kircher, my planting
from Texas care of Hong Kong. A horticulturalist from India.
design professor in Germany, was a huge draw. He wrote the
Architects from El Salvador, Nigeria, Syria, Iran, Panama, India,
book on natural swimming pools (which use plantings and
Bangladesh, Egypt, Tunisia, Turkey and Armenia. Two other
other strategies to clean swimming pools in lieu of chemicals),
landscape designers from South Korea and China. And I am
and now we are developing my thesis on this topic. My trials
an environmental scientist turned landscape designer from
are starting this summer of 2019, and I could not be more
Maryland now of Utah. My peers have moved me so much
enthusiastic for this unique opportunity.
and some will be lifelong friends. Each class that comes to this international program is special—you have to dig around
The proverbial cherry on top of studying in Germany is
a little to find this place, so you end up with a group that is
the chance to travel even more, since we are so centrally
unafraid to take risks, and open to new people and ideas.
located. Class excursions have included Dessau (a center of the Bauhaus movement), Leipzig (residence of Bach),
Coming out of my first year in Utah State’s MLA First
Harz National Park (an ecologically complex natural forest)
Professional program, I had big expectations in terms of
and more. Upcoming trips are to Armenia and Georgia for
faculty quality and dedication. But just as with the students, I
a botanical adventure and to Barcelona for history class. I
was blown away by my professors in Germany. The teaching
am continually inspired by the German people’s dedication
style and course structure is quite different than at USU (for
to sustainable development, even if it is through the typical
example, our submissions are a bit more open-ended), but I
German bureaucracy and regulations.
am grateful to be exposed to both and I can see the value in each approach. One commonality is group work, which is a
Just like with landscape architecture, I would have never
staple of this field. Adding an international component to this
known about this small university of Anhalt in this small
is challenging at times, with some comical language issues, but
German town of Bernburg if it weren’t for a set of lucky
incredibly rewarding at the end.
decisions that I made on my winding path. I absolutely cannot wait to reunite and share with my USU LAEP friends, but who
The question I get asked most often is, “Why did you come
knows—I may make my way back to Europe. Let’s keep this
here to Bernburg?—in the middle of nowhere—from the
partnership going!
