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My name is Sam Blomberg, and I have the privilege of serving as the Hans Joohs representative for the New Ulm Sister Cities Commission. Over the course of twelve weeks, I am living and working in Germany. This letter highlights events from the first four weeks.
Arriving in Ulm, Germany, I wasn't sure what to expect. As the sister cities representative, I hoped to gain professional experience and learn about German culture. In Ulm, I found much more: a welcoming host family, an engaging work environment, and a city rich in tradition and culture.
My first month has been packed with new experiences, from working alongside industry experts to exploring international festivals.
My first host family is doing an excellent job of making me feel at home. My host father is the Erster Bürgermeister (First Mayor) of Ulm, Martin Bendel. In Germany, the First Mayor is second to the Lord Mayor and handles administration. The whole Bendel family has been very welcoming and also given me many German lessons. In addition, they've provided me with a variety of local event tickets. For example, I attended Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg, a six-hour opera; I went in with modest expectations, but came out having thoroughly enjoyed it.
My first occupational placement was with Mühlen-Sohn, a company that operates in a remarkably niche industry: they make a specific fabric used in cardboard manufacturing. It's a small market, but Mühlen-Sohn is the world leader in it.
The entire team was excited to have me on, and spent many hours answering my questions and discussing ideas. Working in the research and development area, I tested and calculated heat transfer coefficients for products, developed visuals for a global sales conference, and even visited customer sites.
On a weekend when my host family was away, I went to a local fossil quarry and spent the day digging with a group of Italian paleontologists. Most of the fossils are from ancient marine life (shells, fish, squid, and large reptiles). I also made a trip to Tübingen, where my host mother's parents live. It's a beautiful city, overshadowed by a large castle that looms above the nearby river and historic quarter.
The city of Ulm is most famous for the Ulmer Münster, formerly the tallest church in the world. However, I find the most enjoyable aspect to be the Fischerviertel, the Fishermen's Quarter. Full of historic buildings, bridges, and restaurants, it is a great place to spend a day.
Moreover, with the World Cup underway, any restaurant with a TV attracts a crowd. Another aspect of Ulm that I enjoy is the bakeries. With nearly one on every corner, it's clear the city emphasizes fresh food. Of course, the bread and pastries are outstanding.
The end of my first four weeks coincided with the start of the Donaufest. This is a festival in Ulm and Neu-Ulm that brings together people from every country along the Danube River. Situated on the banks of the Danube, the festival includes food, music, and shops from countries such as Austria, Hungary, and Ukraine. With my host family, I ate traditional food from many countries, including a delicious Croatian feast.
Ulm and Croatia have a surprisingly storied history. In the 18th century, many Germans departed from Ulm to begin a new life further down the Danube--some went to Croatia. After World War II, however, the trend reversed, and Croatian Germans began moving to Ulm, taking their culture with them. At the Donaufest, I was invited to a Croatian feast, where I learned about this beautiful connection. To this day, there is a strong connection between the Danube region of Croatia and the city of Ulm.
While munching on my makovnjača (a poppy seed pastry), I realized that the meal at my table was a consequence of a relationship that began before New Ulm was even founded. Over my first four weeks, I began to grasp the heritage between our two cities. Over the next four weeks, I hope to dig deeper into that heritage and strengthen our shared connection.
-- Sam Blomberg is the outbound exchange intern for New Ulm Sisters Cities Commission. He is currently working as an intern in Germany.