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Audrey Kellar
Audrey, who has studied German since high school and minored in German Studies in college, decided she wanted to apply to the CBYX program for the opportunity to live abroad after graduating from college. Her year in Germany has been a year of growth, and she says, “It is showing me how much I can do as an individual.” She has never been so far away from her family (or outside of the United States) and has had two host families – one during her language camp and one in her permanent placement – who helped her adjust. She adds, “I had two families that were interested in me as a person and doing things with me. They incorporated me into their family life which I’m thankful for.”
Many of Audrey’s favorite moments include her host family in Heidelberg and holidays they spent together. In particular, Audrey shares, “Thanksgiving is important to my family. It’s a celebration of family and coming together and I wanted to do something like that with my host family.” She organized a Thanksgiving meal for her host mom, her housemate from India, her German neighbors, and the Ukrainian refugees who live with her neighbors. Everyone brought a dish to share – from lamb curry to deep-fried potatoes. It was Audrey’s first time trying many of these dishes, and she prepared pumpkin pie (even though pumpkin puree can be hard to find in Germany). It was the first time any of them tried pumpkin pie, and they all liked it. Her pie even helped dispel the idea that all American desserts are too sweet.
Audrey completed internships at a German university research lab studying cardiac diseases and at a cancer research center. She learned during her senior year in college that she enjoys a research lab setting and finds it’s a job she’s never bored with. Besides finding her internships rewarding and interesting, it has also given her the opportunity to see the differences between U.S. and German working culture. She appreciates the work-life balance she’s seen in her German colleagues and hopes to find a similar balance in her career.
Audrey notes, “I’m extremely grateful to the program. I’ve met so many different people, and it’s broadened my world view. You can read the news and say you understand what’s going on in the world, but it’s a different level of understanding when you’ve met people from around the world.” Audrey is excited to bring home all of the things she has learned in Germany and use those lessons throughout her life.
Congratulations, Audrey!
