Norwich University is giving several German military officers a chance to experience American culture by having them on campus this semester.
The German officers are staying at Norwich for the semester “(to gain) knowledge, not only academic but cultural,” said Fabian Vocilka, a 27-year-old second lieutenant in Armored Infantry from the University of Munich.
The officers hope to gain knowledge of international relations.
Stefan Kochanneck, naval ensign, 24, from the University of Munich, is using this opportunity in America to better his language skills, but also wants to see the people and country during his stay.
When asked how they were adjusting to American culture and school, they had different responses.
Vocilka said, “It’s a wonderland” to be in America, while Kochanneck was surprised there aren’t as many “fat people” as he expected.
Alexander van Wassen, 25, a second lieutenant in the signal troop from University of Munich, was worried how good his English would be while in America.
On top of dealing with the language and cultural differences, the officers are also taking classes while at Norwich. “It’s hard,” Vocilka said. “You have to do a lot of readings.”
Van Wassen is worried about how his first essay in English will turn out.
While in school, the German officers also participate in corps related jobs. Vocilka is an assistant to a cadet major, and Kochanneck is an officer in S-1, which deals with personnel and accountability.
The Germans said they found the corps of cadets somewhat of a shock.
One shocking thing for Vocilka is that people pay to come to this school to be yelled at.
The German officers do not have a corps of cadets at the University of Munich. “We are all active duty soldiers. Our university is a whole military university,” Kochanneck said.
Norwich and Munich universities have differences but have a common goal in producing fine military officers, according to the German students.
The officers said they are enjoying the Norwich food. “(The food is) wonderful, and it is a lot too much, but I want to say that the Euro kitchen is not Euro, it’s something else but not Euro,” Kochanneck said.
While the food is good, and gives the cadets and officers all the nutrition they need for the day, others can’t stand to see any more scrambled eggs, according to Van Wassen.
Vocilka said all the privates and corporals are polite, well-trained and physically fit, and those are great things about Norwich.
While the Germans are here only for one semester, they want to leave their mark on Norwich. Vocilka wants to leave behind some German words, for example.