An assistant professor of innovation and social entrepreneurship, Raible reflected on her time in Germany and Thailand and the lessons she has learned.
Q: What’s the difference between teaching material in Delaware vs. abroad?
Raible: The material becomes global, real, alive. I know it sounds intuitive, but it’s true. It’s one thing to bring in a speaker, work through a case or watch a video clip, but to witness social entrepreneurship in practice, to see both the people leading the efforts and the people they serve collaborate, is another experience entirely.
Q: Fill in the blank. Students who choose this study abroad experience tend to be…
Raible: Thoughtful, reflective, bold and unafraid to truly see the world. Part of that “seeing” is recognizing the good with the bad, the challenges with the inspiration and the problems with the solutions.
Q: What’s your advice to anyone traveling to Germany or Thailand for the first time?
Raible: For both locations, dress for the weather and for the culture you have and not the ones you want. Being comfortable allows you to travel with ease, rather than becoming distracted by the extremes that hit in winter and summer.
Q: What has Germany taught you?
Raible: I came to realize how meaningful it is to have visible support of social enterprises. We could use more advocacy and support of companies trying to do good in the world here. When I was in Germany, I encountered so many people who shopped with their values at hand, which both supports the companies and organizations pushing for social and environmental change and helps grow the field for others wanting to do the same.
Q: Any obscure pieces of trivia about Germany that you love sharing at parties?
Raible: By American standards, Germans have awful pillows but have a great idea with blankets. Their pillows are square and generally flatter than those we have here, which can make it tricky for many new to the culture to get good sleep. On the other hand, people often each have their own blankets, rather than sharing a large blanket with their partner. This can be a game changer for anyone who has woken up cold from their blanket being occupied on the other side of the bed. It’s so simple but clever at the same time.
Q: What’s something from Germany that you’d love to see America adopt?
Raible: People in Germany are serious about getting fresh air, even indoors. After living there for a year, I also found myself preferring to open a window instead of boosting the air conditioning.
Q: Do you do anything differently now, as a result of your time spent abroad?
Raible: From being in Germany, I tend to wait longer at crosswalks than most Americans now. Waiting until the light changes is big in Germany. You may be scolded by others, especially those modeling for young children, for not doing so. Since being in Thailand, I have caught myself putting my hands together and bowing my head when saying “thank you” so many times. I am hoping it was not obvious though.
Q: What’s your most memorable study abroad story?
Raible: When I took students to Germany in Winter 2020, they had a day off from their schedule, and I had some remaining funds in the budget for one more cultural activity. When I asked them what they wanted to do, they all agreed they wanted to see the Dachau Concentration Camp Memorial Site. I was impressed that they chose to learn about the experiences of the individuals who lived and died there in their free time. On one of the final days of the program — one of the coldest days — we all went together to Dachau. Taking it in was difficult, to say the least. However, it was also a meaningful day for us all to have that exposure, and I am grateful they chose to see it.
