Mosbach Survival Guide—Section One
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DHBW Mosbach Survival Guide Page 1 Survival Guide for International Students DHBW Mosbach International Office Latest Update: 09.10.2009 © 2007 DHBW Mosbach – International Office DHBW Mosbach Survival Guide Page 2 P r e f a c e Dear International Exchange Student, Going abroad is a great challenge, as you need to survive in an environment which is totally new and strange to you at first. And even an out-and-out organized and clearly structured institution like the Duale Hoschule Baden- Württemberg Mosbach and a neat little town like Mosbach or Bad Mergentheim might - as strange as this sounds - in some ways seem like a jungle to you. You are exposed to a language you might not be familiar with, you need to settle down and arrange yourself in your temporary living place, you have to get used to the weather and the food you find, you must learn the do’s and don’ts, the attractions and risks of the wildlife around you, and of course you want to make friends and make the best of your stay. This guide is supposed to help you with this. It gives you background information about your place of study and provides you with tips and tricks on how to discover the right trails through the Mosbach jungle. In short, it has been made with the intention to be a useful tool for you, a “Survival Guide” which makes your life here easier. I would like to thank two people who supported me throughout this project: our American intern Allison Rice who spent a month here in summer 2006 doing research and writing texts, and Dr. Thomas Wirth, professor of Online Media at the DHBW Mosbach, who looked after the layout and design of this document. Wishing you a good time at the DHBW Mosbach! Yours sincerely, Daniela Englisch Head of International Relations Duale Hochschule Baden-Württemberg Mosbach Latest Update: 09.10.2009 © 2007 DHBW Mosbach – International Office DHBW Mosbach Survival Guide Page 3 C o n t e n t Everything I Need to Know About My Place of Study ....................... 5 Mosbach...................................................................................5 Bad Mergentheim .....................................................................5 Baden-Württemberg.................................................................6 Germany...................................................................................6 Culture .....................................................................................9 What I Should Know About the DHBW Mosbach.............................. 12 How the System Works ...........................................................12 History of the Duale Hochschule.............................................13 Subjects of Study....................................................................13 Cooperating Firms..................................................................14 Academic Calendar.................................................................14 Rules Governing the Duale Hochschule Campus.....................15 Open Hours on Campus .........................................................16 Parking...................................................................................16 Computer Facilities on Campus ..............................................17 Meals On Campus ..................................................................18 Library....................................................................................19 Student Life at the Duale Hochschule .....................................21 The International Office (Akademisches Auslandsamt) ...........22 Formalities I Need to Take Care of Before I leave Home................ 25 Applying to the Duale Hochschule..........................................25 Apply for a Passport ...............................................................25 Insurance ...............................................................................26 Inoculations ...........................................................................27 Financial Security Statement ...................................................27 What I Should Take with Me ............................................................... 28 Packing ..................................................................................28 Important Documents and Items ............................................28 Electrical Items .......................................................................31 Laptop Computer ...................................................................32 Linens ....................................................................................32 Clothing .................................................................................32 Suggested Miscellaneous Items ..............................................32 How to Get to Mosbach and Bad Mergentheim............................. 34 Mosbach.................................................................................34 Bad Mergentheim ...................................................................36 Latest Update: 09.10.2009 © 2007 DHBW Mosbach – International Office DHBW Mosbach Survival Guide Page 4 Where I Can Stay ................................................................................ 39 Finding a Home for Your Stay .................................................39 Where to Look for Housing After Arriving in Mosbach or Bad Mergentheim ...............................................................39 Housing Expenses ..................................................................40 Signing a Lease and Paying the Rent.......................................40 Radio and TV Fees..................................................................41 Energy Conservation...............................................................41 Recycling................................................................................41 Guests and Visitors ................................................................42 Laundry Facilities....................................................................43 Host Families..........................................................................43 Moving While In and Moving Out of Mosbach/ Bad Mergentheim44 What I Need to Take Care of in My First Days and Weeks ............. 45 Contact with the Secretary and Head of Department...............45 Registering With the Town and Applying For a Residence Permit ...........................................................46 Open a Bank Account .............................................................47 What I Can Do Here in Mosbach, Bad Mergentheim, and the Area ....................................................................................... 48 Sights in Mosbach ..................................................................48 Living in Mosbach...................................................................49 Sights in Bad Mergentheim.....................................................55 Living in Bad Mergentheim .....................................................56 Day Trips in the Area..............................................................59 What I Need to Do to Find An Internship.......................................... 64 General Information About the Internship System at the Duale Hochschule ...........................64 Where to Find an Internship....................................................64 Application Process ................................................................64 Factors that Influence the Internship Search ...........................65 Other Miscellaneous Factors...................................................65 Appendix: Useful Tips, Tricks and Resources................................... 67 Public Transportation .............................................................67 Phone System.........................................................................70 German Holidays ....................................................................72 Important Contacts and Phone Numbers ................................72 List of German Housing Terms ...............................................74 Academic Calendars ...............................................................75 Map of the Area......................................................................77 Index .................................................................................................... 78 Imprint .................................................................................................. 80 Latest Update: 09.10.2009 © 2007 DHBW Mosbach – International Office DHBW Mosbach Survival Guide Page 5 Section One: Everything I Need to Know About My Place of Study The Neckar valley near Mosbach Mosbach Mosbach began life as a Benedictine monastery and the first written record of its existence was documented in the 9th century. Through its long history, Mosbach has enjoyed many distinctions; it was the residence of the Pfalzgrafen (counts palatine) Otto I and Otto II for most of the 15th century (1410-1499) and afterwards became an administrative center for the area for over 200 years. In 1806, the town and the surrounding area became part of the Grand Duchy of Baden. In 1975, Mosbach and the neighboring town of Neckarelz were merged together and in the following year Mosbach became a Große Kreisstadt, or the seat for the local government. Outside of its political history, Mosbach has been a home to craftsmen and artisans whose influence, as well as the current Altstadt (Old Town), date from the 16th century. Brewing