"I Picked the Farthest University I could Find From Home!"
#UAFGlobal
Johanna
Bocklet is a graduate student in Economics at UAF. She is from Koblenz, Germany, a
city similar to Fairbanks. Johanna started her bachelor’s degree in Economics
in Heidelberg University and wanted to study abroad for a semester. She didn’t know a lot about Alaska when she chose to go to school here but when she got here, she was infatuated.
She was fascinated by the Alaskan outdoor, waking up to
see the mountains outside her window every morning and viewing the northern
lights. After
a semester at UAF, she returned to Germany to finish her degree and realized
her bond with Alaska was more than an infatuation. She got so used to living and learning in and around the wilderness in Alaska that on her return,
Heidelberg seemed to have lost some of its familiarity. She also missed the close attention
that the professors provide to the students at UAF because of the small class
sizes.
She says “I picked the farthest university I
could find from home!” mentioning her love for traveling and living in
different countries
She
didn’t really know if she wanted to do a job or go to grad school after she
earned her bachelor’s degree. But given the chance, she would definitely go
back to experience more of Alaska.
What do you like about Alaska?
She admires the outdoors and loves to travel. “My favorite places in Alaska are Seward and Valdez!- There are mountains on one side and the ocean on the other, and it is simply amazing!”
(L) Johanna in the coastal city of Seward
She loves to go backpacking and on skiing trips
when she isn’t busy with her job and studies
How were you first
summer and winter experiences?
The summer of 2015 was her first one here. “It is crazy to
explore Alaska when it is not cold!”
Having not been to a place that isn’t road accessible, she
says “I’d love to go to a place where you have to be dropped off by an aircraft
and spend some time there. Because in Alaska, you don’t have to “find” great
spots. It is beautiful no matter where you go. So whenever I can, I try to head
out of Fairbanks and explore!”
Johanna at the temperature display on the UAF campus- very close to joining the 40 below club
Being an exchange student then, she would sometimes find
comfort in the fact that she was going home at the end of the semester. The
dark and cold however, wouldn’t hold her back from being outdoors. “I would go
out skiing in December with my headlight on!” she laughs.
“Even after having a sunrise at 11am and walking back from
class at 6pm in pitch black darkness to be greeted by the Northern Lights in the
winter is a pretty good deal for living in such a cold place in the winter”
What do you miss
about home?
German politics, Sparkling water, family, friends, and
especially seasonal food from her region in Germany. Döbbekuchen: also called
“poor man’s food”, she adds “Döbbekuchen is made from grated potatoes baked in
a pot with sausages (pepperoni or salami) and served with applesauce” with a
tone of nostalgia.
“Specific months remind me of specific
delicacies. Like November reminds me of Döbbekuchen: it is a very regional food
and other parts of Germany probably haven’t heard about it!”
Are you ready to graduate and leave Alaska?
“Easy answer!
NO.”
She would love to work in Alaska after she earns her master’s degree. “My interest is in environmental consulting. I will apply for jobs and see how it goes from there”. She says, “If not Alaska, I would probably go back and work in Europe.”
NO.”
She would love to work in Alaska after she earns her master’s degree. “My interest is in environmental consulting. I will apply for jobs and see how it goes from there”. She says, “If not Alaska, I would probably go back and work in Europe.”
UAF in one word
Zu Hause- The
feeling of being home.
English sometimes does fall short of expressing feelings with words…
English sometimes does fall short of expressing feelings with words…
She likes being part of the very friendly community here and
feels safe living on the UAF campus.
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