I remember the exhilarating feeling stepping off of the plane and claiming my two oversized suitcases, my excitement for the adventure ahead bubbling over to the point that I could hardly contain myself. A new country, a new university, and a new way of seeing the world and myself.
My first weeks in Germany were a whirlwind of novel experiences. I moved into a new flat, bought new bedding, and navigated new grocery stores and markets, all of which was even more challenging in a country that was completely new to me. There were many challenges in adjusting to a new way of life including a new language, foreign bureaucratic processes, and different social rules. Facing these challenges alone was a daunting process! In October I was in for yet another big change, I started a Masters program in the city of Erlangen that was geared towards international students with interests in sports, physical activity, health promotion and public health. Yet again, there were new challenges to face and norms to adjust to, most notably making new friends and overcoming the obstacles of intercultural communication. I can whole-heartedly say moving to Germany, as an international student was one of the most terrifying and exhilarating decisions I have ever made. It forced me to extend beyond my comfort zone, put me into situations that constantly made me feel vulnerable, and forced me to take life one day at a time. I learned to accept challenges and try new things.
Based on the title of this post, you may be wondering how this story relates to physical activity and health promotion? That is a perfectly reasonable question. As a part of a qualitative methods course for my Masters program, my fellow students and I held a series of ten interviews with other international students in the city of Erlangen. We were curious to learn about their experiences moving to a new country and trying to fit in to a new culture and environment. The focus of these interviews was specifically on their perception of the city of Erlangen, German culture, and their physical activity habits in comparison to their experiences in their home countries.
The international students pointed out three factors that influenced their physical activity habits and behavior. The first aspect is that the city of Erlangen is a “physical activity friendly” city, one international student pointed out that “Erlangen really try to make the life easy for the bicycle. There is a lots of bicycle way…Its not only the people but also the infrastructures are made for facilitate the life of bicycles.” The infrastructure within the city provides many opportunities for physical activity that are reasonably priced, easy to use, and fit within international students’ daily schedules. The second factor is that German people, especially the residents of Erlangen, place a high value on being physically active and it is a part of their everyday life and provides a sense of identity. For example, people may identify themselves as a cyclist and it defines who they are. Physical activities are also a great way to meet new people, build connections, and make new friends. One of the international students stated that, “sport is a good way for me to get to know other people, and not only from the University but also from other backgrounds. And yes I think it may be a motivation, which I wouldn’t have at home since I already have all of my friends.” This friendship building aspect is critically important for international students who leave their friends and family behind, and start a new life in a new country. The third and final concept is that, as a result of the environment and social norms, international students experience positive emotions associated with physical activity. One respondent pointed out that “because of the city, of the people, I like being outside and I feel comfortable with walking.” Several students indicated that feelings of comfort and safety encouraged them to participate in cycling and walking for transport, as well as for leisure.
Based on these conversations, we found that behavior change occurs as we adapt to new environments and healthy behaviors can develop as a result of the interaction between infrastructures, social and cultural norms, and feelings of comfort and safety. In the “physical activity friendly” city of Erlangen, international students felt encouraged to participate in new and varied activities. Many respondents pointed out that in comparison to their home countries, Erlangen removed many barriers they felt towards physical activity. For example, one student stated “In Brazil you do not have any safety when you are riding a bike on the streets, like here. You have to ride a bike only in parks, where you have your space for that.” Additionally, physical activities may provide opportunities for building relationships within a new community and environment as well as mediate the assimilation process into a new culture.
What does this mean for you and me? Whether moving abroad, exploring a new city, or re-inventing our own city, we should take advantage of all of the opportunities in our environment. If I have learned anything from this Masters program and living in Germany, the most important step to take is opening yourself up to new ideas and activities (especially physical activities) because it will allow you to make connections with people, improve your emotional health, and encourage the assimilation process.
Thank you for taking the time to read my post!
Adventures of Kindsey 