Meet Christopher Kropp:

Originally from Hamburg

Germany, Christopher studies

International Business at

Carleton University’s Sprott

School of Business, Ottawa.

We met him earlier this year

to ask about his experience

as an international student.

Christopher, you are currently in the Bachelor of International Business program at Carleton University (Ottawa). Can you expand for us on how you experi-enced Canada after arriving from Germany and what gave you the most insight into the Canadian culture and lifestyle?

I believe living with a Canadian family helped me tremendously in the beginning. It allowed me to gain insight into how Canadians live, what they do in their spare time and what motivate them.

My biggest surprise was to learn how much Canadians actually work. Many only have 2-3 weeks

vacation per year and therefore try to use and enjoy their spare time much as possible. They are very active and often plan recreational activities. In my experience, Germans often focus more on their vacation time, which is usually around 6 weeks.

What I found surprising about Canadians is their friendliness. In many ways, communication in Germany is more direct and it took me a while to understand the message behind the words. I can see that Canadians might perceive the direct communi-cation in Germany abrupt and difficult to get used to. I think it is a great example of how we can learn from each other.

Photo credit: Carleton University, Chrisopher Kropp,

Canadian and German schools are both known for providing a high level of education. Are you aware of differences regarding available resources between the two? Is there anything you wish you would have known prior to studying at a Canadian University and how will you benefit from studying in Canada?

In my degree program there are a limited number of students for each course. It is a very un-bureaucratic process to communicate with your professor. The one thing I wish I would have known is how simple it is to transfer courses from one university to another. For example, I would have done basic courses while working and then have them transferred to my current university rather than waiting until I officially started with my current program.

Like most students in my degree program, I come from a different background. To study in an international setting as a foreigner taught me to find unconventional ways to communicate, to listen more carefully and most of all, enabled me to be more sensitive towards other nationalities. Through other students in my course, I’ve learned so much about cultures and their etiquettes that are not as familiar to me such as China, Iran, and others. I find it fascinating and surely will benefit from the experi-ence if I work in an international setting at a later date.

It was also extremely easy to make contact because most of my co-students are not from Ottawa either, which naturally encourages great collaboration and team oriented working.

What about perceived German stereotypes?

Before living in Ottawa, I worked and lived in Kitchener, which has a large German population. I found that many people where happy to speak German or tell me about their family or travels to Germany. On campus, of course, there is a stereo-type of Germans diligently working away and always punctual which is viewed as a highly regarded trait. My overall experience has been very positive.

Lets talk about Canadian stereotypes, did you immerse yourself into the Canadian lifestyle? n other words, did you start to play hockey?

Unfortunately, I’m not a good skater due to the lack of snow and ice in Hamburg but I love the fast pace of hockey and watch the Senators, here in Ottawa, as often as I can, even if they have a bad season. I also find Canadians truly love all kinds of sports. At times, I go and watch a soccer game at a bar and there is always a crowd of people interested in the game, sometimes cheering for both teams, strictly enjoying the game itself. I really think sport unites us. One time, I ran into a gentleman from Japan who did not know where Hamburg was located but when I mentioned the Japanese soccer player Takahara, who played for the HSV (Hamburg’s soccer club), it all became clear to him and we had a really wonderful chat.

Part of your degree is to complete a semester at a native Spanish speaking university. You’ve chosen Buenos Aires, Argentina. Why?

Coming from Europe, I did not necessarily want to study in Spain. I took the opportunity to go back to a place I’ve always wanted to live for quite some time, Buenos Aires. I have relatives in Argentina and hoped that would provide a better insight into the Argentini-an society. While previously visiting Argentina, I was surprised that not everyone here speaks English. As a matter of fact, I recently visited the Province of Misiones and found it easier to communicate in German rather than English. On a bus ride an elderly lady asked me, in Spanish, where I was from. When I answered Germany, she continued the conversa-tion in flawless High German. Also, Argentina has its economic challenges that I find very interesting as it gives me a more practical approach for my chosen BIB program.

What about language integration?

It usually takes me a couple of days to get used to speaking German when going to Germany and the same after coming back to Canada. In fact, after being a few years in Canada, I sometimes find it difficult to articulate myself in certain subjects. For example, I find it much easier to explain my studies in English than German. My family often jokes about that. I think it is a really good challenge to perceive the cultural differences as enrichment, which then allows me to actually feel at home in two countries.

I think I became “European” while living in Canada. Looking at it from a distance, I can see more similar-ities between Europeans than between North Ameri-cans in the same way that I find differences between residents of the Canadian provinces.

Looking at our shared history, I find it is a great opportunity for Europeans to band together and leverage the idea of a union. Living here, it started making sense to me and feels natural to be united in Europe through culture and trade. There will be difficulties but generations of kids being born now, are growing up as Europeans. As such, I find myself not just German, but rather European.

I became Europeanwhile living in Canada

April 2014 | GermanyInCanada