DETAILED TRIP ITINERARY

 Note: The following is a description of the typical program. Last minute schedule changes are occasionally required due to differing circumstances. This itinerary is shown to give the general flavor of the program. Minor changes will probably be made, but they will not alter the general intent of the program. For example, although not shown in the itinerary, the 2005 group of students were treated to a one-day trip to Hamburg, the largest port in Germany and the second largest port in Europe. Final itinerary schedules will be made available shortly before the start of the program next May.

DAY ONE:

ARRIVAL AND ACCOMMODATIONS

The students make their own flight arrangements to get to Germany (most students have found the best air fares to Frankfurt). Once in Germany, the U.F. students are provided with lodging and transportation into Detmold, a city of 70,000 people in Northwest Germany. Each student is assigned to a German host student who provides lodging throughout the entire program. Other accommodations are provided during the third week of the program when the group takes a trip to Berlin, Potsdam, Dessau, and Dresden.

WELCOME RECEPTION

The U.F. students are welcomed to the Fachhochschule Lippe (College of Applied Science), by the head of the Department of Civil Engineering, the program coordinators, the director of the Office of International Relations, professors and German students.

Participants share dinner at a students’ club in the old city of Detmold, namely Strate Brauhaus, sponsored by the German students.

DAY TWO: (class: 4.0 hrs.)

PRESENTATION OF THE PROGRAM

The program coordinators introduce the U.F. students to the Fachhochschule Lippe along with the programs offered by the school. Information regarding the requirements to enroll in the various programs, along with the University’s goals and achievements are outlined for the American students participating in the study abroad program.

INTRODUCTION TO GERMAN HISTORY

The students are given an overview of German history from the time of the Romans to the end of World War II.

GUIDED TOUR OF DETMOLD

Walking tour of Detmold led by German students. Tour includes a discussion of Detmolds’ history along with visits to important city sites such as monuments and theatres.

TOUR OF THE CASTLE OF THE PRINCESS OF LIPPE

Guided tour through the castle that is still used by the royal family for special parties. The castle is located in central Detmold. The tour is provided in that portion of the castle not occupied by the royal family.

DAY THREE: (class: 5.0 hrs., travel: 30.0 min., field/tour: 1.0 hrs.)

INTRODUCTION TO THE POLITICAL, ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL SYSTEMS OF THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF GERMANY

An informative lecture provides a general overview of how the various systems work in Germany. These systems are contrasted with their counterparts in the United States.

INTERCULTURAL AND SOCIAL DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF GERMANY AND UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

An insightful lecture discusses the differences and similarities between German and American cultures and societies. This lecture is given by Dr. Klee, a German professor who has spent several years in the United States.

OPEN AIR MUSEUM

A guide leads a tour through the Open Air Museum in Detmold, the largest of its kind in Europe. This museum depicts the history of German farmhouse construction since the 1200’s. There are more than 100 original, completely furnished structures that have been brought to the museum grounds from various areas of Westphalia. The lifestyles of the Germans and their ancestors are clearly portrayed through these buildings. These structures provide living documentation of the tremendous value of restoration, and reconstruction.

CARRIAGE RIDE TO PADERBORN VILLAGE

The visit to the museum includes an hour-long ride on a horse-drawn carriage to Paderborn village. Lunch is included in one of the old houses in the village, Zum wilden Mann.

THE REDISCOVERY AND APPLICATION OF OLD BUILDING TECHNIQUES

A lecture on rediscovery and the application of old building techniques provides some insight into the exhibits within the open-air museum. The lecture is focused on how buildings were constructed in the past. Information is provided on how families lived and conducted daily routines within these structures.

DAY FOUR: (class: 2.5 hrs., travel: 2.5 hrs., field/tour 3.5 hrs.)

CONSTRUCTION SAFETY IN GERMANY

Lecture on the German approach to construction safety, legal framework, and differences between the German and American approaches.

SITE VISITS AND INTERVIEWS

Several sites in the region are visited that include a large tunnel project and the Autobahn to illustrate the high caliber of engineering and finishes. Construction engineers and supervisory personnel are available to discuss key issues about the project and to answer questions.

A formal lunch is arranged at one of the construction sites featuring traditional Bavarian fare.

DAY FIVE: (class: 3.5 hrs., travel: 2.5 hrs., field/tour: 2.0 hrs.)

COMPARISON OF GERMAN AND AMERICAN INLAND WATERWAYS

This lecture includes an introduction and a discussion of waterways in Germany and a comparison with American approaches.

TRAVEL TO MINDEN

A one-hour bus trip to Minden with accompanying professors.

INFORMATION CENTER OF THE MINDEN WASSER-UND SCHIFFAHRTSAMT

The information center shows the history of waterways, several models and pictures that provide additional insights to the lecture on waterways.

TOUR OF WATERWAY INTERSECTION

Minden features lift locks on the Wiesa River that lifts ships to the elevation of the canal that crosses over the river. The ships cross over the river via an elevated canal. These high quality and expensive installations are necessary because of the restricted space available.

RETURN TO DETMOLD

Return to Detmold via Porta Westphalia by bus. Visit to the Kaiser Wilhelm Monument that is located on a hill which provides a panoramic view of the valley.

DAY SIX: .

THE MARKET PLACES IN LEMGO AND DETMOLD

Free time for shopping and visiting the market places including regional sites such as the Hermann Monument, Extern Rocks, Eagle Institute Berlebeck, Art Kite Museum, Brake Castle and the Weserrenaissance Museum. These interesting sites are either in Detmold or within a few kilometers of Detmold. Several interesting sites are found in Lemgo, where a portion of the Fachhochschule Lippe campus is located. Lemgo is six miles from Detmold.

GERMAN-AMERICAN STUDENT PARTY

Barbeque arrnaged for the German and U.F. students.

DAY SEVEN: (travel: 6.0 hrs., field/tour: 4.0 hrs.)

TRAVEL TO RHINELAND

Travel by bus for about 3 hours to Cologne.

COLOGNE

Lunch in Cologne, the oldest German city. Guided tour of the old city of Cologne that had been virtually destroyed during WWII. Most of the city has been reconstructed. The city has many churches, one of which is the Dome of Cologne Cathedral that for a long time was one of the highest buildings in the world.

BONN

The tour continues to Bonn, the former capital of West Germany. Students visit the House of History of the Federal Republic of Germany that presents German contemporary history from the end of WWII to the present. Displays of original objects of historical interest such as Rosinenbomber der Berliner Luftbrucket (“Raison Bombers”), planes that flew food into Berlin during the 1949 air lift.

RETURN TO DETMOLD

Return to Detmold by bus.

DAY EIGHT: (class: 3.0 hrs., travel: 1.0 hrs., field/tour: 2.0 hrs.)

LECTURE ON WATER AND SEWAGE TREATMENT

Lecture on basics of water and sewage treatment plants and the differences between the German and American approaches.

SITE VISIT TO SEWAGE TREATMENT PLANT

Two-hour guided tour of a sewage treatment plant by some of the German professors along with a lecture on traditional versus ecological construction.

DAY NINE: (class: 1.0 hrs., travel: 3.0 hrs., field/tour: 3.0 hrs.)

TOUR OF THE RUHR

Travel by bus to the Ruhr for 1.5 hours.

GUIDED TOUR OF THE AKADEMIE MONT CERNIS IN HERNE

Large glass complex containing libraries, meeting rooms, advice bureaus, shops and restaurants. It is the largest photovoltaic (PV) solar roof in the world. The entire ecological construction is of wood and

glass--no steel. This extraordinary project was constructed in such a way that the building housed by it is protected against wind and weather under a giant glass roof with an integrated solar power station. With a power output of up to one megawatt, the academy owns the world’s largest photovoltaic system and also provides power to the energy industry.

TOUR OF GERMAN FEDERAL INSTITUTE OF SAFETY IN THE WORKPLACE

Guided tour of exhibition of German standards on safety in the workplace.

RETURN TO DETMOLD

Return by bus

DAY TEN: (class: 6.5 hrs., travel: 45.0 min’s., field/tour: 1.5 hrs.)

GERMAN-AMERICAN CONSTRUCTION CONTRACTS

Discussion of German and American forms of contracts, comparisons and evaluation of each.

LECTURE ON REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS AND PROSPECTS FOR UNIVERSITY GRADUATES IN THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY

Representatives of German contractors gave a lecture that enumerated qualifications required by graduates for employment in the construction industry.

SITE VISITS

Visits to construction sites where low-energy single family homes are built to compare concrete and timber construction.

PRESENTATIONS OF RINKER SCHOOL OF BUILDING CONSTRUCTION AT THE UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA

General introduction of the School of Building Construction (BCN) at the University of Florida for some of the German students.

PRESENTATION OF INTERNATIONAL CONSTRUCTION BUSINESS MANAGEMENT

Broad overview of courses offered in BCN at the University of Florida

DAY ELEVEN: (class: 3.0 hrs., travel: 4.0 hrs., field/tour: 3.0 hrs.)

GERMAN-AMERICAN BUILDING PROJECT WORK

Continuation of comparison of German and American bidding and contracting processes.

EDUCATIONAL CENTER FOR THE SKILLED TRADES IN BRACKWEDE

Visit to the educational center and workshops where construction-related trades are taught to students to become artisans under the watchful eye of craft masters. Students walk through the facilities to observe various individuals as they develop their respective trades.

LECTURE ON THE GERMAN VOCATION TRAINING SYSTEM FOR THE BUILDING PROFESSION

Introduction to the German apprenticeship system for the construction industry.

SITE VISIT IN SOEST

Travel to Soest by bus. Guided tour of the construction of a commercial building site for an American investor dealing with computer-related services. This building was being built on a fast track schedule using pre-cast concrete components.

EVENING:

Barbecue and swimming at a lake near Detmold

DAY TWELVE: (class: 2.0 hrs., travel: 2.0 hrs., field/tour: 2.0 hrs.)

CORPORATE VISIT WITH GOLDBECK BAU

Students traveled to the fabrication facility of Goldbeck Bau where they received an introduction to the company and its history. Following the lecture, a tour was provided through the factory where structural steel members and components are manufactured. Visit to the exhibition area showed how various structural steel systems are combined to make building components.

VISIT TO LUMBER YARD AND BUILDING MATERIALS SUPPLIER

Visit store where all timber products manufactured by the supplier, for use in construction, can be purchased.

DAY THIRTEEN: (class: 1.0 hrs., travel: 6.0 hrs., field/tour: 2.0 hrs.)

VISIT TO FORMER CONCENTRATION CAMP BERGEN-BELSEN .

The history of the Bergen-Belsen camp is presented in the wider context of the National Socialist system of persecution and concentration camps. Most of the exhibits are presented through photographs and heart-wrenching movie clips. The exhibition presents biological sketches of survivors and their lives after the camps, and also provides details on criminal proceedings against the perpetrators of the crimes. The visit ends with a quiet walk through a large area where thousands of Jews were buried.

TRAVEL TO BERLIN

EXPEDITION TO THE BERLIN SUBCULTURE

Arrive in Berlin and go on a guided tour through an area where signs of the subculture of the 1960’s are still evident. The area is mostly inhabited by young people and artists.

NIGHT LIFE!!

There are several local entertainment areas in Hackesche Hofe.

DAY FOURTEEN: (travel: 1.0 hrs., field/tour: 7.0 hrs.)

SIGHTSEEING TOUR OF BERLIN

All-day tour of Berlin, including visits to scenes and buildings of architectural and structural interest such as the Conference Center, the Olympic Stadium, Charlottenburg Castle, the Brandenburg Gate, the Museum Island, the Berlin Cathedral, the Friedrichstadt, the Alexanderplatz, and Checkpoint Charlie.

VISIT TO REICHSTAG BUILDING

This building was designed by Sir Norman Foster and is the seat of the Deutscher Bundestag (German Parliament). Tour of new government buildings at the Spreebogen.

VISIT TO A REVIEW, MUSICAL, OPERA OR CABARET

Visited the Friedrichstadt Palace, the most famous and popular music hall in Berlin, and attended a musical.

DAY FIFTEEN: (travel: 1.0 hrs., field/tour: 3.0 hrs.)

VISIT TO SCANDINAVIAN EMBASSIES

Visits to the embassies of Sweden, Norway and Finland. The architecture was very interesting with buildings made completely of glass and copper in one case, a combination of glass and black marble in another, and mainly wood in the other.

PERSONAL TIME!!

Visit Kurfurstendamm, the main street in former West Berlin.

DAY SIXTEEN: (class: 2.0 hrs., travel: 1.0 hrs., field/tour: 5.5 hrs.)

LECTURE OF URBAN RENEWAL

Lecture tour on urban renewal, the Berlin city model, city renewal and redevelopment.

SITE VISITS

Visit the newly constructed Potsdamer Platz, local train station, Daimler Chrysler Complex with view from Kollhoff Building (95 m. high or 300 feet), and the Sony Center.

Visit Lehrter Bahndorf, the future central train station and information tour to sites dating from the time of the international construction fair of 1987 in the district of Berlin-Kreuzberg covering the topics of ecological and social aspects of urban renewal.

TOUR OF REDEVELOPMENT AREA

Tour by bus of redevelopment area in former East Berlin, Prenzlauer Berg and Hackesche-Hofe in the district of Berlin-Mitte.

TRAVEL TO POTSDAM

Travel by bus to Potsdam, capital of the federal state of Brandenburg.

DAY SEVENTEEN: (travel: 3.0 hrs., field/tour: 5.0 hrs.)

VISIT TO SCHLOB CECILIENHOF

Tour through the castle where the Treaty of Potsdam was signed at the end of WWII. Tour focuses on the actions of Stalin, Churchill, Truman and Roosevelt.

VISIT TO SCHLOB SANSSOUCI

Guided tour through the castle and large park. Much history is revealed about Frederick the Great, the famous monarch who ruled Prussia while spending much of his time at this castle.

TRAVEL TO DESSAU

Arrive in Dessau and visit a music bar and bowling alley.

DAY EIGHTEEN: (class: 1.0 hrs., travel: 3.0 hrs., field/tour: 2.0 hrs.)

BAUHAUS TOUR

Introduction of BauhausBuilding and the Master Houses. Dessau is well known all over the world for its Bauhaus history. Bauhaus represents the design of a building that was fully coherent, not only with respect to the institution’s needs, but also to its design philosophy. Apart from the large atelier and staircase windows, the master houses are particularly renowned for the use of color in their interior design. These designs are partly developed by the mural workshops of the Bauhaus and partly by the artists who lived in the master houses.

Lunch outside at the Komhaus in Dessau, a restaurant building on a site by the Elbe renovated and reopened to the public in 1996.

TRAVEL TO DRESDON

GERMAN-AMERICAN DINNER

Dinner with faculty members from the Fachhochschule Lippe, at the famous Pulverturm an der Frauenkirche.

DAY NINETEEN: (travel: 2.0 hrs., field/tour: 8.0 hrs.)

GUIDED TOUR OF SEMPER OPERA HOUSE

Guided tour of the impressive Semper Opera House, built between 1871 and 1878 according to the plans of Gottfried Semper. The house was completely destroyed in 1945 and reopened in 1985 after extensive reconstruction. It is the only theater in Germany that bears the name of its architect.

BREAKFAST BREAK AT AN OLD RESTAURANT IN A SMALL CASTLE NEAR THE ELBE.

WALKING TOUR TO THE ROYAL PALACE

Walking tour to the Royal Palace through the historical city center of Dresden, Neumarkt, Bruhlsche Terrasse, Altmarkt und Kreuzkerche, and Kathedrale.

VISIT TO DRESDENER SCHLOB

A two hour guided tour is provided of the Royal Palace, on of the most important renaissance buildings on German soil. Around 1530, George the Bearded turned the 13^th century castle-like building into a residential palace in the renaissance style. Throughout the centuries, it was a permanent place of residence of the Wettin electors and later kings. Damaged by fire in 1701, it was rebuilt at the end of the 19^th century, but again destroyed in WWII. The ruins remained for more than 40 years and today the miracle of reconstruction has almost completed its revival.

BOAT TOUR OF ELBE RIVER: LUNCH ABOARD BOAT

VISIT TO FRAUENKIRCHE

The ruin of the Frauekirche in the Neumarkt square was until a few years ago a sobering reminder of the senseless destruction of Dresden at the end of WWII. Today, as the stones of the ruin are slowly pieced back together, it has become a symbol for reconciliation and tolerance, for the reconstruction and growing confidence of the city. It represents the culmination of Baroque Protestant church architecture. Its concave, bell-shaped, apparently unsupported sandstone dome was a sensation of architects of the time and was the widely visible centerpiece of the City silhouette until its destruction in 1945. In a few years time it will once again shine in all its splendor. It is a unique project in construction, architectural, cultural, religious, historical and political aspects.

FREE TIME AND INDIVIDUAL SIGHTSEEING!!

NIGHT CITY TOUR OF DRESDON

Bus tour for about two hours through old Dresden, castles on the Elbe River, Golderner Reiter, Theaterplatz and Zwinerhof.

TRAVEL TO LIEPZIG

Two hour bus ride.

FREE TIME!!

DAY TWENTY: (travel: 6.0 hrs., field/tour: 3.0 hrs.)

CITY TOUR OF WEIMAR

Personal free time to shop in Leipzig and to tour the city. This city was a strong inspiration to Goethe (Germany’s answer to Shakespeare). This is also a city that was caught up in the early years of the Reformation. A visit to churches where Bach played for years are also points of interest.

RETURN TO DETMOLD BY BUS FOR ABOUT SIX HOURS

DAY TWENTY-ONE: (field/tour: 1.5 hrs.)

FREE TIME WITH HOSTS AND FAREWELL DINNER

DAY TWENTY-TWO

DEPARTURE FOR THE UNITED STATES

Individual departures to the United States.

Total Class Time: 36.00 HOURS

Total Travel Time: 45.25 HOURS

 (some instruction takes place during travel)

Total Time for Tours: 55.00 HOURS

Because of the latitude of northern Germany, the days are long (darkness is about 10:00 P.M.)

This gives students considerable time to explore on their own, or with friends, at the end of most days.

TOTAL PROGRAM TIME: 136.25 HOURS

For more information, please contact Dr. Hinze.

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