Hallo! Ich heiße Pravash (That is “My name is Pravash"in German). I am 21 years old. I was born in Jhapa, Nepal, but I have grown up in Des Moines, Iowa, since I was three years old. Some of my favorite areas in Des Moines are Gray’s Lake, Easter Lake, and Ewing Park. Perhaps you can tell that I’m quite the outdoorsy person!
For college, I went to Iowa State University, where I studied Marketing and International Business. From a young age, I have always been drawn to creative expression, such as creative writing, poetry, reading, films, stories, and storytelling. For those same reasons, I am excited to share my stories from Germany with you all in my own unique writing style.
I have wanted to travel the world for as long as I can remember, and I even wrote a blog about my desire to travel. So, when I got the opportunity to study abroad in Germany at the University of Mannheim, I couldn’t pass it up. Here, I will be studying business, international relations, and German. These classes will give me a unique opportunity to further my normal studies while also adding a German perspective. Germans view business quite differently than Americans, and learning to understand their perspective will give me a broader view of what makes a business successful.
This is my first time in Germany and Europe, so I am beyond excited to see all the places, try new foods, learn a new language, meet new people, challenge myself to adapt to a new culture, and journal about it all to share with you. All of this is the start of something new for me, and as German poet Hermann Hesse once said, “Und jedem Anfang wohnt ein Zauber inne” (And in every beginning, dwells a magic). For all of you starting your new school year, remember that within it also lies wonder and magic.
Want to know more about how you can study or intern abroad when you are a college student? The Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship Program is a program of the U.S. Department of State with funding provided by the U.S. Government and supported in its implementation by the Institute of International Education (IIE). Learn more about the scholarship by visiting www.gilmanscholarship.org.
