27 year-old American Erika Roberts has turned her life upside down since moving to Germany for her medical education. Roberts has spent most of her life in the Philadelphia suburbs. In high school, she participated in a two-week academic exchange program, which ignited her desire to live abroad. Today, almost eight years later, she is finishing her residency in dermatology. Instead, she’s able to enjoy the benefits of an affordable education and a dynamic culture.
After completing her first year of college in 2017, Roberts decided to take a risk. She moved to Germany to continue her education. She had enrolled at a Bavarian language school, in Munich, a home base while she got her new life organized. A few short months later, she found herself on a plane to Germany — and prepared to step into the adventure that awaited.
Roberts began her experience by moving into a dormitory within the language school. After less than a year, she had moved into her boyfriend’s family’s home. This setup plunged her into daily domestic life with a family. It allowed her to assimilate very well into her new community right from the start. After about two years of solo living, she moved to an apartment where she shared space with two roommates and lived with them for roughly five years.
Roberts’ accommodations changed as she grew more acclimated to German culture and way of life. Her rent changed over the years too. When she first moved into her flat, she started paying 565 euros ($648) a month in rent. At the time she finally moved out, her rent had shot up to 659 euros ($751). Roberts pays an average of 749 euros ($859) a month on bills, not including rent. This budget allows her to continue living a healthy and active lifestyle.
Perhaps the most surprising thing about Roberts’ journey is how affordable her education was. Because she will be attending medical school in Germany, her tuition will be 85 euros a semester. “Taxpayers make it possible to keep the fees of public universities so low, so I’ll have the chance to properly pay back my share once I am working here,” she explained.
While adjusting to life in Germany has come with its challenges, Roberts has embraced the personal growth that accompanies such a significant change. I can speak from personal experience that the longer I lived in Germany, the more I found myself slowly changing to fit the German culture, she said. I’ve developed, matured, and in many senses come of age here. I think wherever I’ve grown up has affected the person that I’ve become.”
Roberts’ journey wasn’t without challenges. Though she experienced some early pushback from her family when she first talked about going to medical school overseas, My father, ever the pragmatist, said, “If that’s what you really think is the right way to go, then do it. You’ve already tried the conventional path. If you still want to try something else, then fine, but you can try it.” she recounted.
As Roberts reflects upon the transformative experiences that she had while in Germany, deep self-reflection has clearly played a role. “It’s making me confront who I genuinely am outside of what the world around me is telling me I’m supposed to be,” she remarked. In this clip, she reflects on how her childhood and cultural heritage shape the way she approaches life. Drawing from my background in Philadelphia, I wanted to focus on how we celebrate individualism. Just looking at how people live here though, without that edge of trying to do something different at all costs, has really grounded me.
Now as Roberts embarks on her next phase of study with the Schwarzman Scholars program, she appreciates the simple pleasures of her new German lifestyle. She typically spends about 200 euros going out with friends or eating out. This practice further encourages her integration into German culture.
And I don’t attempt to forecast where my future self would be a decade out, she said sure of herself. In the present tense, I’ve made the best decision ever, clearly, because I’m extremely happy here and see myself continuing to be. The belonging and fulfillment she has experienced since arriving in Germany speaks to her journey and transformation since leaving the U.S. to study abroad.
Every year, thousands of young adults looking for adventure and personal development beyond the confines of their home countries find Roberts’ story inspiring. She was a vibrant young adult full of ambitions and ready to experience everything life had to offer. Passion in her voice, she underscored her commitment to seek diversity and community.
Roberts gave us some insight into her journey. Mary understood that her move was not only about education, but a journey of self-discovery and finding her place in this world. “Recognizing the environment that you’re in and the rules that dictate that environment is really essential for understanding how to succeed,” she said.