so far in summer term 2025

This event took us deep into the Black Forest. Starting from Hinterzarten, we hiked 15 km to Himmelreich. Surprised by the amount of snow, we found ourselves in a true winter wonderland. After some really slippery passages, icey bridges and a few falls in the snow, we reached the top of the Hinterwaldkopf and were rewarded with breathtaking views over the valley and an endless blue sky. Then, 5hours later, we treated ourselves to some delicious cake and some hot chocolate. It was a really fun adventure that the participants will never forget.

Can you name the only European country that borders both the Atlantic and Indian Oceans? Or do you know what "weckle" means in the local dialect? These were just some of the questions tackled by ICM mentors and mentees at this week’s pub quiz event! Competing across more than 15 categories, players teamed up to earn points for their groups. While only one team walked away with the prizes, everyone had a reason to celebrate their team spirit, cleverness, and the fun-filled evening they shared!

As the WS 24/25 draws to a close, we came together to celebrate the unforgettable journey of the Intercultural Mentoring Program (ICM). The event was filled with laughter, reflections on the incredible connections made, and the personal growth we've all experienced. We took a moment to cheer on the hard work and dedication of everyone involved—mentors, mentees, and student assistants—who made this semester truly special. Then, the fun continued with a vibrant International Finger Food Buffet, offering everything from German pretzels to spicy Indian samosas, bringing together our diverse cultures in a deliciously fun way. While the mentoring commitments may have ended, the ICM program isn’t slowing down—stay tuned for exciting social events, workshops, and cultural activities ahead!

Together we enjoyed one of the last days of summer and cycled our bikes along the beautiful Opfinger lake to Mundenhof. Our rickety bikes were put to the test on remote paths and sandy grounds. After eleven kilometres and a scenic view of the Black Forest, we reached Mundenhof. There we saw and pet lots of cute animals and almost got attacked by a little monkey. To round off the Tour de Fun, we had some delicious and exotic ice cream mad at Mundenhof and some enriching conversations. Exhausted but happy, we returned back to Freiburg.

While Freiburg was unbearably hot that day, the participants of the summerhike escaped to the cooler weather of the 1284 metre high Schauinsland mountain. After taking the longest cable car to the top, we enjoyed the breathtaking views over Freiburg and the Black Forest. From there we hiked 11 kilometres down the mountain through beautiful nature. We were faced with some unexpectedly steep passages, but they were all worth it for the beautiful surrounding. During the four-hour hike, we had time to connect with each other, share stories and experiences and have an unforgettable adveture together.

After a short rain shower, hoping that the event could take place and that the upcomig thunderstorm would not hit Freiburg, we were rewarded with the bluest sky. We went from lane to lane, getting better at each of the 18. No obstacle was too high, no corner too tight and no hole too hidden for us. Although we had a few difficulties with getting the ball high into the net or through a labyrinth, we all managed to finish. In the end we counted all the points together and crowned our unofficial ICM-Minigolf-Champion. We had a fun afternoon and are now professionals for the next minigolf championship.

Our little trip to Italy started at the Augustinermuseum in Freiburg. We explored the new special exhibition "Bellissimo" and saw some beautiful art from some of the great Italian Renaissance painters. We travelled to different cities such as Rome, Florence and Venice and even learnt more about the techniques used to create these paintings . But it was not just this exhibition that was worth a visit. Later we explored the rest of the museum. while listening to the beatuful organ music from the large instrumnet all around the museum. We ended the day with some italian ice cream and getting to know each other better.

Our grapescape event took us to Kaiserstuhl, one of the warmest places in whole Germany and geologically special so that it is perfectly suited for growing grapes and creating a flourishing wine industry with many vineyards to explore. From rural town Ihringen, we embarked on a walk which took us along the slopes of the area, rewarding us with beautiful views of the area. Later on, we continued our journey toward riverside town Breisach, which offers a history rich in imprints from the many different political belongings that it has historically had. Nowadays, it is a truly European city and we enjoyed its charming character and peaceful environments, as a a stop at the local ice-cream shop cooled us down on this sunny day.

This workshop has taught us what it means to be a mentor to someone, how to guide them in their needs and share the experiences we have already had with our mentees. This could be anything from showing where the canteens are to eating a German Bratwurst together. Throughout the evening, Golnoosh Baghi has provided us with useful tools to become a good mentor and also to deal with cultural difficulties that might arise. But not only did we learn about the programme, we also got to know each other through games and group work to connect with each other and build the strong community we have at ICM.

The workshop facilitated by Carolin Nagy marked an enriching experience in advancing our understandings of intercultural spaces. Being aware of the specificities of such spaces helps us to overcome the challenges that arise in a highly diverse setting, for example different values and norms expressed through verbal and non-verbal communication. But not only did we get insight into how to master the challenges of intercultural environments, we also dived deeper into the pluralities of benefits, including personal development or the creation of a unique group identity, that arise out intercultural spaces where awareness, respect, and inclusivity towards all voices are lived.

Not only did we see the premiere of The Handmaid's Tale at the Freiburg Theatre. It was also a premiere for ICM, as this was the first event there for us. It is safe to say that it was indeed a memorable evening for all the participants. Sitting in the gallery above the stage, we had a great view on the world of Gilead. We were immersed in the dystopian fiction of the protagonist Offred, who finds herself in a world after a nuclear collapse. All the cruelty was underlined by beautiful orchestral music and the talent of so many singers who guided us through the play.

A special event at 'home', as ICM invited us for a painting session in good company in our beautiful backyard at the Student Service Center. A summer afternoon, mixing the scent of flowers and fresh paint. Everyone embraced the uniqueness of this moment and delved into their painting process. A peaceful environment emerged as we learned about ourselves and the art we produced. We concluded the session with a mini-vernissage where each one of us presented our end result to the rest of the group, before happily taking it home to give it a new life!

For the numerous participants, it was time to put on their bowling shoes and grab one of the heavy bowling balls. We were able to play in three groups so that everyone could accept the challenge and hit as many pins as possible. Even though some of the balls were accidently thrown backwards, we were able to score a lot of strikes and improve our game over the two hours. After the first game, we mixed up the groups and got to know and bond with the other participants while competing against each other. It was an evening of fun and laughter, that we won't soon forget.

On a cloudy Saturday afternoon we embarked on our mission to find the golden rays of a setting sun... a mission hard to achieve on that day. A rather gloomy blue did not leave us less inspired to find our spot, enjoy our natural surroundings and enjoy each others company! Sharing food and playing games while the world around us seemingly slowed down made us really embrace this genuinely different perspective of Freiburg.

Even though the weather was not good during our hike to the Ravennaschlucht in the Black Forest, we had a great time exploring the beautiful gorge with its waterfalls and little bridges over the river. True to the motto "there is no bad weather, only bad clothing", the participants walked up to the impressive viaduct equipped with umbrellas and coats. During the lunch break we learned how the famous UNESCO World Heritage glass was made and how the little bird comes out of a Kuckkucks clock. As the wether improved and the sun broke through the clouds we ended the eventful day with some ice cream.

After a long wait since the first part was released, it was finally time for our ICM members to immerse themselves in the science fiction world of Arrakis once again. The movie Dune 2 was screened at the aka-filmclub, located in a large lecture hall at the Institute of Biology. The hall was packed to the rafters with Freiburg’s movie lovers. Thanks to the cinematic audio technology we got drown into the desert and felt as if we were fighting the futuristic battles against the Baron right next to Paul Atreides and the Fremen. It was a night of action, excitement and good company.

FreiBUCH gathered the literature savvy at the first pop-up book fair in Freiburg. After an entertaining opening ceremony, we had the chance to explore the different works of local publishers, attend workshops and discussion rounds, follow the many artpieces in the exhibition hall, and find ourselves attending a concert by the youth-orchestra. All of this happening made the book fair special, as the mix of genres and literary expression melted into a new dynamic. Our group made use of this special environment to reflect on our understandings of literature and what role it plays in the different cultural regions that we have experienced thus far.

ICM goes international! Our daytrip to Basel was a special event, taking us very close to the "Dreiländereck" (the corner of three countries), a historical melting pot that showed itself from its sunniest side. From wandering the shores of the Rhine, part of the cultural heritage and identity of the region, to exploring the bustling center of Basel and arriving in the bohemian and colorful surroundings of the botanical garden, we grasped the diversity of the city. From there, we followed the winding roads of historical Basel, finding its highlight at arguably the nicest vista of the region.
After all these impressions, many snapshots later, and with a smile on our faces, we returned to Freiburg.

We went to Freiburg‘s famous game store Freispiel. As it was the first time being there  for all the participants, the excitemnet was big. The choice of games seems endless when you see all walls packed with hundreds of games. After engaging in merciless card-stealing battels, developing a common fictional language and trying to read the minds oft he team players, some refreshing soda was much needed. It is safe to say, that those who came for a night of laughter, making friends and unforgettable gaming memories were not disappointed.

Recently we met at the old Dreisamstadion to get an insight into Freiburg's competitive and professional sport. We gathered to cheer on SC Freiburg against TSG Hoffenheim on the 18th matchday of the women's soccer Bundesliga.
Unfortunately, the game was physically demanding, and there were a few controversial moments, although the fans were unanimous in their opinions. In the end, Freiburg was defeated 2:4, despite their much stronger performance in the second half.

Today's hike took us from the urban city center of Freiburg toward a place of pilgrimage; St. Ottilien. In our quest to find out more about this place, we moved along the slopes of Schlossberg, appreciating the view of the Dreisam Valley. Here, we rewarded ourselves with a fresh drink on the terrace of the restaurant in the forest. After chatting and resting, we visited the sanctuary. Finally, we decided to complete the round trip by moving downwards to the river, and accompanied by plenty of sun, made it back to the city center.

As the weekly market at "Alter Wiehrebahnhof" wrapped up, we were ready to enter the scenery and play some hard fought table tennis matches. In this bohemian environment, we enjoyed many single and double matches, playing each rally with great determination, focus and fun.
During the breaks there was plenty of time to share a laughter about the previous matches, while locals were strolling by and taking interest in the scenario.
Playing with and against locals widened the cultural scope of this event, and in the end, team ICM turned out not to be a closed society, but a natural element to the stories that are written under the trees at Alter Wiehrebahnhof.

We explored the Augustinermuseum with its captivating exhibitions and architectural charm. The exhibition of Wilhelm Hasemann's "The invention of the Black-Forest" featured a wide range of photographs and sketches capturing traditional costumes, idyllic landscapes of Gutach, and the people of the Black-Forest.
The visit took an extraordinary turn as Georg Schäfer from the Freiburg School of Music played the "Welte-Organ", the museum's largest treasure. The harmonious melodies of this traditional instrument added a unique layer to our experience.

Our trip took us to the beautiful Titisee. During our walk, we experienced almost all seasons, a bit of sun, cloud and, snow.
After some very communicative minutes, we started our photography hour. We tried to take pictures of each other as undetected as possible, which was great fun. At the same time we took beautiful portraits, thanks to our good photographer Farid Ghodrati.
We learned a few mobile photography techniques in a relaxed atmosphere.

photo by: Ahmet Selim Canakci (ICM mentor), Anna-Maria O'Donnell & Farid Ghodrati (ICM mentees)

Narri! Narro! Another culturally unique event for us was the Rose Monday parade in the city center of Freiburg. Not only the parade itself, with well over 100 groups of "Narren" and witches, was very exciting to watch, but also all the hustle and bustle surrounding it.
In addition to listening to German carnival music, we gained an insight into the traditional Fasnet of this region.

photo by: Sejal Jadhav, ICM Mentee

During our visit to the Museum of Modern Art, we were not only able to view various objects and paintings in the special exhibition "Heads - masked, transformed", but also join a masked ball. 

In this sense, our human face reflects our personality, reveals emotions and sensitivities - sometimes even things that we would rather hide. On the other hand, it can be alienated or reshaped by make-up or masks. We moved in this field of tension between showing, hiding and transforming and experienced a fascinating evening with a photo booth, creative masks, make-up, silent disco and free finger food.

photo by: Theofilus Steven Luisan, ICM Mentee

On 1st of Feb,  we gathered in the Aula (KGI) to mark the conclusion of another enriching season of the Intercultural Mentoring Program (ICM) at the University of Freiburg # Service Center Studium for Winter Semester 23/24. It was a time to reflect on the incredible journey we undertook together and on  the diverse experiences shared during the program.

The ICM Program, a microcosm of the diverse cultures within our university, has been a testament to the richness that arises when people from various backgrounds come together.

photo by: Theofilus Steven Luisan, ICM Mentee

To kick off a series of cultural events, we recently visited the Museum of Nature and Mankind. At the museum we discovered a diverse combination of natural and cultural environments. In addition to our tours of the permanent exhibition rooms, we were able to interact with some of the things on display.
A group of us also ended up chatting with a supervisor of the museum to get to know some fun facts about the museum in general. This scenery was quite interesting as the conversation took place in two different languages on opposite sides ​​and some things may have required some translation.

In the spirit of the new year with all its new challenges, we challenged each other and put each other to the test with bouldering.
You're probably wondering who was the fastest or most athletically effective, or who had the most skills and was the bravest?
Regardless of these qualities and the difficulty of each bouldering challenge, we definitely supported and cheered each other on and spent a fun and adventurous afternoon at Freiburg's Blockhaus.

Scene one, take on - action ... Scene twenty-four, take on - action! Oh dear, and already a murder has happened...
On a mystical Wednesday evening, we got together in a small group to set out on the trail of the murderer. In this cinematic murder mystery setting, it can be assumed that not all the actors and participants quite liked the outcome of the movie and opinions differed widely, which is why a murder was committed.
Fortunately, thanks to special teamwork, we were able to track down the murderer and solve the mystery of the evening.

A flash back to the joyous Christmas party hosted by the Intercultural Mentoring Program and the International Club on Dec 14.

The turnout exceeded expectations, fostering a night filled with positive Christmas vibes. Students immersed themselves in crafting, cookie decorating, and singing carols from around the world. The evening became a melting pot of intercultural delight as students passionately performed various songs, creating an international symphony of festive joy. 

Special thanks to all performers who took the stage. Wishing everyone a season filled with cross-cultural warmth! 

The last intercultural training of the year 2023 was all about working successfully in intercultural teams.
In other words, we started by looking at different ideas about dealing with time and sense of space before delving into topics such as hierarchies, leadership and unconscious biases. Through group discussions and a guided presentation, we gained insights and concrete strategies for intercultural collaboration.
Cultural sensitivity and cultural awareness as well as communication, self-competence and trust are decisive factors for a successful collaboration.

During our last visit to the english book club of the Ludwig book store, we discussed or rather talked in depth about "The Buddha in the Attic" written by Julie Otsuka.
It seemed that we were all on the same page and thoroughly enjoyed the book. Although the writing style may have caused some difficulties, it painted a diverse picture of the lives of Japanese picture brides who were promised the American dream (historically post WWI).
As readers, we were captivated by this book and highly recommend it.

ICM's visit to the planetarium was an illuminating experience, quite literally! The show focused on auroras, those mesmerizing polar lights. As the lights dimmed, we were transported to the Arctic, where vibrant hues danced across the sky. It was like attending a cosmic light show, complete with dazzling greens and purples. From magnetic storms to celestial ballets, we left the planetarium with a newfound appreciation for the beauty and science of these celestial light displays. A stellar time was had by all!

photo by: Farid Ghodrati, ICM Mentee

The intercultural training on Nov. 23 was a dynamic exploration of effective cross-cultural communication. Participants engaged in lively discussions and interactive scenarios, adding a playful touch to the learning experience. From decoding gestures to navigating diverse communication styles, the session was both enlightening and entertaining. The training provided practical insights and strategies, empowering participants to navigate intercultural interactions more successfully.

To explore the outskirts of Freiburg a little more, we took the bus towards Mundenhof.
Mundenhof, an animal and nature adventure park, is divided geographically into different continents. We split up into small groups to discover and get to know the different continents and their respective animals.
On our way, we were able to capture one or two pictures and also came across "ganster animals". All in all, it was a very fun and autumnal excursion.

Shortly before Halloween, we met up in the cozy StuSie Lounge to put our German language skills to the test. With our heads stuck together, we puzzled over trivia, which turned out to be a great challenge.
We also had time to discover more games and spend a fun evening together.

The Intercultural Mentoring Program breaks all records: in WS 2023/24 ICM has connected over 300 students with their mentoring partners!

This semester, the Intercultural Mentoring Program (ICM) of the University of Freiburg has reached a new high with over 300 participants. On Wednesday, 18th of Oct., ICM celebrated its new success with its official kick-off. It was an evening filled with positive vibes and enthusiasm: More than 140 mentors and 160 mentees from all departments of the university met in person for the first time.

ICM was at the Stadium! This time not to play any soccer though.

On 13.10.2023 the University of Freiburg was welcoming its students at the SC Freiburg stadium. After the Welcome Talk by our rector, students visited the “Market of Opportunities”, with their family and friends. ICM team was very happy to see and chat with so many of its participants at its booth.

The other day, we met at Seepark to have a summer picnic and enjoy the beautiful weather.
Meanwhile, we played Uno Flip and also tried our hand at the card game Durak. Unfortunately, the rules were a bit more complicated than expected and we should have listened to the rules non-stop like on the radio, but that made it all the more fun!

On a summery day, the mentors of this year’s program met for the first time at the “mentors get-together” on Tuesday, August 15, 2023. It was fantastic to get to meet our committed and enthusiastic mentors. A big thank you to all mentors who participated regardless of the summer break and the current exam preparations!

More about the mentors get-together 2023!

We are very happy to welcome over 140 mentors to the Intercultural Mentoring Program (ICM) in the winter term 23/24. Students from different faculties of the University of Freiburg have joined the pool of mentors, among them many former participants of ICM, offering their previous experience as mentors or mentees.

All united in their goal to help international students get off to the best possible start within a mentoring relationship, ICM mentors support the new comers with their transition and integration into the new academic and social system in Germany and offer mentees a study-related exchange of experience and knowledge. In a one-to-one mentoring relationship or within small groups, the mentees will have the opportunity to explore this new culture.

Have you noticed that apparently the summer returned? To use that appropriately we traveled to Titisee within the Black Forest.

Together we went for a walk around the lake. Afterwards we were able to observe some of the most touristy places of Titisee, while we treated ourselves to an ice cream. It was a great outing!

Strike/ spare/ split - who will achieve the most points? We went to the Bowlingpark in Freiburg and tried to knock down as many pins as possible.

The competition was nice. However, we also got to talk and get to know each other, which made the afternoon even more fun!

On a really hot and sunny day we met in Seepark and spent a really nice afternoon with each other.

We were playing frisbee in the shadow and got to know each other by chatting about our lifes and hobbies. We finished this nice chillout off with some ice cream.

The rainy weather of the last few days could not stop us from hiking up the Schlossberg. Not only did we encounter many snails and steps on our way to the Schlossberg tower, we also discovered a donkey and were able to see a beautiful sunset.

So we were able to take full advantage of the unrainy hours in the evening!

We experienced a very thrilling and action-packed evening the other night when we watched Fight Club together, arguably one of the classic movies.

For this we visited the so-called aka-Filmclub, a student flimclub that offers a varied and sophisticated film program at affordable prices.

Based on our experience, it is a recommendable event for all students.

When living in another country intercultural communication is key. That is why the ICM partnered with Carolin Nagy who sensitized the students towards the work in international working environments.

In the Intercultural Training the participants learned to develop intercultural competences to enhance teamwork and to collaborate with diverse team members. 

Together with the International Club of SwFr we hosted an Indian Night to celebrate and to gain new knowledge about the much diverse and lively country of India.

In a variety of ways, whether with singing, dancing, comedy or a Kahoot quiz, we were treated to a very inspiring evening while tasting different Indian snacks and enjoying an after-party with the most popular hits of India.

Thank you to our Indian ICM mentors who put all their heart and soul into the preparation of this evening and to all those of you who prepared a performance.

What better way is there to celebrate the new season than coming together and spending time with each other?

"Three women" - that's the book by Lisa Taddeo that we read and discussed in the great book club hosted by the book shop "Ludwig".

We were all rather critical of the book and therefore had a lively discussion with new, interesting aspects and ideas about it. 

Thank you to the book shop "Ludwig" for letting us join this great event!

How nice is it to enjoy the warm spring weather, go outside and get our bodies moving?

That’s precisely what we did - we met in Stadtpark and did a little workout together. The goal of the workout was to just feel good and do something good for our bodies, health and mind.

At our face-to-face closing event on 11^th of February 2023, we celebrated another successful semester of ICM.

We would like to thank all mentees and mentors for being part of this kind, supportive and welcoming community.

More about the closing event 2022/23!

At our face-to-face closing event on 11^th of February, we celebrated another successful semester of ICM: More than 150 international students participated as mentees this semester and mastered the challenge of starting their studies in a new country. They were supported by about 150 mentors who were always happy to share their own experiences with their mentee(s) and to offer advice. We would like to thank all mentees and mentors for being part of this kind, supportive and welcoming community.

ICM – a win-win situation for both mentees and mentors

At the closing event, we were especially delighted by the personal reports of two of our longstanding mentors. They shared their personal mentoring experience and emphasized that being a mentor not only is a great way to support newcomers but it also provides so many benefits for mentors themselves. Not to forget it can be a lot of fun!

International Fingerfood Party

After the formal part and a short feedback session we turned our closing event into an international fingerfood party.  Many participants contributed a dish or snack from their home country and we were incredibly impressed by the beautiful and delicious international finger food buffet we created together. Trying those different dishes from all over the world was a real highlight of the event.

Thank you for all the effort you put into this!

There are few things that are more typical of the Baden area and more beloved by the people than "Fasnet". Right before Fasnet finished, we went to the Fasnet museum together.

In the museum, we got to know more about how the holiday arose, which meanings the costumes have and how Fasnet is celebrated in different areas of Germany.

We were given a tour by a great guide and it was really interesting for the international students to immerse in German culture and customs.

"East, West" - that's a collection of short stories by Salman Rushdie that we read and discussed in the great book club hosted by the book shop "Ludwig".

The book club was incredible, we did not only have an interesting discussion about the book but also laughed and chatted a lot with the other participants.

Thank you to the book shop "Ludwig" for letting us join this great event!

The SC Freiburg soccer club was playing against Bochum and won 2-0!

With this win and the goals of Lucas Höler and Michael Gregoritsch, the team of coach Christian Streich now is at fourth place of the German Bundesliga!

We watched the match together on a big screen in a bar.

Isn't it crazy how you might be living in a city for years but still don't know all parts of it?

That's why we played our "discovery game - hidden gems of Freiburg".

With the help of l ittle fun tasks and challenges, we discovered Freiburg's sustainable district Vauban and really had a great time!

On Tuesday, we had a really nice afternoon playing board games!

We were first playing the game "Qwirkle", at which you have to place colourful tiles to collect points. After that, we played the game "Codenames", a game that makes you guess the right cards in teams.

What happens when a top manager from the 1980s, a female pope (who hid her gender for years), a woman from the painting "Dulle Griet" and three other interesting women have dinner?

Well, that's what we found out when we went to the theater play "top girls", written by Caryl Churchill and performed by the student theater group "maniACTs". The play was performed in a really lively and impressive way and the actors were doing a marvellous job!

ICM made use of December's beautiful snowy wheather and did a snow walk!

We walked through the snowy forest, took a photo break at the Wasserschlössle in Wiehre and finished off with a cup of coffee to warm up after the walk.

Brunch time!

We met at a nice little café, talked about daily life and had some really interesting realizations about the differences between our cultures. While talking, we also had some delicious coffee, hot chocolate, bagels and muesli.

Fairy lights, the smell of roasted almonds and mulled wine (or Kinderpunsch) - ICM started the christmas season with a trip to the christmas market in Freiburg.

We started off by getting to know each other over a mug of nice, hot drinks. Later, we got some food and strolled around the market, which is spread all over the city center.

What a nice way to come into the christmas spirit!

We all watched a movie called Glass onion at the CinemaxX which had a nice mystery plot. It was so much fun and entertaining to watch a film together.

Later, we were all sharing our opinions about the movie and comparing it with other detective story plots. In the amidst of hectic study and work schedule, it was relaxing to watch a movie with our fellow mates.

We went to a grappling fight!

Grappling is a kind of material arts at which two people fight against each other and try to collect as many points as possible. We watched the fight of our local team RKG Freiburg against TuS Adelhausen.

Most of us have never been to a grappling fight so although Freiburg lost the fight, it was still exciting to watch and we had a great time!

We went to the Planetarium Freiburg and spent a wonderful evening there, exploring the time travel from the Big Bang to Human life.

The computer graphics used throughout the show was amazing and made us understand the topics easily. While watching the show, each one of us felt like living in a different world. The overall experience was mind-blowing!

A quick trip on the train and ICM has crossed over to Switzerland! We enjoyed the many beautiful pieces at the Basel Kunstmuseum and then took a stroll along the Rhein River. To cool off from the warm day, we finished with gelato before heading back to Freiburg!

We traveled to one of the most beautiful cities in Germany - Konstanz!

We had an amazing experience having lunch together at Lake Constance with a nice cold breeze blowing on us! Later, we saw the rotating Imperia which is situated at the entrance of the harbor of Konstanz. Followed by that, we walked through the streets of Neiderburg which has old, crooked buildings and winding streets where we got some nice books under give away (zu verschenken). We also visited Münster and Altstadt and wrapped the trip with some ice cream!

We went to the labyrinth in Opfingen!

After some time, we found ourselves in the middle of the labyrinth, surrounded by plants. While trying to find our way out, we also searched for the answers of a quiz about climate, which were hidden inside the labyrinth. To cool us down after this fun activity, we had some delicious locally produced ice cream.

A courageous group of ICM students ventured on Germany's most spectacular Rodelbahn: the Hasenhorn Coaster in Todtnau! We zoomed along the track and ended the afternoon with a short walk around the town.

We went to the Museum Natur und Mensch, which is a really modern museum that combines exhibitions about culture and about nature.

It has been a really intersting trip and we especially enjoyed the exhibition about the responsibility museums have when exhibiting cultural artefacts from other countries.

As the summer heats up, ICM stays cool with a trip to Breisach am Rhine! The group strolled through the Altstadt and climbed the hill to the Stephansmünster cathedral. Some gelato and some relaxing by the Rhine River completed the day!

We went bouldering! Bouldering is a really fun sport - one cool thing about it is that everyone can choose climbing routes that match their individual skills.

We found it a really nice challenge to climb the routes and it's been such a great feeling to (after some time) finally succeed and reach the top!

To escape the heat, ICM rode Germany's longest loop cable car 1284 meters up to the top of Schauinsland! We enjoyed wonderful panoramic views, a short hike, and relaxing at the top of the mountain.

Book lovers unite! ICM's first book club took place on Thursday to discuss David Wallace's A Supposedly Fun Thing I 'll Never Do Again. The club reviewed Wallace's essays on what's worth to have on your bucket list and how to deal with shattered dreams. Delicious snacks completed a great discussion!

This ICM group of adventurers climbed 369m to the top of the tallest tower in Baden-Württemberg! It was a very peaceful and beautiful view to see. Of course, the hike finished with a delicious scoop of gelato!

On Tuesday, our outdoor games took place at Seepark!

We played three great games: The numbers game, "Who has the bottle" and a rock-paper-scissors race. As it was nice and sunny, it's been really great to be outside and spend time together!

For the last home match of the season for SC Freiburg, ICM students took to the stadium to cheer for our favorite team! An intense match resulted in a tie 1-1, but a win for ICM with 16 students from around the world participating! Go Freiburg!

At the scavenger hunt, we had so much fun in Freiburg!

We discovered the city and got to know its people by trying to master little challenges. We ate Bretzels, took selfies with soccer fans, ran around the Münster, talked to street artists and more!

On a beautiful and sunny day, ICM held our first excursion with the Semester Ticket program! The group rode the train out to Waldkirch and hiked up to the Kastelburg ruins before touring the Schwarzwald Zoo! We saw owls, wallabies, snakes, tropical birds, and much more!

A big win for Freiburg’s volleyball team!

ICM went to the last home match of FT 1844 Freiburg. The team played really well and managed to win against the clear favourite Karlsruhe (3:1)!
The atmosphere in the sports hall was incredible - what a great experience!

A day full of miniatures! ICM traveled to beautiful Titisee and admired the displays at the Märklin miniature train museum. Afterwards, the group played 18 holes of mini-golf!

We did it! Another successful semester of ICM is in the books. With this semester, we've hit a whopping milestone of 1,000 participants! Thank you to everyone who participated in our closing event and re-registered to become a mentor in this upcoming winter semester.

More about the closing event 2021/22!

At our ICM closing event, we celebrated the success of the more than 160 mentees who were there in winter term 2021/22 and who quickly settled down in Freiburg and had a good start at our university. We also celebrated our more than 130 mentors who put all their energy into sharing their own experiences and who offer advice and support to their mentees in terms of integration and orientation. Many mentors have been mentees before and exactly know what is important when starting your studies. Many have even mentored more than one mentee.

We had a short review about our weekly social events that we offered this winter term in addition to the individual relationships and which helped to grow together into a real ICM community. We were very happy about the lively participation and the great feedback on our numerous events.

ICM – fit during your studies and beyond!

We were particularly pleased about the guest speech by a former participant who is now successful in his professional life. As an ICM alumni he let us know how the ICM helps to develop excellent intercultural skills and communication skills - key qualifications that are needed in your studies, in everyday life, but also in later professional life, especially when it comes to working in intercultural and diverse teams.  If you want to learn more, please check our section ICM alumni.

After the formal part and a feedback round we played our new game Connect Extension and enjoyed this further networking activity.

If you also like to be part of the ICM community, register now as a mentor and benefit from exciting events that we are offering over the course of the summer semester. We look very much forward to seeing you!

Who doesn’t love having brunch with delicious food and great coffee?

On Saturday, we went to a café and had panini, salad, fruit and some coffee. We were having a really nice conversation and time literally flew by!

One thing that we love about the Intercultural Mentoring Program is getting to know people from different countries - people with different points of views, traditions, national dishes, languages and ways of growing up.

At the "countries of ICM" social event we embraced our cultural diversity by discussing, looking at pictures and listening to stories of our home countries.

At our ICM German food tour we got a taste of different kinds of German food. We walked from restaurant to restaurant and bought one typical German dish in each of them. Afterwards, we shared the food and - while eating - we talked about the traditional dishes of our home countries.

At our ICM game afternoon, we played the games “Scattergories”, “Heads Up” and “What do you meme”, which made us laugh, think hard, chit chat, and get creative.

What better way to get your daily dose of inspiration than going to a museum?

That’s what we did - we visited the “Museum für Neue Kunst” and saw pieces of art by August Macke, Otto Dix, Karl Hofer and other artists. Seeing the paintings, sculptures, art installations and movies of the two exhibitions was both an inspiring and calming way to spend the afternoon!

ICM went to Mundenhof!

Mundenhof is Baden-Würrtembergs largest zoo and holds about 30 species in large paddocks. On our trip, we saw camels, buffalos, monkeys, ostriches and - everyone's favourite - llamas. It's been incredible seeing the animals and spending time together!

What says Christmas like holiday baking?!

To get in the festive spirit, ICM hosted a Christmas baking event, where we made German sweets together. While we prepared our treats, we also shared Christmas music from our home countries, learned about German and international Christmas traditions, and overall brought a festive feeling into our homes.

Even the foggy, cold weather couldn't stop us from having a nice time!

We hiked through the area around Schlossberg, survived the stairs to Schlossberg tower and rewarded ourselves with some nice coffee and cake after the hike.

"I really enjoyed the Scavenger hunt because I got to know what people think about Freiburg and I met some nice strangers. This made me love the city even more."

"The scavenger hunt gave us the chance to do really cool, unusual things like taking a selfie with someone who’s wearing a blue type of clothing or finding someone who’s exactly 30 years old! It was so much fun!"

A rainy day - we met infont of the Service Center Studium and took our walk across the city, visiting conceptstores filled with plants, trying to throw cents on the Gewerbebach's crocodile's head and of course finding out what the 'Lange Rote' is. We had a jolly time, which ended with everyone trying their first 'Käsespätzle'.

More about the ICM kick-off 2021/22!

First, we gave useful information about the program and our upcoming trainings, workshops and events, then a former mentor and a former mentee shared their own experiences in a very personal report. Both perspectives showed how important the support of the mentors is and how grateful the mentees are to have a contact person who is available to them with questions concerning studies but also with everyday questions. Many mentors and mentees had already met personally before the kick-off as we match them as early as possible, in many cases before the mentees arrive in Germany.

After the kick-off we played Explore, so that mentors and mentees were able to connect with other students from all faculties and from all over the world. We thank everyone for the great exchange and wish all of our mentors and mentees an enriching and inspiring mentoring relationship this winter term.