Physics lecture hall 1963 (about a year and a half after I graduated.) .
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So what happened here that fateful Friday? I came in early so I could finish writing down an answer to a problem set and turn it in before class. Then three of the guys came over. Two sat next to me on my right, the other sat down on my left, and one of them said, “Hey, Jean, how would you like to go to Germany with us?” I told them they were crazy, go away, I had to finish my homework.
They weren’t as crazy as they sounded. Stanford had recently opened up a campus in Germany so students could take courses there, with Stanford professors, for two quarters and experience a foreign country without interfering with graduation. It wouldn’t cost the students any more than staying in the U.S. except for the trip home.
Stanford was a pioneer in this. Studying abroad is common now, then it was unusual.
It wasn’t as convenient for physics students going their junior year because of all the courses we needed to take. The guys figured if eight of us went we could get permission to study Electricity and Magnetism on our own by reading and doing problems and taking tests from the physics department. Now that was an idea that got my attention. I learn best by independent study, so I was on board.
The trouble is only four of us got selected. So two of the guys decided it wasn’t worth it because of what we would face our senior year, and the other one changed his major to math and was still going. By then I wasn’t about to give up the idea of going to Europe, and I wasn’t about to change my major. I figured I would deal with my senior year when I got to it.
So off we went for our 1960 winter and spring quarters in Germany.
A few details later.
January 29, 2022
” I figured I would deal with my senior year when I got to it. ” !!!
courage even at that young age!
I’m loving this! xoxo
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agree with tammy – and I seem to recall snippets of your educational sojourn – but now we are going to “get the details” and more about how the young “Jean coped”
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memoirs and memories. What a treat, Thanks for yours –and for arousing mine too. That was the winter I decided I would be just fine if I never married, that I was happy with an independent life. Then I met Eric.
“And the rest was history.” 🙂
I dont know what I expected, but this was not it. How great that you went ahead and went.
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Now THIS is a true adventure story. I was in 10th grade that year and so shy and afraid that I would not eat in the cafeteria if my best friend was not in school that day. I am trying to imagine the courage it took to just up and fly away to Germany. We know the happy ending of the story, and now we will know the beginning and how the end came about.
It didn’t take that much courage…we were well looked after. Pampered really. Thinking about it blows my mind now.
Wow! You must have been cutting edge to be one of the few women in that class! Can’t wait to hear more about your adventure.
Yes, in that day and age and environment women were expected to be wives and mothers. If you wanted a professional career you became a nurse, teacher, or librarian. I wanted something different.
What a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity! Good for you!
Thanks!
How exciting!!
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That had to be so exciting for you. An experience of a lifetime. I have a great niece who went to France and my friends son went to Spain. Those are awesome programs.
Kaitlin spent her junior year in St. Andrews, Scotland. 🙂
How exciting that must have been. I look forward to hearing more
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