Johannes Gutenberg-Universität Mainz

when using the phone there are "Vorwahlen" ie codes you type in before you dial the person you are phoning's number, as these significantly reduce phone bills

when you matriculate go to the train station and get a student travel card as this costed 76 euros two years ago and entitled you to free travel (bus and tram and train)upto worms near mainz or in the direction of karlsruhe its well worth it lasts for one semester. Register straight away at the aok

in my home university courses are taught in english and we don't hear or speak the language of instruction as often as could be most beneficial in the host organisation all courses were in german which was difficult at first but once I got used to it I found it much better than being taught in english and generally speeded up language acquisition

Generally it wasnt bad although it varied I chose to move half way through the year into an appartment I found myself as the one I was living in originally was too small and I found it hard to do homework in my room

there was a lovely ice-cream cafe that sold real italian ice-cream and the best cakes I have ever tasted, unfortunately i cannot remember the name on the street it was on but if you went out the main entrance of the university and crossed the road and went straight down the main street until you just pass the asian food shop turn the corner first on the left and you can't miss it. It had a really nice atmosphere and outside as well as inside seating it was lovely in the summer!