My Travel Diary: From Cincinnati to the Black Forest

Why were you sent to VEGA Grieshaber KG?

I was sent for a colleague exchange. Julian Springmann and I swapped countries for four weeks to see how our respective departments operated in each other's countries. We did this to find out if any of the ideas or methods we learned while we were away could be utilized in our departments back home and vice versa for the department we were visiting.

What do you do at VEGA?

I work in the Information Technology department as a computer support specialist. I ensure that everything technical is operating as intended, and any issues presented to me are solved in a timely and efficient manner. I also assist in maintaining up-to-date records on all computer systems and user configurations. I offer advice on different tech questions that a user may have which could be best practices for using different hardware and software, how to approach spam and phishing emails, and other technical issues.

What was the most exciting or favorite part of your trip outside of work?

I'd have to say visiting the Zugspitze was the most exciting part of my trip. It's reportedly the tallest peak in Germany and sits right on the border of Austria. You can walk from Germany to Austria on the top of the mountain. It's also surprisingly not that cold which came as quite a shock, especially since I had layered up to keep warm. It was a little cloudy at the time but that doesn't mean it took any less of my breath away while I was up there.

Did anything surprise you about Germany?

One thing that surprised me the most was how clean everything is: the air, the ground, and the water. The air felt good to breathe in, and it seemed like everyone was doing their part to keep litter off the ground. They have a “Pfand” system where you can get money back for returning bottles to a convenient store. Because of this, you’ll see just about everybody walking around and picking up bottles to get some money back for various goods. It’s actually pretty genius in my opinion.

This wasn’t my first time, and it definitely won’t be my last. I had been to a lot of cities the last time I was there, so I didn’t make much of a point to stray too far from Schiltach - except for Zugspitze. One expectation I had was I would still be familiar with how the train system worked. I was a little thrown off when I realized I didn’t have a pro guiding me through it like last time. This got me into some trouble, but I survived and made it to Schiltach in the end.

Schiltach-Vorland Park

What was VEGA Grieshaber like compared to VEGA Americas?

There are a lot more moving parts in Germany than in America. As a comparison, the IT department in Germany is around 40 people, whereas in America, there are only 10 of us. They have to troubleshoot around 1,500 users, and we only have to worry about 300 or so. It was a bit overwhelming experiencing how much more had to be done around there compared to here. Some days, the phone would ring non-stop, and other days, there were virtual tickets piled high. VEGA Americas, while also having its fair share of busy moments, has a lot fewer subsidiaries and a fraction to worry about compared to Germany.

What would you recommend to see in Germany for someone going for the first time?

In Germany, probably go visit one of the major cities - Frankfurt, Stuttgart, Munich - and explore. You can get lost so easily, and you’ll always find something that tickles your fancy. After seeing the big cities, visit some of the smaller villages and take note of the small differences: the way the air smells, the sights you’ll see, the people you’ll meet, the differences in dialect. They’re subtle differences, but enough to make you appreciate the culture behind Germany.

Also when you travel by bus or train, make sure you download an app called “DB Navigator.” It will save your life.