I grew up in a pretty small, rural community, and while I love the quiet and space, it can feel isolating as an LGBTQ+ person. Lately I’ve been thinking about education as a way to experience a more openly inclusive environment.
I’ve been reading about German LGBTQ+ friendly universities and how some cities there balance strong queer communities with access to nature and quieter lifestyles, which sounds appealing compared to big, overwhelming metros.
Has anyone here gone from rural life to studying abroad (or in a more accepting city)? How did you handle the culture shift, and did you ever miss the rural pace of life?
I grew up in south Alabama. Studied in Vermont, Quebec, and Germany (Berlin). Have lived abroad for years in both cities and rural areas. My love for the countryside has never changed. Cities are fun, great places to work, study, or visit but nothing beats rural life.
I haven't, but I have studied in Germany. Student life and LGBT-friendliness aren't the same as in the US. These ratings seem somewhat dubious to me. I wouldn't put a ton of stock in them.
Studying in a city like Berlin or Cologne (Köln) with a substantial LGBT population is generally going to be better than, say, a small town in the former East Germany in terms of gay life. That said, you're not going to find any school there like the extreme anti-LGBT religious universities in America, or even public universities in the most anti-LGBT states. The university I attended is on the list in the middle, which I think is reasonable. It was not anti-gay in any way, but there were not many other gay students around.
Most German universities don't have US-style campuses, dormitories, sports, or clubs that create the same kind of strong campus student life. It's more like how community colleges are in the US where the focus is on education, with most students' lives based off campus. Some do have stronger student life though.
Studying in Germany can be very affordable though, even compared to studying in the US. Foreign students aren't charged higher tuition like in the US and many other countries. Many German universities do participate in US federal student loan programs too, which can help fund an education where it can be harder to work due to visa restrictions.
I grew up in a very conservative farming community in rural South Africa. I won a scholarship to the University of Cambridge in the UK - one of the most queer-friendly environments I’ve ever encountered. This experience helped me to accept myself and to tap into gay networks. After graduating, I spent some time in France before settling in Switzerland. My husband is Swiss and also grew up on a dairy farm; we live in a city but visit his hometown regularly.
If you’re considering escaping via education, choose wisely. I find that Germany (at least the western part) is generally quite gay-friendly, but make sure to attend a university with plenty of LGBTQ+ organisations in a city that is explicitly welcoming. Berlin immediately comes to mind, and Cologne is also very gay-friendly. Other cities may feel more mainstream.
I didn’t do study abroad but i grew up in rural Florida and after working in the big cities in the US I now live in Spain w my partner. It’s not the same as Germany ofc but I’ve found the transition easier than I expected.