The Germanic Languages Department provided me with an experience that I did not expect to get as a transfer student to a large university. I immediately felt at home thanks to the warm environment of this incredibly close knit and welcoming department. As a double major in German and Anthropology, I especially enjoyed taking German cultural classes taught by professors that encouraged meaningful class discussions about very relevant topics. The German Department at UCLA enlivened my passion for exposing people to new cultures and prepared me for my work as an educator at the Skirball Cultural Center.