Großostheim (or Grossostheim), Germany
MENOMONIE (November 4, 2012) - Growing up in Grossostheim, Germany,
Jan Andre Millemann dreamed of one day traveling to the United States.
He would watch American movies about college and college athletes and imagine what it would be like to travel across the ocean and live the life portrayed in these movies. Now, years later, he has achieved his goal, playing defensive end on the UW-Stout football team.
Technically a freshman, Millemann is definitely not the average Stout first year student. First off, he has completed his undergraduate studies in Germany and has a degree in electrical engineering, which he puts to use working for Omnical, a company that builds power plants, as a project manager.
In addition to this, Millemann is enrolled at the University of Applied Sciences- Mittelhessen in a program known as Studium Plus.
Studium Plus allows Millemann to work and attend school at the same time, spending Monday through Wednesday at work and Thursday through Saturday attending classes.
Being a part of Studium Plus, combined with a scholarship through the Hessen-Wisconsin Exchange, made it possible for Millemann to come to Stout and study for the semester.
The Hessen-Wisconsin Exchange gives students the opportunity to select which school in the UW system they wish to attend. For Millemann, it came down to three schools, with Stout getting the nod.
“I planned on playing football,” he said. “I decided on Stout because the football team seemed to be better.”
Arriving in the United States on Aug. 16, Millemann was just in time for the beginning of the football season. Prior to joining the Blue Devils, he had played one year for the Giessen Golden Dragons, a club team in Germany.
Growing up, Millemann played soccer and handball, lifted weights, and even did some Muy Thai boxing. Then a friend invited him to come to a Golden Dragon football practice one day.
Millemann went to practice and discovered that he enjoyed football. Plus, at 6-foot, 8-inches and 258 pounds, his physical build allowed him to be successful as a defensive lineman.
“My favorite part is being aggressive for the short bursts,” he said. “But I really didn't know what to expect (as far as playing football in America).”
In Germany, sports and school are not combined the way they are in the U.S. If a student wishes to play a sport, they must join a club team and do it on their own time. The fact that they are intertwined played a big role in Millemann deciding to play football in America.
“I'm an athlete at heart,” he said. “I like to study and here it is very easy to balance school and football.”
The way classes are taught is also something that Millemann has had to adjust to in the United States. In Germany, students are given all the material at the beginning of the semester and they study it for one big test at the end of the semester.
“There is no homework (in Germany),” said Millemann.
At Stout, Milleman is studying courses in supply chain management and strategic management. Because of technical jargon, one of the more challenging aspects of his classes is the assigned reading.
“I have to read lots of articles, (many) taken from the Wall Street Journal,” Millemann said. “I have to look up words to make sure I am understanding the material.”
Another big difference is how informal classes are in the U.S. As a student in Germany, students are expected to address professors by their proper titles and fraternization outside of the classroom between teachers and students is unheard of.
Entering study in the United States though, Millemann came in with an open mind.
“I wanted to make my own perception,” he said.
Despite having to make adjustments to daily homework and football practice, Milleman has still found some time to travel outside of Menomonie and see more of the United States.
Recently, his father, Herbert, and his sister, Jolin, came to visit. The trio rented a car and traveled to Chicago. For Milleman, the most memorable part of the weekend happened on the return trip to Menomonie.
“We hit a deer on the way back from Chicago,” said Millemann. “We couldn't find a carwash and (part of) the deer was stuck under the car. It was a real American experience.”
Over Thanksgiving, he plans on participating in another American experience involving deer. Teammate and fellow defensive lineman
John Van Gundy has invited Milleman to Tomah to go deer hunting.
Due to strict gun control laws in Germany, hunting is not a common activity for many Germans.
“I am excited (to go hunting),” Millemamn said. “And then John is coming to visit in January.”
Thanksgiving marks the start of a very busy couple of months for Millemann. In addition to upcoming finals at Stout, he also is preparing for his return trip to Germany on Dec. 23.
When he gets back to Germany, Millemann will be faced with the task of completing two thesis papers, one for his job and the other for school.
“This is because of the (Studium Plus) program at the university,” he said. “It's not the normal way German students go about it.”
He plans on continuing his football career.
“It depends on my career due to the time issues, but I would love to continue playing,” he said.
However, returning to Germany is still a long way off and Millemamn plans to enjoy the rest of his time in America.
One of the best parts about studying abroad has been the people he has come in contact with, Millemamn said.
“I'm thankful for everything the coaches, the team, the teachers and the international office have done,” said Millemann. “With their support, it has been much easier to acclimate to the culture.”
Milleman said one of the things that has surprised him the most about the United States is how friendly Americans can be.
“If you are on a corner looking at a map, someone will ask if you need help,” Millemann said.
In May, Millemann will complete his thesis and be finished with his formal schooling.
He plans on continuing to travel and is open to the prospect of living outside of Germany.
“I'd like to live abroad until about age 40-45,” he said. “After that it is more practical and convenient to live in Germany (because of state-funded health care and family).”
As the end of his time in America approaches, Millemann will look back with fond memories of the people he met and the experience he had, especially his time with the football team.
“The football team would compare to my family,” he said. “I left my family behind, but now the team is like my family.”
