By Hanna Hill, Professional Master’s student

Hanna Hill was one of 15 students who participated in the Globalizing American Sports study-abroad program from the University of Florida College of Journalism and Communications, held Nov. 1-6, 2023 in Frankfurt, Germany. To read other stories from the program, visit here.

I have always been passionate about sports, and I was fortunate enough to be a part of the Globalizing American Sports study abroad course with the University of Florida College of Journalism and Communications. For the class, 15 students ventured out to Frankfurt, Germany, to create unique stories relating to the NFL international games, especially the Kansas City Chiefs vs Miami Dolphins game.

I had never been to Europe before. In fact, I had been out of the country only once, on a cruise with Mexican stops. When I received my acceptance into the program, I did not quite know what to expect from the program. But I knew I would be getting the experience of a lifetime. Despite the trip being short, it was packed with excursions that I will remember and cherish.

One of my favorites was visiting Heidelberg. As a class, we toured the beautiful town and the local castle. Seeing such a famous landmark was unforgettable, and the scenery was magnificent.

My time in Frankfurt for the NFL game made my love for the game stronger than it’s ever been before. It was a surreal experience to see how many European fans the NFL has. I was fortunate enough to have a ticket to the Chiefs vs Dolphins game and seeing how passionate European fans are for the game. It is very interesting to witness how much they love the game despite it not being as mainstream as it is in the U.S.

The excitement for the game started the day before kick-off as thousands of fans gathered to show their support for their favorite teams. This showed me that American football is growing around Europe.

Adaptation is Key

Throughout my time in Germany, I learned how to adapt. I had to change the direction of my project at the last minute. Despite it being challenging and stressful, I adapted successfully to create the best content I could with the information I had.

I wish I would’ve known how different the culture for stores were in Europe compared to the U.S.. In the U.S., store managers and workers are willing to talk to you about their store, etc. In Germany, it was very hard to get workers to share. If I would’ve known that before my pitch, I would’ve picked a different topic/approach. However, I think my challenge made me a stronger journalist. Journalism is all about adapting to change. That change may be overwhelming, but the result is always worth it.

Before the trip, I didn’t know what to expect. I’ve never been out of the country without the comfort of close friends and family. From a  football perspective, I was surprised to see how many fans there were from Europe. I thought it was very interesting to know that they love the game.

NFL in Europe

Going to an NFL game in Europe is something I recommend that any NFL fan experience once, even if you’re not a fan of either team playing there. The minute I walked on the stadiums grounds, I was filled with excitement. Seeing thousands of football fans wearing their favorite football team’s jersey was fulfilling.  One of my favorite moments during the game was seeing Europeans wearing Tampa Bay Buccaneers jerseys. Seeing my hometown team being represented was an amazing experience, so I instantly texted my family back home.

Once the bus took us to the Frankfurt airport, I took time to reflect on the journey my class and I had been a part of. This experience helped me navigate what it is like to cover a sporting event in a different country, and it helped prepare me for what my future career could potentially be like.

Back in the U.S., I had a lot to reflect on. During my time abroad one of my classmates said the people you travel with are what make your time abroad special. I couldn’t agree with her more. Everyone in my class was a delight to be around. Every time we were all together, I was smiling, laughing, and overall having the best time.

Traveling abroad was something I always dreamed of and I’m so thankful that Dr. Roxane Coche created this opportunity to undergraduate and graduate students. This experience is something I will remember forever.

Posted: December 18, 2023
Category: CJC in Frankfurt, Sports, Study Abroad Projects
Tagged as: Globalizing American Sports, sports, Sports@CJC, Study Abroad, Study Abroad experience