Locke in Germany for Congress-Bundestag Youth Exchange for Young Professionals Program

Northern Michigan University alumna Lindsey Locke is one of 65 Americans selected to study and work in Germany for a year as part of the Congress-Bundestag Youth Exchange (CBYX) for Young Professionals program. About 420 U.S. applicants representing a variety of career fields and locations vied for a spot in the prestigious program, now in its 42nd year. Locke graduated last May with a double major in international studies and Spanish.

The Overland Park, Kan. native arrived in Saarbruken, in the western part of Germany about 10 minutes from the France border, in late July. She is in the midst of a two-month intensive German language course-proficiency was not required to apply for the fellowship-before she travels to Cologne in October to study cultural anthropology at the city's flagship university and pursue a job, perhaps related to refugees or children with special needs. Locke will return to the United States in June 2026.

"I've already been able to make so many connections, both with Germans and the other Americans in my program," she said. "Additionally, we've had guest speakers who work in transatlantic relations between our two countries, at the German Embassy and at the U.S. Department of State. Being part of a program funded by the State Department gets your foot in the door for future governmental roles. I wanted to move abroad after college, mainly because I would eventually like to do that kind of work overseas at an embassy or something along that line. This program is giving me a lot of valuable experiences to add to my resume."

Because of her Spanish language skills, Locke had applied for a Fulbright in Colombia, but says she has always been intrigued by Europe. She took a Holocaust history class taught by [NMU Student Success Adviser] Ryan Bond, who had lived in Germany for a while and loved it. He introduced her to the CBYX program and she applied as a potential backup for Colombia. Locke said CBYX ended up being a lot better than the Fulbright would have been, "because they're basically funding my education."

Bond proved to be a valuable resource and mentor for Locke throughout her academic and professional journey. He assisted her in proofreading application essays and offering guidance on points to prioritize within them. When the interview phase resumed on short notice after a delay while Bond was out of town, he sent Locke relevant news articles for background and also assisted with mock interviews upon his return to campus.

"He really prepared me well, just because they asked me so many niche questions about Germany, from the Bundestag and political systems to the country's history and geography," she said. "Ryan also recommended organizations in Germany that I might reach out to for a job. It's up to those of us selected for the program to secure our own employment."

Participants are usually placed with host families throughout Germany, according to a press release. They act as citizen ambassadors of the United States, promoting a positive image of the U.S. abroad, creating lifelong friendships and professional connections to enhance German-American relations. Since Locke started the program with no German language skills, her host mom bought little sticky notes for her to appropriately label everything and remember the words.

"Host families allow you to connect more deeply with the culture and language," Locke added. "Most nights, my host mom and I sit down together for dinner and debrief our day; it's been great. She also invites me to her friendship get-togethers. Being in her social circle a bit allows me to see differences in how friends interact."

In Germany, Locke said friendships often develop slower but tend to be deeper and long-lasting, while in the U.S., people form connections more quickly, though they can be more casual and surface level.

"My teachers describe Germans like a coconut that must be cracked," she said. "I miss my professors at Northern and I loved my time there. The learning style here in Germany is a little different, and I think I took for granted the way that my NMU professors taught a language because they were so clear and concise, and they allowed people with different learning styles to thrive. I really appreciated that."

Locke has taken advantage of the efficient and relatively affordable rail systems and other modes of public transportation to travel most weekends, both solo and with others. Over Labor Day weekend, she visited Switzerland, Italy and France. A group trip to Paris was scheduled a short time later.

CBYX is a reciprocal exchange program of the U.S. Congress and German Bundestag (Parliament). While Locke and other U.S. participants are overseas, 65 German participants are spending a year in the United States, studying at U.S. colleges and working at local businesses while staying with American host families. The program is administered by the U.S. Department of State's Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs through nonprofit implementing partners such as Cultural Vistas. Learn more here.