Junior Year in Munich
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Self-care help and resources

Finding your way at the LMU and in Munich

Use these resources to make the most of your time in Munich.

  • Alcohol awareness

    Use good judgment in consuming beer or alcoholic beverages. Remember the beer is stronger than most American beer and served in larger quantities and cheap. Schnapps, too, is plentiful. It is, therefore, very important to eat a good hearty meal before visiting the beer tents at festivals, the beer gardens, parties, etc. If you drink alcohol, you might consider alternating alcoholic with non-alcoholic beverages to reduce your alcohol consumption. Please do not over-indulge as this can put your personal health and safety at great risk and could lead to being expelled from the JYM program. Never expect or pressure another person to consume alcoholic beverages.

    While alcohol is socially acceptable, public drunkenness is frowned upon in Germany. You should not assume that all Germans consume alcohol. This is not the case. For many Germans, however, alcohol is a part of everyday life, and you will find they like to spend summer afternoons at a Biergarten or winter evenings at a Glühwein stand at a holiday market. In general, overconsumption is not part of this kind of gathering. While it is not illegal to consume alcoholic beverages in public in Germany, it is illegal to be drunk in public. It is both dangerous and illegal to ride a bicycle while intoxicated. The penalties for driving a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol are very severe in Germany!

    As you think about whether and how you want to consume alcohol abroad, we encourage you to watch this University of Minnesota video.

     

  • Clubs and initiatives

    See a list of student associations and initiatives at LMU.

  • Diet

    In Munich, you can find ethnic cuisines from around the world. The number of vegan and vegetarian cafés and restaurants in Munich is growing steadily, with good options also in most grocery stores and in Bioläden such as Altnatura and VollCorner. The latter will be more expensive, however, so you might want to start by seeing what is available at Aldi.

    Gluten free shops

    echt jetzt (100% glutenfrei bakery)
    Barer Str. 48, in Maxvorstadt Near the Alte Pinakothek

    Isabella Glutenfreie Pâtisserie
    Hackenstraße 4, near Sendlinger Tor

  • Disability services

    Visit Munich Student Union resources for more information.

  • Diversity training and support
  • Emergency

    Fire and medical: 112

    Police: 110

    Hotlines

  • Medical

     

    Hospital

    Klinikum Schwabing, Kölner Platz 1: 089-33040302

    The Schwabinger Krankenhaus is the hospital nearest the Studentenstadt (five to ten min. taxi ride) and to OlyDorf (two trams stops) located at Kölner Platz 1 (near U 3 Scheidplatz). From StuStad, it's best to take a taxi from the taxi stand by the U-Bahn/Bushaltestelle "Studentenstadt." Save your receipt from the taxi ride. It can be turned into the TK insurance company for 100 % reimbursement.

    Urgent care

    KVB-Bereitschaftspraxis Elisenhof, Prielmayerstraße 3: 089-116 or 089-117

    (4. Stock) near Hauptbahnhof. Open later afternoons, evenings and weekends for non-emergencies. After-hours urgent care available. For office hours, visit KVB Bereitschaftspraxis.

    Emergency

    Ärztlicher Notdienst is an emergency medical service available to make house calls in the middle of the night: 089-555566 or 01805-191212 if you're unable to get to the hospital. When you call, tell the person on the phone your name, address, phone number, age and describe your symptoms.

    Dental emergencies: Weekdays

    Zahnklinik der Universität: 089-51600

    For all dental emergencies. No appointment necessary (hours: Öffnungszeiten).

    Goethestr. 70
    Directions: Anreis

    Dental emergencies: After hours

    There are always a few dentists throughout the city available on rotation for emergency services during the night and weekends. To find a location call: Not- und Bereitschaftsdienst der Münchner Kassenzahnärzte, 089-7233093.

    Or visit notdienst-zahn.de for current emergency dental care near you. Enter your Postleitzahl of current location (StuStadt is 80805, Olydorf is 80809 ).

  • Personal care

    In Germany, personal care products are sold at the Drogerie, not at the Apotheke, which is a pharmacy. If you want vitamins, your best choice is a Reformhaus.

    Products for Black hair and skin are available but are generally more expensive in the United States. So, you might want to travel to Munich with a good supply of your favorites. Afroshops in Munich include:

  • Religious groups at LMU
  • Safety in Germany

    Munich is rated one of the safest big cities in Europe. As with any large city, however, there are things to beware of and keep in mind:

    • Beware of pickpocketing, especially in large crowds, crowded U-Bahns and during Oktoberfest or other festivals.
    • Women should be aware of their surroundings in isolated spaces but also in crowds any unwanted approaches or touch should immediately be rejected by shouting loudly "LASS MICH IN RUHE!" Don't hesitate to ask for assistance of bystanders and call the police 110 immediately.
    • Avoid walking alone at night in the English Garden any parks or other relatively isolated areas.
    • Call the Heimweg Telefon if you are feeling unsafe on your way home at night. This hotline, run by volunteers, is a way to feel safer when making your way back from a night out. You will provide them with your location and your destination and the volunteers will stay on the call with you until you have safely arrived. Please refer to heimwegtelefon.net for further information.

    Safety resources

    Sexual assault and bystander intervention

  • Sexual health

    When living in Germany, you may find attitudes towards sex and relationships that differ from those you are familiar with at home. You may encounter this among the German and international students you meet as well as among others in the program. Whether you are sexually active or not, it is important to think about and reflect on sexual health and behavior, to be aware of individual and cultural differences and to take proactive safety steps while studying abroad.

    Before you travel to Germany, we encourage you to protect your health and that of others by visiting a doctor, scheduling a sexual health check-up, and filling necessary contraceptive prescriptions.

    Cultural differences

    • In general, Germans have a more liberal and open attitude towards sex than many cultures, including in the U.S. Sex is discussed openly; sex education is a part of the school curriculum starting in elementary school, and children's theater productions regularly deal with topics related to sex and sexuality. Many Germans view sexual exploration as part of growing up and finding one's way to adulthood. Often, German teenagers have the approval of their parents to spend the night with their partners.
    • Together, German attitudes towards sex and mandatory health insurance for all make it fairly easy for romantic couples to live together and have children without being married.
    • Marriage and partnerships are legal for same-sex couples in Germany. Although same-sex marriage was legalized in 2017, same-sex couples continue to face hurdles if they want to adopt children.

    Consent

    The concept of consent may be different among the people you encounter during your time in Europe. U.S. college and university students learn that consent means a very clear 'yes.' In Germany, consent may be commonly implied when you agree to go home with someone and engage in an act of a sexual nature. While you can, of course, say no at any point in a sexual encounter, young Germans might find it odd to go home with someone they just met at a bar who doesn't intend to have sex. Being conscious of these intercultural differences, as well as explicitly communicating your own intentions, is important when navigating sexual relationships abroad.

    Safety tips for sexual health

    JYM recommends that students utilize the following safety measures while in our program and while traveling independently in Europe. These tips are provided for proactive purposes only, and it is JYM policy that the victim/survivor never be blamed for their choices or actions surrounding sexual violence. No matter the circumstance, perpetrators are to blame for sexual violence and it is never the victim/survivor's fault.

    • Have an open and direct discussion about your intentions and limits.
    • If you're not sure what the other person wants, you must ask. Don't guess and risk harming the other person or committing a crime.
    • Don't go out alone. Pairs or small groups can watch out for one another.
    • Monitor your consumption of alcohol and don't drink so much that your judgment is compromised.
    • Before going out, know how you will get home.
    • Travel home with your friends when possible, and don't leave a friend behind.
    • Watch your drink and do not accept a drink from a stranger. If someone wants to buy you a drink, take it directly from the bartender.
    • If you see a friend in a compromising situation, help them if you can do so safely, or ask for assistance from a bartender or the police.

    See the following for tips on bystander intervention:

  • Sexual health: Contraception resources

    Contraception

    • Condoms are sold at all convenience and grocery stores. Germans and many other international students will expect condoms to be used to prevent STDs, even if other contraception is used for birth control. It is a good idea to have condoms on hand if you will be sexually active.
    • The 'morning after pill' (die Pille Danach) and pregnancy tests are available at pharmacies. These items are frequently behind the counter, but do not be embarrassed to ask for them!
    • We recommend that you travel with your prescription contraception from home, especially for the first three months that you'll be in Germany, because you will need a prescription from a German doctor to have prescriptions filled in Germany.

    Recommended gynecologists

    Frauenarztpraxis Dr. Thomas Villinger
    Sendlingertorplatz 10
    Phone: 089-55-56-55

    Frauenarzt: Dr. Herold bei Praxis für Frauengesundheit an der Münchner Freiheit
    Leopoldstraße 71, 80802 München
    Phone: 089-34-75-34

    STD testing

    Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and diseases (STDs) are viewed as treatable conditions in Germany and are generally not seen as shameful. Tests for STDs and STIs, including HIV tests, as well as sexual counseling, are available at Checkpoint München.

  • Support groups
  • U.S. Consulate General in Munich

    Emergency and special consular services

    U.S. Embassy & Consulates in Germany: For American citizens deals with cases such as child emergencies, hospitalization, arrest and death of American citizens.

    Phone: 089-288-8580 (for emergencies only). This phone line is only for the aforementioned and similar cases. Lost, stolen or expired passports or appointment requests do not constitute emergencies. See hours, address and more.

    For all other cases, contact consmunich@state.gov.

    Emergency after hours

    From Germany: 089-2888-0 from within Germany.

    From the U.S.: 011-49-892-8880 (ask to be connected to the consulate duty officer).

For questions or to add a recommendation, contact jym@wayne.edu.