First Encounters: Menschen begegnen sich is a part of the Year of German-American Friendship initiative started in 2018/19. The initiative, with its motto, “Wunderbar Together,” aims to encourage cultural exchange and encounter. Beginning October 3, 2018, and lasting through the end of 2019, the Year of German-American Friendship will feature over 1,000 events and exhibitions across the United States in the fields of economics, politics, education, culture, and science. Last summer, Dr. Petra Ehrenbrink traveled with four students to Chicago for a summit on sustainability as part of this initiative. One of the overriding goals is to forge a connection between people throughout the country, not just in the big cities but also in the rural regions of the USA, says the German Ambassador Emily Haber. It is a comprehensive and collaborative initiative of the German Federal Foreign Office, the Goethe-Institute, and the Federation of German Industries (BDI), highlighting the decades-long relationship between the two countries, grounded in common values, interests, and goals.