Experience report: Studying in Germany

In 2016, I felt restless at my university in New Zealand, and disenchanted with my degree. I decided to apply for an exchange scholarship to China, but in the process of doing so, I discovered a scholarship to Norway and was a lucky successful applicant. I completed a winter semester in Bergen, on the beautiful and rugged West Coast of Norway. The people I met, and perspective I gained rocked my world, for lack for a better description. My two best friends there, Katrin and Marvin, were German, and it was love at first sound when I heard them converse in their native language. Then and there I decided I wanted to live in Germany and it became my main goal in life to be fluent in German. In the summer semester of 2017 I went on exchange to Tübingen, a small but stunning student town in Southern Germany. 

This was my second exchange, so I felt less need to be organised as I had been through the exchange process before. I am also a British Citizen, so not requiring a visa gave me immense flexibility.

Exchange taught me how important friendships and personal connections are. The first couple of weeks I had made no close friends or connected with anyone on a deep level and I was struggling because I ached for that connection. A couple of weeks into exchange a friend hosted a dinner where a boy from England had just returned back to exchange. He became my best friend on exchange and if it wasn’t for him and another boy called Zac my experience here would be totally different. The conversations I had with them, the understanding we shared as people and the fun we had on nights will stay with me for a long time. 

I learnt that you can often get a good intuition about “your people” very early on. If you are not fascinated by the company you keep, find new people. I strongly believe you become like those you surround yourself with, so choose interesting, accepting, kind and passionate people. In saying that, I now try to connect with as many people as possible. I venture to have coffee with as many new minds and different personalities. They teach you so much and even if you don’t get on, the encounter will broaden your mind which is never a bad thing. 

To be honest doing a study abroad gives you insight into a culture but you are never fully immersed. So would be an injustice trying to say “I know” German culture because I really don’t. Besides, what other people say about Germany such as the big stereotype “bureaucracy” I’ve always managed to get lucky with. One time I escaped the bureaucracy was when I got ex-matriculated from the university for not paying my fees. I simply had to attend a meeting and explaining my situation and then was enrolled again. Even if bureaucracy is still a big thing in Germany I think lucky escapes like mine and not suffering from the infamous German bureaucracy has much increased my love for the country. 

One of the highlights of Tübingen and Germany in general was being able to enjoy eating out. Due to the expense of New Zealand’s “wining and dining” culture, I’ve never previously been able to afford it. In Tübingen I eat out all the time and meet friends at cafes all the time, because it’s affordable. 

I love the simplicity of food here. Very often I would go out to one of my favourite cafes, called “Café Im Hirsch” and order the 5 euro baguette stuffed with lettuce tomato and feta or I would get a falafel “Döner” on the run while walking to university. In New Zealand food is always so fancy. A baguette would be wood fired, and served with avocado mouse and whipped feta, and a micro green salad.. and because of the “fancy” wording they would add an extra 10 dollars on. I love that the descriptions here match the meal. It’s just good, simple and honest food. 

I can speak hardly any German, despite it being one of my biggest dreams. However, after a few drinks I somehow believe and act as if I am fluent. In reality however, I sit at an A1 level. To be honest I have never been particularly interested in languages. German is literally the only language that I find beautiful and intriguing. I just think it is SO cool! For example: 

1. I love how you have just the word “Ohrwurm” for when a song is stuck in your head when in English we have to say a whole sentence for this problem. 

2. I love that “allein” (alone) is a combination of the words “all” and one” (alles und ein). 

3. I loooove how you pronounce “Organisation” and “Polizei”. 

To me, the language sounds so beautiful. Many people have told me to take a language course but I am determined and just would recommend to learn it naturally through immersion. What is quite helpful is that I watch German films such as Deutschland 83 and Generation War and listen to German Radio to try immerse myself and listen to the pronunciation and slang.  Actually the best thing I ever did to improve on my language was to hitchhike around Germany and Switzerland. I was often picked up by drivers who had no English skills, and this forced me to speak German. It’s amazing how you can string sentences together and communicate when you simply have no other option.