14 Takeaways From My Study Abroad Experience In Germany
Yana Immis
When you move abroad, you become a different person. The more you live abroad, the more different you will seem to your friends and relatives once you go back home. Myth or reality? I tested it on myself. And here is what happened.
I moved to Germany from Russia 10 years ago. There are 14 takeaways from my study abroad experience in Germany: things that changed, how I changed & how my relatives and my friends don't recognize me when I go back home to Russia.
Study abroad experience changes you: it changed me
it will change you, trust me!
I finished my Bachelor degree & my Master degrees in Germany, found an internship and then I found a job. Actually, I would say, the job has found me because the immigration office called my employer and told them that I was overqualified and that they should pay me more. So my employer had to raise the salary (I love Germany). Germany protects you when you're a qualified foreigner and I love it.
Frankly speaking, I didn't know if I would want to stay in Germany (you love it and you hate it).
I had to get used to it because if you're coming from a developing country the life in Germany can be a little bit tough for you because of the things not working the same way (well it took me around three years to get accustomed to the way Germans think and behave and about things that are accepted in the country and what is not accepted). It is all about trial and error.
It took me three years to understand that this is the country where I want to live, work and retire one day.
Even if I leave Munich sometimes, since I travel a lot I always smile when I land in Franz Josef Strauss Airport of Munich and I'm happy to be back - this is my town this is my Kreis this is my country now.
1. I became German
I became German literally since I was Russian before and now I only have a German passport. I had to give up my Russian passport and it was a difficult choice to make but I took it for the future of mine. To be able to connect my profession to traveling and to be able to be independent in Europe in terms of future employment I had to make such a sacrifice. I am still a patriot and I love coming back home to my country; my family is in Russia but my heart belongs to Germany.
After I have been living in Germany for 5 years, I did not apply for a permanent residence like any other fellow foreigner. In fact, the immigration office of Munich offered it to me and I politely accepted such a generous offer (why not?!) Foreigners can apply for permanent residence five years after living in Germany (working and studying). I didn’t apply because it was not on my agenda. I only planned to finish my studies and I never thought of staying (the universe had other plans).
After 7 years, I applied for a German passport and successfully received it.
So, I'm German for a year now and it feels good. Why?
There are travel possibilities, an ability to open a company in Germany within one day, voting rights and as well as employment in any part of the world. Life is just so much easier now. The best is that I can visit my Mexican friends in London easily overnight and I can travel to my good friend in the USA overnight as well. Now there are no borders and I feel unstoppable.
2. I became educated
What I love the most about German education is that it's applied science in the majority of the cases. The hands-on approach means you do have books but you have to read them at home and books are not the old school they are coming from the USA which is ahead of the world. You learn from professors by case studies & workshops, as well as by group presentations and projects.
You have to work with different nationalities and it's a lot of fun. It is hard because you have to make yourself learn at home, but during the classes, you apply the knowledge learnt. The information is extremely relevant to the industry you would like to work in and to your future. I did my Bachelor and my Master degrees in Business and Finance and I am currently applying it in my business. That makes me very happy.
3. I became punctual
Some of my friends actually hate me for that. There are some friends of mine that are never on time. I'm always on time now and in fact, I can be on time half an hour before the appointment because I prefer being super early than a little bit late.
4. I became law-abiding
I learned it the hard way that paying the transport tickets, obeying the rules and paying the taxes (including the radio tax which I am not a big fan of) makes sense long term. You actually save if you do pay. Just do it! JUST DO IT! Everybody does it and so should you! Your life is going to be fine.
I am one of those who don't cross the road on the red light at night when there are no cars and there's nobody on the horizon. Yes, it is me now. You can call it GERMANized.
5. I became friendlier and more hungry for networking
Here you are lost in translation (like in the movie) - if you're Russian if you're Chinese if you're Mexican if you're Italian you bond in one classroom because all of you don't know German and all of you do not know the Germans. You kind of bond because the family is far away so the friends that you make during your education are the best network for you and they are going to be your closest friends.
Now all of my friends are across the globe but I know that if I am somehow travelling or passing by I have this great mate out there that I can meet and I could stay at and I really appreciate that.
The network is very important for foreigners. But what you have to understand, is that there is no network for you unless you work for it so speak out, spread the word, do the network, give the business card. If you don't do the network, network it's not going to be working for you.
6. I became more open-minded
I come from a conservative background and a small city. I have never lived abroad for a long period of time before my relocation to study. Yes, I travelled to the USA a little bit as well as for the short trips. Living abroad is a way different experience. I had to learn to respect and understand other cultures and it was not easy.
I learned so much about different cultures because I worked with the Egyptians I studied with the Chinese with the Austrians with the Italians with the Americans - everybody is different!
I didn't know that in India they speak different languages in every corner of the country, I also didn't know that Egypt is in Africa; I, for some reason, was totally wrong with my geography. I learned that it doesn't matter where you come from we're all the same!
I opened my mind to different cultures and I got inspired to learn Arabic now and to travel across the globe. I would never dare to do some things because I lacked knowledge about it like going to Sri Lanka or going to India until I met the people from there.
7. I became an independent planning freak
Living alone & living abroad – is a great experience but you have to do everything on your own and since in Germany the majority of shops close early and in Munich on Sundays, nothing is open you have to do your groceries in advance, you have to do your laundry in advance and you have to plan!
People are busy and here people appreciate work-life balance so if you disturb them - they don't like it, that's why you have to schedule the appointments with them in advance to meet your friends. It's different in my country, so I had to get used to it!
Now, when I come back to Russia, people are like “WHY ARE YOU PLANNING ALL THE TIME?!
We can just talk on the same day and meet! Be spontaneous you know YOLO!” But I have plans!
8. I became a calculated risk-taker
After study abroad experience, which is a really big risk, any other risk afterward is probably minor. You learn to dare and to jump! After the study abroad experience nothing will be as difficult. If it doesn't work out you always have a safety blanket home - you can always come back home.
But if it works out, (and trust me it will) your life will be enriched with all these positive experiences.
9. I became fit
The proximity to the mountains and to the lakes for mountain biking, snowboarding & skiing is something peculiar. I am cycling all the time in the city & I walk all the time. Nobody needs a car unless you want to go to the mountains or to the Euro trip. You can do perfectly fine with public transport which is available 24 hours per day (and it is really clean, safe and reliable).
Everybody here does sport, so people don't ask you if you do sport, they would rather ask you which sport you do because it's normal! If everybody is into sport, then you can figure out the pressure here if you are not into sport. That's how I started as well and I love it! No sport no life!
10. I became well travelled
Open borders in Schengen area and the European Union will give you freedom. I took advantage and travelled to nearly all European countries by car, by plane or by train. We even once did a spontaneous trip where we just literally went to the Central Station and took the first train available with my friend and ended up in Luzern (Switzerland).
If you don't take the train, then the planes are sometimes even cheaper! I took a plane to London for 20$ and I flew to Portugal for 13 Euro once. Low prices & open borders give you many opportunities! Munich has two airports: an International Airport for long-haul flights (I flew to Mexico for 13 and a half hours) and as well the small airport in Füssen for EasyJet, Ryanair and all the affordable flights.
11. I became open to new foods
German cuisine is so much fun. I would like to highlight the following (vegetarians and vegans, please skip to the next point): Schweinshaxe, Sauerkraut, Spiessbraten, Obatzda, Brezn, Germknödel, Kaiserschmarrn, Weißwurst & Apfelstrudel. I started to like beer and the whole German beer garden culture!
12. I became more competitive hence my parent's pride
With the German education, work experience in sales, and the German passport, I pretty much can work in any part of the world right now. The German degree is accepted in the whole world, moreover, work experience from Munich means that you're able to survive the tough working conditions. The doors are open and that is what I really love: study abroad experience for me was a bridge to my happy life.
I stopped receiving money from parents three years into moving to Germany (when I was 21 years old). I started earning at the minimum German salary which was sufficient to live on monthly basis and save some money for travelling already.
This is what I always tell my students: Germany is a great country to break even! You will not carry your loans forever with you.
I became my parents' pride. Initially, they were so afraid to let me go and study on my own far away. Plus it was very very expensive. They didn’t want to let me go because I was a mess. They were sure I would be expelled and they didn’t want to throw money out like that. It was a big risk and they took it.
And look where we are now. My parents are talking to friends and relatives like:
"Oh by the way, my daughter lives in Germany,
in case you didn’t know.” 😊
Everybody is happy and proud. My friends are and have been very supportive all the way.
13. I became a polyglot
I spoke Russian and English before moving to Germany. learned German here while living in Munich and I learned Japanese when I did a gap year in Tokyo. With every single language, it's easier and easier. I'm learning Italian and Spanish for my future travels and I can't stop.
When you are living in the surroundings where everybody is speaking German you don't have a way out. If you address someone in English in Munich, there are chances that people will not understand or would not answer politely to you. You have to speak German here! Everybody here in the immigration office will pretend they don't speak English to motivate you to speak German (or to demotivate you).
If you're here you have to accept the culture of the country. The more appreciation towards the culture and the language you show, the nicer the people here will treat you, experience shows.
The only drawback with the multiple languages would be that I actually barely use Russian and because of that, I developed an accent my friends are laughing about. My written Russian is worse and worse on a weekly basis (and I keep getting negative comments from my mother). Well, the language requires continuous practice which I do not have and it is sad.
14. I became thankful
For the opportunity of living abroad. We never appreciate what we have. I know so much more about Germany and Munich than of my own country and city. I learned to appreciate and cherish the culture, traditions & architecture. I want to acknowledge the place where I live and to appreciate what we have.
