Time to say goodbye

Who turned the clock? Yes, it's already so late that I slowly have to say goodbye to Hanoi and all the amazing people I met here. I think we all know that moment on vacation when we initially thought there's still so much time left and suddenly the vacation is over in no time. It's quite similar for me right now. About five months ago, I landed in the Vietnamese capital with my big backpack and now I have to pack it again. I've had amazing experiences that I need to process and digest.

It was my first time living abroad for an extended period of time and I must say my expectations were met. Vietnam is no longer an unknown country, but living there changes your perspective on certain everyday things. This semester abroad was a complete success and I want to thank the University of Greifswald and the University of Hanoi for making it possible. It was incredibly interesting and educational to experience what it's like to study in Vietnam. It's not that different from what some might imagine. My fellow students have the same goals and wishes as we do and also enjoy their free time with a cold beer, sports, or music.

Unfortunately, it seems to be an unwritten law that we have to leave just when we have settled in. At least that's how it is for me. For me, it wasn't just my first time living away from home, but also my first time living in a big city, especially in this incredibly loud and chaotic one. Coming from the countryside in Mecklenburg and coming to Greifswald, which is characterized by a small-town atmosphere, Hanoi was the complete opposite of what I had experienced before. Every day, I found myself confronted with thousands of scooters lining the streets. But I quickly got used to it. Just like the language barrier. It is estimated that 90 percent of the people here do not speak English. Asking for directions was nearly impossible for me. I have to say that modern communication technology, with translation apps and maps on smartphones, made daily life much easier, although I wonder if that takes away some of the adventure. Slowly, I was able to improve my knowledge of the local language, and I found that even a few words can be incredibly helpful in communication. For example, haggling on the street worked much better when I threw some Vietnamese numbers into the conversation after greeting the seller.

The sad part is that I probably won't see many of my fellow travelers here again anytime soon. Saying goodbye to Hanoi also means having one last freshly-tapped beer with fellow students, roommates, and teammates. I have a special place in my heart for Hung and Lam, with whom I attended the Intercultural Communication course. Both of them represent the new, well-educated generation of Vietnamese people who have a broader perspective. We regularly met and discussed politics in their country. Their desire to travel the world and be free from familial constraints shapes their thinking. In doing so, I realized how fortunate we are in Germany. Free elections exist only in the constitution, in reality, people are strongly urged to go vote. The election results are also not kept secret, as they are sent to their university, as both of them told me. If they want to continue studying at the National University, they have no choice but to vote for the communist party. The older generation, especially in the north, has a different view and mostly adheres to traditional beliefs. So, while inviting me to his family in Nam Dinh, Hung asked me to avoid discussing politics. I'm sure that if more people think like Hung and Lam, the system will not have a long-term future without significant reforms and there will be a change.

Today I will have a visit again. I will spend the last two and a half weeks of my stay in Vietnam with my brother Henning and continue to explore the country.