Blog Special Edition - Kehler Trip

Currently I am sitting in our dormitory kitchen in Kehl and wondering if my travel blog works from home. Next to me is an old stove with an oven, in which Prof. Witt probably reheated frozen pizzas during his studies, on a blue linoleum floor (which looks dirty again about an hour after cleaning). Outside there is the usual Kehl fog for this time of year, but the sun is just starting to peek through. Summa summarum (or just summarum, as they say in Hausach), I'm currently only taking a trip to the living conditions of the 1960s. On the other hand, when you come to Kehl, you feel like you're on a trip to France. Not a nice trip like a vacation, more like to the suburbs. But overall, it's not about whether I'm currently abroad, but that with our studies here the probably longest (and funniest) journey of our lives is ending and it is worth looking back on it here.

I solemnly swear that I am up to no good

3 years ago we came to the Kehl Stadthalle for the first time. Hundreds of students with strange bags as welcome gifts, Katha Schubert on stage, Joko Weschbach as a model employee of the administration and the music video 'Kehlifornia Girls', which was slightly disturbing (here is the link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8qOIu8ZDUp8).

As the highlight of the ceremony, we, the incoming civil servants, had to take an oath for our working life, the content of which I have unfortunately forgotten (probably something like 'I will honor the mayor').

In the following week, after several introductory events such as the freshmen run, the university everyday life started. For those who are not familiar with Kehl: In Kehl, the studies begin with half a year of introductory internship at a municipality, followed by nearly 1.5 years of basic studies at the university, then 14 months of internships, and finally another 6 months at the university. During the university sections, two cohorts are always studying at the same time, which means there are about 800 students on site. So it is a rather small, family-like university. Half of the 800 students commute, so they are only there during lecture times. This means that at parties and also in general in Kehl, you almost always meet the same crazy people, but that is also part of the charm of the university. Since the crime rate is high in Kehl and, for example, girls should not be alone outside at night, our parties are only organized for students anyway. So, everything stays within the family. :D

We are worth our money

In addition to parties, of course, we also studied. At Kehl, the lecturers are basically a typical mix like at any other university, although there are some special characters. Some are entertainers and/or strict, with others you have the feeling that they don't even know what they are doing here or how they even ended up here, while others do what they want and end the lectures two hours earlier than scheduled, and still others seem to still focus on student parties. Our subjects range from law and economics (which is the most interesting) to psychology and administrative informatics. However, sometimes in subjects you had the feeling that religious education, art, or sports would have been more useful. The king subject in this respect was sociology, as the theories presented could easily have come from Chemtrail conspiracy theorists. Perhaps that's why we should discuss a redesign of the subject with the university management? Visual arts might improve our doodles and dodgeball with U. M. could be fun.

After the first semester, in which cliques formed slowly but a lot was done within the course, we had made it through two small exams. We then went into the well-deserved summer hol... sorry, I mean the lecture-free period of about 8 weeks. During this free time, luckily, we continued to receive our not exactly small salary. To justify that at least a little bit, we went on an educational trip to a finca in Mallorca. We were definitely worth our money during that time. Symbolic picture:

Exams and Highlights

The second semester quickly became overshadowed by our first major exam phase, in which admittedly a lot of material was tested. Whether the panic spread by many was necessary, I leave that open. I don't think it helped anyone. But in addition to exams, we also got to know each other better, the initial probing was over and over time we made contact with more and more people. In addition, there was another cohort in Kehl at the same time as us, who were a lot cooler than the one we had to spend our first semester with. The rule of thumb in Kehl is: cohorts with odd years are great, those with even years are usually just average.

After another lecture-free period following the exams, the third semester began, which for many of us became the best time of our lives (for example, ask some people about Messdi, you'll see their eyes light up:D). For me, a perfect clique had developed with the Gang Gang, and with three (sometimes four) of my best friends, I formed the most beautiful flatshare in Kehl. With just 16 hours of lectures per week, which were not always completely attended, we could do whatever we wanted that summer. The fact that the World Cup took place in Russia at the same time was the icing on the cake. The time during a World Cup is always special in itself. It's summer, everyone is outside, there are big events to watch football and football matches in themselves always create emotions. That Germany was not very successful in the World Cup became secondary, despite everything. How could it work without N. P. anyway. The fact that we even preferred to attend the BGB tutorial with S. K., one of my best friends, says everything about the performance of the national team.

That summer, the Kehler dating pool also gained momentum again and there were one or two crisis meetings in the Snooper flatshare. Sometimes with productive results, sometimes not. But overall, summer always boosts the mood and it was no different here in Kehl. Plus and plus equals plus-plus. The third exam phase in the following semester was tough, but despite the decreasing motivation to learn of some, it was managed reasonably successfully. After the end of the third semester, we went into the 14-month practical phase and the first farewell pain came. Fortunately, we were able to hide it quite well, as we kept in close contact and had regular meetings. After completing the studies, it can be said: There was an email distribution list of the Gang Gang, for which many working hours were invested to report friends about life at and off the internship place. It is to be hoped that this email distribution list never appears anywhere, otherwise professional careers are in danger. :D

In addition, another educational trip to one of the Balearic Islands was organized. The four internships were more or less (mostly more) interesting, but they are not so important for the blog. With time, we will all find the right thing to do.

Comeback of the nutcases

After 14 months of work, which surprisingly passed quickly, we were finally allowed to return to Kehl and it was like a family reunion. When I think about it, at every family reunion there is the one crazy uncle/aunt. Who is it for you?

When we entered the advanced studies, I realized for the first time how we had changed through our time in Kehl and how our priorities had shifted. Change is not always positive. Things change that we thought were unchangeable, people become less important in our lives, and relationships end. But even though Kehl has taken on a big role in addition to our home and has eclipsed some things, this time was still worth it and has pushed us forward. Just finding so many good friends here who will stay with us for a lifetime is outstanding.

In the last semester, we tried to spend as much time as possible with these friends, absorbing everything one last time, going to every party, and not skipping lectures too often. Personally, combining partying and attending lectures was not always easy for me, the age is starting to show. :D

We have, as of now, successfully managed the final exams and the topic of the bachelor thesis is now completed. The move-out date in the dormitory is scheduled, the last university football training completed, and bit by bit, the chapter Kehl is closing for us. Or should I say Kehlifornia? Probably not.

Farewell from the Kehl Kindergarten

There is so much more to tell. About trips to Wasen that ended in nosedives for some of us; Wateralfinger; students who painted pictures of their lecturers; tough exam phases including 'I am definitely going to fail'; DJ Erasmus; thrown plates; competition for girls; internships at the other end of the world (if you're interested, you can read one of the other blog entries); the best tutors in the world; heartbreak with endless back and forth; summer parties, after which N. M.'s flatshare turned into a mattress camp; the Timo Keller party playlist; city hall parties where people got naked; our biggest heartbreakers; big wins in LuBu games; party vacations with fellow students in fincas on Mallorca; barbecue evenings in front of Jens' flatshare; the Jacz and the Motte; Jörg, the driver of our hearts; my best canine friend; even more city hall parties with free evictions; parties in the cellar and Christmas parties with the best tutors in the world as mistletoes. But telling all of this here would go beyond the scope and, if I think about it, should not necessarily be completely published. Keyword: protecting professional careers.

Today we said goodbye to each other in Elbo and then in the party basement. To many friends, we said, 'see you at the Bachelor Ball' or 'see you at the summer festival'. But both sides knew exactly that it will never be the same as it is now, because the shared experiences of studying will be missing and people will grow further apart. Edit: At this time, we didn't even know that the Bachelor Ball would fall victim to Corona.

That's why I am coming to the end of my blog here, which was able to connect my currently somewhat melancholy feelings with great memories. For all of you who are currently sad because we have to leave Kehl: Every great time comes to an end, and that's a good thing, because it allows the next one to begin. Look at it this way: In school we were told that this would be the best time of our lives, then some were promised this for their trips, and in university we were told the same thing again. Do you also realize that somehow the new best time of our lives always comes later? Being a bit sad to leave beloved people and hardly see them anymore is welcome and positive. It only shows what friendships and memories we have created. Kehl was definitely the best time of my life. My life until now. :)

It's time to go. It's time to leave the dormitory for the last time, to see the civil service career without our own civil service career for the last time, to go to the parking lot for the last time, and finally to leave Kehl as a student for the last time, knowing that this time will never come back. A thought that currently seems incomprehensible...

I just closed the entrance door of our dormitory for the last time and can no longer open it, as the move-out is complete and the key has been handed in. Now I'm standing in front of the entrance door and it feels shitty. Behind this closed door, and in Kehl in general, we have created so many memories and this closed door for me stands for not being able to add any more memories to them.

But when I turn around, I see three different paths I can take just at the dormitory. These paths lead to new doors for which we have keys again and where there will be great memories again. But now, I personally hope that I can get the car door open and fit in the remaining half of my furniture.

It's time for us to embrace the charm of a new chapter in life with a backpack full of great memories. We have formed so many valuable friendships that will last forever and have watched these friends grow up. Some have made it, others have not. But now it's really the end. I wish you all a great start to your careers and I'm already looking forward to the Bachelor Ball. Don't take it too hard.😘

Lukas

PS: The following highlight pictures probably give the answer to the question of whether I have grown up myself...