Back to school

It is 5:30 am when my alarm clock rings for the first time. As always, I snooze for a few more minutes until I finally get up.

Actually, I hate getting up so early. In my studies in Greifswald, I try to avoid any 8 am lectures as much as possible. My brain needs a little time to warm up. Here, I have no other choice. The university starts for me every day except Thursday and the weekend at exactly 7 am.

It is still dark when I leave the house. From my home, I walk about fifteen minutes to the bus stop, from where I take the bus to the university.

Arriving in front of the multi-story teaching building, I take the stairs to the sixth floor. Unlike taking the elevator, this way I at least get my circulation going. The classrooms are rather simple with wooden benches arranged one behind the other. And not only the spatial furnishings with a large blackboard remind me of school, but also the interaction between the teachers and the students. For example, attempts are made to negotiate whether it would be possible to finish a little earlier and whether the content of the topic is relevant to the exam. Even though the overall atmosphere is quite relaxed, rules are definitely enforced. If there is too much delay, you have to wait outside until the next break. Another thing I had to get used to again were the many requirements in the semester. For every course, there is a group presentation, often an interim test, and finally an exam. So, everything is like in school again?!

Overall, there are very few international students studying at the university, and I am the only foreigner in my classes. But it's not just my classmates who are very interested in Germany and me. The most common dialogue with me in Hanoi usually starts like this: "What are you doing here?" "I am studying." "What are you studying?" "I am studying German and geography." "Why are you studying German in Hanoi as a German?" Yes, why am I doing that? I reply that these are also my subjects in Germany and that I am doing a semester abroad here. Furthermore, I want to gain new experiences and get to know a different culture.

By now, everyday life has a firm grip on me. Things that I found exciting in the first week quickly became routine. This includes crossing the street. Pedestrian traffic lights and zebra crossings do exist, but if anything, they are perceived more as recommendations by the local road users. The best way is to cross the street in a smooth and uniform movement without letting yourself be disturbed. Although I am constantly honked at, honking is also one of the cultural peculiarities here, but I have not yet experienced a really dangerous situation.

With a good dose of northern German serenity, I am doing great here.