„My stay in Munich was the scene of my complete liberation“

I have to admit that it was quite hard for me to fully understand this sentence from Marcel Duchamp before I have been living in Munich. But now, I can definitely agree with him. Four months I have been living here and I have never felt so delighted than today!

Time flies when you’re having fun! That is so true! “Munich, belle Munich” I really would stay with you forever, with your beautiful places -The Viktuallenmarkt, Odeonsplatz, Marienplatz, das Schloss Nymphenburg-, your old-modern subway, your safety, your cleanness. You already missed me when I had to come back in France for Christmas. But why? Why such an attachment regarding a city I just discovered in September?

Let’s face it : as I mentioned in my first blog post, I have already been attracted by Germany by many reasons. When I was a child I was mad of Playmobil. My parents bought me the house, the supermarket, the post office, the veterinary clinic, the zoo, the pirate jail,… That is maybe a reason why before learning to walk I have already known what the so-called « DHL »meant. Then, when I was twelve I started to learn German at school and never stopped practicing and improving my skills in this language since that day!

Over time, I was more and more interested by Germany, by its history, by its “Märchen” by German’s culture in itself, by the dark forest, by the singularity of Goethe’s language,  by the beautiful landscapes we can find in many places. I started to hear three hours a day German music, tried to watched as many movies in German as I could and I have finally decided to study in a French-German school, and to go to Germany for my third year of Bachelor. The choice I made, I didn’t regret it at all.   Munich is different from all the cities I know. For many reasons. There is such an atmosphere here, in this city, I have never felt before. I didn’t know why actually. Is it because of the people I met?  No idea.

If I have the feeling that my culture is quite similar to the German one, I noticed nevertheless some differences between both countries in September. Some are funnier than others but I really would like to share with you a couple of things that differ.

PS : I have to admit that some of them are more specific to some germans I know such as n°9, n°19 and n°20.

1. Germans tell joke that are not funny or impossible for a French person to understand.
2. Germans don’t have calls in the U-Bahn and if you have some, they will disapprove you.
3. Germans don’t cross the road even if there is no car and if it is raining or snowing. The rule is the rule. If you cross the road when it is red, you may receive, as I did, a nice “40€ Strafgeld”. Don’t try to explain to the police that you come from France, I think it does nothing than worsening the situation and at the end increasing your fine!
4. Germans are more than punctual. No, it’s not a cliché! “Die Pünktlichkeit” is more than important in Germany!
5. STABI : Abbreviation of Staatsbibliothek. Be careful, if it doesn’t sound too bad it doesn’t mean however that people who are working in are always friendly! No way! You may have the feeling that they have burred someone before seeing you, but, once more, that is totally normal! Once you enter you will have to put at first all your stuff in a locker and then keep the key with you. If you want to bring your laptop with you, it will be without its protection and if it falls on the ground that is too bad for you. Indeed, you are not allowed to bring with you any bag or jacket, otherwise you won’t be allowed to enter. But it still be a really good place to work through its huge opening hours. And it is also maybe the place in which I spent the most of my time since my arrival! I am even writing my blog post in this place haha! #lovestabi
6. Germans in Munich are really conservative ones (especially old people)
7. Bavaria is beautiful and has to be seen almost one time in your life
8. Old Germans women love to go to “Dompierre” these French backeries Munich is surrounded by. By the way, don’t go there! The bread is really expensive and not tasty at all!
9. Germans are respectful towards women. Maybe too much since they don’t dredge most of the time! As a woman, if you are interested in someone you will have to make the first step!
10. Germans drink a lot, but a lot of beers! That is also not a cliché! Drinking a beer in the street or doing a “flunky” in public is allowed. No one will tell you something if you do so! You may even meet Germans who can drink a beer at 10 in the morning.
11. Germans like having the behind blowing in the wind. Just go to the Englisher Garten when it’s summer and you will see Michel Ange’s paintings in real!
12. A lot of German food items are hard to digest (but not all! Gott sei Dank!)
13. German’s dressing code is difficult to understand. For example, in Munich, if you wear a skirt or a leather jacket on the evening, some German people will look at you really weirdly without you know why.
14. Germans party early. Most of the time parties begin at 9.pm whether in France they don’t begin before 11 p.m or before midnight!
15. As well, Germans eat early but it is easy for you to change their habits.
16. If you want to eat a kebab after 9.30 pm it’s too late! Too bad for you!
17. Germans are well-ordered and maniacal.
18. Germans don’t write with fountain pens! They are only used by children!
19. Germans like to use a “monkey” smiley when they text you 🙈.
20. Germans almost always write “ja” in the middle of their sentences.
21. Germans speak all English so well that you have the feeling that they are native speakers.
22. But German still be the most beautiful language in the world!

SEPTEMBER:

As I explained I have been living in Munich since the 1^st September. I still remember that day! It was raining and I was totally freezing! I am very lucky because I received an accommodation in one of the Studentenwerk’s housing. I have to share my kitchen with nine others people but they are all friendly and we have a big confidence in each other.

September was not a month I really appreciated. Let me explain you why: Thought I arrived in Munich with a B2 level in German, I was confronted to some language problems at the beginning of my Erasmus year. For example, going to buy food or talking to someone was really hard for me, and each time I had the feeling that it was like a challenge. The place where I felt the most good was my room. When I walked in the street, I had the feeling that I was seen like a foreigner, which is why it was difficult for me to find my place in Munich during the first month. Thought I had German courses on the morning and we had some travels organized by IUCM (to Nürnberg, Dachau, Neuschwanstein…) , I was free the afternoons, and, finding something to do was not simple for me too. Sometimes, we did some picnics in the “Englischer Garten”, but most of the time I was alone and the loneliness I felt many times was quite difficult to live.

OCTOBER:

I really enjoyed the month of October. The craziest thing I have ever made was swimming in the “Eisbachwelle” with a couple of others Erasmus students! I didn’t know that it was forbidden to swim in the river and when I discovered that it was too late!

🍺 Munich day- 41 🍺 Watch Eisbach Video

I also joined an Erasmus Student Association named ESN MESA MUNICH. Usually it is not possible for Erasmus students to join the association’s team. As an Erasmus, you can most of the time only take part to the events organized by MESA but in some cases, you can also try to organize some events with German students who already did their Erasmus year abroad. I could take part to an amazing Teambuilding Week-end to get to know people involved in the MESA Team. They booked a castle closed to Starnberger See and we did not only workshops activities, but also parties!

I also really enjoyed going to the Oktoberfest! I went there nine times and I still deeply think that it is also something you have to do almost one time in your life!

Moreover, I discovered during October many new places such as the “Viktualienmarkt” “IKEA”, etc.

Registering for my courses at the LMU was not so easy! As I am doing my third year of bachelor, I need 30 credits per semester to validate my year. I preferred to take 56 for winter semester, as I was allowed to do that. The main problem, however, was to coordinate everything because I study in three different faculties communication and media (50%), Russian, German and anthropology. To select my courses, it was quite hard! No one explained me how to select and book via LSF the courses I wanted to follow. I remember the second week of October, beginning of the courses in Munich. We were two in a room waiting for our professor, who is never came because most of the time there is no course during the first week of the semester. I didn’t know that, and I think that to a certain extend my own university in France was administratively quite well-organized than the LMU in Munich. Nevertheless, I find the professors here really open-minded. They are always available and happy to help you to solve your problems if you have some.

NOVEMBER & DECEMBER

Between the 31^st of October to the third of November I travelled to Berlin with the ESN. I really had a great time and I got to know other new German and European people. Some of them are now became my friends.

I was also an helper for many events our ESN MESA organized (city rally, parties, travel to Nürnberg, visit of the Residenz in Munich,…).

My level in German is became considerably better now! I can understand and speak with Germans without having any problems. I go to the cinema to watch movies in German with Germans,  I cook with Germans, I visit museums with Germans and now I even dream in German! I try to avoid the most as I can French People because with them, I always speak French and the aim of my Erasmus is not speaking French, but on the contrary, it is speaking German to become fluent before the end of the year!

If you plan to also do an Erasmus year or a semester abroad, I can recommend you to spend it in Munich! Munich is a beautiful city in which I am glad to spend a new semester!  Indeed, there is everything to suit all tastes. For example, if you are crazy about the arts you can visit some museums (Alte Pinakothek, Pinakothek der Moderne, Neue Pinakothek, Lenbachhaus, Haus der Kunst,…). It costs one euro on sunday, wich is awesome!  If you prefer festivals, you can take part to some interesting ones such as the so famous Oktobersfest or Tollwood, which takes place every year from November to the end of January. On the contrary, if you like to be involved in some associations, don’t hesitate and join ESN Mesa!

Mylaina