Written by on April 25, 2023

Hey, there. It’s me again.

Authors . Culture . Student life

Servus! (A Bavarian way saying both for hello and good-bye)

I’m Yi-ann. I don’t know what’s your opinion towards self-introduction. I actually quit enjoy introducing myself at the beginning of each semester. Cause it always makes me rethink who I am and where I come from. So where to begin with, oh right, you ask is there any meaning behind my name? I’m glad you asked.

My name YI-ANN, was given by my grandfather as a wish. Yi means happy and joyful. Ann means calm, still and secure. And this is how I want to live up to my name. Ever since I grew up, I’ve been living in Taiwan, a small but vibrant island. I spent 4 years studying economics in my bachelor degree , then dived into advertising and marketing industry. After 6 years of practical experience, I headed back to school for master degree in communication. And there were multiple times I felt lost, but that didn’t stop me. Instead, I made a leap. That’s why I am here, in München. (Sometimes, you just need to be away to know who you are, right?)

For those who already know me, Here are some updates after spending 7 months in Germany.

For someone who’s been staying in her majority of lifetime in subtropical island, snow was a no. But last year, I not just saw snow, also I’ve experience it by walking, skating, skiing and almost fell on it. Secondly, the meals I cook for myself during this period is more than ever before in my life. Lastly, despite having studied German for five months, my speaking ability is still at the level of a baby. The most important thing I’ve learned so far is “Jeder macht Fehler.” (Everyone makes mistakes.)

For those who’s new here, I would like to share my way of being around anxious-free,

  • Get familiar with the public transportation system. Munich has quite efficient public transportation system consisting of buses, trams, and the U-Bahn (subway) and S-Bahn (commuter train) networks. And from May 1st 2023, there comes the Deutschlandticket(49€ per month). Make good use of it!
  • Don’t trust the public transportation. Although the transportation itself is convenient. But it is common, yes, I will repeat again, common, for delaying, route adjusting or strikes. To ensure a timely arrival, it’s advisable to either leave early or check the transportation status in advance.
  • I enjoy coffee very much. Here are some coffee shops in Munich that you might want to check out:
    1. Man versus Machine: This specialty coffee shop offers a variety of high-quality coffees and brewing methods, as well as delicious Franzbrötchen(cinnamon bun). And the shop even offers free wi-fi.
    2. Standl 20: A coffee shop and brew bar fits perfectly into the idyll of the Elisabeth market with its old market stalls and traditional atmosphere. This cozy coffee shop serves organic and fair-trade coffee, as well as homemade cakes and pastries. It will be a perfect visit in a sunny day.
    3. Café-Bistro Dallmayr: You shouldn’t be unfamiliar with the name Dallmayr, since it’s one of the most well-known coffee brands in Germany. And it was originally from Munich. If you want a little luxury, you can always find a nice quality coffee experience here.
  • Nothing to do on Sunday? Experience the city’s cultural offerings. Munich is home to numerous museums, galleries, theaters, and music venues. Take advantage of these cultural offerings to learn more about the city’s history and arts scene on Sunday. My personal favorite is the Lenbachhaus. It collects the art of the nineteenth century, the Blauer Reiter, the New Objectivity, as well as international contemporary art.
  • Learn some basic German would be nice. After a long debate with ChatGPT, we would like to present some useful terms together.
    1. Prost: Cheers! Used when raising a glass to toast.
    2. Guten Morgen: Good morning
    3. Guten Tag: Good day
    4. Guten Abend: Good evening
    5. Hallo: Hello
    6. Tschüss: Goodbye
    7. Bitte: Please
    8. Danke: Thank you
    9. Ja: Yes/ Nein: No
    1. Entschuldigung: Excuse me/sorry
    2. Wie geht es dir?: How are you?
    3. Mir geht es gut, danke: I’m doing well, thank you.
    4. Ich verstehe nicht: I don’t understand.
    5. Sprechen Sie Englisch?: Do you speak English?
    6. Ich hätte gerne…: I would like…
    7. Wie viel kostet das?: How much does that cost?
    8. Wo ist die Toilette?: Where is the restroom?
    9. Ich bin hungrig/durstig: I’m hungry/thirsty.
    10. Ich liebe dich: I love you.
    11. Bis später: See you later.

As someone who has participated the winter semester course “Professional Communication in Munich” , I can guarantee that this class will be absolutely fantastic. Only if you commit to yourself, to take the opportunity join the conversation, attend the excursions and express freely on the blog!

Tschüss, bis später!