Munich, see you next time.

Hi Munich, this is my 119th day here. In Samuel’s (coming soon) farewell video, I said that coming here for an exchange was the best decision I’ve ever made. This is true, I love the beautiful and conducive learning environment at LMU, cherish the room I meticulously decorated in Olydorf, and appreciate the cleanliness and safety of the entire city. After navigating through daily life, shopping, exercising, and seeking medical care with ease, Munich has truly become a place where I feel at home, providing relaxation whenever I need it.

As a long-time fan of FC Bayern Munich and the German national team, Munich has always provided me with boundless inspiration. I rarely feel down because, in moments of frustration, I can turn to the team’s energy and resilience. I attended six matches at the Allianz Arena, joined the happiest fans on Säbener Strasse during open training sessions, participated in the club’s member assembly, and was deeply moved at Beckenbauer’s memorial service. I’ve met various fans, collected signatures and photos from all players,haven the chance to express my admiration and gratitude to my favorite player( Thomas Müller）face to face.All of these are irreplaceable sweet memory for me.

In Munich, I’ve made many new friends, traveled a lot and worked hard to minimize unnecessary expenses together with my travel companions. Despite occasional fatigue, the experiences were always joyful. I traveled by DB(though sometimes irksome)to different cities in Germany, particularly loving the vibrancy of Berlin and the orderliness of Hamburg. I visited eleven countries, including Austria, Czech Republic, Italy, Spain, Portugal, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Belgium, Greece, France, and Norway, witnessing the Northern Lights, vast seas, and countless sunsets. My childhood dream of exploring the world, written in my diary, has undeniably come true during these months, allowing me to experience diverse cultures and see the countless possibilities of life.

I’ve learned a lot from various courses at LMU and tried to establish more connections with Munich. I’ve chosen Dachau Concentration Camp as the subject for my undergraduate thesis, exploring the construction of trauma narratives and collective memory in the digital age. It’s a somewhat weighty topic, but I believe in its value and hope that through this, I can gain a deeper understanding of Munich. (If anyone is interested in this topic, feel free to discuss it with me anytime.)

I know that during my future master’s studies, there will still be a good cooperation between my school and LMU/TUM. If all goes well, I might have the opportunity to come back to Munich for another exchange during my master’s studies—with better German, perhaps. Thanks to Munich  for everything; I’ve become more independent and more determined. Now, let me make a wish to return here someday.

Writing this post, I feel a bit sad, but with 49 days until my flight back to China, my journey continues. Just cherish every day here,after all, life is always so amazing.