How did my 5 months in Munich change me?
Authors . Student lifeTime flies – I feel like I just came to Munich a few weeks ago but in practice my first semester is ending very soon.
It was my first time living in Germany, living abroad for more than a month, and living by myself.
I believe, overall, the experience here helped me try to be a better person.
To be a better conversation partner
One of the most suffering things in my Munich time was my poor English ability (let me put aside my terrible German; it is also suffering me but my daily language in Munich is English).
As soon as my Munich school life started, I had a hard time making friends with people around me.
Sadly I need to say my English was much worse than other exchange students; I asked again and again what they spoke to me and it prevented me from communicating smoothly.
However, after several months of struggling, I somehow learned (not perfectly but some tips) how to make friends in a foreign country.
It is not only my English ability that improved in these 5 months but also my communication skills – choosing a good conversation topic, positive reaction to what others say, having facial expressions, having the bravery to start a conversation, positive attitude, and so on.
Language abilities are important to be a good conversation partner and a good friend, to be sure, but I learned that in communication there are more things I need to care about, and I can care about.
I know I am not a good enough conversation partner yet. Fortunately, however, there are still 5 more months in Munich with international friends – my respectful role model in terms of conversation.
To be a caring
During my Munich survival, I found out how I have been helped by others — my friends, teachers, tutors, and also random people I met in the town.
My friends helped me a lot and gave me kind words when I was in trouble.
They tried to understand me and make themselves understand me when I didn’t catch up with the conversation.
Cheered me up and told me to take my time when I was exhausted.
And made me feel I belonged there.
I do not need to explain thoroughly how my teachers and tutors helped me a lot — they offered me opportunities to learn, organized courses, asked me if I needed help, and sometimes even organized opportunities to make students get closer to each other.
And even from strangers, I got help a lot.
In front of the stairs when with heavy luggage, in the city when getting lost, and on the train when announced in German — perhaps I could have not survived without their help.
Now I am getting used to life here and it is time to help others in Munich. I will try, and I am trying, to do what they did to me.
Finally a huge thanks to my friends in Munich, for giving me a great time and opportunity to change myself.
Many of my friends are leaving at the end of this semester – I already miss them very much.
And thank you LMU and IfKW, especially Miriam and Julia, for offering me such a great environment!