Straight Into the Deep End
Authors . Student lifeMy name is Ella Power-Bridger and I am an exchange student this semester at LMU. I am from Melbourne, Australia, and my home university is the University of Melbourne, where I study a Bachelor of Arts majoring in History and Media and Communications, as well as a Diploma of Languages in German. I studied German all throughout high school and have continued my German studies at university, largely because I have always wanted to go on exchange, and especially to Germany, the home of the language and culture I have learnt so much about over the last eight or so years.
I have never lived out of home before, and I am also someone who loves home and a sense of stability, and I’m rather resistant to change. Still, I have been presented with an amazing opportunity, so I thought why not jump straight into the deep end and move to the other side of the world on my own, to a country I’ve never even visited, where the native language is not that of my own and I know no one. I am completely out of my comfort zone, but I know that this is where I will grow the most as a person. While I have now only been in Munich for one month, I feel that I have already learnt so much, not just about Germany and the German language, but also, and perhaps more importantly, about myself.
I think exchange is a great option for those who want to experience something new, without having to uproot their entire life and start from the beginning, which for me personally, sounds very daunting. I have the opportunity to travel and experience life in another country without having to sacrifice my studies, whilst also being able to do this with the comfort of knowing that when I get back to Melbourne, I can easily slot back into the routine and familiarity of life at home: university, work, friends and family.
I feel like I have the world at my feet and the opportunity to do so much. I am really looking forward to the semester and studying at LMU. All of my classes seem so interesting and I am eager to broaden my academic knowledge. I have already met some really great people, and I can’t wait to make even more friends during my time here.
I also have friends from Melbourne travelling Europe for about eight weeks, so I have made plans to meet them for a few weekends here and there, joining them in places such as Amsterdam, Venice, Barcelona and Dublin. As someone from Australia, where everything is far away, the thought of simply jumping on a train to Italy, or a quick flight to Croatia, is unbelievable!
I am excited to explore Munich further as well, as I have already fallen in love with the city, and I am so lucky to call this place home, even if it is just for the semester.
This is me in the Englischer Garten on one of my first days in Munich!