Written by Gefei Zhang on July 16, 2024

5 Months, 5 Things To Remember

Excursions . Student life . Travel

Honestly, I find it terrific to have a chance to write such a farewell to conclude my exchange semester since it can “force” me to sit down in front of my laptop and type something rather than do it in my mind only. The past 5 months have made me realize that time can fly. However, memories, experiences, and feelings stay as well.

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5 months in my life, 5 things to remember for the rest of my life. Fair enough.

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#Lifestyle

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There is a reason to talk about “lifestyle” first, for it is probably something that will influence my whole life. Before I came here, I had never stayed abroad for more than one month, so this was the first time I could experience the entire life routine in a foreign country.

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In China, due to our large population, everyone lives a busy life. We must be competitive enough since childhood to secure a better life later. True, we harvest what we sow. However, if you tell the story from the opposite, it is also too tiring sometimes. Here in Germany, I finally have a chance to relax and enjoy my life as much to my wish as possible. Nothing needs to hurry; nothing needs to be stressful and panic. Simply follow the stream, finish the tasks that are much less compared with my home university, and then have fun for the rest of the day. I sincerely hope that I can keep this relaxing lifestyle after I go back home.

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Slow down a little and try not to be so tense. Live in the moment rather than always look forward to the future. That’s the lifestyle I have learned and appreciate.

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#Friendship

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Meeting people outside of your country and race is not just as simple as being “cool”. It is really interesting to see how people can be so alike regarding their opinions and thoughts but sometimes be so different in customs and habits as well.

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By attending the language course before the semester started, I met some of my best friends here in Munich. We still hang out from time to time even after the course ended. As international students, we can easily understand each other’s feelings, and share the sweetest memories. We celebrate each other’s birthday, plan trips together, and enjoy many fine meals. It is always such a pleasure to listen to stories and true experiences from other countries rather than simply believe what is posted via the media.

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Knowing some German friends is also pleasant. I can explore the city more with their help. Sandra recommended me some really good restaurants and I introduced her to some of my favourite Chinese movies and music. It also surprised me how smoothly our teamwork can be. Jana, my partner for the podcast, is even planning to visit me in China. These small cultural exchanges are what make people from all over the world feel closer.

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#Knowledge

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Even before coming, I had been curious about what I might learn here. I selected my seminars on purpose to ensure I could get in touch with something different back home.

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Luckily, things went well. I had contact with media economics for the first time, saving myself from the misunderstanding that media analysis must have something to do with mathematics. I mastered how to make podcasts and try to make one from the very beginning to the completion of a production, which was so fun. I got involved in making a campaign, using skills and theories that were taught in class and improving it through feedback. I systematically learned the academic writing, being much clearer now how to organize those citations.

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Last but not least, I encountered this course, Media Institutions in Munich. Through the excursions, I managed to have a better and closer understanding of the media industry in Munich. How do the newspapers produce? How does the media school run? How do the radio programs in one of the biggest companies in Germany arrange? You can find all the answers here.

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What’s more, we learned from each other. Through the presentations, I engaged with media from all across the world: Denmark, France, Finland, Chez Republic, Australia, Japan, South Korea…… I simply benefited so much from my classmates’ thorough introductions. Lots of thanks to Janara, who was as a newcomer as us but created such a relaxing but efficient atmosphere so we could learn as much as we could.

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#Traveling

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Traveling also took a great part in my life here. I have been to Italy, Austria, Greece, Chez Republic, Hungary, and some cities within Germany. I am now planning trips to Croatia and France. Not only did they bring me a sense of beauty by visiting the historical and human culture, but they also amazed me with the extraordinary natural scenery. Also, I planned all my trips by myself and learned to be more independent during the process. In China, we have this old saying goes “It is better to travel ten thousand miles than to read ten thousand books.” Surely it makes sense to me to some extent.

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#Euro 2024

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Though it only covered a month, Euro 2024 still means a lot to me. To tell the truth, it is one of the reasons why I chose Munich as the exchange city. I went to watch the opening game where Germany held a 5-1 wining versus Scotland and also the quarter-final in Stuttgart where Germany unluckily lost to Spain, which broke my heart. During these four weeks, I felt the passion European people have for football, bathing in the impressive atmosphere.

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For me, watching football games is not only about exciting games and intriguing tactics that are worth analyzing but also about learning some life lessons from this micro-society. I experienced laughs and tears, hellos and goodbyes in football, which is so similar to real life. Spain’s winning and England’s losing in the final seem to tell me that sometimes luck can help you to reach a higher place, but if you want to be at the top, strength is still the most important quality.

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In general, the 5 months of my exchange semester is an enjoyment for me. Surely there are some obstacles and troubles along the way, but when you are saying farewell, you always want it to be a compliment instead of a complaint. I’ll cherish what I have learned here and bring it with me when I come home, and hopefully, I have also left something here, maybe in some people’s minds, that there once was a Chinese girl who came to Munich in the summer of 2024.