Written by on October 28, 2021

Ich heiße Yang. Oder Jan?

Authors

Dear fellow IfKWers,

Good day! Thanks to Erasmus+, I am now sitting here in a compact but cozy bungalow at Olympisches Dorf 1972 introducing myself to you. You can call me Yang, or its almost perfect German equivalent – Jan. I am a Chinese student who opted for a full-time master’s program at the University of Iceland. Yes, Iceland. The land of fire and ice. This island nation has never bored or disappointed me (despite its comparatively small population): just a few months after I arrived, a volcano only a stone’s throw away from the capital city started its eruption marathon.

But why Munich? Munich is my favourite city in Germany, and I have personally ranked it the most fabulous German city to live. Munich has indeed a lot to offer and it doesn’t matter who you are. In 2017, my friend and I participated in the Oktoberfest as tourists. We got to watch the parade, drink up a few beers, climb up inside the Bavaria Statue and even go on a roller-coaster! While being mesmerised by the grandeur of Bavarian traditions and culture, the Oktoberfest has ever since, in my eyes, become a good symbolic marker for the city of Munich and Bavaria at large.

And now as an exchange student, I believe that there is something different to experience in this exotic land as well. It is a dream come true to study at one of the top universities (and probably one of the best faculties) in Germany. It is a shared passion for media and communication that have brought us all IfKWers together, and it is always exciting to get to know people with different personalities, academic backgrounds and work experience. IfKW, or LMU, or even Munich is to me a place of enthusiasm and inspiration.

Lastly, what about Covid-19? Well, I have to confess that my life was hit quite hard by this never-ending pandemic, but I do believe that optimism and resilience matter the most (and of course vaccines!). I find it more important now than ever to have something to look forward to, pump myself up for the uncertainties and be ready to embrace the opportunities that come with the risks. Coming to Europe to further my studies has brightened up my day. As time passes by, we will definitely see the light at the end of the tunnel.

Best regards,
Yang