My name is Will and I am a Politics and Modern languages student at the University of Southampton and have just completed my year abroad at the Universität Hamburg.
First few weeks:
I was excited but also nervous at the prospect of a year abroad. However, as I arrived to my accommodation, which was almost empty, the nervousness and worry definitely outweighed the excitement. I was also ill during the first week and so this compounded the feeling of anxiety at the prospect of a year in a foreign country. However, after the initial couple weeks I began to find my feet and enjoy myself, although there were some challenges. After these first couple of weeks, I decided to attend some events for international students, and was lucky to meet people from all around the world, from Argentina to Japan to Mexico. I found this mix of international students particularly interesting and believe I have learnt a lot during this year abroad about a variety of different cultures, which I have enjoyed. I have enjoyed coming into contact with a variety of cultures and learning about traditions and cuisines of these nations,which has increased my knowledge of other cultures and my appreciation for the level of richness in global culture.
Hamburg itself:
Hamburg itself is a lovely city, with its canals, vast green spaces and historical sites. I indulged in the history of the City by visiting St Nikolai Memorial, the remains of a church damaged during World War Two, and an accompanying museum detailing the damage to the city during the war as well as a symbol of ‘Versöhnung’ ( reconciliation) between the city of Hamburg and the city of Coventry, both having been terribly impacted by the reality of war. The city offers something for everyone, from Sternschanze ( a unique area that is popular for those on social events) to Landungsbrücken ( the Docks) where one can eat a Fischbrötchen, whilst enjoying the passing boats. The city also has a some beautiful natural areas, such as Planten un Blomen ( where there are daily water- light shows during the summer) and the Stadtpark- where many Hamburgers go to relax in the sun and swim in the lake. Hamburg also has a variety of Christmas markets, which are definitely worth a visit and are definitely the most impressive I have visited.
Other cities
In addition to my time in Hamburg, during the year abroad, I also visited Munich, travelling with train and seeing the many sites of the city such as the Rathaus ( townhall), where many historical events have occurred. I have also visited the nearby towns of Bremen and Lübeck, that both offer the potential for a pleasant day trip, with Lübeck having a lovely beach. I also had the opportunity to go to Mallorca for a weekend which was great, and has motivated me to attempt to learn some spanish.
Overview
I have thoroughly enjoyed my time abroad and would recommend it, although it does come with a fair few bureaucratic challenges. With regards to Hamburg, I would recommend applying for the Aufenthaltstitel as early as possible as there is a fairly processing period. I would also note that the weather in Hamburg is not the most luxurious, despite this it is a nice city with its own individuality and culture. The deutschlandticket ( included in the tuition fees) is also brilliant as it enables unlimited transport across Germany ( except high speed rail), which has really helped in terms of convenience when travelling.
Overall I have enjoyed the year and I am honestly sad that it is over.
