Testimonials

1. Echo – From German 1 to Germany

In 2008, when I first joined UIC as a freshman, I surprisingly found out that German was an option for the GE course. With no doubt, I selected it. More…

From German 1 to Germany

I was interested in German language and German culture way before UIC, but my story with Germany started in UIC.

In 2008, when I first joined UIC as a freshman, I surprisingly found out that German was an option for the GE course. With no doubt, I selected it. Starting from German 1, less than two hours a week, that went on for the next four years. We all know, if a GE course had less than 10 students, it would be cancelled. That was the case for German 4, but luckily, neither our teacher, Katharina, nor the students have given up. I still vividly remember how the only few of us in the German 4 course had fun learning and experiencing German culture together with our teacher.

After graduation, I got a job in my home city. Anyway, I could not get over the idea of going to Germany. So here I am. I applied for a Master program and landed in a small town located in the middle of Germany. Like all the oversea students, I started a new life with uncertainty, curiosity, ambition and joy. My master program was in English, which by then was not common in German universities. My knowledge of the German language was barely enough for daily communication. It was difficult at the beginning, but then turned into an advantage. I was more motivated to learn German, to get to know different people, experience the lives of locals and try to integrate.

With the help of friends, I met at the university, I got a job offer in Frankfurt right after I obtained my master degree. Meanwhile, I also got the chance to live with a local family. Moving back to a big city, leaving the student identity and privilege means more opportunities, but as well, more challenges. Luckily, I am willing to face different situations, and could always find my support. In the almost eight years of studying, working and living here, I am getting to know this country and the people here more, and becoming more confident and comfortable. I am no longer a foreign student.

One of my professors in the university made a very interesting metaphor that the Germans are like coconuts – they could be hard from the outside, but soft and nice inside. The only thing you need to know is the right way to open it. I think this applies actually to everyone when facing an unfamiliar culture or situation. At the end, to all UICers who are planning to study abroad, or pursing their dreams – ich drücke euch die Daumen.

Echo (Xinlan) Zhou, 11.09.2021

2. Jenny’s Exchange Experience in Pforzheim University 2021 (2021春季学期德国Pforzheim University交换分享)

我是英语专业，但Pforzheim University主打的是商科，所以我在这里上的比较多得是选修课，重心更多放在学德语上。不过也上了许多有意思的课，如跨文化交流，欧洲一体化的挑战和前景，德国艺术历史课等。有点遗憾的是没有机会线下体验课堂，但线上上课确实很flexible，让我有更充裕的空间安排自己的时间。这里的交换课程不是很紧张，相对UIC的学习压力来说要小很多，比如我周三周四是没有课的，在这期间我就有很多时间整理自己的事情或者出去玩。More… 

(Read more please clicl link https://ido.uic.edu.cn/info/1026/1420.htm)

3. 愿我们终能再次相见 - 罗岱怡 University of Vienna, summer programme 2018

  University of Vienna

南十字星下，是澳洲的冬；北十字星下，北极的风，吹过阿尔卑斯山的谷缝，将斑斓的一个月吹入了我们各自的生命中。More… 

愿我们终能再次相见

南十字星下，是澳洲的冬；北十字星下，北极的风，吹过阿尔卑斯山的谷缝，将斑斓的一个月吹入了我们各自的生命中。

2018年7月14日-2018年8月13日，全世界20多个国家共100多名学生在Strobl这座安逸恬淡的小镇相遇，彼时还未知等待我们的将是如何的生活。

 Orientation—敲开文化交流之门

 Orientation是所有人第一次的正是相见。大家西装革履、长裙曳地令人耳目一新、奥地利传统服饰惊艳四座。教授们坐于前排详细介绍各自的课程，他们或任教于维也纳大学，或供职于欧盟，岁月的洗礼映照于他们饱含睿智的双目，周身萦绕着铅华洗尽的返璞归真。真正来到于课堂，其博学与风雅也令人感概万千。

 Lectures—大学之道，在明明德

European History Since 1815课题横跨欧洲经济、历史、政治、文化，哪怕是种族歧视问题亦或各国宗教研究也无话不谈。四周时间的德语课生动有趣，口语与实践并重，授课与小组讨论相结合。课后的Tutorial也认真负责，tutor给予的不仅仅是知识，更是亦师亦友的关怀。European Union Law更是打开了了解欧盟法律体系的一扇窗。虽然作为非法学学生听课会有不明了之处，但意识到自己对事情一无所知时，恰是向知识迈进了一步之时。“学习他人如何学习，也是一种学习。”

Seminars—览万家之言，博采众长

参与的第一场研讨会课题与朝鲜有关，不得不说听欧洲人评价社会主义国家制度有着难以言喻的奇怪，更奇怪的是看ABC关于朝鲜难民偷渡到中国的纪录片，其中刻画的中国延边地区和朝鲜都较为落后。

作为中国人坐在席位上，多少会为祖国而不甘。很难说外媒究竟会以一种什么方式呈现中国，而一代代成长的国外学生经受媒体洗礼后又会因此而如何看待中国。

研讨会站在一个民主政体优越的角度看着朝鲜，介绍的内容和在国内所耳闻的朝鲜类似：封闭的环境、过强的集权以及没有自主权的人民。

教授用dynasty来形容世袭的朝鲜，但“子非鱼安知鱼之乐”？或许朝鲜与世隔绝幸福指数也能很高，或许他们打心底遵从着每一代领导人；又或许他们真的向往外面的世界又或者两者兼有之。

此次研讨会的倾向性显而易见，唯一能认同的在于一位教授的最后所言: “People relies on their systems and you can’t make sure that your systems won’t be questioned.”

第二场参与的研讨会聚焦人工智能，各界专家学者齐聚学校阐述AI对行业未来的影响。法律、信息、医学、艺术专家均分享了其最前沿的观点。

China Night—从五千年历史的洪流里走来

从衣的ppt介绍；食的茶、粽子、猪肉干、鲜花饼、牛肉丝、甚至辣条、枇杷膏品尝；住的明信片照片介绍；生活的筷子夹豆子比赛以及折扇分享；文字的取中文名毛笔字练习和biang字试写到文化的脸谱以及中国结介绍，过去因“只缘身在此山中”而习以为常的中华文化喷薄而出。

内地港澳台湾的朋友们一起介绍中华文化，五千年的渊远无论何时都能跨越时空跃然眼前。在我们被西方文化吸引的同时，中华文化也在吸引着他人。

过去高中政治课总说要做文化的传播者、弘扬者和建设者。时至如今才深刻领悟其内涵。International Summer School是文化的交流融合碰撞之地，当人类的群星闪耀时，你我都在文明的湍流里一往无前。

如果你问，奥地利的这一个月令人感受到了什么？感受到的是文化的交流与碰撞，是进步的空间，是天地世界的宽广，是生命的无数种可能。如果把生命拉成一条时间线，从0-100岁一共100年，前20年的学习，20-60岁的工作，60岁以后的岁月静好。每个人的人生都是单程，是不是除了按照时间线升级打怪-学习工作结婚生子退休离世之外还有其他的活法？还是说要到了垂垂老矣之际遗憾年轻时未完成的愿望？如果人生长度有限，那其广度可以是无限。终其一生，也不过是修炼灵魂。

如果你问，这一个月是什么？

它是渡轮开过Wolfgangsee波光粼粼的湖面；是Strobl镇里人对你微笑时头顶恰好洒下的阳光；是湖边可以晃上几小时的躺椅；是在中央公园眺望远方时的“曾波潋滟远山横”。是当时皱着眉头说难吃的奥地利菜；是现在怀念的Stiegl柠檬味啤酒。

它也是巴伐利亚王宫里璀璨的灯火；也是镇里夜空中的渺远星河。是舞池里的江南Style,也是喜欢的人举着酒杯与你擦肩而过暂停的时间。

天下无不散的宴席，哪怕结局是离别，也无人曾后悔遇见。

今后的万家灯火里有你一盏，南北十字星下你我感受冬夏之别。海风会将祝福带去你身边，愿我们终能再次相见。----罗岱怡

Other testimonials

区芷菱 /林欣怡 / 严栩杰 University of Vienna, summer programme 2019

视频： University of Vienna, 2019 演示文稿：PPT

胡修齐 HU/XIUQI DBM(Finance) Pforzheim University Germany

HU/XIUQI Pforzheim University Germany