To everyone who is hesitating about becoming an
exchange student and explore new directions of life.
Being a student means not only being enrolled at the university, it means leading an active social life, overtaking new faces of different sciences, investigating new countries through travelling and taking responsibility for important decisions in life. The human being is so constructed that usually we are afraid of trying something new, taking fateful decisions and making first steps to changes… Sometimes these first steps can be hard and at the first sight senseless. As the saying goes “per aspera ad astra”, which means “through rough ways to the stars”. That is what happened to me.
After graduating from the university every person engrosses in thought of what doing after: somebody starts working, another is getting married and I decided to continue my studying. Gaining a degree in Ukrainian National University I made a decision to take one more abroad, videlicet, in Poland, so I became a student of Wyższa Skoła Gospodarki w Bydgoszczy, the department of International Tourism Management. From the rap session with my groupmates I got the information about Double Degree Programme for master students, which call for going in partner educational institution for two semesters and after graduation obtaining two diplomas – one from home educational institution and another from partner one. After some time of contemplation I adopted a decision to participate in shortlisting…
Receiving the news of being accepted for the Double Degree programme for master students in German university gives the feeling of acquiring a fortune, hitting the jackpot, winning in a lottery. Seems that the goal is achieved, but when the euphoria steps back, the drag with documents and enrollment starts. When you come from the country that is not a member of European Union, the whole procedure of registration becomes more complicated. It took me a lot of time and efforts to fulfill all required papers, but no worries, you are strongly supported by representatives of the International Affairs Office.
When all documents are ready, there is the last step left – obtaining a visa. For many students this procedure flows without any problems, but not for me. Due to the study program I was supposed to start the semester in March 2013, but problems tied to visa receiving raised a query about my arrival in the partner educational institution in Germany. When the plans you have been working on for long time collapse, you feel disappointed and it seems as if the whole world turns it’s back on you.
Since I was informed that I couldn’t come, I moved forward – I started to look for summer practice. I was employed by a Greek hotel where I have spent all summer.
Having my visa refused, I thought my chance to study in Germany was lost, but thanks to competent representatives of Wyższa Szkoła Gospodarki w Bydgoszczy I was given a second chance. After coming back from my summer Erasmus practice in Greece I started to prepare documents for the winter semester in Hochschule Heilbronn.
Germany is one of the biggest and authoritative countries in the European Union, that’s why the system of education in this country is so high. It is known for a great variety of higher educational establishments. The university I was enrolled in, is in the small but cozy city Heilbronn, which is situated in the federal state Baden Württemberg on the river Neckar. It is surrounded by picture-postcard villages and mounds, overgrown with vineyards. With the population of 120000 Heilbronn is considered to be a central city of a region with a great amount of schools and educational establishments, as well as an impressive number of industrial, commercial, administrative and agricultural enterprises.
Strolling the wide corridors of Hochschule Heilbronn, different languages from different parts of the Earth can be heard. As I am a student of International Tourism Management department, I had students from all over the world in my group: exotic Thailand, romantic France, spacious USA aso. Even simple communication and interaction with multinational society expands horizons of perception of different cultures, world and life in general.
It goes without saying, classes in German higher educational establishment flow in a very interesting way: a lot of presentations, discussions, inventions… What makes classes special is a group work. There are hardly any subjects where an individual work is required, in a radical departure from Ukrainian universities, where the main thrust is made on individual work. On my point of view, this fact is the result of requirements of German employees for ability to work and interact in group and society.
Among various subjects, the most interesting, remarkable, strenuous and effort demanding was the Project for Master Students. My group had a unique opportunity to do research on the role and effects of Tourism on Green Growth in Sri Lanka on the example of Jetwing Hotels. Jetwing Hotels are a family owned hotel chain and has been in tourism industry for the past 39 years. They are established on traditional Sri Lankan hospitality with passion and experience as their foundation.
Located 880 km north of the equator in the Indian Ocean and off the southeastern coast of India is the island country of Sri Lanka. With an area of 65,610 square kilometers, Sri Lanka is one of the 122 biggest countries in the world in terms of size, being about 5,000 sq. km smaller than the state of Bavaria.
The objective of the project was to run an economy and at the same time to have an impact to reduce the use of natural resources such as land, water, energy, nature, biodiversity, the oceans etc. The demonstration of tourism impacts in term of sustainability, is considered into 3 forms: 1) economy 2) ecology and 3) society. The group was cooperating with Jetwing Hotels group in conducting a research of tourism sector of Sri Lanka.
Life is full of surprises, so after returning to Germany the university made us an offer to visit Hamburg with the purpose of business appointments with the potential employers. Our group had a chance to negotiate with the representatives of one of the leading airline companies and hotel chains not only in Germany, but in the whole world. Meeting qualified people is a vital experience and solid basis for building a future career and succeeding in life in general. We were privileged to visit the closed facility where the constructive process of private planes took place. We were informed about many details of air-lifting and hotel business which will be very useful in the future.
Our stay coincided with the wonderful Christmas time when the spirit of the holiday is in the air and all the people are shifting around, buying presents and decorating streets and houses. The air was impregnated with caramel, fir-needles and cinnamon. Everything around was fascinating: architecture of ancient buildings and churches, smiling faces of cheerful people, tents with delicious Bretzeln and Weißwürste…
Wouldn’t it be nice if the spirit of holiday prevailed in our life every day? Unfortunately, after bright Christmas days filled with joy, the drab everyday routine returns: projects, exams, tests etc. Examination period is always stressful for students: sleepless nights, tons of books, hours spent in libraries and liters of coffee. But nothing compares to the feeling of freedom and lightness after having passed all subjects, seems like there are wings on your back. You definitely know what I mean.
Life opens doors to great opportunities and useful experiences, all you have to do is to give them a little push. There is no “tomorrow”, “later”, ”next time”, there is only “here” and “now”. Each day and each step takes you closer to your goal, don’t waste time. Don’t get discouraged by failures and misfortunes, as the expression goes “exitus acta probat”, which means “the end would justify the means”.
Mariia Pylypenko
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