DAAD Story 1: Philipp Hermann
1. Who are you and what is your experience with DAAD?
I am Philipp and I am studying for a Master's degree in Business Information Systems at the University of Potsdam.
My only experience with the DAAD was when I decided to spend a semester abroad. I first used the DAAD to find out what opportunities are available to students to go abroad and how this can be financed. I came across the Erasmus+ program, which appealed to me the most, as it offers reliable funding and also provides other valuable support such as “Green Travel” or “Social Top-Ups”. In the end, I decided to spend a semester abroad at a university in Istanbul, as my home university and the Turkish university already cooperate and my degree program is also offered there.
2. What does your DAAD experience mean to you?
The DAAD makes every experience unique. It offers special opportunities to get the chance to live abroad and really get in touch directly with the local people to get to know the culture, country, region and city in the best possible way. I think that's exactly what a DAAD experience is all about: direct contact with people and building long-term relationships.
3. Did you experience a culture shock as a result of your DAAD experience?
Not really. Although it was my first time in Turkey and I had the chance to live and study abroad for a longer period of time, I already had a certain idea of what to expect. I prepared myself internally to gain as many experiences as possible - from getting to know various people, be it locals or other international students, to exploring the city and the country, if possible to the remotest corner. I think that's what makes the difference: when you're in your home country, you always find time to discover new places and usually already have a close circle of friends. But since you're in a new place for a limited time, you want to enjoy every day to the fullest, experience as much as possible and make lots of contacts.
4. What is one thing you have learned from your DAAD experience?
One thing I have learned from my DAAD experience is flexibility in everyday intercultural life. I learned to adapt quickly to new situations and people - be it when communication sometimes only works with hands and feet or when I spontaneously met locals and international students. This openness and ability to adapt quickly that I developed abroad now help me to get to grips with new people and environments more quickly.
5. What advice would you give to students who have not yet been abroad with the DAAD?
Even if you may have little or no interest in going abroad at first: Just check the DAAD website and your university to find out what opportunities are currently available. It doesn't cost anything, and there's no harm in finding out. That's what I did. At the beginning, I was also unsure whether a stay abroad was the right thing for me. But as I looked more closely at the options and how to finance it, I became more and more sure that I wanted to have this experience. The testimonials from other students also helped me a lot to get an initial feel for what it's like there. My simple recommendation is: just do it - you will never regret it. You can only look back happily.
