DAAD Story 3: Martin Schlegel
1. Who are you and what is your experience with DAAD?
My name is Martin Schlegel, I come from a small town in southern Brandenburg, I am now a Flutter developer and live in Rome. In 2017/2018, I studied in Coimbra (Portugal) for six months through Erasmus+.
2. What does your DAAD experience mean to you?
The experience I gained through Erasmus means a great deal to me. I finally had the opportunity to learn proper English and, more importantly, to lose my fear of new things. My stay abroad gave me the necessary impetus to come out of my shell, to look beyond my own horizons, and left a lasting positive impression on me.
3. Did you experience culture shock during your DAAD experience?
Fortunately, I didn't experience the classic culture shock. Of course, there were a few hurdles to overcome at the beginning, and at the end I was sad that the six months were already over. But all in all, I had a very positive experience.
4. What is one thing you learned from your DAAD experience?
I think I learned a lot of things. As I mentioned, I lost my fear of new things and, for example, completed a six-month internship at SAP in Budapest in 2019. I was able to meet many new people from other countries, with whom I am still in contact today. And I think and hope that this has made me much more open to other cultures and people than I was and would have been otherwise.
5. What advice would you give to students who have not yet been abroad with the DAAD?
Do it! You have little to lose and a lot to gain. If it doesn't work out and you have a bad time and/or cut your stay abroad short, that's okay. You may have “lost” six months, but you've actually gotten to know yourself better. In the best case scenario, you've had a great time and gotten to know new people and cultures. You'll never have this opportunity again in terms of quantity and quality. In the context of your studies, it's much easier to go to another country and meet new people in the same position/stage of life. Later in your professional life, it's more difficult but certainly possible, but it's also something completely different! If it were up to me, a stay abroad would be mandatory in a bachelor's program. People should be forced to be happy. ;)
