DAAD Story 4: Magdalena Werstat

1. Who are you and what is your experience with DAAD?

My name is Magdalena, I am 25 years old, I am studying psychology with a clinical focus in my master's program at the University of Potsdam, and with the support of DAAD, I spent an Erasmus semester in Umeå, Sweden, last year.

2. What does your DAAD experience mean to you?

The Erasmus semester enabled me to expand my studies to include topics that are not covered in my subject at the University of Potsdam. In addition to my interest in clinical psychology, I am also interested in health psychology topics—i.e., how we can use psychological models and methods to make people's lives healthier or motivate them to live healthier lives—and activism within the framework of non-profit organizations. In Umeå, I was able to take courses on precisely these topics, allowing me to delve deeper into them and broaden my expertise. Apart from that, I was able to make many international contacts that could help me in many ways in the future.

3. Did you experience culture shock during your DAAD experience?

Since I was already familiar with Sweden as a country, it wasn't difficult for me to settle in. I didn't experience culture shock in the sense of feeling overwhelmed for a short period of time. Nevertheless, I learned a lot of new things about the country and its inhabitants and was able to take away some inspiration for my own life.

4. What is one thing you learned from your DAAD experience?

Generally speaking, the Erasmus semester taught me that life outside Germany is very enriching. By planning my stay abroad, deepening my areas of interest in my studies, and making many new contacts, I was able to experience a great deal of self-efficacy.

5. What advice would you give to students who have not yet been abroad with the DAAD?

I would advise everyone to at least find out more and think about whether this truly unique opportunity might be something for them. When else in life will you have the chance to live abroad for an extended period of time with organizational and financial support and participate in the education system of other countries? The experience is unique, and regardless of whether everything goes smoothly or things get a little chaotic at times, you will grow from it in the end!