The opportunity to attend university in Tübingen, Germany was an eye-opening experience. Prior to my departure, I had originally planned to attend the University of Queensland in Brisbane, Australia; however, with the pandemic introducing a whole new set of barriers to consider, I ended up attending my backup option. While Tübingen was not my original top choice, the experiences it brought me did not disappoint. With those experiences came lessons that I will cherish for years ahead. Tübingen holds a special place in my heart; it opened a door to new friendships, challenges, and adventures that changed my perspective on how I carry myself through life.
I built connections with people from all over the world. On top of making dear friends from Germany, I also made close friends with other international students from countries such as Turkey and Italy. I met these friends in my orientation week, sports science classes, and university events! Tübingen is a welcoming town for students because, similarly to Queen’s, it is a university town. Most of the population is made up of university students, and it is relatively similar to Kingston in size. Therefore, although it was a culture shock to move, the young atmosphere was a familiar comfort in the transition.
Not to say there weren’t challenges. I arrived in Germany with no knowledge of the German language. I arrived at my dorm to meet the house master - he did not speak one word of English. Through charades and Google translate, moving in was a difficult task for my first day. This was just my first challenge of many yet to come. Because the culture is generally more reserved and direct compared to Canadian culture, I found it intimidating to learn. Despite this, it pushed me outside my comfort zone to embrace my mistakes and learn to find thrill in uncertainty.
Through uncertainties, also come adventures! Tübingen has many adventures to offer, but most of these are only available if you keep an open mind! Some of my favourite activities in Tübingen were wandering the local markets in the old town, floating down the neckar (river) in a stocherkahn (boat), and biking by the Österberg to soccer practice. In addition, with Tübingen being located in the heart of Europe, many neighbouring cities were easily accessible.
I would redo my exchange semester abroad in a heartbeat. My love for Tübingen showed me how capable I am of adapting to new environments, making lasting connections, and seeking adventure into the unknown. I strongly recommend this valuable experience to all Queen’s students!
