What was your most memorable or surprising moment in Jena?

My first impression of Jena was very memorable. When I arrived by train from Erfurt, I saw the city from the window. It was autumn, and the view was beautiful: red roofs, many yellow trees, and colorful nature everywhere. I remember thinking, “Wow, what a beautiful place.”

I am originally from Armenia, a country that is also very famous for its beautiful nature and mountains. Because of that, I honestly expected Germany to feel a bit darker or more grey. However, when I saw Jena, I was really surprised by how beautiful and cozy it was.

During my stay, I visited many cities in Germany, both large and small. However, Jena remained special for me. It is a quiet, peaceful, and very comfortable city. For me, feeling comfortable in a place is very important, and I truly found that feeling in Jena.

What surprised you about the German education system? How is it different from your home university?

One of the biggest surprises for me was the flexibility of the German education system. Students can choose their own schedule and select the courses they want to take. In my home university, the schedule is usually fixed and determined by the university.

Because of this flexibility, I was able to organize my schedule in a way that worked well for me. For example, I did not have classes on Fridays, which allowed me to travel and explore Germany.

Another difference was the examination system. At my home university we often have midterm exams during the semester and many oral exams. In Germany, most of my courses had written tests or final exams at the end of the semester.

What would you definitely recommend to new visiting students?

I lived in the Clara-Zetkin street 19 dormitory, and it became like a second home for me. The staff and tutors were very friendly and always ready to help. I was especially happy because I lived with my friend — we had a two-room apartment where each of us had our own room, which was perfect.We mentioned that in our application,that we would like to live together and they did their best to find a perfect accommodation for us.

I would also strongly recommend applying for the Welcome Buddy program.When you come to a new country, everything is new and sometimes a little scary, so having someone who knows the city and the university is very helpful. Our Welcome Buddy supported us with many questions, and over time we became very good friends.

On the first day when we arrived in Germany, we had some difficulties because our eSIM was not working and we could not connect to Wi-Fi either. It was quite stressful because I had just arrived in a new country and did not know the German language. I am studying English and American Studies, but at the beginning some people did not want to speak English with us, which made the situation even more confusing.

When I finally got on the first train and managed to connect to Wi-Fi, the first thing I did was call my Welcome Buddy. She stayed in contact with me the whole time and helped me figure out what to do. I was very nervous and even simple things, like finding the correct platform at the train station, felt difficult.

She was incredibly supportive and kind. She even came to meet us personally and helped us with many things.

At one point I injured my knee, and she even brought me medicine. Small gestures like this meant a lot and made us feel very welcome.

Over time we became very good friends. We spent time together, walked around the city. One cafe that I especially remember is located near the Theatre in Jena. They serve a very delicious orange cheesecake there. I wanted to try it again before leaving Germany, but unfortunately they did not have it that day. Still, I would definitely recommend visiting that cafe - the cheesecake was amazing.

Because of this experience, I truly believe the Welcome Buddy program is a wonderful opportunity. If you are lucky, you will not only receive help when you first arrive but also gain a new friend.She even came to say goodbye when we were leaving Germany, which meant a lot to us.

Another recommendation is to travel around Germany. It is very easy to travel by train. Even though trains can sometimes be delayed, traveling with friends makes every trip fun and memorable.

Finally, I would recommend attending the workshops organized by the 欧洲杯投注地址_明升体育-竞彩足球比分推荐 Office. They provide very useful information about registration, housing, and other important administrative steps. These meetings helped me understand everything and successfully complete all the necessary procedures.

I would also advise new students not to worry too much at the beginning. The first days in a new country can feel overwhelming, but very quickly you meet new people, make friends, and start feeling at home.