Warm Days and Hearts in Germany

Hello everyone, I am Kidis from Albania. This was my first semester in RheinAhrCampus and, I am so happy to extend my stay here, for the winter semester 2020-2021.

At the beginning, I was a little afraid of the new environment. I was worried about the new culture, the new customs, and unspoken German rules I was about to face. I am so satisfied that all the process went so good. Integrating with the new international students was so easy. They become rapidly my new friends, and I was so nice to realize that we like the same games, play the same sports, and have so many things in common. I have realized that the culture is not geographic assigned, but with people that share the same interest.

Due to current situation in the world this semester was different for every one of us. It was definitely a new experience to have online classes. From one side, I would say that I miss face to face interacting, while in the other side I have to admit that it is very comfy waking up 10 minutes before the class starts J.  For sure, the professors did a great job this semester with the online classes. It felt so nice to interact in a new online way.

During my studies, I was an intern at RheinAhrCampus. This was a new experience for me, where I have learned a lot. During this time, I have learned how to:

• Clarify roles and responsibilities in my work.
• Communicate with my friends/colleagues/professors.
• Make decisions together as part of a team.
• Build trust and get to know each other better.
• Establish a good morning and night-time ritual.
• Use a calendar for my tasks.
• Prioritize the important this I have to do.
• Delegate tasks.
• Keep everything in one place.
• Make a good work in video making, which requires a lot of creativity.

Important part of my experience has been my friends, and spending some quality time with them. This time includes cooking traditional dishes, jogging, hiking and camping near Remagen at some stunning lakes, putting fire, and playing so many games. Before I found very difficult to exercise alone, but thanks to my international friends, I have the support to go out of my comfortable zone. Remagen is a very nice place to go jogging by the river and enjoy the peace.

Even though we didn’t have many options for travelling, we have managed to visit some beautiful places. Chris and I decided to find some inspiration and explore more parts of Germany. We have decided to go to the Black Forest and experience the nature and touristic parts of Germany. The first day we went hiking in the nearby forests and say wild deer whilst having a picnic. We were interested in the natural lakes of Titisee and we explored the woodworking shops and bought souvenirs and postcards. Another trip was to Amsterdam. There we were able to see the beautiful city of Amsterdam, explore the local shops, visit the Van Gogh Museum, as well as join some street parties.

This semester, I have spent a lot of time and energy on challenging tasks, which took me out of my comfort zone, but I found it so easy thanks to my professors’ support. I am very excited for the new semester, which I can already feel that it will be full of a good vibe, new adventures, new international meals cooked by my friends, and new challenges. I am sure that it will be an amazing adventure!