IASTE-Praktikantin

My name is Shahd, a 22 year old Palestinian. I study Management as a major and Information Systems as a minor in Sultan Qaboos University in Oman. A lucky enough student who was nominated to pursue an internship in Brandenburg University of Technology in Germany.

It was Sunday,10:30 PM when my flight landed in Germany. I knew it will be a whole new experience for me to be here because this is my first time to visit a country that differs in everything from the counties I have been to. However, I was totally amazed how we live in the same world and how our countries literally look so different.

I spent my first day in Berlin with my friend in which I got to learn more about the transportation system; S-Bahn, U-Bahn and public buses. It was such a great thing to try for the first time in my life. Living and moving in a big, modern, and crowded city like Berlin requires lots of skills I guess. Luckily, my internship is in Cottbus city where I will be spending most of my time.

I live in a small apartment inside the small university’s campus in the small Cottbus! A big difference between Cottbus and Berlin cities. It is such a beautiful, colourful, and quiet city. Moving is very easy, most people use bicycles to move around. The centre of the city is near to the university which makes life much easier for a new comer like me. 

I was supposed to start my work as an intern on Tuesday but I got it as a day off. So, I was just introduced to the department and I got the chance to spend more time with one of IAESTE/DAAD members. She took me in a small tour in the university and the city. Many awesome details everywhere!

I officially started my internship on Wednesday. It was a great first day with my supervisor and other colleagues. Dealing with them is very comfortable and they are so helpful. My tasks are clear and I am enjoying working on them. They even started to offer me some opportunities to attend workshops and that will add a lot to me.

Before I came to Germany, I had the perception that Germans are so serious and strict but that appeared to be incorrect! They are very lovely, flexible and understanding people.

The one and only challenge I am facing as a person who cannot speak or understand German is language barriers, in my daily life - out of the university.

I am planning to utilize my time for the next two months as much as I can to get to know and learn more about German culture, to visit different cities and to meet new people.