Erste Wahl für die Bildung

Eine besondere Herausforderung für sie und die anderen 19 Studierenden, die aus Indonesien durch das Programm an die Jade Hochschule gekommen sind, sei der Deutschkurs. Die Sprache sei schwer zu lernen – weniger sich die Vokabeln zu merken als eine Konversation in der neuen Sprache zu führen. Da die Menschen in Deutschland fast alle sehr gutes Englisch sprechen, hatte sie jedoch noch keine Probleme durch die Sprachbarriere. Monica lernte bereits früh in der Schule Englisch und spricht die Sprache inzwischen fließend. 

Kulturelle Entdeckungen und Herausforderungen

Neben dem akademischen Leben hat Monica die kulturellen Besonderheiten Deutschlands hautnah erlebt. Ein besonderes Erlebnis war das kalte Wetter. Die 21-Jährige sah hier zum ersten Mal Schnee und erzählt, wie sie an den Film „Frozen“ denken musste. In Indonesien gäbe es zwar die Regenzeit, ansonsten aber keine wirklichen Jahreszeiten. Auch die Offenheit der Menschen war in einigen Aspekten neu für Monica. Viele junge Leute und vor allem Paare zeigen sich öffentlich ihre Zuneigung. „In meiner Kultur gilt das eher als privat, vor allem, wenn man nicht verheiratet ist. Hier finde ich es jedoch sehr schön und liebevoll“, erzählt sie. 

Kulinarisch musste sie sich ebenfalls anpassen. Während sie die Vielfalt der deutschen Küche zu schätzen weiß, vermisst sie die Schärfe und Würzigkeit ihrer heimischen Speisen. Vor allem scharfe Soßen fehlen ihr, wenn sie in der Mensa essen geht. Die Weihnachtsmärkte mit ihren Lichtern, Dekorationen und Leckereien haben jedoch schnell einen besonderen Platz in ihrem Herzen eingenommen.

Dank des Deutschlandtickets hat Monica die Gelegenheit genutzt, zahlreiche Städte zu besuchen. Oldenburg, Osnabrück und Hamburg, aber besonders Köln und Berlin haben sie mit ihrer Architektur und historischen Bedeutung begeistert. „Deutschland hat so viel zu bieten. Ich würde es jedem weiterempfehlen“, schwärmt sie. Auch Ausflüge in große europäische Städte wie Prag und Amsterdam standen auf ihrer Agenda. In den Niederlanden konnte die junge Studentin beispielsweise einige Tage eine Freundin aus ihrer Heimat besuchen, die dort für ihr eigenes Auslandssemester lebt.

Ein Blick in die Zukunft

Monica bleibt noch bis Ende Februar in Deutschland und wird nach ihrer Rückkehr das achte und letzte Semester ihres Bachelorstudiengangs in Indonesien absolvieren. Ihre Zeit hier hat ihren Wunsch bestärkt, anschließend ein Masterstudium im Ausland anzustreben. 

„IISMA hat mein Denken verändert und mir gezeigt, wie bereichernd es ist, neue Kulturen und Perspektiven kennenzulernen."

Agnes Monica

Top Choice for Education

Indonesian student talks about her wish to study in Germany

Wilhemshaven.Sumatra. Agnes Monica, originally from Palembang on the Indonesian island of Sumatra, is currently in her seventh semester at Jade University of Applied Sciences. Monica is participating in the IISMA (Indonesian International Student Mobility Awards) exchange programme, which is organised by the Indonesian Ministry of Education.

This 21-year-old studies Business Administration at the university ‘Politeknik Negeri Sriwijaya’ and is currently in her seventh semester. Her stay in Germany was made possible and supported financially by the IISMA programme. However, her path to join the programme was anything but easy. The intensive selection process included essays on academic and personal achievements, health checks, interviews and psychological questions.

Monica already applied for the programme once during her third semester, but she was not selected. Determined to realise her dream, she tried again in the sixth semester. On her second try, she had no problem succeeding against her competition. Before she started her semester abroad, this enthusiastic student had taken part in the ‘Most Outstanding Student’ competition, in which the best students go head-to-head. Monica reached the final round, ranking her among the best ten in the country. She was able to name her top three countries when applying for her semester abroad. For Monica they were Germany, France and Taiwan. 

 “I never thought I would actually get my top choice”

Agnes Monica 

Why Germany?

There were good reasons why Germany was Monica’s top choice. She carried out thorough research into her options. “The German education system impressed me with its focus on critical thinking and interactive teaching”, she explains. In contrast to Indonesia, where politeness and reserve dominate, she is experiencing a culture of open dialogue here. Students are encouraged to ask questions and to express their own opinions. This is an approach that Monica finds extremely rewarding. She was particularly impressed with the fact that professors treat their students as equals. The things she appreciates most at Jade University are the modern teaching environments and the support she receives. Her favourite place to study is the remodelled main building. But the best thing about studying in Germany, she tells us, is the positive and constructive feedback that she receives on her work. She tells us this is motivating and shows that effort is recognised. 

The German course is a particular challenge for her and the other 19 students from Indonesia on the programme at Jade University. She finds the language difficult to learn, not so much when it comes to learning vocabulary, but more holding a conversation in the new language. However, as nearly all the people in Germany speak very good English, this language barrier has not caused her any problems. Monica already learned English at school early on and is now a competent and fluent speaker.

Cultural discoveries and challenges

In addition to academic life, Monica has experienced the cultural peculiarities of Germany at first hand. The cold weather was a special experience. At the age of 21, Monica saw snow here for the first time and told us she was reminded of the film ‘Frozen’. Indonesia has a rainy season but no other real seasons. The openness of other people was also new for Monica in some respects. Many young people and particularly couples show affection to one another in public. “In my culture that is seen more as private, especially if you are not married. But here I find it very nice and loving”, she says.

She also had to adapt her eating habits. While she appreciates German cuisine, she does miss the hot and spicy flavours of the food of her native country. She particularly misses hot sauces when she eats at the university canteen. However, the Christmas markets with their lights, decorations and tasty treats very quickly found a special place in her heart. Monica used the opportunities presented to her by the Deutschland-Ticket travel card in order to visit numerous cities. Oldenburg, Osnabrück and Hamburg, but particularly Cologne and Berlin, inspired her with their architecture and historical significance. “Germany has so much to offer. I would recommend it to anyone”, she enthuses. She also took trips to major European cities like Prague and Amsterdam. For example, she was able to visit a friend from Indonesia for a few days who is spending her own semester abroad in the Netherlands.

Looking to the future

Monica will stay in Germany until the end of February and will then complete the eighth and last semester of her bachelor’s degree after returning to Indonesia. Her time here has strengthened her desire to subsequently pursue a master's degree abroad. 

“IISMA changed the way I think and showed me how enriching it is to get to know new cultures and perspectives."

Agnes Monica

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