If I have to choose one thing

… that I am most grateful for in my whole journey of learning German, it will always be the people I got to know. Some left good memories, some are still around me, and for sure, some are coming along the way! In the middle of the pandemic, there would be nothing more precious than the feeling of not being alone.

You may have read the previous blog post of mine, where I wrote “Close to my house there is a tower”, where the metaphor of standing tall and still, of being firm and strong was the key idea. It is not until now that I have realised that, different from cement and bricks, humans can be sound not by standing alone towards snow and cold, but by standing together towards care and share. Moreover, we are not supposed to stand still but to go far, not to stay only where we root but to discover new routes. Therefore, we need our fellows.

Speaking German, I interned at DAAD branch in Hanoi, where I got to know the working culture in an international organisation, where I met the most passionate colleagues and became friends with them. It is German that bring German people to me, in Vietnam.

In the middle of the pandemic, there would be nothing more precious than the feeling of not being alone.

Anh-Hoang

Speaking German, I got admitted to university of Passau, where I got to know the student life and also where I met the most talented people all over the world, who live right next door and share the same kitchen with me. It is German that bring people from around the globe to me, in Germany.

Anh-Hoang and her friend smile at the camera
Jenny Mi was born and raised in Germany but we become friends at DAAD Hanoi. © DAAD/ Anh-Hoang
Vietnamese spring rolls for Lunar New Year
Me “roll” culture piece into our international kitchen at our dormitory.© DAAD/ Anh-Hoang
A Calendar, notes, clock and laptop on a desk
“How are you? May you blessed with happiness” written in Urdu by a dorm-mate of mine, who is also DAAD scholarship holder for her master at university of Passau.© DAAD/ Anh-Hoang

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