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

More about Anh Hoang

Comments

Write comment

More posts by Anh Hoang

A bench in front of a wall, the sun is shining.
I did not even choose Passau at first, all I thought of was just to come to any place in Germany, so that I can improve my language skills. Just that. In a nutshell, it was not Passau that I chose, but it was me that Passau – the university city that chose me.© DAAD/ Anh-Hoang
Blogger Ann smiling into camera.
Blog post written by Anh Hoang
Europe
Anh standing at the promenade of a river
Anh on the river promenade@Anh-Hoang Nguyen
Blogger Ann smiling into camera.
Blog post written by Anh Hoang
Culture & Leisure Activities
View of a store decorated for Christmas in Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
Study in Germany gives you the chance to easily travel to other European countries during holiday. I took this picture during Christmas and New Year’s Eve break in Amsterdam, the Netherlands.© DAAD/ Anh-Hoang
Blogger Ann smiling into camera.
Blog post written by Anh Hoang
Christmas
A scene at the desk in the evening. The light is on.
All of these “was just”, because time in the end was just a few numbers show up on my phone screen after a single tap.© DAAD/ Anh-Hoang
Blogger Ann smiling into camera.
Blog post written by Anh Hoang
Helpful tips
A shot from a street in Hanoi, Vietnam. You can see a lighted shop, pedestrians in front of it.
It’s easy to highlight differences, but let us consider the similarity between the people, culturally and humanly. It’s evident to discriminate, but let us find out the resemblance between two nations, respectfully and diplomatically.© DAAD/ Anh-Hoang
Blogger Ann smiling into camera.
Blog post written by Anh Hoang
Accomodation

In line with this topic

The "Kleine Uli" (Little Ulrich Street) is just 100 metres from the University Square of the University of Halle and invites you to stroll, relax, chat and celebrate with a large number of cafés, bars and restaurants.
The "Kleine Uli" (Little Ulrich Street) is just 100 metres from the University Square of the University of Halle and invites you to stroll, relax, chat and celebrate with a large number of cafés, bars and restaurants.© MLU/Fotograf
Leisure Activities