My first year on the international Master's programme in Sustainable Development is over - time to take stock of living and studying in two European cities and universities of the European University Alliance Arqus. Even though both places share the German language (with a few variations), there are other differences between the two places besides the distance of almost 800 kilometres and a few mountains. In the big city of Leipzig, you come across German history and subculture in many places, while in Graz you are more likely to stumble over your own feet, distracted by the beautiful old town and the flair of a holiday city. Although both cities are young and dynamic and are characterised by their many international students, my impressions of winter in Graz and summer in Leipzig couldn't be more different.
In Graz, I spent the beautiful autumn days in the Lendviertel district or along the River Mur, while the pre-Christmas period was spent at the Christmas market. Graz is a city of short distances, and the surrounding mountains are only a stone's throw away and invite you to go (wine) hiking or skiing. My vocabulary has also expanded and I found it really exciting that I encountered so many cultural differences in the exchange with Austrians, despite many expectations. Towards the end of the semester, between the stress of free time and the many university assignments, my favourite newly learned saying kept popping into my head: ‘It'll work out’. And indeed, in the end I will always remember a very intense semester in Austria. This was followed by an equally enjoyable summer semester in Leipzig. I spent most of my weekends here between open-air festivals, flea markets and the many parks.
The unique lake landscape around the city means that every exam period is only half as bad, because a dip in the cool water is usually just a short bike ride away. I will definitely remember the balmy summer nights by the Cossi or the canal for a long time to come. Before I moved to Leipzig, I was also very curious to see to what extent the political tensions in the city and the region could be felt. After a few months, I would definitely say that I have rarely experienced such a politicised, but also diverse and open city that offers great scope for commitment to diversity, justice and European democratic values.
Studying at two different universities has given me the opportunity to develop academically. Particularly in the field of sustainability, it has helped me a lot to get to know so many different perspectives and to engage in dialogue with lecturers and students from different disciplines. While I learnt more about global transformation processes and sustainability communication in Graz, teaching in Leipzig gave me the opportunity to take a closer look at sustainability in its concrete application form. I focussed on issues such as shaping a sustainable energy transition and dealing with future extreme weather events.
As part of the Master's programme, I was able to get to know many people from all over the world. In Leipzig, I also had the opportunity to be part of the Arqus language café as a tutor and immerse myself even deeper in the Arqus community. Having grown up bilingual myself, I know how incredibly valuable it is to be able to communicate in several languages. Therefore, I was very happy to support other people in deepening their knowledge of German. I found it very enriching to gain new insights during the discussions with the participants. Of course, the European elections were also a major topic and it was very hopeful to see that, despite cultural differences, everyone wants to work towards an open and socially just, diverse community in Europe.
Studying at the two Arqus universities in Leipzig and Graz is a unique experience: it is a mixture of intercultural adventure, academic challenge and personal development. Overall, I am very grateful for the opportunity to be part of the Arqus network and to be supported by Arqus to broaden my horizons once again.