At first, I felt like I was on another planet
(Interview from 2009)
Katja Ullmann
María Teresa Ponce
María Teresa's brisk voice and good German are striking. From 1982 to 1987, she studied in the 'Energy Conversion Section' at TU Dresden – a time that this alert and energetic woman remembers fondly. Today, she manages a thermal power station in northern Nicaragua. She lives with her husband and 11-year-old daughter in the capital, Managua. The joy of having someone from Dresden sitting in front of her is written all over her face throughout our long conversation.
What memories do you have of your time in Dresden?
The best memories of my life. To me, Dresden is one of the most beautiful cities in the world. I am very proud to have studied at TU Dresden. I was so young when I went there; those years shaped me a lot. Many Nicaraguans studied in the German Democratic Republic (GDR) in the 1980s. I was amongst the first, arriving on September 19, 1980, with a group of 36 people. There were only three women, the rest were all men. And I was the youngest at just 18 years old. One of the women flew back home that very November. She had cried all the time and just stayed in her room. She found it very cold.
What were your first impressions?
I, too, felt like I was on another planet at first! Different people, a different culture, a different language... I missed my family. In the beginning, I couldn't even buy a loaf of bread! That was hard. I started by learning German in Wismar for a year and a half. Our course was so well planned by the Herder Institute that we learned the most important words we needed to get by right at the beginning. By December – after just three months – I could speak quite well. Like Tarzan! Every day after class, I went into town to try out my new words.
How many hours of German did you have each day?
We had class from seven until three. For three months, we spent all the time learning German and then other subjects were added: math, physics... German is not easy for native speakers of Spanish. But we also lacked math, science, and technical drawing skills that we needed to be able to study. There was a special intensive course for those of us who were to take technical programs.
So, you came to TU Dresden very well prepared...
Yes. My seminar group was called 82/12/01. I studied engineering thermodynamics and fluid mechanics at the 'Energy Conversion Section'. My program was very difficult. I always headed to the library after the lectures and seminars. We found all the books we needed there and there was even always a copy for every student. I was also very impressed by the fact that everyone was allowed to borrow everything. I often studied with my German fellow students. I particularly remember a good colleague from Radebeul; he helped me a lot.
And in your free time?
...I was the representative of all Latin American students in Dresden. We organized themed evenings to present our countries; each country had a turn. We had our very own Latin American club. I lived in student accommodation at Wundtstraße 3. We always had Nicaraguans who were studying or training in other cities come stay with us. The whole world wanted to come to Dresden, because it was the best city in the GDR. And I had to organize their stay in our student accommodation. Even our embassy sent people to me so that we could show them the city. They used to sleep in the "Neva" hotel in Prager Straße. Does it still exist?
Of course. Did you also come into contact with the local population of Dresden?
You know, at that time, our country was very famous. Many people sought out Nicaraguan students because they wanted to support our country. People from various different institutions in Dresden, including schools, who wanted to donate something for Nicaragua: money for an orphanage, money for motorcycles for the Red Cross or for the police... All sorts of things, even an ambulance. We put these people in touch with our embassy – we were a like a point of contact. There was a lot of help from Dresden for Nicaragua at that time and if a fundraising event was to be held somewhere, we were called.
In 1987, you finished your degree and returned to Nicaragua.
That's right, and I immediately started looking for work. I went to the Ministry of Energy and got a job at a thermal power plant about 90 kilometers outside Managua. I took the bus there and back every day. After two years, I was able to transfer to a thermal power station in Managua, where I stayed until 1999. Since then, I have been working as a maintenance manager at another power plant, run by AEIENERGY, in the port city of Corinto in northern Nicaragua. My work is appreciated in my new company. I'm happy. I started out as the head of a department and am now the deputy plant director. It is also a thermal power plant; the generators are powered by diesel engines – four MAN diesel engines from Augsburg – and we produce a total of 70 megawatts.
Do you have the impression that what you learned at university in Dresden is useful to you?
Absolutely. I am an engineer, and I was trained well. I can use everything I studied in Dresden in my job here. Sometimes, I still use my notebooks and books from back then. However, I am one of the few Nicaraguans who have been able to find work in their profession after returning home. I am lucky that I have a practical profession that is needed here.
Do you still have contact with Dresden?
Every three months, I receive the TU alumni magazine by email. I am also still in touch with a few former fellow students. In 2007, they invited me to a reunion to mark 20 years since our graduation. Unfortunately, I did not have the money for the flights. On business, however, I do travel to Germany from time to time, and then I call some of my friends there and they come to see me, no matter how far away it is, or invite me to their place.
María Teresa, all the best to you and your family, and thank you very much for talking to us.
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