Paul from Russia
Paul from Russia
Paul is from Russia and has been living in Dresden for six years now. When he enrolled at TU Dresden he had applied for entry in a higher semester in Eletrical Engineering (Diplom) because he had already started studying in Russia before.
- What do you like about TU Dresden?
It was very easy to get a room in a student dorm. Living in a student accommodation offered the possibility to practise my German a lot and do things with my flatmates. It was easy to meet new friends there with whom I dared to speak German.
Something else I really like is the possibility to work as a student assistant at one's faculty. That's not only a student job but also an opportunitiy to gain practical knowledge that's relevant for my studies. Furthermore, I am very flexible in that job and how much time I want to dedicate to it.
- What is your favourite place in Dresden?
The Altstadt quarter and some parts of Neustadt, like for example the "Kunsthofpassage".
- What should international students definitely try out while living in Dresden?
All the typical things: the castles, Meißen, Saxon Switzerland. Just visit these places and then decide for yourself what else could be of interest to you.
- What was especially difficult when you arrived?
I found it hard to understand the system. But my case is special as I have applied for entry in a higher semester and thus, I had to organise a lot of things on my own. In Russia you get a preorganised schedule that's similar for everyone. Here I had to organise my own timetable and find out which courses I had to choose. I didn't understand my "Studienordnung" (study regulations) at first because there were several versions according to entry years and I didn't know which one applied to me. But in the end I understood and was able to organise everything and get some orientation.
- Living in Germany what is the biggest difference to your home country?
It's different country. In my university I had much more personal contact to my professors and we spent much more time together. The professors not only giving the lectures but also the seminars. Also the exams were different. Here, most a written exams, there they were also written but afterwards you would look them over together with your professor. You could ask questions and were also able to correct some of your mistakes if you were able to pinpoint and explain them. I really liked that and it was almost impossible to cheat or copy from someone else because there was the talk afterwards. You also received your grade directly afterwards.
The weather here is milder. I lived in Siberia. In summer the weather is pretty similar to here and in winter it's the same but you have to put a minus in front of the temperatures.
- Any advice for other students living abroad for the first time?
Talk to others. It so useful also to improve your language skills. If it's your first time abroad, you usually are a bit afraid so talking to others, getting to know each other, making new friends, ... helps a lot. You will feel safer as well and more self confident. Just get in touch with others.
(The interview was conducted by Krista Aguilar in German in the winter semester 2018/19.)