#student life in Germany

[edugoabroad]

One of the first things we think about when we land in a new place, with all the abundant and wonderful possibilities it inhabits, is food. Nothing elicits joy or dismay, brings people together or polarises them quite like food. Landing up in Germany, particularly to study in Germany, comes with its own anxieties -the newness of it all can be both exciting and daunting. In this scenario, nothing brings a dash of much-needed comfort and helps you immerse yourself in the local culture quite like food. Food, in the larger context, enables you to understand the history that shaped the cultural landscape of said country, and relate with the prevalent culture.

When it comes to mouthwatering food, Germany has plenty to go around. In this blog, we shall highlight some must-try dishes that you must give a go! So while you’re excitedly waiting for your German student visa to arrive, you can trust us to whet your appetite by listing some amazing dishes that you would fall in love with and come to crave throughout your student life in Germany.

Don’t worry - if meat, eggs or even dairy are a big no-no for you, we’ve got you covered! Without further ado, let’s dive right in.

1) Halloumi Im Brot

A semi-hard, unripened cheese made from a concoction of goat and sheep milk, the origins of Halloumi are said to lie in Cyprus although Egypt has also laid claim to it. Bit of a "who came first - the chicken or the egg" conundrum right there and the debate continues to rage, but one thing's for certain - it's delightfully scrumptious.

Over centuries, Halloumi went from being a staple in Cypriot to a celebrated ingredient to many a delicacy across the Mediterranean and the world. Halloumi im Brot, in particular, refers to a sandwich which features a grilled or fried halloumi. Combining the homeliness of bread with the savoury, rich elements of halloumi, the dish also features vegetables like tomatoes, cucumbers, and lettuce along with a drizzle of olive oil or a squeeze of lemon juice. This dish is hearty while encompassing a variety of flavours and textures.

Fun fact: In 2021, the European Union granted halloumi Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) status, ensuring that only cheese produced in Cyprus following traditional methods can be labelled as "halloumi."

It’s super duper healthy too, and has plenty to offer in the protein and calcium department, so feel free to help yourself to a few!

2) Sauerkraut

This one’s especially for the meat-connoisseurs and the trivia lovers - Sauerkraut has been an essential sidekick to plenty of incredible meat-based dishes. It is essentially fermented cabbage, although in present-day there’s a chance you might mostly find the pickled variety. It bears a distinct sour flavour and given that it is made from lactic acid, forming from bacteria that ferments sugars present in the cabbage leaves.

What’s in it for the trivia lovers, you’d say. Well, it’ll come as a surprise to you, but Sauerkraut isn’t from Germany! It was actually conceived in China 2000 years ago by workers who were only provided with shredded cabbage and rice to fend for themselves. They began to store their food in rice wine, which helped with extending shelf life while also landing themselves a nutritious, highly durable source of nutrition. When you’re hungry and need something to keep you going while being inundated with assignments and deadlines, Sauerkraut should keep you in good stead and give you a loaded dose of dietary fibre, Vitamin C, Iron, and Potassium with each serving.

3) Spätzle

While it remains an ever-favourite in Germany, Spätzle isn’t exactly well-known outside of the country. If you’re craving something rich, cheesy and buttery, these fresh egg noodles should make your tummy extremely happy. In theory, the dish is redolent of mac & cheese, but trust us - it’s so, so, so much more than that!

Spätzle are squeezed through a press, shaved off the edge of a board or sliced straight into the boiling water. Afterwards, the simmered Spätzle are drained and then fried in butter. After that it is either baked with grated cheese (KäseSpätzle), or served as a side dish.

It’s taken pretty damn seriously in the region of Swabia - The European Commission made Schwäbische Spätzle and Knöpfle into protected types of pasta. If they have been produced in Swabia, they are permitted to bear the quality seal of “protected geographical indication” which is valid throughout the EU.

4) Pretzels

They never fail to hit it out of the proverbial park when it comes to bakery in Europe. This is all the more applicable to Germany, which is home to a plenitude of delicious baked items, namely the infamous pretzel. This knot-shaped treat is famous the world over, usually coming as a savoury snack one can have when craving something baked. They can make for a very filling treat whilst remaining low-fat, although nutritionists do not exactly swear by its virtues given that it is high on sodium and carbs. So while you can munch on a fair few, moderation is essential.

5) Apfelstrudel

This list wouldn’t be complete without apfelstrudel, which is a traditional German pastry dish made with thin layers of dough filled with sweetened apple slices. Like pretzels, it’s popular all over the world and if you enjoy baklava, you’d definitely want to try this! Historically, the apfelstrudel is linked to Austria but has multicultural origins so when you have it, you’re having a dish which has been evolved through the contribution of myriad culinary approaches.

Conclusion

When you finally kickstart your dream to study in Germany, and begin your university life, it is absolutely essential that you relish your time there as it’s not only about the university you’d attend - it’s also about gaining exposure to new cultures and ways of life, and as we established earlier, trying the local food can play a massive role towards you doing that. Life in Germany for Indian students is filled with opportunities to explore German culture and lifestyle, and diving into the local cuisine is a fantastic way to start. Enjoy these dishes and let them be a delicious part of your student life in Germany!

[questionableresponses]

Invoking the power of our lord and saviour Doitsu to help me finish my assignment

[transmhyra]

Translated from German: "If a University burns down or is otherwise destroyed, all current students immediatly finish their degrees with a bachelors degree" I also find the first paragraph notable "If someone dies during an exam, all other attending students pass" Which makes me wonder, if you murder someone else during an exam, would you pass as well? You would probably get expelled, but at that point in time you were attending the exam AND someone died. I don't think this will work more than once though. Professors hate this trick.

[laurellala-comics]

there are two wolves inside of you. One of them is fretting that you went through all the effort of making a new art account just to pigeonhole yourself once more into a specific fandom, which holds you back from exploring original art concepts that you care about. The other one came up with three separate ace attorney comic ideas in the last hour alone and isn't stopping anytime soon

[cowboylikeyouu]

my life if i could just study criminal law & go fight crimes instead of sitting through hours and hours of ✨verwaltungsprozessrecht✨, ✨sachenrecht✨, ✨schuldrecht✨, ✨staatsorganisationsrecht✨:

[mariamariamare]

Our first day, we never forget!

[cosmogyros]

Literally can't pay my rent until I get paid for September, which hasn't happened yet. Today is Friday, and Monday is the last day of the month. I'm so tired of being poor.

[ventras-world]

13/20 of #productivejune 19.06.24

Today i interviewed two students to join us as assistants and succsessfully reworked a chapter of my paper. I event went for a quick run in the morning.

At the evening we were watching the football game germany vs hungary.

[bykremi]

My exam is tomorrow. It is the last exam for my entire university career. If it goes well, I will graduate next year. I would lie if I said I was not completely overwhelmed and scared. It feels like so much is at stake.

[velvettoothpaste]

the way rocky lays there is symbolic for how i spent most of my semester break and i loved it, thank you very much

[karl-von-moor-official]

liebes deutsches Tumblr:

[miffyarchive]

picture dump of my trip to germany!

i went to leer and weener (⁠づ⁠￣⁠ ⁠³⁠￣⁠)⁠づ

[lainternet99]

ENTRY #16

I am in my pyjamas, about to go to bed when I realized— I almost forgot to write!

My day was very relaxed. In hebrew, we watched a movie to practice ourselves with hearing the language being commonly used. I didn't like the movie that much, but it is for educational purposes, so I have no choice. We were not many in class. I almost finished my answer sheet regarding the film, which is a good thing.

Then came german class. We learned some numbers, as well as revised adjectives and conjugation. This time, I actually learned something. I learned how to say "thirty" (pretty much all the numbers from there to 100) and some exceptions to writing some numbers. Class was very much fun, I won't lie.

To finish my day, I had french. I thought I had to write something due for this class, but I had mixed it up with NEXT class. We reviewed another fairytale and discussed what our assignment would be.

The day was over and I had done an interview for a job. I think I did good; I hope I did. After that, I attended a small info session regarding a possible trip to Berlin in May. I never went to Europe before, so this is a good oppurtunity for me. The total is almost 3k (if I count personal expenses)... which is why I NEED a job! I am not the richest girl on the planet!

I do hope I get the job and that I get to go to Berlin. We won't be staying for too long; a simple 10-day trip. It's not that bad, honestly. It's just longer than my 3-day senior trip to NYC, with entirely different people in an entirely different continent. Honestly I'm hyped for it. A lot of us showed up and we were all interested. The majority were girls, with a few exceptions. I hope that if I were to go, I am not with any boy. Not that I'm a misandrist, I just prefer being around girls. I feel and get to be more comfortable.

Anyways, it is getting late and I must sleep; I start at 8 A.M tomorrow!

RATE OF THE DAY: 10/10

—— lainternet99

[graddingeducationalconsultant]

Germany’s Free Education: Reality or Myth?

Germany’s reputation for providing free higher education has sparked global interest, attracting students from all over the world. But is Germany’s “free education” a reality, or is it cloaked in myths and misconceptions? Let’s go into the facts to see what free education in Germany really means and whether it lives up to the promise.

An Understanding of Germany’s Free Education

Germany eliminated tuition fees for undergraduate students at public universities in 2014. This policy applies to both domestic and international students, making it a popular choice for those looking for a high-quality education at a reasonable cost. However, the term “free education” may be misleading if taken at face value.

[forgettfulthings]

Help me by filling out this survey for my dissertation

Hi everyone! I'm an MSc student in International Health Policy at the London School of Economics and am conducting two surveys as part of my master’s dissertation research. The purpose of these surveys are to assess knowledge, awareness, and perceptions of university students in Germany and England towards plasma donation. I would greatly appreciate it if you could spare 10 minutes to complete the survey (linked below). Both surveys are written in English. Any student (undergraduate and postgraduate) who is currently enrolled as a student in a university in Germany or England is eligible to complete this survey. Additionally, it would be greatly appreciated if you could share this survey with any of your friends and colleagues at other German or English universities.

Your participation is voluntary, and you can withdraw from the study at any time. Your responses will be kept anonymous and confidential, and the information collected will only be accessible by me. All data will be used to report aggregated results, no individual responses will be published. Results will be published in my MSc dissertation and data will be deleted after completion of the study. Feel free to message me or email me at a.nandi3@lse.ac.ukwith any questions. Thank you in advance!

For English students: https://lse.eu.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_0cTf28Dx2pZoCfs

For German students: https://lse.eu.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_0SNSwAxVUpOvBd4

[aryann1456]

The life of Indian students in Germany

The life of Indian students in Germany can be a lot of fun as there are many opportunities to explore and enjoy the country's vibrant culture. Whether you're into sports, music, or festivals, there's something for everyone. German cities are known for their nightlife, and students can take advantage of the many bars, clubs and pubs that are available. Many cities also have a variety of cultural and historical sites to visit, such as museums, castles, and landmarks.

Germany is also known for its festivals and events, and students can take part in many of these throughout the year. Oktoberfest in Munich, for example, is a famous beer festival that attracts visitors from all over the world. There are also many music festivals such as Rock am Ring, Wacken Open Air, and Melt! Festival which are popular among students. 

Mba in Germany for indian students  

Additionally, Germany is well-connected with many other European countries, which makes it easy for students to take advantage of their free time and explore other parts of Europe. Whether you're interested in visiting the beaches of Spain or the mountains of Switzerland, you can easily take a train or bus to get there. In cities like Göttingen, also called as a university town in Lower Saxony, Germany, known for its picturesque old town and lively student population. Stade is a small town in Lower Saxony, Germany, located on the Elbe river. It is known for its historic old town and the Stadium cultural centre, which hosts concerts and theatre performances. The students of PFH German University which is located in Gottingen provides MBA in Germany for indian students and Stade MS in Industrial Engineering in Germany provides have the opportunity to learn, relax and enjoy.

Students can also take advantage of the many outdoor activities that Germany has to offer, such as hiking, biking and swimming in lakes. The country also offers great opportunities for skiing and snowboarding in winter. With all these mentioned activities student life in Germany for an Indian is fun-filled.

However, Indian students in Germany have the opportunity to experience a high-quality education and a unique cultural experience. University life in Germany is known for its strong focus on research and academic excellence. Classes are often taught in small seminar formats, and students are encouraged to actively participate in discussions. Indian students may find that the teaching approach in Germany differs significantly from that in India, but they will also have access to some of the world's greatest academics and resources.

You should be aware that the cost of living in Germany for students can be a little more, and they may need to budget carefully to cover expenses such as rent, food, and transportation. It should be noted that unlike other countries, PFH German university provides scholarship to the students, which makes studying in Germany more affordable for Indian students.

One of the main challenges that Indian students think they may face in Germany is the language barrier. Studying in Germany as an Indian student can present a unique opportunity to learn and improve your German language skills. However, it must be taken into account that many German universities, like PFH German University, have a trend of offering English-taught programs to minimize the language barrier with the increased flow of international students in the country.

Additionally, it's important to note that Indian students will also have to face with the different culture, customs and way of life, which may be challenging. However, with an open mind and willingness to adapt, Indian students can have a truly enriching and fulfilling experience in Germany.

It also must be noted that universities like PFH German university, also offer scholarships and confirmed admissions to Indian students, which is an attractive offer always. Try to avail such offers which will add to your convenience.Overall, the life ofIndian students in Germany can be challenging, but it is also a unique and rewarding experience. Indian students will have the opportunity to gain a world-class education, and at the same time, experience the culture and lifestyle of Germany.