Welcome to Magdeburg – A joint start to the exchange year for GJU students
Once again this semester, the GJU Project Office at Magdeburg-Stendal University of Applied Sciences welcomed new exchange students from Jordan with a joint welcome lunch. On April 22, the students came together to get to know each other, exchange experiences and share first impressions of everyday student life in Germany over a relaxed lunch.
For Marie Dierck, student relations manager in the project office, personal exchange is particularly important on this occasion. “Here we find out first-hand how students are doing, what concerns them and where we can provide them with even better support,” she says.
Student Razan Namroqa, for example, reported that she first had to get used to the usual afternoon lectures in Germany – in Jordan, courses usually take place in the morning. Studying in a foreign language is also a challenge, particularly when it comes to subject-specific vocabulary. But students are not discouraged by this: They support each other and are not afraid to ask teachers to repeat or speak at a slower pace.
In addition to small moments of homesickness such as after a familiar Jordanian meal – students also discover many new favorite aspects of their place of study. Gaith Basha, currently an intern at the Jordanian Embassy in Berlin, raves about the green surroundings of Magdeburg and the long walks in his free time.
The Welcome Lunch thus remains a nice start to an exciting, instructive year in Germany – and an important moment of arrival.
