Study abroad reflection
When the semester came to an end, I realized that stepping out of my comfort zone was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made.
In just over four months of living abroad, I’ve started to develop a certain affection for this cold and gloomy country. On this distant, unfamiliar continent, everything feels new—the culture, the landscapes, the faces. When I first arrived, every detail was etched into my memory: the warm autumn sunlight, the sky wheel by the river, the howling autumn wind... Everything here was so different from home, and the air even seemed to carry a strange, unfamiliar scent. Every morning, I woke up with a mix of nervousness and excitement, as if I had hit the reset button on life—living and simultaneously searching for a new version of myself.
The foreign culture hit me like a wave, damp with the unfamiliar. It swept me into this new world, and I found myself embracing this sense of not belonging. You meet all kinds of people, and you end up in places and situations you never expected. With our clumsy, broken language, we shared our feelings and joys. Maybe on a tram, by the mascot statue in front of the lecture hall, or even just at the subway exit right after getting off the plane, the quiet kindness of strangers warmed my heart.
The time I spent in Europe was the freest time for my emotions. With the weight of daily life lifted, I consciously filled it with variety and color. Time here moved more slowly, and I allowed myself to fully absorb the beauty of life. It helped me detach from feelings of sadness, and it made me reflect on the kind of life I want to lead, and whether I want to keep viewing the world this way. I’m truly glad I stepped out of my comfort zone, because it gave me memories that may fade, but were once real, full of beauty and happiness.
These months felt like a dream destined to awaken. The occasional unease, the inexplicable sadness at the thought of it all ending, would ultimately settle into a quiet moment on some late-night flight, and all the memories would turn into bittersweet yet warm fragments that will serve as a source of strength for my growth.
Tu Yi, BA(German) Candidate, Class of 2022
Cityscape of Szczecin
Class schedule and part of the study content
Poland's National Independence Day and
Christmas gathering of the German Department at the University of Szczecin
Tourist scenery during the Christmas holiday
New Year's Eve dinner we cooked together and dorm life
