Name: Bogdana
Age: 22
Country of origin: Bulgaria
Degree course: Economy
School: University of Applied Sciences Bochum

 

Hallo, my name is Bodgana. I started studying in Bochum four years ago. First, I studied at the Ruhr-University, but for the past two semesters I have been studying Economy at the Fachhochschule. I ended up in Bochum by chance, it just happened because of admission and my visa.

At the beginning, I found studying hard, because you’re on your own and you have to be very disciplined to finish everything in time and inform yourself everywhere. But by and by you learn how to do things – you just have to be willing to accept help. I was lucky to come here with good German knowledge and only needed a little improvement. I think that it’s also a good alternative to learn the language after arriving here – however, you should be interested.

I used to live in Laerholzstrasse 84, now I’m living in Querenburger Höhe, both are dormitories run by the AKAFÖ. I make a living mostly through part-time work, but I also get some money from my parents.

There’s usually no real connection between the native students and me. That’s not because of our nationalities, often there’s no real interest on both sides. The closest friends of foreigners are mostly other foreigners, but of course there often are exceptions. Everybody has to decide for himself and know how much he wants to seek contact with the natives.

In comparison with my home city, I miss the more casual and relaxed atmosphere. And my family of course. There was nothing that I found especially unusual after my arrival in Bochum; everything is just a little "different". People from more distant and culturally different countries probably find life in Germany more unusual.

What I like very much is that you can find everything you need on campus and in the surrounding area. I also like that there are so many multinational students and that many people get involved to make improvements. Bochum isn’t a big, expensive city, but nevertheless you’ll find everything here.

After my studies I would like to work here for some time. But eventually I’d like to go home with my work and life experience, to be with my family and to try to do something for my country…