Anastasiya Nederytsia - Master Student From Ukraine

Meet Anastasiya Nederytsia. She lived in Munich, Mainz, Berlin, Cologne, and Bonn - German Globetrotter! You can read her study in Germany success story here.

Place of Birth	Krivoy Rog, Ukraine
Nationality	Ukrainian
Where did you live?	Krivoy Rog (Ukraine), Munich, Berlin, Mainz, Cologne (Germany)
Education Level Prior to Relocation	Secondary School
Reason of moving to Germany	Bachelor Program
When did you move?	2013
How old were you?	18
Are you still in Germany?	Yes
What is your current occupation?	2nd Year Master Student
What is your future goal?	Full-time job in Germany, Permanent Residence
Would you like to stay in Germany?	Yes

Chapter 1: Ukraine

I was born in Krivoy Rog – the center of Ukraine – the longest city in Europe. We have 2 rivers forming a shape of a horn, which contributes to the name of my city (according to one of the legends).

I was a very active child: I took dancing, singing, and painting classes. I became the head of my class and an editor of a school newspaper. I became interested in Public Relations & Communication studies since then.

In Ukraine, I disliked math and physics and when looking for a future profession I tried to stay far away from it. Frankly speaking, it was also very difficult to choose a profession. I started thinking 2 years before graduation from secondary school. I had no idea what I wanted to study or whom I wanted to be, so I decided to go for business – you can find a job in any industry or field. It is a very broad choice. 

I definitely recommend parents to send their children abroad (from 11-12 years old), not for long-term, but rather for language courses or Summer language camps. This experience helped me to become more open-minded, experience people from different backgrounds and cultures and to remove a culture shock. It broadens horizons when you get to know people from different nationalities and you hear their stories. When you are young, you absorb everything like a sponge and you haven’t yet formed a strong opinion on different matters. It is also a great age to learn languages because you learn at a rapid speed.

When I was 13, I studied the English language in Malta Summer Language lessons. I loved the atmosphere. When I was 14, I went to the UK. I started thinking of studying abroad since then because the education standard abroad differs a lot from Ukraine and I chose to study for an Applied Sciences Degree abroad. For me, when I was moving abroad long-term, I wasn’t afraid at all. Germany stereotypes didn’t bother me or the fact that I would live alone and without parents. It was another exciting experience. I didn’t have any fear, because I already experienced 2-3 weeks courses in Malta and 2-3 month courses in the UK. 

Of course, culture & language shock will always be there, but minor in comparison to those students who move abroad for the first time at the age of 18. If you have an opportunity to go even for 2-3 weeks prior, definitely do it! I’d recommend parents to send children from 5th grade onward abroad. 

My parents supported me with the idea of studying abroad. I wanted to select the UK, but it was much more expensive than Germany. I applied to schools in Italy and Germany through an agency, and we decided to visit the schools prior to applications during my school vacations. I loved the Bocconi University in Italy but I didn’t know the Italian language and didn’t want to do a preparatory program. State universities in Europe didn’t accept Ukrainian secondary education without university studies (1 or 2 years) and we found a good option in Germany at a private university, which allowed me to study the Bachelor program directly.

Parents considered Germany as an economically stable country. Moreover, we had friends and relatives in Germany, who could help out in case. I moved to Munich when I was 18 after I had finished secondary school. I advise Ukrainian students to study hard. With 100% GPA, many students can skip a preparatory year in Germany (considering you speak English). Do not waste a year of your life, take this chance!

Chapter 2: Germany

1. I thought Germany is punctual and Germans are punctual. This is so not true. Hello Deutsche Bahn!

2. I thought people are cold. This is true, but it changes with the foreigners coming to Germany. People are becoming more open-minded. They influence the German culture.

Summary of my life after the move: Munich (3.5 years) – Ukraine – Mainz – Berlin – Munich – Cologne

I finished my Bachelor in Munich, left the city, but came back. I saw so many changes. People who are living there do not see these changes. People became more friendly and open-minded, more things doubled in the English language, oriented not just on the locals rather on foreigners too.

I did an Internship in Mainz and worked in Sales. Mainz is a very beautiful city, but too small for me. You see the same people every day. I wanted to say hi, but hey, we didn’t know each other. I was missing the drive and the energy of the big cities. 

Then I moved to Berlin and worked in the Affiliate Marketing. I moved because it was a full-time position and because I really wanted to move there to experience the capital. I considered the South to be boring. 

Not all companies can sponsor your visa. It didn’t work out in Berlin further, because of the visa, that’s why I had to find another job with higher pay. One lovely evening, I applied spontaneously for a job without even looking for a location – got a call – got an in-person interview - got a job offer the next week – and I ended up in Munich within a few days again. That’s how fast qualified people get hired in this country. I have to point out that it was a long way to achieve it with education and first experience. The best decisions in life are spontaneous. I worked in Inside Sales in the IT sector in Munich and developed my passion for Digital Marketing. 

The next step in my career was already predefined: I want to do a Master degree. I found the only school in Germany offering Digital Marketing and applied. I was happy to know I have managed to get in, as it is a very well-ranked school. After I got to know that I was accepted to university, I got a position as a working student in the Online Marketing department of the same company. 

The road took me to Cologne. Cologne is amazing, the people are open-minded and great, so much more different from Berlin and Munich (by far), but the city is not for me. I am into architecture and culture. I am missing this Munich charm and architecture. Yes, Cologne has a nice city center and a great location, but if you live not in the center, you live in a pretty grey area. Maybe if I would live in the center, I would consider staying longer.

Since my university has a lot of German students, I got to know many more German friends than before. I am studying with 20 different nationalities (out of 25 students), among those: Hungary, India, Pakistan, Thailand, Italy, Germany, Armenia. I tried to find Russian-speaking students in my university, but I think we got max 10, if not less. Out of 500-600 students that is a very good number.

The school offers a lot of opportunities, I absolutely love it: weekly events with recruiters on campus, workshops with BOSCH, Telekom, REWE: when you can learn new industry tips & tricks and talk to the people, who can end up being your employers. The chances to get a job or internship are very high. I have another semester to go and then I will be writing my Master thesis.

My last semester starts in a month and I will finish on-campus studies by next year. I will write my Master Capstone (Thesis) and graduate in Summer 2020. In fact, I have just gotten my next student job and I have a lot of opportunities on the radar. Perhaps, I will write my Master thesis with this company. Perhaps, if all goes well, I would work for this company full time in Bonn.

Bonn and Cologne are neighboring cities, and they share the same underground network. 50 Minute commute. For Russians and Ukrainians that is an OK distance. My European friends would complain probably.

When I wake up after my graduation, I would probably see myself for the next few years staying in Germany. If I travel once and fall in love with another country, so be it. I might consider it, but Germany is appealing to me as of now. I have been in Germany for the last 5-6 years with some breaks, so I am aiming for a permanent residence in the next few years after I have secured my first work visa.

Chapter 3: Miscellaneous

What do I do in free time? What is it? :)

Gym, meeting friends, travel, cooking. If I travel outside Germany, I mostly choose Belgium, Holland, Italy (my favourite) – Pasta, Pizza, Cappuccino. 

My mother often travels to visit me in Germany. With Ukraine, it is very flexible to travel now especially visa-free. I speak with relatives and my friends from Ukraine very often and I go home as often as I can.

In Germany, you can often work from home (home office) – this way, I could travel back home and save costs on living expenses. It is a common practice for German companies: as long as the job is done, it is not relevant for you to be 40-60 hours per week in the office. 

I have some advice for foreigners. Customer beware:

1. If you decided to go to Germany, start learning German before arrival. It helps a lot with documents and bureaucracy. The majority speak English, but you will be treated better if you are trying to speak German

2. Do not be shy to speak the German language. Break this barrier early enough. I started learning German in school in Ukraine. I knew German grammar well, but I was very shy to speak. Sometimes I am still shy with the language. I understand 98%, depending on the accent, but when I have to speak about Digital Marketing, let’s say I have a processing delay

3. Check and recheck all your contracts!!! Especially telephone services. You cannot simply cancel contracts in Germany

4. Accommodation search – start earlier! It is not like in Russia or Ukraine, where you can arrive and find something, here you can’t just do that. The process takes longer, and the landlords ask you for the CV and the form to fill out (Selbstauskunft). Munich and Hamburg would be the top 2 difficult cities for accommodation search. Check for forums for the people from your country. Do not underestimate the power of your nationality. Same nationality landlords will give preference to you

If I look back now and I have to choose the best German city for me…well… I kind of have a love-hate relationship with Munich. I love it and miss it when I am out of the Bavarian reach. But I’m so bored when I am there. Has anyone else experienced the same feeling?

Maybe somewhere between Berlin and Munich? Maybe party until 30 years old in Berlin and then retire in Munich?

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18 IELTS Tips And Tricks To Get Band 7 Or Higher

Tip#6 Speak English at least 30 mins per day out loud. Tip#16 🤐 If you can, take a seat in the first three rows. Read the whole list of advices here. Read more advices below and practice, practice, practice!

IELTS Basics

IELTS (International English Language Testing System) is the most popular and widely accepted English test (among others: TOEFL, Cambridge Advanced Certificate, PTE, etc.) IELTS test was created to assess the English language proficiency of non-native English speakers. The scorecard contains the test taker’s photo, nationality, first language and date of birth. The test is officially accepted by more than 9000 organizations worldwide as a means of measuring language proficiency. More than 3 million people from 140 countries take IELTS test every year.

If you are planning to work in the English language or to take up a study course at an international university, this article is for you. This post is focused on the most relevant to studying abroad IELTS: The Academic IELTS. If you haven’t studied in the English-speaking program prior to your relocation, you may be required to take this test.

You will often hear false advice about IELTS. Don’t listen! Myths about the difficulty of the test are not true. Instead, prepare for the test, improve your English, and follow the tips at the end of the article. Successfully passing the test will minimize your visa risk as well as the risk of not being understood abroad.

The test can be taken up to 48 times a year. If you take a test and do not perform well, you can retake it without any delay or limit on retakes. An IELTS result will be presented in 9 different scores from ‘band 0’ – ‘no show’ to ‘band 9’ ‘native speaker level’. IELTS 7.0 is the ultimate goal for the majority of international students. To get selected for your dream university abroad, score well in the test. A score of IELTS 7.0 or 7.5 is evidence that your English is good enough to join any university across the globe, even elite Ivy League institutions.

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IELTS	TOEFL | CEFR Level
9 – Expert User	118-120 | C2
8 – Very Good User	110-114 | C1
7 – Good User	94-101 | C1
6 – Competent User	60-78 | B2
5 – Modest User	35-41 | B1
4 – Limited User	0-31 | B1
3 – Extremely Limited User	A2
2 – Intermittent User	A1
1 – Non User	A1
0 – Did not attempt the test	-

The structure of the modules is as follows:

• Listening – 4 sections; 40 questions, 30 minutes + 10 minutes transfer time (from the answer sheet to the originals)

• Reading – 3 sections; 40 questions, 3 long texts, 60 minutes

• Writing – 2 tasks, 60 minutes

• Speaking – 3 sections, 11-14 minutes

  Total: ~ 3 hours.

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IELTS Modules

IELTS consists of 4 modules: listening, reading, writing, speaking to test all parts of the language proficiency. For each module, you will receive a grade & the results will be valid for 2 years. The overall band is calculated from the 4 modules and is frequently used in university admission. Some universities also require a minimum in each module.

Listening, Reading and Writing are completed in one sitting. It might happen, that you take the Speaking module on the same day, however, according to the amount of participants (do not be overwhelmed if you have 499 other test takers with you in an auditorium), the conversation with the IELTS examiner can be moved to another day (up to 1 week time).

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IELTS Listening

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You will be listening to audio recording and putting down your answers into a booklet. There will be four different recordings of the native English speakers, including a range of accents: British, Australian, New Zealand, American and Canadian. The recordings are heard only once.

Examples:

1. Recording 1 – a conversation between two people set in an everyday social context, e.g. about travel arrangements

2. Recording 2 - a monologue set in an everyday scenario, e.g. about the surrounding area

3. Recording 3 & Recording 4 are about educational or training situations

- a group discussion on the different academic topic, e.g. with a teacher and a student discussing a home task’s grading policy

- a monologue on an academic subject, e.g. a university lecture

Your ability to understand the main ideas and detailed information will be tested within 40 questions (multiple-choice, matching, sentence completion, plan/diagram/map labeling, note/flow-chart/summary/form/table comments).

Each section will be accompanied by a short introduction telling the test taker about the situation and the speakers. There will be a brief time to look through the questions.

At the end of the 30-minute session, you can transfer your answers to the answer sheet (10 minutes). Attention: incorrect spelling and grammar mistakes will be penalized with negative points. Do not write more than the maximum number of words required.

Get 30 out of 40 answers correct for IELTS 7.0

Get 32 out of 40 answers correct for IELTS 7.5

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IELTS Reading

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You will be reading different materials and you will be required to complete a set of exercises for each of the texts. This module will test you on a wide range of reading skills including main ideas hunting, skimming through the text, reading for details, and understanding logical arguments.

Examples:

1. Section 1 - two or three short texts or several shorter texts, which deal with daily usage. For instance, timetables or notices – things a person would need to understand when living in a  foreign country or when enunciating in the English language

2. Section 2 - two texts in a work scenario: job descriptions, contracts, training materials

3. Section 3 -  one long text about a topic of general interest. The text is generally descriptive, long and complex

All the three different sections with texts sum up to 2,150-2,750 words. The texts are coming from books, journals, magazines, newspapers and online resources written for non-specialist audiences.

Be ready to answer multiple-choice, short-answer questions, identifying information, finding out writer’s views, labeling diagrams, completing a summary with the use of text words and matching information/headings/features in the sentence endings. Be attentive with spelling and grammar once again to prevent from getting negative marks.

Get 30 out of 40 answers correct for IELTS 7.0

Get 33 out of 40 answers correct for IELTS 7.5

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IELTS Writing

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You will be required to fulfill 2 tasks: 1) describe a diagram and 2) write an essay in the form of a letter or an argument/problem or solution/answer.

Examples:

1. Task 1 - a graph, table, chart or diagram has to be described in your own words

2. Task 2 – an argument or a problem must be discussed with your point of view. You may be required to justify an opinion, present a solution, contrast evidence, compare facts, challenge ideas, etc

The Writing assignment has a limit of 20 minutes (150 words) for the 1st assignment as well as 40 minutes (250 words) for the 2nd assignment. Answering with incomplete sentences or with irrelevant to the topic sentences, as well as grammar or spelling mistakes will be penalized. Avoid using bullet points as only full sentences are accepted.

Answer both questions fully, use sophisticated vocabulary, while writing in clear paragraphs, each with a main idea and supporting sentences. Provide an overview and comparisons for Task 1; indicate a clear position and stick to it consistently in Task 2. If you are aiming for IELTS 7.0 or IELTS 7.0 make sure to write error-free sentences.

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IELTS Speaking

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You will have a conversation with a native speaker at the premises of the Testing Center. Generally, the conversations are kept casual. You are being tested on your ability to communicate on any topic in a random scenario.

Examples:

1. Section 1 - Introduction and interview (4–5 minutes). You will be asked about your studies, work, family, free time, hobbies & pastimes, computers & internet, etc.

2. Section 2 – Subject matter (2-3 min). You will be given a task card to talk about a certain topic with 1-minute preparation time for a 2-minute speech with Q&A at the end

3. Section 3: Discussions (4–5 minutes). You will communicate with an IELTS examiner about different topics, generally from Section 2.

Try to give critical analysis and open answers covering the topic. Speak fluently and at length on any given topic. Make sure to make use of the linking words, connecting your ideas. Refrain from using common and idiomatic vocabulary. If you are aiming for IELTS 7.0 or IELTS 7.0 make sure to speak with error-free sentences with good pronunciation and intonation.

IELTS Tips & Tricks

Save yourself time & money – follow the tips to make sure you score high. Where to start? First of all, do not get overwhelmed by the amount of available information. 3 million people wouldn’t take it on an annual basis if it was impossible. Passing IELTS is not only about how good your English language is, but also how attentive you are while reading the tasks (often the formulation is confusing on purpose) and how fast you are in prioritizing your allocated time during the exam. Before anything else, you need to get yourself familiarized with the test structure and the answer sheet patterns.

1. Read the structure of the test (above) and learn it

   You need to be fully aware of what is coming your way in terms of timing, types of tasks, breaks, expectations. Understand different question types.

2. Define your learning strategy

   • Do you learn on your own? You can easily find IELTS mock tests, IELTS tests from the previous years. Check for free courses online or purchase the IELTS test study materials

   • Do you prefer to learn with a tutor or in a group? Check for the nearest IELTS testing center in your town. There is a myriad of offline and online IELTS classes held individually with a teacher or in groups

3. Set realistic goals but aim a bit higher!

   It is not necessary that you score well for the first time, but you can become better next time. Practice makes perfect. Do mistakes. Understand the reasons for making mistakes to prevent yourself from doing them repeatedly.

4. Practice every day

   Structure your studies according to sections, prioritize your time. Plan and organize yourself for 45 min concentration on studies and 15 min on breaks. Put all the distracting devices aside and turn yourself off from social media. Do not disregard any module. Dedicate as much time for listening, reading, writing and speaking. It is highly advisable to focus on the Writing and Reading modules a bit more because they consequently will contribute to the other modules’ improvement. When you take IELTS sample tests, you will get to understand how much you have learned and at what level you are currently in. Practice multitasking, i.e. listening to the tape, reading the questions and writing down notes for you to be able to formulate the answers afterward.

5. Read in the English language

   Do not know how to read diagonally? You will be able to do that sooner than you think. What to read? Journals, articles, and newspapers. Make sure to be informed of current events and issues. Once you feel comfortable going through a daily newspaper, consider yourself ready. This, consequently, will improve your vocabulary and grammar. Improve vocabulary to use synonyms. Familiarize yourself with them. Repeating words and using simple phrases will get you no extra points and in fact, could only bring you a negative score. Memorize 15 best practice words, phrases, and connecting words and keep them always ready in your head for every situation. This will help you in all the modules of the test. Improve your reading speed. When practicing the reading module at home, set yourself a timer. Do not be optimistic about the time, it runs faster during the exam. Excel in reading first, then you will automatically score higher in IELTS writing exam. The more you understand, the more you can eventually articulate

6. Speak English at least 30 mins per day out loud

   Record yourself and listen to your own voice. If necessary, record yourself on video – the camera doesn’t lie. While listening to this record, you will hear your own pronunciation errors and mistakes. Use this knowledge to improve. If you can, find a native speaker around you to practice. There are a lot of tandem options and applications existing online to find a language partner (to teach you English while you are teaching your native language in exchange) free of charge as well.

7. Listen to podcasts & watch TV shows

   There is plenty of great tv shows, alike F.R.I.E.N.D.S in the original version with the English subtitles. Master it until you no longer need the subtitles. Once you can watch movies without subtitles, consider yourself ready.

8. Play video games that involve active conversations with your team members in English

   Counter – Strike, World of Warcraft, DotA! Switch to the American servers for your own good! It is a sacrifice you do for the IELTS. 😊

9. Learn the exam approach

   In all parts, it is highly recommended to skim through the whole text/exercise first and to highlight the words, which you believe the emphasis will be on. This will help you navigate towards the question-answer later and to subconsciously divide the text into parts. Use question keywords to find the answer. Write an outline for the written answers – and follow it every time. Structured writing gets more points on the written part.

10. Be attentive and read questions twice

    It is a common practice, that an answer can be hidden in the question itself. Read instructions carefully and always look at the example. Do not disregard the sample questions and answers.

11. Answer exactly what is required

    Not more, not less. Do not go off-topic, do not go over the limit. 2 or 3 points for your reasoning is just fine. Do not overdo it. Give just one answer, unless you are specifically requested to give multiple options.

12. Filter out irrelevant noise

    IELTS is about finding relevant answers in the big data volume. The tasks will be long and daunting, but do not let that confuse you – your task is to find the answers to those questions and that’s the only motivation you should have.

13. Practice transferring answers from the answer sheet to the ‘original’

    This also requires time and efficiency in utilizing space.

14. Recheck your answers if you have spare time

    We are all humans and might overlook something. Make logical guesses when unsure. Do not leave things blank. Check your grammar, spelling, and handwriting. If your writing will be confusing it will be marked wrong by default. Your answer may be marked wrong if the structure of your answer is not grammatically correct as well. Less is more! If unsure, use short but precise answers.

15. Consider IELTS test as a job interview

    Sleep well before the test, arrive early enough and put on your best smile and attire.

16. If you can, take a seat in the first three rows in the listening test

    Experience shows those rows have the best audio access. Listen carefully. If you miss out on something, drop it and continue with the future tasks.

17. Do not be nervous

    Keep cool and calm. Get yourself water and chocolate (outside of classroom). Try to maintain normal fluency. If you score well – great. If you don’t – great. Time to rehearse and learn, it is not the end of the world and IELTS has no retake limit.

18. Be yourself

    The more relaxed and yourself you are the more appealing and comfortable the conversation with the IELTS instructor will be.

IELTS Results

After giving the IELTS test, you can expect your result 2 weeks after. Reminder: the validity of your certificate is only 2 years. You need to make sure to be granted admission to a foreign higher educational institution until it expires. You can go ahead and attach IELTS together with your application documents when applying to a school of your choice. It has become one of the mandatory visa requirements as well. Exception: if your previous education was conducted fully in the English language (and you have a proof of that).

The majority of English-taught universities in Germany will consider your application with IELTS overal 6.0 bands (Bachelor) or IELTS overal 6.5 bands (Master).

• Already took the test? Contact me to find out which universities you qualify for with your current result.

• Still undecided to take the test or not? To be succesful at your plan to study abroad, it is highly advisable to start IELTS preparation not later than 90 days prior to the university application time (collection of documents & agent consultation). Considering most of the universities in Germany have deadlines, make sure to apply prior to these dates. More information about studying in Germany, as well as the list of German universities accepting IELTS may be found in the following links.

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Gleb Konovalov - Bachelor Student From Russia

Meet Gleb Konovalov. He chose Germany and Canada to study abroad. He will come back to Russia after. Why? You can read his study in Germany success story here.

Place of Birth	Novosibirsk, Russia
Nationality	Russian
Where did you live?	Novosibirsk, Tomsk (Russia), Vancouver (Canada)
Education Level Prior to Relocation	Foundation Diploma
Reason of moving to Germany	Bachelor Program
When did you move?	2018
How old were you?	20
Are you still in Germany?	Yes
What is your current occupation?	1st Year Bachelor Student
What is your future goal?	Master Degree in Russia or USA, Work in Construction Industry
Would you like to stay in Germany?	No

Chapter 1: Home

I was born in Novosibirsk. My childhood was great. I went to school, just like everyone else, until university admission changed everything upside down.

I was always engaged in sport: swimming, martial arts & tennis. Five days a week, 9 years in a row playing tennis got me qualified for the Russian national championships.

To prepare for state exams and get into the university, I had to give it up before graduation. I had to set my priorities right and sport wasn’t among those.

In Russia, sadly, you rarely select a major out of your passion. What is a good bet on the market in Siberia? Oil & Gas: Gazprom, Lukoil, Rosneft. My acquaintances work in Oil & Gas; my friends have studied Oil & Gas; children of my parents’ friends are going to study at Oil & Gas faculty. Literally, either you study this, or you will go abroad.

My father’s dream was for me to study abroad, but I chose to stay.

I was admitted to Tomsk State University. In Russia, the perception of distance is different from the Western World. I was studying in a neighboring Siberian city, which is just a 270 km train ride. With a lot of excitement and hopes, I started my Bachelor in Petroleum Engineering.

Foreign education is very different from Russian. We have a great school base, with a very strong math level, however university teaching approach in some instances is outdated: theoretical base & books written in the USSR. Since the programs are not innovative and not frequently changed, you cannot apply the knowledge in the workplace.

From the first impression, I knew that I would not want to work in this industry. The market is highly saturated and if you do not come from a family associated with this business, the perspectives are rather limiting.

I was passively attending because I was not motivated. Learning by heart was not the education I was searching for. Moreover, I couldn’t find common grounds and shared interests with my classmates - they came from a different background.

I shortly figured out how to pass the courses without putting much effort and, surprisingly, I was nominated for a scholarship. But I did not want to stay there. Working in Siberian villages in - 50°C in Winter? No, thank you. This is not my dream job.

My father was right all the way. My parents offered me an alternative: to study abroad.

Sadly, I disregarded the English language all my life. We were choosing between English-speaking countries for me to be in a fully English-speaking environment. Back then, I was not aware you could study in Europe in English as well.

I could choose between the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom. I disregarded England right away. Many friends of mine studied and passed everything there without taking it seriously. I also could not understand that accent.

My main aim to study abroad was to learn and to develop. Since Business and Entrepreneurship originated in North America, I compared tuition fees of the USA and Canada and chose Vancouver as my study destination.

I signed up for IELTS Test within a week. I only had a few months to have an intensive English course: I found a tutor and online materials to get my English to the conversational level from scratch.

I was granted admission in a Foundation program, because of two reasons: English and 11 years of education. Foundation program is like a pre-Bachelor. Russians mostly have to go through it because in the majority of countries, education is 12 years.

Chapter 2: Abroad

My English was weak. My English was so weak. The first week in Canada was like a comedy TV show.

I had no internet connection or an available sim card upon arrival. I only knew the name, address of the college and the fact, that it was located somewhere on the hill. Instead of figuring this all out by public transport, I took a taxi. The taxi driver and I understood each other with a sign language. He took me to the correct destination, and I was very happy, but not for long.

I arrived at 18:00 O’clock one the day before the official campus opening and it was a major mistake. Our campus had 8-floor library, free computers, gym, swimming pool, basketball, football and tennis courts. Wonderful! I couldn’t enter though.

There was no one there and the main office was closed. I didn’t know what to do since I had no internet and no sim card…

…so I sat down beside my luggage thinking what am I doing with my life and hoping someone would pass by. And someone passed by! That did not solve the problem: I couldn’t move in that day.

I was given a great 1-star hostel for one night. It was Sunday and I couldn’t go out anywhere because everything had already been closed, including shops – I felt miserable at that moment. And all that after a 10-hour flight.

Horrible.

My grandmother stashed some snacks in my luggage, before the flight and that’s all I had to eat.

Thank you.

The next day when I finally moved in, the adventure continued. I was astonished because pillows and bed sheets were not there. There was nothing in my room – DIY (do it yourself) – you have to buy everything yourself. How do I buy everything myself if I can’t even figure out how to buy a bus ticket?!

I tried to figure out the bus ticket purchase but that didn’t work out and I gave up. And here I was, entering the bus without the ticket. With puppy face I talked to the driver in my great English, and, he said: “No ticket? No problem. Just have a seat”.

Interesting.

1.5 years spent in Canada were fun, but I didn’t really make friends with Canadians. Thank God I found Russian speakers. They gave me a map and directions and baby-sitted me throughout the initial weeks. I made a Canadian friend and I am very proud of it (Canadian-Russian, to be precise).

What can you find in Canada? Relatively easy visa, equality, and freedom. In my case, I was far away from home and I did not fit in this culture, consequently, I was bored.

I never planned to stay there anyway. I was happy to be back home for vacations and I was reluctant to go back to Vancouver.

I decided to transfer to a university closer to home and I chose Germany. Benefit for parents: Canada cost 30% more than studies in Germany.

We often travelled through Munich to Austria for skiing. I liked it. The culture here is closer to Russian, moreover, people understand English. My parents were not against my decision at all. They had their own reasons: shopping, beer, friends.

It went not as smooth as I had expected. But, looking back now, it wasn’t that bad after all. I have lived here for a year now and if I made it, then you can do it as well.

Here is the list of important things to know before you move to study in Germany:

1.   The Language

All bureaucratic documents are in German! People working in the immigration office barely speak English (rather surprising, considering they only work with foreigners). My first experience there:

-     “Hello. Do you speak English?”

-     “Do you speak German?”

-     “No, that’s why I ask you if you speak English.”

-     “I speak, but I would prefer you to speak German.”

Of course, he was joking, but I realized, alright. People are very proud of their language and culture here. Even if they speak English, they pretend they don’t – to make you learn the language.

It is an incredibly difficult language. I always confuse English and German with the order of words and logic.

Advice for foreigners: learn basic phrases in German. The more German you speak, the longer your visa will be.

2.   Working Hours

Shops close at 20:00 O’clock during the week and nothing is open on Sundays or public holidays (so many in the South of Germany). You can not do grocery shopping or buy clothes – no one is working!

You have to schedule an appointment per phone or email to go to a doctor. Sometimes, you need to wait weeks for that. If you really feel bad, they will ask you how bad. Irrelevant of your answer, you will be seated in the waiting room to wait for your turn.

Advice for foreigners: plan, schedule appointments in advance and have a stash of medicine at home.

3.   Accommodation

To get accommodation you need to go through nine circles of hell!

Advice for foreigners: do not have any dreams or expectations at the beginning. Do not aim for a flat! Take what is available and start with a room in a shared flat (WG-Zimmer). It doesn’t really matter where – just take it!!! You can become picky only after you have secured yourself an initial offer.

Chapter 3: Back Home

Many people are not happy with their decisions or life choices, but what always surprised me, they do nothing about it.

Since I was small, I wanted to try anything once – 3 types of sport, 3 different majors, 3 different countries, 3 different jobs. Trial and error. You will not know until you try.

Throughout my studies, I was actively involved in sports and I signed up for some jobs. I helped my father with advertising and catalogues for his company in the construction industry. Moreover, I worked in Canada and in Germany in the gastronomic industry.

It was fun and I recommend that everyone tries it. This experience helped me understand that I never again want to work in the gastronomic industry.

I am 20 years old now and I will be done with my German Bachelor Degree in 2 years. Thanks to education, travel and work experiences, I have already made up my mind and I wish you the same.

Canada and Germany are two great countries, but, for me, life is where my home is. I want to live in Russia and I will consider doing a Master Degree in Moscow and connect my future with Construction Industry. Should studying abroad come across my mind in the future, I would go to the USA.

Travel everywhere, try everything, take the jobs, try different industries. And the most important: visit the country you like, before you apply to a university there.

Study Abroad - Success Stories

Read Success Stories of foreigners who study abroad. We have a bunch of questions - international students have a lot to tell. Russian, Turkish, Iranian, Indian, Mexican…

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