Sindy C. - Master Student From Hong Kong
Yana Immis
“I decided to study abroad and move away from Hong Kong to Germany. Even though my parents, friends, and colleagues were against. Chase your dreams!”
| Place of Birth | Hong Kong |
|---|---|
| Nationality | Hong Konger |
| Where did you live? | Hong Kong (Hong Kong), Berlin (Germany) |
| Education Level Prior to Relocation | Bachelor Degree |
| Reason of moving to Germany | Master Degree |
| When did you move? | 2010 |
| How old were you? | 24 |
| Are you still in Germany? | Yes |
| What is your future goal? | Family and career |
| Would you like to stay in Germany? | Yes |
Chapter 1: Should I dare or not?
I have lived in Hong Kong for 24 years before I started second-guessing myself if I belong somewhere else and if there is a better future for me somewhere there.
When I was a kid I always thought that I would stay there forever because I grew up there, I thought it is the best place in the world, as I have never seen outside this bubble.
My thinking changed when I was 20. In the university of Hong Kong, I had an exchange semester abroad. At that time I chose Prague, the Czech Republic for 6 month semester.
I was totally amazed by how everything is there. It is so different that I fell in love with Prague and in general with Europe. I travelled to many different European countries because they were so close by.
It was the best 6 months of my life!
Afterward, I came back home to Hong Kong and guess what?! I couldn’t feel happy anymore. Because I couldn’t forget about this experience. How I could go back to Prague or Europe? Was my only thought. But nobody understood me and I know why! They have never been outside of Hong Kong and they were not curious about the outside world.
I was always searching for a way to come back to Europe.
After graduating from university, I started working full-time in Hong Kong. You know the drill…
I did a Bachelor in Accounting and Management. And I was working in Auditing for 2 years. Very long 2 unhappy years. The working culture is a little bit crazy. I basically worked all the time. Until midnight every day. Oh. Weekends? Weekends are overrated. I had to work as well.
…and like that for 2 years? I also couldn’t forget about Europe. So I kept saving money and thinking how could I go back?! As a fresh graduate with just 2 years of work experience, my options were limited. That’s when I heard about a working holiday visa.
Working holiday visa: 1 year visa and you can go to Germany to work and travel.
Maybe there is a way I can do that I thought! There is a way, was my thinking. But I had to quit my job for that and when I told this idea to my parents… of course, they were against it. I still remember now how angry my mother was…“You want to quit a very good job to go to Europe to be a waitress?!”
I mean I understand them: I had a very good job and future in the company with the career. Everything was perfect so no one could understand why I would want to just drop it and leave.
I did not give up on my dream! They would not understand!
I still wanted to do it. I talked to a friend who was also into going to Europe – she would go with me on a working holiday to Germany. But instead, she proposed an idea of free education for Master. That, of course, caught my attention! Haha!
Most of the people from Hong Kong go to the US, UK, Australia – it is extremely expensive, only rich people can do it. I didn’t believe it that students from Hong Kong could do free education in Germany – we went to the German higher education exhibition and gathered all the possible information for the free public universities.
So I changed my plan from working holiday visa
to Master studies visa.
Then my family would feel better because I’m not quitting a job to be a waitress but I would study! I could then also get a post-study job-seeking visa.
Chapter 2: Taking a risk
I have just gotten promoted and a higher management position was waiting for me. In accounting we have certificates. You need to work for at least 3 years to get a CPA certificate (certified public accountant) – to become a professional accountant or to be able to open your company. I had worked two out of three years and I wouldn’t be able to get it unless I stay one more year.
I didn’t have enough money for more than 1-year living expenses. Just that 1 year… I had just that after 2 years of working. What I mean with risk is: after 1 year I would be broke in Germany. It was very scary. I had no loan or any financial support from the family.
I was still hesitant and I asked my friends, colleagues, and family. All of them told me to save, get a promotion, get a license for accounting and postpone my decision. Delay it with 1 year, they said, Germany will not go anywhere.
So three reasons speaking against me going and 0 reasons speaking for it and you know what I did? I quit my job and moved to Germany.
Do you know why I decided to go? Because there is always something. There will always be an ‘if’ or something would pop up. When it feels right it is the right time to go. Follow your heart! I decided to follow my dream and to take a risk.
I moved to Germany in 2010 and I had offers from different universities in Berlin and Nuernberg – universities of applied sciences. I chose a business program. I picked Berlin because it is Berlin 😊- I applied to 5 programs and got offer letters for 2!
If I postpone, I might not get offers again in the future!
It is now or never!
Looking back now: it was the best decision of my life. Not to listen to my colleagues, friends or family. That’s why I am where I am now. And by the way, I got my certificate anyway afterward. I am a licensed accountant.
The idea to go abroad was on my mind for way too long to give up on this dream.
I still remember after 3 years of being here in Germany I was posting something on Facebook…
… my old colleague from Hong Kong who was against me going abroad (and he nearly called me stupid for doing something crazy like that) contacted me 3 years after with a very rewarding comment: “what a wise decision you took going abroad 3 years ago”. This is hilarious.
So I think everyone should really chase their dreams. You should do it. If it is not successful it is fine. It is an experience and you will never lose it!
Chapter 3: Life in Germany: Struggle and Rewards
I was so afraid. I was alone. I didn’t know anyone and somehow everything was done through the internet – I didn’t work with an agency or anyone who knows Germany or the program it was so scary it felt unreal.
· Is it real?
· Does the university exist?
· Am I really admitted to the program?
Because it is all internet. My mom was saying, maybe it is some fraud!
The worst nightmare was the apartment search. I started a few months before I flew to Berlin and of course, I didn’t find anything.
I was desperate in Hong Kong – I don’t know how many emails I sent and in the end, I just booked a hostel for a week hoping I would find something within a week.
So that’s why it was scary as I had no place to live. Stressed and not really excited. Rather worried about everything.
I didn’t have any help. This is the experience of everyone here I think.
It took me 2 weeks to find a place. It was not perfect I accepted it because there was no choice. Someone rented a room for me and it was overpriced and in a bad area and everything was bad but it was better than hostel.
In the end, I quit after 2 months as due to university connections I got myself a room in a dorm for students. My classmates helped me with the office and accommodation application. I was so lucky to get a place within a few months which was much cheaper and better.
How were my studies? Very different from the Bachelor in Hong Kong.
In Hong Kong
The majority of the subjects are with bigger class size. Not so many interactions. Basically professor just talks and everyone else is sleeping or talking or not even there. No interaction rather
We are very quiet if the boss or teacher is talking. Nobody will talk or ask questions
Sometimes we do have projects. But mostly theory
For many lectures, usually there are 2 multiple choice exam, one is for mid-term and one for final exam. Some lectures do require an essay or project. So it depends on the lecture and professor. Multiple choice exams are common
In Germany
In the university of applied sciences, programs are small: 1 professor and 20 students. Everybody has to be present mentally and physically – to have interaction with the class and professor. Everyone was very active. I felt like discussions matter – a very different approach. People pay attention, listen, talk, express ideas and challenge professors. I loved the challenging part! It was very common in my class.
The program had a very practical approach. We did projects with a real company in a group of four and each group was assigned one company and had to travel to the company and work with that business on-premises.
I was working with a real estate company on a consulting project. They were testing if they can expand to China or other countries and we were doing the research and statistics for them to present results and recommendations. We had useful business cases and colleague networks in their office. How amazing was that!
We had some multiple choice exams but mostly we did projects or case studies or essays or discussions with questions from the professor with immediate feedback. I found this very new and different
My program was 2 years. I did a Master in consulting and management (general business). I could have finished in 1.5 years but I took an internship. I didn’t have to do it but I decided on it. My internship was in Munich that’s the reason I moved and never move back to Berlin afterward.
I have been here for a long time and my husband is German – we talk in German. I am not 100% secure with it but I feel comfortable.
Remember, how my parents were not happy and they didn’t want me to quit my job in Hong Kong? Now they are fine 😊
I live in Munich now, and I love Munich, I would always choose it on top of all the cities in Germany. It is so different. I didn’t know it could be so different. Everything is so nice and clean and colorful and guess what, I am happy!
I have a full-time job. On the weekend I work on my blog. I’m into finance and I am enjoying it much more here than in Hong Kong. Work-life balance, people are nicer, many more holidays.
Please pay a visit and contribute I am happy to share my experiences and to answer your questions!
A bit about my blog
I had the idea of how cool it would be to help other people who plan to move to Germany to study or work. Many people were contacting me and asking me how I had done it. I realized if I have a blog I can put all my thoughts there and help people to do the same. I want to reach more people to help more people moving to Germany.
Please pay a visit to https://www.mylifeingermany.com/
In the meantime, some advice for international students who would like to study in Germany:
1. Learn German!
The majority of companies will require the language in 95% of the cases.
- Yes, there are certain professions in the German market, where they need more people (engineering as an example), for these people getting a job is easier even without German.
- But if you study the general degree, like business, please learn German!
My degree was in English but still, I needed German to survive my daily life. I was even worried about not understanding letters that came per post in German!
I was always worried about the visa. In the immigration office nobody speaks English. Nobody would talk with me – a nightmare.
I started self-study German language learning in Hong Kong. After moving to Germany I tried many different ways to learn the language as I was desperate to learn it. It affected my life: finding a job, social life, friends.
2. Try to relax!
I was always stressed when I came to Germany and afraid of everything. But hey! Everything worked out. If I could go back in time and meet myself I would say: relax a little bit, enjoy a little bit. Everything will work out! Of course, you have to try hard but don’t stress too much about yourself. It can be a very desperate process but don’t give up. Relax and keep trying
3. Don’t procrastinate with accommodation search!
This is hard. It is getting harder and harder. Get the network and connections! Get to know people.
Someone will know someone who knows someone who knows someone who has a room!
Facebook groups – check it all! Find people from the same university or country – so people can relate!
Ask the university for help with finding accommodation. Start the search from your home country and start building your network from there!
