ishe akeed kul muwatin 2urdini 3indo bil bait...
Wednesday, November 28, 2012
Saturday, November 24, 2012
13th Venice Architecture Biennale
OMG. One of the best experiences of my life. Tomorrow, November 25, is the last day of this year's Biennale, and we caught it last minute!
We flew with Ryanair through Bremen and found the one-way tickets for as cheap as 9.99 euro! I totally advice everyone to visit the next exhibitions!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Eml__8TKsrE
http://www.labiennale.org/en/architecture/exhibition/
We flew with Ryanair through Bremen and found the one-way tickets for as cheap as 9.99 euro! I totally advice everyone to visit the next exhibitions!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Eml__8TKsrE
http://www.labiennale.org/en/architecture/exhibition/
Wednesday, November 14, 2012
What do I really want to do here?
So I'm back in Hamburg. It's great to be back. Having the chance to go back to Amman in the Summer was like hitting refresh button! Mentally, physically, emotionally! The highlights I would say were the beautiful Sun, bumming on my couch at home for a week, eating something arabic everyday, and laughing with friends and family.
But now I'm back and about a third way through the semester already!!!
When I first got back I spent the first 2 weeks furnishing my room, orientating financials, and fixing my schedule for uni and my job. Those two weeks were not easy. But it was the most important phase and now I can stroll through my days without thinking.
Things that are different this time...:
My Schedule:
I work 19 hours a week split among 3 days and 4 days of the week I have classes. I have gym class at least 3 days a week and on the weekends I try to work on uni homework and prepare for the next week.
My Interests:
Living with a local makes the experience much more personal! This is the second WG for me and they have been both enriching experiences so far. My flatmate gives me tips on all the best food, markets, book stores, tea shops, shopping, galleries and opennings! Hence openning my eyes to details I didn't pay attention to before.
My Goals:
To gain as much as I can in the little time I have left and think about whats coming up next.
My Expectations:
To do what I came back to do and go back to Amman and finish my final year! Because I've already been through the year, this time I know how fast time flies and therefore am really trying to benefit from the time on hand.
A part of me feels like home here and another part of me that knows home is ready to go back and graduate :)
Bis zum naechsten Post!
Cheerio!
But now I'm back and about a third way through the semester already!!!
When I first got back I spent the first 2 weeks furnishing my room, orientating financials, and fixing my schedule for uni and my job. Those two weeks were not easy. But it was the most important phase and now I can stroll through my days without thinking.
Things that are different this time...:
My Schedule:
I work 19 hours a week split among 3 days and 4 days of the week I have classes. I have gym class at least 3 days a week and on the weekends I try to work on uni homework and prepare for the next week.
My Interests:
Living with a local makes the experience much more personal! This is the second WG for me and they have been both enriching experiences so far. My flatmate gives me tips on all the best food, markets, book stores, tea shops, shopping, galleries and opennings! Hence openning my eyes to details I didn't pay attention to before.
My Goals:
To gain as much as I can in the little time I have left and think about whats coming up next.
My Expectations:
To do what I came back to do and go back to Amman and finish my final year! Because I've already been through the year, this time I know how fast time flies and therefore am really trying to benefit from the time on hand.
A part of me feels like home here and another part of me that knows home is ready to go back and graduate :)
Bis zum naechsten Post!
Cheerio!
Thursday, August 16, 2012
All my bags are packed and I'm ready to go...
Soon Departing: Amman
Destination: Somewhere in Deutschland...and the possibility of visiting other "Schengen" countries.
If you are planning to travel to other european countries, I know that all students have a top priority in making the best trip possible out of the lowest budget possible. And it is possible! Advice? Read on..
Things you should prepare before travelling:
1. Booking your tickets. Book your tickets early with flying using airlines like Easy jet, Ryanair. Also book in advance when you take the Deutsche Bahn (and think about investing in the Bahn 50 card if you are planning on using the trains a lot. Booking for carpooling Mitfahrengelegenheit is usually done tops 1 week in advance. If you are up for it, on a super low budget, and taking someone along with you, then you can also find Hitch-hiking hotspots.
2. Where to stay? Hostels are very popularly used among students. Sometimes you can find Hotel rooms for very similar prices. Finding a room to your comfort is usually not a problem if you book in advance. http://www.hostelworld.com/ A lot of european students I met also do something called "Couch Surfing." We are not accustomed to this in our culture, but here its quite normal! http://www.couchsurfing.org/#
3. Transportation within the city. To stay on the safe side, you should just buy the freakin day ticket and prevent gettin yourself in trouble of paying the 40 euro fee for not doing so!
4. Google a map of the city and the U/S-bahn system before you go there. It takes 5 minutes and you won't regret it when you get there and have no idea where you are!
5. Keep your valuables with you at all times or locked in a safe location. I consider myself a pretty responsible person, and nevertheless I still got my passport, camera, and phone stolen from me! It was not fun replacing them, but I have alhamdulilah, so BE PARANOID and keep your valuables safe. Better safe than sorry.
I have gone to the Netherlands with my university for a 2-week Urban Design Workshop, and I visited family in the UK. NOTE: England is not covered in the Schengen Visa! I have spent most of the year in Germany visiting other German cities including Luebeck, Berlin, Stuttgart, Nuernberg, Koeln, and Frankfurt Oder.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Schengen_Area
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Schengen_Area
Again if you need any advice on any of the places I listed, I will do my best to help!
BonVoyage!
Monday, August 13, 2012
My "Third Phase"
I have decided to stay another semester. So I'm sure you got
questions for me right? So..Things that I have had to consider in taking this
next step:
1. Applying to my university for Winter 12/13 as a
"Free-mover" student. What is that? A Free-mover is basically a
student who is enrolled in the home university but attending and taking the
courses at the guest university. Super simple!
2. Applying for an extension of Visa. Sara7a this one is a bit
more complicated and a little boring to type out. If yall need help just holla.
3. Finding a new place to live or extension of your living
residence at your current residence. In my case, the girls I live with are
moving out because the Bauherr is renovating this whole joint so I don't have
the option to stay unfortunately because I love this apartment!
4. Finding a job...only if you want to of course! Most
german/european students have a part-time job while they study. It can be in an
office of your field of study or anything you want to do! You have to basically
figure out what you want to experience, ask around/research for vacancies, and
take on a new challenge. If you're already financially stable and see no need
for it, then that also goes. Keep in mind if you do want another job or an
extension at your praktikum's company, then you should organize your
application process and prepare yourself a couple months in advance.
How do I feel about it all so far?
Well..its mid August and my Praktikum ends in 2 weeks. Fall
Semester starts in beginning October but I will take (and honestly need) a
month break in between in sweet, sunny Amman. I have dealt with the University
since June, and just finished managing the Visa-extension story today. I also
found a wonderful place to live in the center near Stadthausbruecke, but it is
unfurnished :(. After lots of thought crammed into a very short decision-making
period of a week, I've decided to take it. Yes, I will have to deal with the
furnishing once again, but I think its worth it because I already got half the
stuff I need and finding a room in that location is very rare! My only worry
real worry is moving furniture from A to B :S. I'm tough, but I ain't that strong
hehe. I desperately need el 3amo with the truck in the souq down the street,
who's available at almost any time and who's willing to take your stuff
anywhere for 10 to 15 jd tops...but sadly its just not like that here!
Bis zum naeschsten mal..
Grocery Shopping
Most WG's or dorms you will live in do not have huge refrigerators
and you'll think you have gone 3adi shopping and find that its way too much to
fit in the fridge!
And not only that, a lot of things you will end up throwing up cuz
ma 7atla72o to eat everything!
I know our parents and loved ones raised us with mounds of fruits and vegetables that break your back from the door of supermarket to the door of the car to carry...but you will not have a jaish to feed here! Ma tistaghribo when I say that things are bought here buy half a bateekha..o nus khyirah..bas mafi nus Bondura :P
So bottom line is..ma tinfij3o and waste your money haha...just shop
practically :)
A Typical "Praktikum Day"
Wow I haven't written in a long time! It's been busy with the praktikum...I can confidently say that this half of the year has gone by twice as fast as the last! Having dawam 5 days a week and no breaks is like a real job.
A Typical Day in the "Praktikum Phase":
My work starts at 9:00 and ends at 18:00. I had a 1 hour lunch break and they are usually all the same from 13:00-14:00. Most work you will get as a Praktikant is "slave work" (drawing a thousand lines all day and organizing what they stand for in some sort of excel table, filing stuff, printing stuff, model making etc.) and your day goes by fast cuz there is usually a lot to do!
Most of the time I was signed up in the gym or dance classes and ya dob I would get off work, have my work-out clothes packed with me from the morning, do my workout, go home, whip up something to eat as quick as I could because I'd be dying of starvation, and hardly catch to do some web-searching before I find myself asleep. On the days I didn't have classes, I'd meet up with Erasmus friends or other friends I met in Schanze (Chilled out Cafe/Bar/Shopping Viertel in Hamburg) to kick back and relax.
There will always be errands to run like grocery shopping, doctors appointments, favors for friends, or simply buying a new accessory for your room. Try to schedule them out before hand so you don't end up frustrated and not able to attend to your other responsibilities and interests.
When the lady at the counter says "Schoenes Wochende!" on a Friday afternoon with all enthusiasm, as well as every other person you greet, you will finally start realize why they say it with such enthusiasm after your praktikum! Weekends are worshiped and understandably so because the weekdays are taken very seriously and a lot of effort, focus, and diligence are put in to make every week a successful one. This is one thing I appreciate about the German culture.
A Typical Day in the "Praktikum Phase":
My work starts at 9:00 and ends at 18:00. I had a 1 hour lunch break and they are usually all the same from 13:00-14:00. Most work you will get as a Praktikant is "slave work" (drawing a thousand lines all day and organizing what they stand for in some sort of excel table, filing stuff, printing stuff, model making etc.) and your day goes by fast cuz there is usually a lot to do!
Most of the time I was signed up in the gym or dance classes and ya dob I would get off work, have my work-out clothes packed with me from the morning, do my workout, go home, whip up something to eat as quick as I could because I'd be dying of starvation, and hardly catch to do some web-searching before I find myself asleep. On the days I didn't have classes, I'd meet up with Erasmus friends or other friends I met in Schanze (Chilled out Cafe/Bar/Shopping Viertel in Hamburg) to kick back and relax.
There will always be errands to run like grocery shopping, doctors appointments, favors for friends, or simply buying a new accessory for your room. Try to schedule them out before hand so you don't end up frustrated and not able to attend to your other responsibilities and interests.
When the lady at the counter says "Schoenes Wochende!" on a Friday afternoon with all enthusiasm, as well as every other person you greet, you will finally start realize why they say it with such enthusiasm after your praktikum! Weekends are worshiped and understandably so because the weekdays are taken very seriously and a lot of effort, focus, and diligence are put in to make every week a successful one. This is one thing I appreciate about the German culture.
Thursday, May 17, 2012
Phase II
I've moved out..and moved into my new place! O M G..the difference...
Everything is so much closer now that I am only 5 minutes away from HBF, and the Alster is just around the corner, but my street, Wandsbeker Chaussee, is not the fanciest street at all actually but my new apartment is very homey..and Alhamdulilah I have a really big room 24 m2 and its so spacious and I feel like i can breathe! There wasn't much furniture when I first moved it..it was pretty empty..only a mattress and a desk and Komode but yea with time I've been rounding up left overs from here and there hehe...Honestly don't see a point in buying new furniture for only the 4 months that are coming so I'm only getting stuff that I need...I discovered this awesome store called the "Umsonst Laden" and basically you can pick up whateva ya want for free!!!http://www.ak-loek.de/Umsonstladen/HomePage You have to give a small donation from 10 - 15 euro and i basically got a Bettgestell, and 2 mirrors, and a Nachtisch all for 15 euro! It's amazing really..Of course my room looks a little bit like a khabeesah because I have rounded up things from all over, but I love it :)
Anyway my point is, I did the whole Studentenwohnheim thing, and it was great, but the location was too far, and now that phase is over and three weeks into this, I feel like its been so worth it to move out and start new again...and now I feel like I really turned the page into the next phase of this year..I'm earning a little more money now with the internship so I can afford to live in a bigger place in the center. It would have been great if I could find another dorm somewhere in the center too...that would have saved me bunch of money, but Studierendenwerk told me that Exchange Students are not allowed to move from one dorm to another..which I think is bull, but they were really rude and not understanding, but I didn't let that stop me and I kept looking for a good 3 months until out of nowhere and just complete luck and fate that I found this place in an article on http://www.wg-gesucht.de/.
If you guys don't feel comfortable in your living situation, thenn try as best as you can to get used to it and try to change it to adapt to it...but if it gets to a point where you feel like that's it...then ya gotta do so2m bout it :)
I could go on and on about living...because I did so much research and asked so many people..and I've been living here for the past what 7 months (Wow, so fast) and I kinda got a good idea of where students live and how it all goes and bla bla so if you need help finding a place, maybe I'll know a few things to help ya out.
cheers!
Everything is so much closer now that I am only 5 minutes away from HBF, and the Alster is just around the corner, but my street, Wandsbeker Chaussee, is not the fanciest street at all actually but my new apartment is very homey..and Alhamdulilah I have a really big room 24 m2 and its so spacious and I feel like i can breathe! There wasn't much furniture when I first moved it..it was pretty empty..only a mattress and a desk and Komode but yea with time I've been rounding up left overs from here and there hehe...Honestly don't see a point in buying new furniture for only the 4 months that are coming so I'm only getting stuff that I need...I discovered this awesome store called the "Umsonst Laden" and basically you can pick up whateva ya want for free!!!http://www.ak-loek.de/Umsonstladen/HomePage You have to give a small donation from 10 - 15 euro and i basically got a Bettgestell, and 2 mirrors, and a Nachtisch all for 15 euro! It's amazing really..Of course my room looks a little bit like a khabeesah because I have rounded up things from all over, but I love it :)
Anyway my point is, I did the whole Studentenwohnheim thing, and it was great, but the location was too far, and now that phase is over and three weeks into this, I feel like its been so worth it to move out and start new again...and now I feel like I really turned the page into the next phase of this year..I'm earning a little more money now with the internship so I can afford to live in a bigger place in the center. It would have been great if I could find another dorm somewhere in the center too...that would have saved me bunch of money, but Studierendenwerk told me that Exchange Students are not allowed to move from one dorm to another..which I think is bull, but they were really rude and not understanding, but I didn't let that stop me and I kept looking for a good 3 months until out of nowhere and just complete luck and fate that I found this place in an article on http://www.wg-gesucht.de/.
If you guys don't feel comfortable in your living situation, thenn try as best as you can to get used to it and try to change it to adapt to it...but if it gets to a point where you feel like that's it...then ya gotta do so2m bout it :)
I could go on and on about living...because I did so much research and asked so many people..and I've been living here for the past what 7 months (Wow, so fast) and I kinda got a good idea of where students live and how it all goes and bla bla so if you need help finding a place, maybe I'll know a few things to help ya out.
cheers!
Sunday, April 15, 2012
Moving out...
Oh Kiwittsmoor...How I will not miss you... haha
I currently reside in the Studentenwohnheim in Kiwittsmoor and I actually really do like my Wohnung and my Mitbewohnerinen but it is time to say goodbye and move somewhere in the center! I'm moving to Eilbek..its a nice area, next to the Eilbek Canal that leads to the Alster and 14 minutes away from my office in Roedingsmarkt.
If you're moving to Hamburg, and for only a short period of time like us..its nice to be in the Center. You would typically want to be somewhere near Hamburg Mitte:
I currently reside in the Studentenwohnheim in Kiwittsmoor and I actually really do like my Wohnung and my Mitbewohnerinen but it is time to say goodbye and move somewhere in the center! I'm moving to Eilbek..its a nice area, next to the Eilbek Canal that leads to the Alster and 14 minutes away from my office in Roedingsmarkt.
If you're moving to Hamburg, and for only a short period of time like us..its nice to be in the Center. You would typically want to be somewhere near Hamburg Mitte:
Saturday, March 17, 2012
Praktikum
After applying to over 25 offices in Hamburg and 1 in Koeln, and having 5 interviews, I finally found an internship Höhler + Partner: http://www.hoehler-partner.de/.
I have been there for two weeks so far. The office is spacious and my colleagues are all nice and my sponsor is very helpful in explaining all my tasks. So far I've been organizing folders of construction drawings (like the ones we learn how to do in Building Construction III) and also learning about the different types of walls in a building, and calculating the areas and volumes of materials on each floor (Beton, stahl..etc.) The language we communicate in is German, but if I don't understand than we find a way to either draw it out of look it up online or find the explanation in English. In the next weeks I will accompany my colleagues to the Baustelle to see what's going on with my eyes and sit in on meetings with the Bauherr to see how meeting are carried through with the client.
So far its been a nice change from university and the work days go by so quickly! I will write another update soon :)
I have been there for two weeks so far. The office is spacious and my colleagues are all nice and my sponsor is very helpful in explaining all my tasks. So far I've been organizing folders of construction drawings (like the ones we learn how to do in Building Construction III) and also learning about the different types of walls in a building, and calculating the areas and volumes of materials on each floor (Beton, stahl..etc.) The language we communicate in is German, but if I don't understand than we find a way to either draw it out of look it up online or find the explanation in English. In the next weeks I will accompany my colleagues to the Baustelle to see what's going on with my eyes and sit in on meetings with the Bauherr to see how meeting are carried through with the client.
So far its been a nice change from university and the work days go by so quickly! I will write another update soon :)
Monday, December 12, 2011
CV + Portfolio
It sucks to say that they are right when they tell us to
DO THEM BEFORE YOU COME TO GERMANY .
you will have time to do them here but they are just a hassle and you are never in the mood to look at all your old projects and arrange them and bla bla bla...
PLUS there may be some documents like the Anlagen for the CV/Lebenslauf that you may need to bring with you from Amman! So it is important to prepare them before you leave...
DO THEM BEFORE YOU COME TO GERMANY .
you will have time to do them here but they are just a hassle and you are never in the mood to look at all your old projects and arrange them and bla bla bla...
PLUS there may be some documents like the Anlagen for the CV/Lebenslauf that you may need to bring with you from Amman! So it is important to prepare them before you leave...
Classes in German ?
Man oh man..what can I say?
Sorry to break it to you guys but...its almost impossible to walk out of class with full confidence of understanding.
I really really really wish that GJU prepared us better for german in our field! If I had a say, I would vote for them to at least start giving us vocab from our field majors from DEUTSCH I!
Advice: I'm actually still trying to figure out how to learn all the architectural terms in German myself. The best way I learn is watching other students in class speak and learn from them... but I would also suggest:
- list words you know you will use, translate them, and memorize them!
- watch youtube videos of lectures or anything that has to do with your field in German.
- follow german written blogs/tweets.
If you have any more ideas please add them! I think all of us GJU students could use some good advice...
Sorry to break it to you guys but...its almost impossible to walk out of class with full confidence of understanding.
I really really really wish that GJU prepared us better for german in our field! If I had a say, I would vote for them to at least start giving us vocab from our field majors from DEUTSCH I!
Advice: I'm actually still trying to figure out how to learn all the architectural terms in German myself. The best way I learn is watching other students in class speak and learn from them... but I would also suggest:
- list words you know you will use, translate them, and memorize them!
- watch youtube videos of lectures or anything that has to do with your field in German.
- follow german written blogs/tweets.
If you have any more ideas please add them! I think all of us GJU students could use some good advice...
Sunday, November 27, 2011
Speaking German
2 and a half months in now...I would say my german has improved from a 1.5 to a 1.9. Depending on the ILR (FSI) proficiency scale: http://www.sil.org/lingualinks/languagelearning/mangngyrlngglrnngprgrm/TheILRFSIProficiencyScale.htm I would say in general when GJU students first arrive in Germany we are at level 1.5 (done with German V/B2). I think it is physically impossible to become a level 4 in only one-year's time here but I think it may be possible to reach a good level 3! BUT...you must put effort from your side EVERY SINGLE DAY!
My personal advice:
1. Have some sort of regular German channel on the radio, tv show, or songs playing as regular as possible.
2. Invest in children's books to help you get in touch with the fundamental social lingo. (I recently received "The little Prince" from a German friend and it is a very easy read and makes me giggle! I feel silly pulling it out on the U-bahn and reading but people you are sitting next to will forget you once you step of the U-bahn! :P)
3. Create a list of terms you think you will need related to your major and memorize them so you have some kind of idea what the professor is talking about in class for a starter!
4. Speak German to the Erasmus students you meet! It is very comfortable to speak with other Erasmus students because we are all on the same level of German! Once you start out in English, it is very hard to switch back to German!
5. If your Uni offers programs of pairing you up with another student to practice german with and them english with you for example, then do so!
6. Mingle with germans at parties, outings, dinners etc. and ask them about phrases and words you doubt and have trouble with. Also tell them to teach you local phrases!
7. Hang posters, flyers, random words, signs, lyrics on your wall in german so you see it everyday!
9. Take the German courses they offer at uni! Even if your too lazy to..push yourself and you will feel better and most confident. I take C1 now on Wednesday at 18:15-20:45...its a crappy time, but I feel much better every time class finishes!
9. Take the German courses they offer at uni! Even if your too lazy to..push yourself and you will feel better and most confident. I take C1 now on Wednesday at 18:15-20:45...its a crappy time, but I feel much better every time class finishes!
8. AND MOST IMPORTANTLY....Review what you learned at the end of each day (even if it was just 2 words...repeat them as many times as you can to hammer them in your memory :P)
Think Smart...
Sometimes you will be rushed to think that you must purchase something RIGHT NOW or else you can't live like the others around you. That is usually not true. For example:
Moving in...: you should wait to move into your apartment to buy all your necessities for your new "home". When I first moved in, I was in a WG with three guys and was not comfortable with the living situation. Therefore, I asked to move to another WG with 3 other girls. I was tempted to buy kitchenware, and a microwave, and a vacuum cleaner etc. but I waited to see how the situation was in my new apartment. Thankfully, the girls I moved in with had almost a full kitchen set up and very generously let me use all the kitchen products. As for the vacuum cleaner, one of guys in my old apartment was moving out and gave me his!
Another thing to consider is to bring the right things from you from Amman to "ikhtasir" buying here. Here are a list of things I found myself saying "thank God i brought this with me":
1. extension cord
2. electricity plug converters (in germany, the outlets look like this)
3. internet cable.
4. different size suitcases in case you travel somewhere in your time here.
5. a rolling back-pack or anything that has wheels. Why? For putting your groceries in! You do not want to haul around big bags by hand, trust me!
6. All the programs you need for university downloaded on your computer. For example, Architecture students could need Autocad, Photoshop, and a 3-D program.
7. Make sure to have anti-virus on your computer for the whole year so you dont have to pay for it here!
8. Some over-the counter medicine just for back-up in case you catch a cold or have small pains. (Ask the nearest doctor to you for more advice on that).
Can't think of anymore right now. If you have any doubts before you leave, just write me here and I will do my best to help!
Moving in...: you should wait to move into your apartment to buy all your necessities for your new "home". When I first moved in, I was in a WG with three guys and was not comfortable with the living situation. Therefore, I asked to move to another WG with 3 other girls. I was tempted to buy kitchenware, and a microwave, and a vacuum cleaner etc. but I waited to see how the situation was in my new apartment. Thankfully, the girls I moved in with had almost a full kitchen set up and very generously let me use all the kitchen products. As for the vacuum cleaner, one of guys in my old apartment was moving out and gave me his!
Another thing to consider is to bring the right things from you from Amman to "ikhtasir" buying here. Here are a list of things I found myself saying "thank God i brought this with me":
1. extension cord
2. electricity plug converters (in germany, the outlets look like this)
3. internet cable.
4. different size suitcases in case you travel somewhere in your time here.
5. a rolling back-pack or anything that has wheels. Why? For putting your groceries in! You do not want to haul around big bags by hand, trust me!
6. All the programs you need for university downloaded on your computer. For example, Architecture students could need Autocad, Photoshop, and a 3-D program.
7. Make sure to have anti-virus on your computer for the whole year so you dont have to pay for it here!
8. Some over-the counter medicine just for back-up in case you catch a cold or have small pains. (Ask the nearest doctor to you for more advice on that).
Can't think of anymore right now. If you have any doubts before you leave, just write me here and I will do my best to help!
Sports
There are endless possibilities of sports for you to do with the university! I will always refer to my experience in Hamburg but I'm sure smaller city universities have the same options. In HCU (HafenCity Universitaet) students have an option to pay 50 euros/ semester and have access to almost all the sports you can think of. Here's a link to see for yourself: http://hsp-hh.sport.uni-hamburg.de/sportangprogramm.htm
I've tried so far Volleyball, Beach Volleyball, Rueckenfitness, Fat-Burner class, Ballett, Modern-Jazz dance, and Yoga. They were all really fun and i still take part in as many as I can!
If you still are not satisfied with the classes offered or the amount of payment, then there are other gyms and fitness programs you can apply for like Sport pass for 8 euros a month.
Tip:
1. Take advantage of trying new things because chances are you won't find the same opportunities in Amman! The classes are run in German but all you have to do is look at the person next to you if you don't understand and you'll figure it out easily :P.
2. If sports are really that important to you, try to work out your schedule so that you can be take the class you want in uni as well as comfortably go to sports so you don't have to haul your sports bag with you all day!
Wednesday, October 5, 2011
Semester ticket
You will receive your semester transportation ticket from the IO probably on the first day of orientation which will cover all forms of public transportation in your city for the semester...usually including U-bahn, S-bahn, Buses, and Ferries.
Make sure you know when to pay for the semester ticket as to get it on time and not waste money buying daily or weekly transportation tickets.
IF you happen to have paid for a weekly/monthly ticket, and you receive your semester ticket before it is expired, you may be able to get your money back for the overlapping days/weeks you paid for in your monthly/weekly ticket from the transportation center (in Hamburg the Hamburger Verkehrverbund (HVV)).
Make sure you know when to pay for the semester ticket as to get it on time and not waste money buying daily or weekly transportation tickets.
IF you happen to have paid for a weekly/monthly ticket, and you receive your semester ticket before it is expired, you may be able to get your money back for the overlapping days/weeks you paid for in your monthly/weekly ticket from the transportation center (in Hamburg the Hamburger Verkehrverbund (HVV)).
Orientation
ORIENTATION IS VERY IMPORTANT.
What is Orientation week?
It is basically a week set up by the IO giving you help and guidance for settling into the city and getting ready for University. Make sure you arrive in time for it as to benefit from the generous help that is offered by the IO and the volunteer students.
If you arrive before orientation, you may be worried about doing all your paper work on your own but don't worry...either you will be assigned a "buddy" to help you and/or the IO will help you during orientation week.
HOWEVER...if you know something should be done before a certain date or you need it to be done as soon as possible, do not wait for someone to help you, go out and TRY to do it on your own (Ex. activating your bank account or getting an Anmeldungsbestaetigung). Other things like getting health insurance is a bit confusing so you can wait for someone to help you.
Usually there will be a schedule sent to you before of the orientation week content so you will know what to expect.
Do not be shy and stick to your own group. Mingle, make new friends, practice your german! (Most of the other erasmus students are on our same level of german so don't be intimidated)
What is Orientation week?
It is basically a week set up by the IO giving you help and guidance for settling into the city and getting ready for University. Make sure you arrive in time for it as to benefit from the generous help that is offered by the IO and the volunteer students.
If you arrive before orientation, you may be worried about doing all your paper work on your own but don't worry...either you will be assigned a "buddy" to help you and/or the IO will help you during orientation week.
HOWEVER...if you know something should be done before a certain date or you need it to be done as soon as possible, do not wait for someone to help you, go out and TRY to do it on your own (Ex. activating your bank account or getting an Anmeldungsbestaetigung). Other things like getting health insurance is a bit confusing so you can wait for someone to help you.
Usually there will be a schedule sent to you before of the orientation week content so you will know what to expect.
Do not be shy and stick to your own group. Mingle, make new friends, practice your german! (Most of the other erasmus students are on our same level of german so don't be intimidated)
Thursday, September 29, 2011
3 weeks in
Note: Posts will be short and sweet.
Arrived in Hamburg 3 weeks ago.
- transportation within the city: takes a week to get used to.
- financially: similar to Amman. Rent is more expensive.
- weather: expect "all four seasons" in one day. Sept. 2011 has been avg. 15 degC.
- people: very nice and helpful. Try to speak german with them and they will appreciate your efforts even if its khabayis. Hamburgers mostly speak german (unlike Berlin where lots of people speak english)
- food: you can find anything you want, just have to know where to look. (I will be posting my favorites as I find them!)
- things to do: lots of things to do...you just have to look for them. Don't wait for them to come to you. In general, people stay in during the week or do something chill and go all out on the weekends.
Advice: ASK! ASK! ASK! Do not be afraid to ask about anything you doubt. If you don't understand something, keep at it until you do.
Arrived in Hamburg 3 weeks ago.
- transportation within the city: takes a week to get used to.
- financially: similar to Amman. Rent is more expensive.
- weather: expect "all four seasons" in one day. Sept. 2011 has been avg. 15 degC.
- people: very nice and helpful. Try to speak german with them and they will appreciate your efforts even if its khabayis. Hamburgers mostly speak german (unlike Berlin where lots of people speak english)
- food: you can find anything you want, just have to know where to look. (I will be posting my favorites as I find them!)
- things to do: lots of things to do...you just have to look for them. Don't wait for them to come to you. In general, people stay in during the week or do something chill and go all out on the weekends.
Advice: ASK! ASK! ASK! Do not be afraid to ask about anything you doubt. If you don't understand something, keep at it until you do.
Monday, September 5, 2011
Introduction
Hello everyone. My name is Farah Abu Alia and I am starting a blog for those of us who travel from Jordan to Germany in order to share our experiences and help guide each other through questions and difficulties.
I am a student at the German Jordanian University studying architecture. My main goal of starting this blog is to reach out to my colleagues at GJU as I feel it is important to share our experiences to benefit as much as possible from each other and to inform those who have no clue what they're doing!
I hope this iniative will be educational and informative and hopefully help you feel like you have a better grasp on your future journey to Germany.
I am a student at the German Jordanian University studying architecture. My main goal of starting this blog is to reach out to my colleagues at GJU as I feel it is important to share our experiences to benefit as much as possible from each other and to inform those who have no clue what they're doing!
I hope this iniative will be educational and informative and hopefully help you feel like you have a better grasp on your future journey to Germany.
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