Her friends, the peace and quiet and the natural surroundings are just three of many things Kavana Manjunatha loves about Oldenburg. After almost a year at the university, Kavana, a biology student from India, has settled in well and is looking forward to what comes next.
What advice would she give to other students? Kavana Manjunatha’s answer comes quickly: "No matter how hard it gets, you are stronger than you think," she says. The 24-year-old speaks from experience. The path to getting her own flat, for example, was fraught with obstacles. And her experiences in this initial phase of her life in Oldenburg weren’t always pleasant. But they helped her to grow, she stresses. She has no regrets about her decision to move to Germany to do her master’s degree in biology. And the city that was once foreign to her has now become a second home.
Kavana comes from Bengaluru, a city of 13 million inhabitants in the south of India. She did her bachelor's degree in microbiology there, but for her master’s she was determined to go abroad. Germany was at the top of her list, with safety being a key criterion for her and her family. She chose to study in Oldenburg mainly because of its compact size, the peaceful atmosphere and the easy access to nature. “It was the only university in Germany that I liked at first sight,” she says.
The fact that her master's programme is also offered in English made it easier for her to get started with her studies. She was also pleasantly surprised by the mentality in the country: "I had heard that Germans were rude but many people are very warm and welcoming. Even strangers try to speak English with me to help me out."
Persevere and take your time
But even so, it took a while for Kavana to really feel at home in Oldenburg: her negative experiences when she was new to the city and looking for accommodation often made her doubt whether she should stay. But her family and friends in India, as well as the university's International Office, offered support and encouragement. With success: “It was an indescribable feeling when I finally held the keys to my flat in my hand. I finally had a place that I could call home,” she recalls.
The International Office remains an important point of contact for Kavana, and she now works there as a tutor, helping other international students. She describes her work as "the best part-time job in the world". Not only does she get to socialise with students from all over the world, but she can also share her own experiences with them. She encourages newcomers to persevere and take their time settling in in the city and life at the university. “In the end, the pros easily outweigh the cons. The experiences make you stronger,” she stresses.
Kavana has the feeling she only really grew up when she came to Germany. “Before I came here I lived at home, like a chick in a nest. Here I’ve had to become independent,” she explains. Now she earns her own living with part-time jobs. There are times when she still has difficulties structuring her day independently, but for this, too, Kavana has a tip: “I write to-do lists on which I note down even small tasks like brushing my teeth. Anything I can tick off gives me the feeling of having achieved something.” In stressful phases or on gloomy days, exercise helps to clear her head. “Doing sport is the best medicine for mental health,” she says. Regular phone calls with her family also help her to stay strong. She is certain now that she wants to stay in Oldenburg, at least until she completes her master’s degree, and she’s looking forward to seeing what comes next.