A UA&P MScM student in Germany

A UA&P MScM student in Germany
By Elyse Go
June, 2003
Unedited Version

Not just lucky… but truly BLESSED! This is how I see myself in this whole unbelievable experience and opportunity to be an exchange student in Germany. All of this may have been mere chance, but I think God truly meant it to happen to me.

First, He sent me to the University of Asia and the Pacific. I had initially intended to take up a course (Integrated Marketing Communication) outside the School of Management (SMN), but as things turned out, I ended up here. I began to appreciate UA&P SMN as I was taking up the Master of Science in Management (MScM) program. I am grateful that the course is designed to make us well-balanced and well-rounded. I also value the full attention given to the students by the MScM family. They gain our respect by wielding their authority without being harsh. They continually refine and build up the curriculum. Best of all, although SMN (MScM is its flagship program) is a school of business management, it does not just focus on gaining profits, but also on how one’s principles should be maintained in the process.

On my fourth year, like everyone else in the program, I had to make up my mind whether to proceed to 5th year or not. The 5th year is optional, but you graduate with a Master of Science in Management degree if you successfully finish 5 years, and get only a certificate if you don’t. There is a qualifying grade as well. Little did I know that, by choosing to go another year, a thrilling opportunity was waiting for me—the chance to study in Germany for one semester.

I was having lunch with friends and SMN’s German exchange student when UA&P SMN dean Jose Rene Gayo joined us. He told us about slots available for UA&P students in the German student’s school, the George-Simon-Ohm University. I got deeply interested because I had always been curious about how it was to live alone as a student in another country. I had also long wanted to learn how to look out for myself. I also thought it would be a wonderful chance to be exposed to a totally different culture.

So I wrote a letter of intent and submitted the requirements. To my delight, SMN approved my application. I had a hard time getting a visa, though. Even after I got it, I had to delay my flight for a week because of the uncertainty triggered by the US-Iraq war. But in (March 31, 2003), after a (__16_ -hour trip), I finally arrived in Germany! It was reason enough to believe that it was meant to happen. And for it to happen to me… it was a blessing, indeed.

I am just so thankful that SMN has trusted me to bring the name of the School to another country. I am here not just as a student of UA&P SMN, but as a Filipino as well. Like an ambassadress of goodwill, I am trying my best to blot out the Germans’ negative impressions of Filipinos.

For one, I try as much as possible not to be late for appointments. It is the least I could do to remove this impression they have of us. The Germans have also remarked how crowded and dirty Manila was. I could not argue about that. But I always say that when they go to the Philippines, they should visit our spectacular beaches. A lot of those I have talked to say they are afraid to visit the Philippines because they had heard it was not safe. Unfortunately, they almost always get only the bad news. I explain to them how media would exaggerate issues. I tell them, yes, these security problems happen, but only in small, and usually remote, areas in the Philippines. I hope my German friends will realize that Filipinos are warm, friendly, and law-abiding. That is, they only have to look around them to meet gracious and goodhearted Filipinos. Ahem! Hey, I shared with my new friends here the dried mangoes that I had brought with me. And they found these truly delicious. Export quality, I must say.

I am on my way to being well adjusted, but of course, in the beginning I was anxious. The idea of being in a new environment and getting around in a non-English speaking country was a bit scary. I took a basic German language course before coming here, but it wasn’t enough to carry on a decent conversation with the local people. I hope to improve my German soon to be able to communicate, especially during shopping. Explaining the exact item (for instance, what item--) you want to buy is arduous (how arduous? Long time? Different gestures?)—I would usually have to ask first (in German) if the saleslady speaks English . If she does not, I would have to wait for her to call a colleague who can. Worst is if they all can’t , I will have to either point, do gestures or explain in the most basic German words that I know. The most usual that I buy is of course food. Several times that I did not get the right combination of food that I wanted, or maybe as simple as settling for a normal size of drink even if I wanted a taller one. In the supermarket, I rely on pictures. I once got a sour cream instead of whipped cream! Among the many different kinds of creams available, I didn’t know anymore which is the right one. My dorm mate , who is a German just offered to get me the right one the next time she went to the grocery.

Classes in all levels are taught in German. The course I’m taking up, the International Business Program, offers subjects taught in English. These are the ones I enrolled in, of course, just like my colleagues from other English-speaking countries.

I am happy to say that I am able to cope with the academic load here. My training in our MScM program has absolutely helped. I am not floored anymore by countless readings, case analyses, group work and discussions, doing research and making oral presentations. I find myself speaking out during the lectures, sharing my views and exchanging ideas with the bright students here. Having been grilled during several defense presentations at UA&P SMN, I am prepared to beat the odds and to handle criticisms well. It is true what they say—you reap the rewards after a long, drawn-out struggle. Another thing I learned from SMN is good communication and interpersonal skills. The Germans have strong personalities, but I find that I can easily communicate and deal with them. (During group work for instance, I believe I am able to contribute sensible thoughts. Or able to agree or disagree with the opinions of others during class discussions)

The longer I stay in this country, the more I am convinced that UA&P is at par with the universities here. The only difference is that the George Simone Ohm University is government-owned and, therefore, education here is free; most of the German universities are. The German government is able to provide quality education, which I hope majority of the Filipino youth would get the chance to enjoy as well.

Talk about culture shock… I think my world has turned upside down since I got here. German culture and ours are poles apart. Like, here, it is common for children to move out of the parents’ house at a certain age (at around 20), usually when they go to college. They find it astonishing that in our culture, we move out only when we get married, and sometimes, not even then. They insist that people should be responsible for themselves at a certain age (the same age that they move out).

Another common practice here is for unmarried couples, that is, boyfriends and girlfriends, to share a flat. Because of the strong influence of the Catholic Church, that is not accepted in our society. I have also observed that religion has little bearing in the lives of German youth. When I go to mass on Sundays, I see at most three other young people and some children; the rest are old people. When it comes to leisure, it is amusing to see people here sunbathe in the park ( a park beside the University), lying down under the sun in their two-piece suits or swimming trunks. We’re talking here of a park inside the city (Nuernberg, where I live is a city. Something just like Quezon City)! Could you imagine Filipinos sunbathe in Luneta Park or maybe UP grounds? (I also added UP grounds) (I was also surprised the first time I saw two men casually smack in public. I remember I instinctively went, “Oh, my God!” The people here are open to whatever sexual preference a person has and to such displays of affection. It is not such a big deal with them.)

German society is very open. The people here are not at all conscious of what others say about them or how other people see them. They say what they think or wear whatever makes them comfortable without having to worry how others will think of them. (I added a sentence) We are the complete opposite—we are very careful with our words and conservative in our actions. I am glad that I am able to adjust to such contrasts between our lifestyle and culture and theirs. I find that I am able to adapt well by acknowledging these differences.

Apart from studying International Business here, I also get to learn and apply the principles of PLOC even better -- Planning (planning my day… when to go to the bank, supermarket, group work and parties), Leading (disciplining myself), Organizing (my things, cleaning the room, and doing the laundry), and Control (budgeting, which is quite simply, spending on important things) (or a course called household management)

To be honest, I have learned a lot of things outside schoolwork ever since I got here. A favorite lesson—I have only myself to do the endless things to be attended to, down to the simplest task of cleaning my shoes. At home, my parents, family members, and helpers were always there to give me a hand, making me impervious to their support and service. Now I have come to realize just how much my loved ones, especially my parents, have done for me.

Every time I feel like I’m having a hard time here, I just think about friends, family, my prayer group, the Christian Life Community, relatives, and the SMN family—and that is enough to make me feel supported, strong, and confident that there is really nothing for me to be afraid of—here or anywhere else.

I do not know what I can do to in return for this opportunity that UA&P gave me to be an exchange student in Germany. But I do hope to serve the School in my little way sometime in the future.

“If God brings you to it, He will bring you through it.”