KatrinaAbenojar:studyingBSEnvironmentalScienceattheAteneodeManilaUniversity,Philippines.

MyMobilityinCottbusandAround
TheErasmusMundusMobilitywithAsia2014,action2,gavemetheopportunitytostudyinGermany
foronesemesterattheBrandenburgUniversityofTechnology(BTU),Cottbus.Iwastakingclassesfromthe
EnvironmentandResourceManagementprogramatthebachelorlevelduringthesummersemester.Itwasa
greatwaytospendtheextendedsummerthatresultedfromAteneosacademiccalendarshiftwhichmovedthe
startoftheschoolyearfromJunetoAugust.MymobilitylastedfromApril1toAugust14,bringingmehomesix
weekslateforthestartofuniversity.InAteneo,weareonlyallowedthreeweeksworthofcutsandthenwe
arenteligibletopasstheclassanymore.TheEnvironmentalSciencedepartmentinAteneo,however,wasvery
consideratewiththisandstillallowedmetotakeEScoursesinthenextsemester.Iamreallythankfulforthis
rulebecauseitgavemeavalidreasontostayamonthlongerafterclasseshadalreadyended,andIthengot
spendmoretimewithfriends,travel,andlearnevenmore.
Itwaseasyformetogetastudentvisabecausewithinoneweekfromsubmittingmydocuments,I
receivedacallformyapproval.ButIhadtopaythefeeforthiswhilethestudentsonEMMAwhoappliedlater
didnot.Therewerenodifficultiesinthepreparations.EventhoughIhadnoclothesforthecoldbecauseIdidnt
needtheselivinginatropicalcountry,andIdidnothaveluggagebecauseIneverneededthiseither,friends
andfamilyofferedtolendmesuitcases,jackets,andwarmclothesthatIusedduringthemonthofAprilwhich
wasalreadyverycoldforme.Someauntsalsogavemetheeurobanknotestheystillhadandpocketmoney
whichwasusefulduringthefirstweekinCottbuswhenIwasntgivenallowanceyet.
IpreparedmorethanwasneededfortheacademicsbecauseIthoughtthatBTUhadthesamesystem
asAteneowhereIhadtochooseandsignupforclassesbeforeattendingthem.ThinkingthatIneededto
decidebeforehand,IsentmessagestorandompeoplewhowereintheERMBTUFacebookgroupaskingthem
forrecommendationsandreviewsofclassesandprofessors.Throughthis,Iwasalsoabletoaskaboutthe
cultureIwouldbeexpecting,theweather,whatelseIneededtobring,andthekindofsocketsandvoltagethey
usedthere.ThebestthingaboutthisisthatIgottotalktoastudent,Tiffany,whoofferedmetheemptyroom
besidehersinthedoublesstudentaccommodations,andsheeventuallybecameoneofmyclosestfriendswho
mademyexchangeasgreatasitwas.WhiletheBTUBuddyassignedtomearrangedfortheroomandasked
forthekeysbeforeIarrived,Tiffanyarrangedforherfriendtopickmeupattheairport,metmeattheCottbus
trainstation,broughtmetotheroomwithafurnishedkitchenandbathroom,andhelpedmegetmywayaround.
TheERMbachelorsprogramdirectorhelpedarrangeacashpaymentforthedormitoryfeestofinalizethe
contractwhenweweresupposedtotransfermoneyandIneededthedormcontracttoopenabankaccount.I
hadheardofotherstudentswhohadamuchhardertimewithgettingtoCottbusandfixingtheirstudent
accommodations,soIamverythankfulforthesepeople.
ThatwasmyfirstexperiencelivingaloneandIreallylikedhowmyroomfelt.Thewhitewalls,clean
floors,sunlight,andtheclearviewoutsidetothetrees.TheydidnthaveleavesyetinApril,butitwasabeautiful
sighttoseethenewleavessproutandfillthetrees.IwassurprisedthatIwouldhavearoomalltomyself,
becausemostdormsIhadseeninthePhilippineshadsharedrooms.Itwasalsorefreshingtobreatheincool
andcleanair,andnotseesomanycarsorpeopleonthestreets.
ThewelcomingactivityforBTUsnewstudentsinthesummersemesterwasrightontimeformyarrival.
AfterIreachedthedormandunpackedsomethings,myroommatetoldmethattherewasatreasurehuntgoing
onoutside,andsoIwentandmettheothernewstudentsrightbeforeitstarted.Astheschoolyearstartedinthe
wintersemester,wewerenotsomanyandmostlyexchangestudentswereatthistreasurehunt.ThereIgotto
seemanypartsofCottbusandmetpeoplefromallover:Colombia,Turkey,Poland,andSyria.Thesepeople
becamemyclosestfriends,andclassroomandtravelbuddies.
Itwasdifficulttogetahangofthelanguageatthestart.Mostpeopleinstores,offices,andeventhe
cafeteriacouldnotspeakEnglish,soIusedcharadesalotandhadtolearnthedifferentpronunciation.Ihad
practicallynobackgroundwiththelanguage,buttooktheGermanA1part2classesatthestartofthesemester
becausethiswasalltheyofferedforsummer.ItwastaughtintheGermanlanguagethatIentirelydidnot
understandexceptforthewordssimilartoEnglishwords,andtheclassesstarteda7:30inthemorning,soI

eventuallydroppedtheclass.Instead,Itriedtolearnfromthebookandwasstillabletolearnfromhearingand
readingthings,askingoften,likewheninthegrocery,andwhenlisteningtofriendstalkinGerman,thenasking
forsometranslationsandexplanations.
TheothercoursesItook,andthegradesIgotfromthese,were:EnvironmentalBiotechnologies,1.7
IntegratedEnvironmentalPlanning,1.3EnvironmentalIssuesinAfrica,2.3SoilProtection,1.0andEcosystem
Analysis,2.3.Theywereallinterestingandgavemebasicknowledgeontopicssuchaswastetreatmentby
microorganismsfromEnvironmentalBiotechnologiessyndromesofglobalchange,sustainability,and
participatoryplanningfromIntegratedEnvironmentalPlanninggeographyanddemographicsofAfrica,thelarge
scaleoffoodwastagebyfarmersandmarkets,anddecentralizedwastemanagementfromEnvironmental
IssuesinAfricaplantsadaptationstodifferentsoiltypesandclimatesindifferentpartsoftheworld,andthe
benefitsofagroforestrysystemsfromSoilProtectionandwhatGISandmapscanbeusedfor,howcoordinate
referencesystemswork,andtheusageofArcGISforsimpleoperationsfromEcosystemAnalysis.Fourofthese
classesaresimilarenoughtoclassesofferedbyAteneoandcanbecreditedaselectivesinmyprogramof
study,whichmakesthismobilitymuchbetterthantheJuniorTermAbroadopportunitiesbeingofferedbyAteneo
wherenoneoftheclassestakencanbecredited.
Thescheduleofmyclassesgavemefourdaysfreeinaweek,andwithnotmuchtodo,Iwasableto
learnhowtocookbetter,haveenoughsleepeveryday,hangaroundCottbus,goonexcursions,andtravel,all
whilespendalotoftimewithfriendsandmeetingnewones.Itwassoconvenientlivingoncampusandhavinga
kitchen,becauseeveryonewaswithinreachanditwaseasytocomeandcooktogetherfordinnersandhave
barbecues.Itwasalsoagoodchangetohaveeverythingaccessiblebyfootandsafetoridetobybike,likethe
groceries,malls,restaurants,lakes,andthebank.MostplacesinthePhilippinescouldonlybereachedbycar
frommyhome,andtheroadsalwayshadtoomuchtraffictobikeon.Thepublictransportationnetworkwhich
wasalmostalwaysontimeandhadcarefullyplannedroutesalsomadeiteasytogetanywhere,andduringthis
timeIlearnedhowtounderstandtransportmapsandutilizeGoogleMapswhichmadeiteasyformetofindout
whattotakeandwhen.Ialsogottoenjoytheefficientpublictransport,appreciatethattherewerentidleworkers
inthemarketsandshops,andtheavailabilityofhealthyfoodinmostplaces.
TheclassrequirementsofBTUareverydifferentfromthoseofAteneobecauseinallofmyregular
classes,onlyoneexammustbewrittenattheendofthesemesterinadditiontoanessayand/orpresentation,
andattendanceisnotrequired.InAteneo,mostclasseshaveseveralexams,midterms,andfinals,andallow
onlyuptotwoweeksworthofcuts.ThedifferentsysteminBTUletmebemorerelaxedwithreviewingduring
thesemester,andalsoresultedinmuchlesspeopleattendingclassafterthefirstfewweeks.Inoticedthatthe
teacherswerenotveryinteractive,rarelyvaryingtheirteachingstyle,anddidnotrequiremuchhomework,
besidestheessaysandpresentations,tocomplementlearning.TheEnvironmentalIssuesinAfricaclasswas
different,however,becauseitwasablockseminaronlylastingtwoweeks.Attendancewasrequired,somore
peoplewereofteninclass,andtheprofessornotonlygavelectures,butalsoshowedfilms.Hegavestudents
differentwaystogiveinputsuchastakingclassminutes,writingessays,andgivingpresentationsonarticles,
films,booksandothertopics.ThiscondensedandinteractiveclasswasoneIreallyenjoyedandlearnedthe
mostfrom.
OnelearningopportunityoutsideofBTUthatIhadthechancetotakepartofwasasummerschoolin
Kigali,Rwanda,inpartnershipwithRapidPlanningwhichisagovernmentprojectaimingtodevelopaframework
thatcitiescanusetofasttrackurbanplanningandkeepupwithrapidurbanization.Oneoftheprofessors
teachingIntegratedEnvironmentalPlanningwaspartofthisprojectandinvitedourclassandanyoneelsewho
wasinterestedtoapplyforthesummerschool.Iwasaccepted,andwenttoAfricawithtwoprofessorsandsix
otherstudents,eachonefromadifferentcountry:Colombia,Ghana,Nigeria,Cameroon,India,andGermany.
ThelivingallowancefromEMMAwasmorethanenoughformydaytodayexpenses,andwaswhatallowedfor
metogoonthistrip.
Ihadsometroubleswithmyflightandhadtorebookbeforeboardingtheplane,soIarrivedtwodays
beforemostoftheotherstudents.Itwasachallengetofindmywayaroundbymyself,butthingsgotbetterafter
IfoundeverythingandafterIlearnedtosaysomecommonwords.EveryoneImetwasalwayswillingtohelp

andwhileonlyafewcouldfluentlyspeakEnglish,mosthadBasicEnglishandalwaystried,andsoitwasstill
easierthaninCottbus.TheothersarrivedandIwasabletohelpthemoutandgetsettledquickerthanIdid.
OnethingthatisalwaysbroughtupaboutRwandabesidesthegenocide,isitssurprisingsafetyand
order,ascomparedtosurroundingcountries.Ioftensawarmedguards,andeverybuildingentrancewas
guardedandIhadtohavemybagscheckedandgothroughametaldetectortogetin.Manypartsofthecity
werewellplanned,andasawholeitdidnotlookanythingatalllikeitwentthroughthechaosofthegenocide
thathappenedtherein
1994
.Thiswasacountrythathadalltheexcusesforfailureandyetturnedoutbetter
thanthosewhichdidnot.Theyhadverygoodleadershipandpeoplereallyworkedhardtogettowheretheyare
now.AftervisitingtheGenocideMemorial,IgainedmorerespectforthepeopleIencountered,andthoughtthat
thisisprobablywhyalmostallthepeopleIhaveseenfromKigalispokeinalowvolume.
IwasinKigalifromJuly28toAugust11whilethesummerschoollastedonlyfivedays.Itwasavery
packedweek.TheparticipatingstudentswerenotonlyfromBTUCottbus,butalsofromtheTechnicalUniversity
ofBerlinandtheKigaliInstituteofScienceandTechnology.Weweresplitintofourgroups:Waste,Water,
Energy,andFood.Allofushadtolistentomanypresentations,explorethetargetsite,aninformalcommunity
calledAgatare,conductinterviews,andconsultwiththeprofessors,alltodevelopourideasforspatial
implementationstoimproveallthingsrelatedtoourchosentopic,whichwasforme,food.Thefactthatwewere
allfromdifferentculturesandlevelsandfieldsofstudyandhaddifferentpersonalitiesdidcausesometensions,
butitworkedoutintheendwithoutanyonefighting,andtheresultsweregreatespeciallybecauseofthese
differentapproachesandideasthateachonecontributed.Ilearnedalotfromtheprofessorshelpingusoutand
afterpresentingthistoanaudienceandreceivingfeedbackandinputfromsomecityofficialsandother
professionals,Iwasabletohaveawiderview,andhaveamorerealisticwayofthinking.
FindingachurchtobeinwasalsonotsoeasybecausetheonessimilartowhatIwaspartofinthe
PhilippineswereallthewayinBerlin.IgottomeetalotofpeopleinthestudentchurchesIdidvisit,andmainly
hadspiritualencouragementfrommypassionateChristianfriendsinCottbus,andfrommyfamilybackhome.I
did,however,attendachurcheventinBerlininJunewhereImetFilipinos,thefirstIhadseenandtalked
TagalogwithsincearrivinginGermany,andwhereImetthesamepastorleadingourchurchesinthe
Philippines.ThiscamejustintimeforthehomesicknessIwasstartingtohave,andtheonesthathadattended
thesamechurchIwasininthePhilippinesweresowelcoming.IstayedwiththeminNurembergandwentwith
themtovisittheirfriendsinInnsbruckwheretheyusedtolive.TheyalsointroducedmetoanotherFilipinaliving
inMunichwhowelcomedmeinherhomeafterIlandedtherefrommyreturntripfromKigali.Shewasvery
talkativeandIlearnedalotfromherandherhusbandsstoriesabouttheirlivesandofthingsthattheylearned
growingup.IthankGodforbringingmetothesepeoplewhowerelikefamilytome,andtomyfriendswhoInow
seeasbrothersandsisters.IalsothinkthattheprotectionthewholetimeandkindpeopleImetalongallofmy
travelsinGermany,Prague,Spain,andKigali,werethankstothepeoplebackhomewhomymomspecifically
textedwhereIwouldbegoingandwhen,andaskedtoprayformetocovermywholesemesterabroad.
AllofmyacademicrequirementsfromBTUwereoverbeforeleavingforAfrica,andalmostallofmy
exchangestudentfriendshadtogobacktotheirhomecountrieswhileIwasaway.Mostofall,myroommate
wasgoingbackhometoHongKongbeforegoingonhersemesterabroadinTexas,andIwouldarriveback
homefrommylongtriptoanemptyplaceandalockeddoorbesidemine.Itwasmyfirsttimeexperiencingthis
kindofgoodbyewhereyouknowthatyoupossiblywontbeseeingeachotheragain,oratleastnotforalong
time.ThiswasthetimewhenwedidalotofreminiscingandwhenIreallyputeffortintobeinginthepresent.
BackinthePhilippinesIalwaysknewthatmyfriendswerejustnearbyevenaftersayinggoodbye,butthese
friendswouldbemuchfurther.Ilearnedtostopbeingtoosadandmissingpeople,buttojustbethankfulofall
thattherewasworthtomiss.Iwasgladwewouldalwaysbeconnectedthroughsocialmedia,butitsneverthe
same.Now,IamtreasuringmorethefriendsthatImtobelongerbecausewereinthesameschoolorjust
livingnearby.
IhavedefinitelychangedsincefirstarrivinginGermany.Thatsemesterabroadwasbyfarthebest
summerIvehad,andIhavegladlybroughthomeallthesenewexperiences,cultures,andwaysofthinking,life

skills,independence,andopenness.IloveGermanyanditslanguageandallthegoodthingsIsawhappening
there,butsurprisinglyIhavegrownevenmoretoloveandhaveprideinmyowncountry,language,andpeople.