30.10.2008
“We can always knock at the door and someone will be there to help us”
Mine Devran Aras on the university campus in Freiburg. (Copyright: bw-i)
“In the beginning it took me some time to learn about the German rules but now they make things easy”, explains 23-year old Mine Devran Aras. She likes the organised calm life on Freiburg’s university campus. “You can always find someone who is in charge and the international students can always knock at the doors: Someone will be there to help us,” she says from experience. Devran’s decision to come to the German Southwest was a spontaneous one. She heard from a friend that Freiburg was a good place to study so she applied and is now studying for her Master’s degree in Internet Economics. One day she will return to Istanbul and work in the rapidly emerging field of B2B, C2B, C2C … which means she will be managing the buying and selling of goods on the Internet.
The young Turkish woman feels free in the safe Freiburg area and likes living on her own. The tolerant and international campus has given her the opportunity to stand on her own feet even though she is still very young. An aspect that international students all benefit from. Being independent is a very big advantage, she believes. For young women from Turkey life is very different in Baden-Württemberg, compared to home. Salsa, volleyball, organising welcome parties for newcomers – there is lots to do for Devran in the evenings and at the weekends. Even a skiing trip to Switzerland is on her agenda.
Although her Master’s course Internet Economics is completely taught in English, she took German classes in her first year. Devran wants to fully experience international life in Freiburg. When she has finished, she will look for an internship and a first job in Germany and plans to return to Turkey after that. “Of course I miss my family and they, of course, miss me”, she says with a smile. “But I will return one day and will not be the same person as before. Fortunately, my parents support me, although, of course, they expect me to return and stay in Turkey and work in a big bank or company.
Database Management, IP transit and peering or evolving internet facilities – Devran’s field of study is very broad. Technical as well as economic aspects are taught in Freiburg and this makes the course so interesting for her. This is a reason for her to take over public relations work for her study course. Being in her third semester, she for instance partly organises the orientation week for the newcomers, trying to make them feel as much at home as herself.
http://www.uni-freiburg.de
