Fabienne Duwe – Interior architecture

Fabienne Duwe is studying in the area of expertise Interior architecture and spent a semester abroad in Vancouver, Kanada BCIT- British Columbia Institute of Technology

A semester abroad was the next logical step for me, after I was already allowed to gain valuable experience abroad during my school days. This time has shown me how enriching other cultures and perspectives are, which is why I absolutely wanted to experience this feeling during my studies. It is the perfect opportunity for me to broaden my own horizons, consciously leave the comfort zone and develop myself both personally and professionally in a new environment.

During my stay I lived directly on campus in my own small apartment. That was perfect if you wanted to be in the middle of the action, but also needed your peace in the evening and didn't have to share a kitchen or bathroom. Through the common areas and the sports facilities right outside the door you could quickly socialise. Even if the study itself has often kept you on your toes, thanks to the lack of shuttle routes, there was enough freedom for everything important in the end.

The university itself was absolutely great, and there were a lot of cool offers as well as great help from the consistently friendly and helpful teachers. Even compared to home, there was a lot to discover on campus - just the countless dining options and corners to linger. As far as the courses are concerned, it was really exciting: Among other things, I took a course on textiles and fibres, in which we were quite immersed in the topic. In addition, there was a project course in which, despite previous experience, I had to learn a lot of new things, because some people work differently there - if only because of the imperial system! In addition, a history course on furniture and interiors as well as a drawing course were on the timetable.

There it happened as if by itself that you gained new experiences and developed further - whether through everyday university life, life directly on campus or the courses in which you got to know completely new ways of working. However, the most memorable are the excursions and travels. Every hike and every sightseeing trip where you could discover a new corner and breathtaking landscapes was simply inherating and beautiful. These nature experiences were among the most impressive and impressive of all time.

It is impossible to filter out a single absolute highlight, because the entire time consisted of impressive experiences! Especially the individual outdoor activities and adventures in nature were unique. And culturally it was absolutely never boring: The museum visits were incredibly exciting and opened up so many new perspectives that you took home a backpack full of impressions.

At first I thought the language might be a hurdle, but that was not a problem at all. The real challenge was the budget: they had underestimated quite a bit how expensive some things were on site, so that the credit card got to its limit faster than expected. But luckily this could also be arranged, so that we could pay again.

If you are thinking of doing a semester abroad: Definitely do it! It just brings you so much. Of course, it is not always easy and at the beginning you may be afraid or uncertain, but it is precisely these challenges that grow beyond yourself the most.