Bridging Borders

December marks the start of my third month in Germany—can you believe it? I’m still based in Erlangen, but my student life at FAU keeps me commuting back and forth to Nuremberg.  If you’ve read my previous posts, you’ll know I’ve gotten used to commuting. It’s no longer the daunting ordeal it once was; it’s now just a routine part of my day. (Pic of the Kollegienhaus where I usually spend most of my Tuesdays) But you know what I’m not totally used to yet? Winter. Let me tell you, the lack of sun is no joke! As someone who comes from a much sunnier part of the world, the gray skies and chilly weather have been a bit of an adjustment. The good news? Germany knows how to do winter right. The streets are alive with Christmas decorations, charming markets, and abundant traditional sweets that make everything feel just a little warmer and cozier. That said, the holidays can be bittersweet, especially for international students like me. A big part of my heart misses my family back in Ec...

 Two months ago, I landed in Germany with a suitcase full of clothes, a head full of dreams, and zero clue about the German language. Fast forward to today, and I’m navigating life like a pro (well, almost). Honestly, I still pinch myself sometimes—how did a simple Google search lead me here? Let’s talk about the big challenge: German. My vocabulary started and ended with “Hallo” and “Danke,” and yet, here I am, managing to do everything from grocery shopping to catching the right train on Deutsche Bahn (DB) . For those unfamiliar, DB is Germany’s national railway service, and their app is an absolute lifesaver for planning trips and commutes. Between figuring out train schedules and never missing my stop on the route between Erlangen and Nuremberg, I’m genuinely proud of how far I’ve come. And can we talk about my new home? I live in this super modern place called The Brucklyn , which feels like something straight out of a Pinterest board. It’s not just an apartment—it’s a  ...

  Have you ever had one of those moments when everything just clicks ? That’s how it felt when I discovered FAU Erlangen-Nürnberg. I was scrolling through Google, looking for master’s programs, and stumbled upon their Master of Human Rights . Suddenly, it was like the stars aligned—this was exactly what I had been searching for. ( The picture in this blog was taken by me when I arrived in Erlangen, one of the cities where I have classes; the other one is Nürnberg.) As someone who spent years working in humanitarian affairs, I’ve seen the best and worst of humanity. I’ve witnessed resilience, hope, courage, heartbreak, and injustice. While I loved my work, I realized I needed a deeper understanding of human rights law to advocate for change on a bigger scale. FAU’s program perfectly bridges my humanitarian experience and my dream of driving meaningful, legal reform. I won’t lie—applying to study in Germany felt like a leap into the unknown. I didn’t speak German, and starting over i...