To share or not to share apartments

One thing most if not all people have in common is the fact that they live somewhere either permanently or temporarily. The way a person lives is saying a lot about them already and helps others to form a first opinion of them. A living arrangement that may seem reasonable for one person in their particular circumstances may be odd for somebody with different circumstances. Living arrangements can take many different forms across and give further insights into foreign cultures and countries as we have experienced ourselves during our time abroad in Germany and Taiwan respectively.

Food in India and Malta

Food is an important cultural factor in many countries that can differ across eating times, the status of food, national dishes, and many other aspects. We chose to compare the cultural differences regarding food between our host countries, Malta and India, while keeping the Swiss food culture we are used to in mind as well.

Familiarizing the Unfamiliar

When I first got to Malta, I was unsure how I would get around. ‘Public transport,’ I assumed, because that’s what I did in Switzerland. But there were many things that I found weird or negative about Maltese public transport that made it difficult for me to use. Not all the stops were listed on the bus timetables – how was I supposed to know which bus went where I needed to go? The arrival times were wrong at the bus stop, on Google maps, and on the bus’s own app. This made bus transfers virtually impossible to calculate into travelling time, since I didn’t know if I’d be waiting for 10 or for 50 minutes. Also, the buses were often late, especially in the warmer months when traffic was worst due to the number of tourists.

Familiarizing the Unfamiliar – How an unknown city can become your new home

So, after five months of new experiences, of creating memories and being exposed to a ton of newness I am back in my usual environment. Back home, time seems to have stopped the moment I left and everything still seems the same: it appears as if nothing and no one has changed. Obviously, that is not true and reflects only my point of view. Still. Exploring a new environment and meeting lots of new people requires lots of adapting and it takes much more space in your memory than simply following your daily routine.

No more beating around the bush

Before I went to Germany I heard many anecdotes about how Germans are very direct. Sometimes this was praise for their famous efficiency, sometimes this was veiled criticism of their rudeness. Although, funnily enough, I had also heard similar stories from Germans about Swiss people.

Lessons I learned during my stay abroad

Where is…? – How to find your way around at a new university

Before I arrived in Göttingen, one of the things I wondered most was how student life and the university will be. Will it be similar as in Switzerland? Or will I experience striking differences while going to my classes in Göttingen? And most importantly: How will I manage in a new environment?

Starting to Understand Hinduism

Before leaving for my exchange to India, my knowledge about Hinduism was very restricted, as I had barely been exposed to it at that point. However, I was very curious to learn about the religion and all the tales, rituals and practices associated with it.

A particularly striking intercultural experience – Taiwanese hospitality

and how that has changed my perspective on having guests and how to treat them

After arriving in Taiwan, one of the first “things” to recognise was that Taiwanese people are very friendly. Whether as a tourist or as an exchange student, I always had the feeling that the people were very warm and welcomed me with sincerity and curiosity. 

Little Bits of Culture

Rather than writing about one single difference in the culture, I thought I’d wax poetic about a few smaller ones: