I hold these memories dear and think fondly of my newfound home

I decided to participate in the Global Exchange Program in Bonn because of the historical significance of the city and the diversity on campus. I knew that Bonn is the study destination for many other students interested in international affairs like me, and I was excited to meet more like-minded peers from around the world. Furthermore, I have always been fascinated by Germany, and what better way to discover the country than to live and study there?

Fortunately, my preparation for the exchange program was easy as information on studying in Bonn was readily available online. The University of Bonn’s website contained plenty of useful information about the school, its academic offerings, and even on what an exchange student can expect out of their time in the school. I found the online webinars especially useful in understanding how the academic system worked in Bonn, and I managed to make friends through the online sessions before even arriving in Germany!

I also recommend looking out for student groups from your home country for information specific to the paperwork involved to facilitate the process of moving to Germany. For me, the Singapore Students’ Association of Germany (SSAG) was very helpful in providing country-specific tips to better prepare for my new life in Germany. I was also able to get in touch with Singaporeans who were already living in the North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW) region, and was able to look out for NRW-specific places to visit too.

In this vein, I also recommend registering in the Study Buddy Program to be paired with a buddy from the University of Bonn to find out more about life in the city as well. All in all, the abundance of resources through different channels online, and the ease of navigating them, only made me more excited for my semester abroad in Bonn.

As I enrolled as a Masters in Strategy and International Security student in Bonn, I met many classmates who have, or are planning to embark, in careers related to international relations. Thanks to the ease of travel via public transport, I was able to explore many of my favorite places around Bonn with them (my favorite, by far, is Thalia – a book store).

Outside of school, I also made friends with other international students in my dorm. I stayed in Pariser Straße, where there were regular events like karaoke nights and card game nights held in the dorm itself. Occasionally when the city of Bonn held special events like Rhine in Flames, residents in the dorm would go and enjoy ourselves together too.

Perhaps this is my biggest culture shock upon moving to Germany—that the curriculum is flexible enough to allow for time to pursue different hobbies. I was very appreciative of the extra time for hobbies during my time in Bonn, and started shooting more regularly in Leverkusen on days where I did not have classes scheduled. This culminated in my participation in the ISSF World Cup in Munich over Pentecost break. Being able to compete in my host country in a sport that I love was a cherished memory of mine, and coming in 16th in the 10m Air Rifle Mixed Team event definitely made the memory sweeter. I was also exhilarated to be able to show my teammates around Germany, and was especially excited to have met renowned shooter, Anna Janssen, in the competition as well. This would not have been possible had I not been able to train during my exchange semester, and I am thankful for the opportunity to do so.

In sum, Bonn allowed for much personal growth and I would definitely want to go abroad again. Until then, I hold these memories dear and think fondly of my newfound home in Bonn, Germany.

Program: Global Exchange Program
Home university: National University of Singapore, Singapore (Singapore)
Time of stay: Summer Semester 2025