Jun doesn’t speak any German and confesses his attempts to learn a bit of German have failed miserably. But that hasn’t stopped him taking a couple of classes that are taught in German. ‘I have my google-translate in class and so much of what we do is project-based so I’m coping quite well. To other students I would say, if you feel brave, then you have a much larger number of design classes to choose from than the list of design classes, where English tuition is guaranteed.’
The Hamburg classes he has chosen transfer back as credit for his studies in Sydney, which is something that was very important to him. It ensures that his semester abroad doesn't extend his time to graduation. And otherwise, he is enjoying a very different student experience. ‘Everything about HAW Hamburg is different from my home university. The classes in Hamburg are much smaller and more intimate. HAW Hamburg also has a more hands on approach than back at home. But the biggest surprise to me is my artwork isn’t being graded during the semester. There is a lot less pressure on marks and expectations and more focus on exploration and working on the craft.’
Jun chose to study abroad in Germany because he wanted his exchange semester to feel like a completely new experience and Germany was always high on his list of places to visit based on friends’ recommendations. ‘I wanted to experience the culture, environment, and atmosphere. So far, I’ve been enjoying the music scene and getting to know local musicians. I also enjoy exploring the city with its many events and festivals. Hamburg is a city that gives you lots of opportunities to step outside and have an adventure, which is exactly what I’ve been doing.’
Two months into his semester in Hamburg Jun is already seeing changes: ‘The biggest thing I am learning is to stay flexible with an open mind. There have been so many times I went with the flow or adapted my plans when things didn't go the way I thought they would, and it ended up being for the best. Studying abroad you meet so many new people and travel to new places, so you can never fully plan for what's coming. I’ve learned to be comfortable with new experiences, even when they are uncomfortable and to take things as they come my way. I’m also having a lot of fun experimenting with design and enjoying the freedom it offers. It's exactly the reason why I wanted to study abroad at HAW Hamburg.’
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Text & images: Ingrid Weatherall/J. Murray
