(This letter is part of a series by The Indian Express where we bring to you the experiences of students at different foreign universities. From scholarships and loans to food and cultural experiences — students tell us how life is different in those countries and things they are learning other than academics) — Abhishek Srivastava There was always a slight desire, but it was only after my master’s at the Indian Institute of Technology Madras that I decided to study abroad. My primary reason being that though there are great opportunities and resources in India, it lacks global exposure. So when I completed my master’s in 2018, I applied for further studies abroad. At that time, I got selected for BAM Berlin, the Federal Institute for Materials Research and Testing. It was a project under the Indo-German Science and Technology Centre (IGSTC), a collaboration between the Indian and German governments. But, due to some issues at home, I couldn’t join it. So, from around September 2018 till July 2021 I worked as a research and development engineer at a private company in India. In July 2021, I became a project scientist (research associate) at IIT Ropar. I was there till February 2023. I was working on ultrasound assistant crystallisation, a project to increase the efficiency of pharmaceutical drugs. Applying to University of Freiburg, Germany And, it was somewhere during the last few months of 2022 that a recruitment vacancy was there at the University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany. So, I applied for it and the interview was in December 2022 and I joined in March 2023. There are European job websites such as Euraxess that help in finding research jobs across Europe. During my master’s I went to France for a research conference and at the same time, I spent a week or so in Germany. And, when I went there, I fell in love with the place, the people were so nice, the country was beautiful and everything was so amazing that I decided that whenever I would study abroad it would be in Germany. Since I had published two papers during my master’s, attended two international conferences, had one US patent and a significant amount of research and job experience, they called for an interview. There was one online interview in November followed by a one-on-one interview in December. Since the research project I am a part of is a collaboration between the Swiss and German government, the interview for it was held in Switzerland. My airfare, accommodation and even food was provided by the university. My application process was really smooth. All I needed was my transcripts, certificates, CV (highlighting my research) and cover letter. I did not need any letters of recommendation, only names of references. I was told during the interview itself that I have been selected and by the time I came back to India from the interview, my confirmation letter came. My research and experiences I am a doctoral researcher at the University of Freiburg and since it is research, I don’t have to pay a fee instead I get paid. Therefore, I was also saved from the hassle of having a blocked account or a loan for education. I get somewhere over 3000 euros per month and after taxes it comes around 2000 euros. To sustain myself in Germany, I need nearly 900 euros a month. So, it’s not that expensive to live here, plus I save money for the future. My research is on micro and nano fluidics. We are trying to create living like materials that will have systems to self heal themselves. I am a Mechanical Engineer by qualification but over the years, I have worked at various projects that helped acquire skills and knowledge of other branches as well including cell culture, chemical engineering and more. The thing about engineering is that nothing can be solely one thing, everything is interdisciplinary. My masters project was on fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS), it is a specialised type of flow cytometry that uses fluorescent markers to target and isolate cell groups. In the long run, I want to work in the healthcare industry and open a company of my own which would deal with healthcare products. My life in Germany Over here, I live alone in an apartment by myself and it costs me around 500 euros. Life here is very peaceful and there is great work-life balance. The native population is very polite, friendly, humble, accepting and welcoming towards the international community. The living standards are really good, the quality of life, air, water, food— everything is better. The city is very clean. Though I didn’t have trouble communicating with people as most people know English, I am learning German as I plan to stay here for a significant amount of time. Ever since I have come here, I have become very outdoorsy. I go hiking quite often, read, play badminton with my friends, swim, barbecue and a lot more. There is the Black Forest nearby as well as the Alps, I go hiking there. There is also a lake nearby where I go swimming, Strasbourg (France) is also close so we sometimes go there. There is also Europa Park which is Germany’s largest theme park and has a football stadium. I am a football and cricket enthusiast. The Germans are very friendly. My friend group includes people from all over the world, be it Germany or India and even Italy, Greece and Iran. The people here are very open to different cultures and keen on learning about them. I remember during a barbeque we made litti chokha. There will be a grand navratri celebration this year and since I will be visiting home before that I will be getting sarees for my German friends from India. Living abroad means doing everything on your own, all your chores be it your dishes, laundry, cleaning or cooking, grocery shopping— everything. The concept of a house help coming to do everything does not exist here as it does in India. Though difficult at first, it teaches you a lot of things, especially to be self-sufficient. I learned cooking when I came here and now I can say I am a pretty good cook. I experiment with different things, my friends and I often host each other. Sometimes they call me over, sometimes I do the same. I enjoy clubbing as well. I have been doing and learning a lot of things, I never did in India— be it outdoors or learning household chores. Lessons from abroad While living abroad, one should have an open mind about learning various cultures, meeting new people, especially from different communities and countries. Different people have different perspectives, their approach to see or solve problems can be different and it expands your horizon and gives you a new perspective.
