qu-travels

[qu-travels]

What if.. 

What if we would try to change the status quo by actually attacking the issues that we have? 

What if society could focus on essential concerns and issues that should’ve been solved, instead of being constantly distracted by short-term events and media? 

What if education really matters? 

What if access to high quality education would be free and for everyone, and not determined by your socio-economic background? 

What if diverse and progressive intellectual approach is being shared throughout the whole world? 

What if the society starts to wake up and demand for social equity instead of believing in the illusive American dream?  

What if you can dial 911 for healthcare and feel secured by governmental support instead of booking an Uber to the next hospital because its cheaper? 

What if we actually learn how to get to know the unknown instead of being fearful of it? 

What if we treat everybody respectfully just by language? 

What if we’re not neglecting our responsibility by being highly self-critical and honest?  

[qu-travels]

I am American .. 

“I’m from Germany”;

“I’m American”. 

“I”m from Germany but..” 

“I’m American”. 

“Well, I’ve been born in Germany, but my parents .. “

“I’m American”. 

I’m slightly surprised about the different perceptions about identity and migration backgrounds. Once you’re born in America, you are an American. No discussions. I had several encounters with American students who were surprised by me asking about their migration background which I assumed, based on their phenotype. 

And all of a sudden I saw myself in reversed roles that seems to never happen to me in Germany. When “Germans” and by Germans I mean “german Germans”. Wait. What is german? And to be honest, that may be the issue. I don’t really know what being german is like. You’re definitely not German just by your passport. Or are you? 

I never learned it because “the society” didn’t teach me to “feel” german, besides the fact, that I act, speak and think in german. By the way: Isn’t that enough to “be german”? Yet society and socialization taught me different. 

I’ve been born in Germany and saying that I’ve been born in Germany is a part of my daily repertoire, when Germans ask me, where I’m “really from”. There is no such identity existing in Germany, that once you’re born in Germany or you have a german passport, you’re German. 

It seems like all my life the german society implicated a picture of a “white, tall, german, with blue eyes and blond hairs” (slightly exaggerated) to me, which I’m not able to unlearn for right now. Well, I’m German but also not German. I’m slightly different. But I don’t even know if it’s really a big deal for me, recognizing that I’m not a “real german”. I’m a “deutscher Staatsbürger” (translated: german citizen), but am I a german? I don’t know. 

The question I ask myself is, wether a national identification is even necessary anymore.. 

But what I definitely know is, that a certain language transports a certain message/lifestyle/feeling, whatever you want to call it. Saying “I’m American” versus “I’m German” are two complete different pairs of shoes, once you’re a person with migration background. 

Yet I don’t have any answers to my own questions or any possible solutions. 

[qu-travels]

As promised from the previous preparing Fulbright-Seminar, the time is flying. The first week is already over and there is almost no second to let it sink in or to even reflect on it properly. 

(I’m absolutely not complaining right now and I’m sure there will be time in between to reflect. Moreover it is just a realization of the current state of mind) 

Sitting in front of the Laptop and trying to find out what to write about is quite challenging right now, in fact there are so many new impressions, conversation, lectures and much more, that already took place among the Fulbirght-Students and myself included. 

So it’ll be better for me to stick to the „blog assignment“ plan that suggest the topic „campus life“: 

The german „campus life“ is not comparable to the infrastructure that is found here at trinity, yet the Trinity University is in my point of view the synonym of the so called real „campus life“. It seems like everything within the geographical borders of the campus is dedicated to optimal learning conditions. 

Meaning the infrastructure is very well prepared for the students to just „eat, sleep, study, repeat“ and finally succeed. The first days of living on campus and besides that observing behavior and daily life, everything seems to be centered around studying. 

It’ll probably take some more time of exchange to elaborate on the campus life because it really seems that the campus and studying is the center of most students life. Comparing to Germany, studying is obviously a big part of life but things like getting a job to finance the studies or even an apartment also take an amount of space in a students timetable. Speaking for the big Cities of Germany and for those who come from there, the infrastructure of a settled family and close friends lead to a lifestyle where studying is „a decent part“ of life, because there is so much more to it, isn’t it? 

So I wonder what American students at the trinity University are doing for a more versatile lifestyle beyond the physical borders of the Trinity University.  I Guess i’ll find out soon.. 

[qu-travels]

Hey Guys!

my name is Qu! I’m 22 years old and I’m from Hamburg, Germany. Currently I’m studying educational science and accordingly doing my teaching degree for secondary schools. My subject emphasis are Geography and Politics. 

I’m very interested in music & production but also all kinds of art in general. Before the study course of educational science I studied classical music at the academy of music and theatre in Hamburg but unfortunately had to decide for a change of the study course. 

But the passion for music is still very intense wherefore I do a lot of music production besides the studies. 

I never had been to the states before and I’m very excited and curious at the same time. In the age of digitization and  constant information overloads it feels like I know a lot about the german-american relationship and the culture but yet I actually know nothing, because I’ve never been there physically. 

Hence I’m extremely excited to collect many experiences as possible, to connect with you guys and get to know everything thats new and never been seen and felt before. 

with kind regards 

Qu