After a journey of around 18 hours, the time had finally come: Christoffer Faderl, a student in the bachelor's degree programme in Business Studies at the OTH Regensburg, was allowed to set foot on the Chinese mainland for the first time. Along with 24 other students from Bavarian universities, the student was selected by the Bayerisches Hochschulzentrum für China (BayCHINA) to take part in the Bavarian Summer University 2024 in Qingdao. This allowed him to experience China up close for four weeks in August - a unique and formative experience that the student still likes to talk about today: "This time was characterized by breathtaking new impressions. From the impressive skyline to the diverse buildings in the city centre and the beach promenade. Qingdao was a pure highlight from the very first second."
Christoffer Faderl found out about the Bavarian Summer University in Qingdao through the International Office's ELO course "Das theoretische Auslandssemester+" and immediately applied for the programme with great enthusiasm. At a three-day kick-off meeting with all participants in Bayreuth in May, he received a cultural crash course about the country, made contact with the other participants and learned more about the summer university programme.
The programme in China was multifaceted and offered the participants not only numerous cultural impressions and a Chinese language course, but also excursions to international companies such as Hisense, Bosch, and VW. During a city rally at the beginning of the stay, Faderl was able to explore the special features of Qingdao with the other students and was particularly impressed by the fully air-conditioned subway network with safety glass and the easy payment method of the Alipay app, which is widely used in China. The student got to know the city and its history even better during lectures on the origins of Qingdao and tours of the historic old town and the traditional Tsingtao brewery. There were also various workshops on calligraphy, traditional Chinese painting and papercutting.
The Chinese language and the extreme heat were initially challenges that, according to Faderl, the organizers of the summer university managed very professionally, for example by supporting the participants very well and by dividing the language courses. "After all, I learned the significant difference between ni hao (hello) and nin hao (polite version of hello)," says the student with a smile. During the visit to the Qingdao beer festival, language skills were also expanded with "wo ai piju" (I love beer), and new friendships were made.
At the end of the four-week stay, Christoffer Faderl not only takes home a certificate for his performance in the final Chinese test, but also many new impressions of China. "For most of the group, this was their first contact with China as a nation. For me, it will definitely not be the last contact," says the student enthusiastically. "My special thanks go to the International Office at the OTH Regensburg for drawing my attention to this opportunity. I am also very pleased and grateful that BayCHINA has given me the opportunity to get to know this fascinating country and experience this completely different culture first-hand."
