STUDENT LIFE IN TÜBINGEN

by Alwyn Johannes Small, Stellenbosch University

Spending almost a month in a German University town has exposed us all to so many new aspects of German Student life, which has many similarities as well as differences when compared to South African student life.

Stellenbosch is where my home University is situated, and the town is similar to Tübingen in many aspects. Stellenbosch is also a town filled with old buildings, street cafes and students walking around every corner, so one could say I felt right at home from the moment I walked into Tübingen.

Our first points of reference when we had questions about where to go in town, was the wonderful team members from the program. Katharina and Tina were our go to people to ask when we wanted advice on where we should go for that first cup of coffee, meal or drink. With locals advising us on where the best student hangout spots were, we settled in quickly.

That being said, Tübingen was also a completely different environment compared to what we’re used to in South Africa. For the first time for most of us, we had to convenience of being able to use a bus as opposed to a private cab or Uber Taxi. In addition to this, with Tübingen being so safe it wasn’t a huge problem should you miss the bus, as it was perfectly safe to walk even at night, something we definitely are not used to in South Africa.

By the end of the program we had settled in so comfortably, that we had developed favourite hangout spots in town, knew the quickest and easiest routes to get there, and had even gotten to know some of the staff members at our regular spots. The Southern African group even became well known for their star peformances at karaoke on Monday nights at Schwarzes Schaf.

Part of what makes Tübingen so special is the abundance of other International students in the town. Most of us had made friends with students from various other countries, be it France, Switzerland, or the UK. We were also gladly welcomed by local students, and this definitely helped us feel right at home.

It is safe to say that there is something to do in Tübingen for everyone. Whether you want a warm cup of coffee or some Glühwein, feel like some shisha or want a German beer, Tübingen has a place for you.