Letter from Laos – by Somchai Chuangbaikham
Hallo!
Welcome to my first post on “The Laos Experience” blog about my first impressions in Germany. My name is Somchai Chuangbaikham. I am a third-year student at the English Department, Faculty of Linguistics and Humanities at Savannakhet University in Savannakhet Province, Laos. I was nominated by my university to study as an exchange student at Karlsruhe University of Education during the summer semester of 2024.
Ever since I was a little child, I have always had one question on my mind: What would it be like to have the opportunity to live and study abroad, especially in Europe where the education system is advanced and the level of development is high?1 What could I learn from them to help improve my country?2Â Finally, in 2024, that dream came true. I am currently living and studying in Karlsruhe, Germany, as an exchange student for the summer semester of 2024. This opportunity has made my long-awaited dream become reality, as I took the chance to apply for an Erasmus+ exchange program in 2023 at Savannakhet University. I feel incredibly fortunate to have been selected for this life-changing experience, which allows me to study in Germany through the Erasmus+ Key Action 171 Mobility Programme between Savannakhet University and Karlsruhe University of Education.
My journey began at the end of February 2024 when I was in Vientiane, sweating and waiting for my flights to Vietnam and then to Germany. It took me 12 hours to arrive in Frankfurt, Germany. This flight was the longest I have ever taken. I had never flown for such a duration before. However, it was worth it because I finally arrived in Germany or “Deutschland – the land of ideas” as one of my favourite teachers once told me.
However, the journey did not stop there because I had to take a train to Karlsruhe. It was a very frustrating moment at that time since everything was new to me, and I did not have much time before the train departed. Luckily, German people are very kind and helped us along the way to our destination. Without their help, we could not have made it to Karlsruhe in time, and that was my first impression of Germany – the kindness of German people.
After arriving in Karlsruhe, my “buddy” Emily Beyer – one of the German students who volunteer help for incoming students –Â picked me up from the train station and took me to my dormitory. The first thing that caught my eye was the infrastructure of the city. There are many public transportation options for people to travel, such as public buses, trains, or even trams that go from the surface to underground. Moreover, there are other alternative options for traveling, like renting bicycles or e-scooters, conveniently located throughout the city.
Along the way to my dorm, we passed by the city center of Karlsruhe. The architecture of all the buildings is stunning. At that moment, it felt surreal, almost like a dream. Karlsruhe also has a nickname as “Fan city” because of its design layout. All the streets face towards the Karlsruhe Palace, which makes it easier to remember the way to any place.
My new home for the next few months is at NancystraĂźe 18 dormitory. It is a dormitory for students from all around the world to live during our studies in Karlsruhe. I got a room on the first floor, or “ground floor” as German people would call it. There is a shared kitchen, two toilets, and two bathrooms. It is quite comfortable, and there are also many additional services for us, such as a laundry room and even a bar for students to have fun and relieve all the stress from studying.
I realized that going to a bar does not mean we have to be drinking alcohol to have fun, but it is about talking and making a connection with new people. Whenever I go to the bar I meet many people. I was surprised to learn that nobody knows about Laos. Some people from China do not know that we exist, even though we live right next to each other!
First meal in Karlsruhe
Exploring the food scene here in Germany has been an exciting experience for me. I have tried many interesting local dishes such as Döner, Schnitzel, Currywurst, and many more. Döner is a popular Turkish-origin dish commonly found in Germany, typically consisting of seasoned meat and served in a flatbread with various toppings and sauces. Each dish has its own unique flavor that totally hooked me from the first bite!
However, after being here for a few weeks, I could not help but miss all the flavours of Lao cuisine that I grew up with. So, I have been trying to cook some Lao food in my dorm, like laab (a minced pork salad, the national dish of Laos) and khaopad (Lao fried rice). Luckily, I do not have to worry about finding the ingredients I need because there are plenty of supermarkets scattered throughout the city, including Asian stores, where I can find almost everything. It is very convenient and lets me recreate the authentic flavours of Lao food. Although it might not be as tasty as the dishes my mother made back home, it still does help to fulfill my cravings for Lao food.
Made it to the university!
At first glance, the building of Karlsruhe University of Education was exactly what I imagined it would look like compared to all the pictures in “The Laos Experience” blog. The international office warmly welcomed us to our new home for the next 6 months and provided all the important information for us to settle in smoothly. Furthermore, they also provide an intensive German language course for us to study the German language. Honestly, I find it similar to both English and French languages. I always try to speak German whenever I order something to practise my German here.
Time to select the courses.
The education system here is totally different compared to the Lao education system, where we do not have the opportunity to choose the courses we would like to study. But here at Karlsruhe University of Education, we had to select our own courses. We could read the course description before considering taking the course and it was all done on their digital “CMS” (course management system) StudIP. It was incredibly convenient for students.
We are the first full-degree Lao students from Savannakhet University to come here; reversely, German doctoral students come to our university. Of course, there are some difficulties in selecting courses due to the differences between our home university and Karlsruhe University of Education. Eventually, I chose to take 5 completely new courses. Thankfully, my classmates are always there to explain things when I do not understand during class. The professors here are also kind and approachable, making them feel more like friends we can rely on rather than just professors.
I can not stop smiling while looking at all the buildings at Karlsruhe University of Education and thinking that I finally brought myself out here, far away from my home. I am so grateful for my family, friends, and teachers at Savannakhet University who always inspire and support me, so I could achieve one of my dreams. Well, now I can proudly say that it has officially become true. From now on, it is my turn to inspire other young Lao students to follow their dreams.
Life in Germany after two months
It was quite challenging for me as a foreigner to settle in and adapt to the lifestyle here. As many people might know, Laos is a small country in terms of economy and still considered economically undeveloped. Lao people are known for their laid-back lifestyle and having a slower pace of life.
However, I had to change my Lao habit and adapt to the lifestyle here. For example, when crossing the road in Karlsruhe, I have to press the button for the green light or use a crosswalk. Cars have to wait for pedestrians to cross first, whereas in Laos, there is no signal button for pedestrians, we can cross at any corner of the street by waiting for the cars to pass first. The street regulations in Laos are not as strict as in Germany. I also noticed that most German people are always punctual and strictly follow the rules. These are the things that I am working on to adapt and become an even more responsible person.
At first, I was overwhelmed and intimidated by the environment and the people. I had a thought that coming from such a small country, nobody would care to talk to me, and it would be hard to fit into society here or even among other international students. However, my mind changed when I first met the person who I counted the days to meet: Professor Dr. Isabel Martin. She encouraged me and gave me the best advice ever: “Everyone is different!” That one simple sentence made me realize that no one actually expects me to be like them.
She also advised me to try and jump over my inner hurdles as soon as possible so I could make the most of my time here by speaking to at least one person a day straightaway, early in my stay, and that she would ask me every night on WhatsApp if I had spoken to someone. I started talking to people the next day!
We are all different people from different backgrounds, and I am here as a representative of the Lao people who has this opportunity to share who we are and show that we exist in this world. We are all here for the same reason which is, among other things, to find a way to improve our education back home. Thanks to her advice, since then, I am not afraid to make new friends, and I have met many amazing people both inside and outside the university. Now I know who I am to them and who they are to me.
Lastly, I would like to express my gratitude to Savannakhet University and Karlsruhe University of Education for giving us this once-in-a-life time opportunity. I am truly thankful to the International Office for their support and care throughout our stay.
Last but not least, I deeply thank Prof. Dr. Isabel Martin, whom I admire the most both as a teacher and as a person. Her strong passion and dedication to education have truly inspired me and changed my perspective on the potential of education. It is fascinating to witness what a person could change in the world through the power of education.
I firmly believe that, after my time in Karlsruhe, I will be a person who is capable of effecting positive change and improving the lives of my people back home through the knowledge and experiences I have gained. I truly wish to become that one person who can inspire others to pursue their passions and turn their dreams into reality.
So, these are my first impressions of Karlsruhe, the fan city of Germany. This is just the beginning of my journey! Stay tuned for the upcoming stories of my journey!
Best regards,
Somchai Chuangbaikham
Notes
1 The term “development” as I understand it refers to the progress and advancements in infrastructure, technology, and education in Europe. Learning from European education and societal structures, I aim to bring valuable knowledge to enhance not only my personal growth but also to contribute to my country.
2 Editor’s note: Lao students’ expectation upon first arrival in Germany (i.e. learning from Germany) is mirrored by German volunteers’ expectations upon first arrival in Lao P.D.R. (i.e. teaching in Laos) – it sometimes takes a while for our project title “Bi-directional learning and teaching” to really sink in.
Also, the common usage of the word developed implies that there is a gold-standard for “development” overall, with a desirable (refined, superior) state of development at one end of the scale and an undesirable (“raw”, unrefined, primitive, inferior) one at the other. The binary of “developed countries” and “undeveloped” or “underdeveloped countries” is a value statement rooted in eurocentricism and colonialism; the criteria by which a country is deemed developed are chosen by those who deem themselves to be developed (first used in Unterweger, J. & Frahm, M. 1 “Interview with a Chilean expat in Vientiane”).
Text by: Somchai Chuangbaikham
Photos by: Emily Beyer, Chansamone Senxayyachak, Somchai Chuangbaikham, student members of the PH Karlsruhe International Club
- 3.2019 ↩
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