I've been asked several times about my experience in Germany, the language, studies and if I would recommend it to anyone else. That's why I decided to give you all a small story about me and Germany, how did it all start.
To tell the truth, choosing Germany was the hardest decision I have ever made in my life. It took me a year to be brave enough and say the word "Yes, I want to do it" .As I am the type who hates to "Risk", especially when it comes to my studies and future. The word "Risk" itself is connected strongly to Germany and this is something which I am going to explain later. I graduated in 2011 and then decided to continue my studies in my homeland, Bahrain. Back then, I wasn't sure if I really want to do medicine in my life. That's why I didn't go along with my other friends who went to different countries to study medicine. I joined Bahrain polytechnic and here I have to admit, that this university was a very positive experience in my life. I found everything I wanted in it, smart teaching, a lot of great friends, and amazing teachers. But sadly I wasn’t satisfied with the majors. I thought about a lot of subjects, but nothing seemed right, somehow. I knew that I wanted something else. And day by day I realized that I still have a strong desire to be a doctor, my childhood dream. In the same time I was communicating with Ms. Suad's office (Education Zone) in Dubai. They helped me to find good opportunities to study abroad and one of them was medicine in Germany. I can't recall it well but I think it was at the end of year 2011, when they first offered this choice to me. At first, without hesitating I ignored this choice because of the language problem. I have always wished to continue my studies in English, since it was my favorite foreign language and I had the plan to develop it too. And studying medicine in German, this whole thing seemed impossible to me. I kept applying to different universities in different countries. Education Zone helped me but they were comparing the universities all the time with Germany and trying to convince me that Germany is not only cheaper but even more worth it. Thanks to the office and to the support I have got from my family I decided to give it a try, and to risk it this far, for the first time in my life.
I made this decision in July, 2012. I was excited and in the same time very worried about the whole thing. Germany is a land with many strict rules. I got to know that from the very start, as I had to wait about 1 month and a half to get my Student-Visa. Though, it went faster as I expected and I found myself in the airport welcomed by Ms.Suad. Meeting this woman was a great pleasure to me. She supported me and always believed in me, well actually, she still does. Her office crew became my other family. They are one big reason why I am still standing here. My journey in Germany started with the language course. At the beginning I was so frustrated and wished to go back to English. I went to Germany without knowing to say any single word. it totally sounded weird to my ears. I felt like it's something that I would never be able to get in my brain, ever. I felt like starting from ABC and even worse and lower level. Some or the most of my classmates had a background about the language, so they didn't have a big problem with the first levels. I in the other hand felt like being the worst student in the class. I had no idea how to catch up with them. I then started to practice, and do all the homework I get. It was so ugly to learn new words. Very unpleasant feeling because they just don't stay in your mind, they disappear so fast. It only took time, until I started to be slowly happy about my language and to feel that I can actually understand what's going on around me. Yes, the language is hard at the start but it's a matter of time until you master it. I realized that there's nothing hard or easy, these definitions are just something we made to avoid some stuff and to choose other. We feel something is hard when something is new to us. And something is easy when we have a background to it and feel somehow experts in it. That's hard and easy.
So I learned that you can get what you want, just as hard as you want to have it, and most importantly, you must love it too. I loved the language by time because I loved the people around me, the city and their culture. Germany is a place where you can feel home very fast. I felt safe too. And I was eager to be a part of its community. These are the reasons why I became, thanks to god, a fast learner. But as any language, German is a rich language, and I still haven't mastered it all yet, though I hope, one day I well. I'm still not perfect. I do mistakes and I have a lot of words yet to learn. After completing the language (around 8 months) I applied to 5 universities and had to do an entry exam, to start doing my foundation year. The competition was very sharp but thank god I received an acceptance in the University of Frankfurt. Right now I'm in the second semester of foundation and I can only say, that the studies here are very advanced and challenging. The foundation takes normally 1 year but it depends on the person too, some need more time to finish it ( they repeat some semesters). And here I have to say that anyone who put Germany in his mind must understand that, failing is also an option here, because Germany is a different land with different teaching system. Everyone faces difficulties at the start. An A student can a B student here. We all know clearly that Germany is known by its medicine and good doctors. So choosing medicine here isn't something to argue about. However there's one thing to put in mind. There is a big competition to have a seat in medicine. It's not easy to get a place in medicine. It takes a lot of hard work and effort, and of course, luck. A lot of students, from all over the World, compete for a limited number of seats ( About 20 seats).
And here is what I meant with " Risk ". The place in medicine can't be secured in Germany. Everyone must fight to get it. A person who choose to study in Germany must be able to love this place at first, then its people, as he will be probably spending 10 years of his life here. Secondly this person should accept being late, and to accept seeing that his group of friends finished while he is maybe still at the beginning of his studies. This person should have a strong heart to be able to face all of the difficulties and the doors that might take long to open to his way. This place needs time, patience and a big heart. A year must be given for language. Another year for foundation. And 8 years for medicine+practical in the hospital (even though Medicine takes 6 years: no one finishes it in this short time). My advice to anyone who wishes to study medicine, if you can afford to study in a good country ( in English ), then go for it and come to Germany to do your specialization, that's the best combination in my opinion. And for those who can't and have to choose between Germany and another country, where the medicine is not really good compared to germany. I would say, come to Germany, it can take longer, but as a doctor you surely want to be well educated, you shouldn't only think about the years. Don't forget that even doctors need to study between a period and another. Medicine is always developing and we as future doctors must keep ourselves also updated. Studying and knowledge are important parts of medicine. So this is to my study experience. To the land: Germany is a nice place to be in. Compared to Bahrain or another gulf countries it has great sides of nature. And a nice changing weather. Here is a place where you get to know how Spring, Summer, Winter and autumn really feel and look like. The people are friendly, even though they are not very open to strangers. But they do respect you to who you are. And it depends on how you to get involved with them. A very important key is knowing their language. However there's good and bad, just like any other place. I personally love Germany and would love to pay back for my education after I'm done. This country deserves it.
― Bahja Alhaddad
