So dear readers, the new year 2012 is here so make the best out of it. I don’t know about you but my last year was identical to a rollercoaster and the feelings you get when you ride it. One year is a long period, 365 days, so everything will happen. Well, let’s be more [...]

Archeaologists find dinosaur bones and not graffitis, I would have said a couple of years ago, but since I found out I’m more a city tourist than a nature tourist, the idea of an urban archaeology became more clear. I love the chaos and the “ugliness” of the big urban centers, crowded with all kinds [...]

I would like to wish a wonderful New Year for everybody, especially for those who read this blog regularly I wish unforgettable experiences for those who are moving to and from Germany. I hope they can enjoy this country and leave the best from both cultures. Exchange is not always easy, but it is always profitable – when you have an open mind. Problems will happen – fact! –, but the solutions are at your hands.

Hi everybody! (: I’m right now in the beautifull city of Joensuu, Finland. Here I spent christmas night and new years eve with a good finnish friend, Saara, who I first met in Brasil two years ago. I was lucky with the weather and even more with the 15 days I spent here. Every single [...]

December is a month of joy, happiness, presents and snow; and stress also. In this period everyone is rushing to put an end to the work related to this year in order to start fresh the new year to come. Through out the whole year people encounter both beautiful, happy and sad, heartrendering moments, and in [...]

A couple of weeks ago, I experienced my first Christmas market in Erfurt, Germany also known as Weihnachtsmarkt. In other regions such as south Germany, it’s called a Christkindlesmarkt. These markets supposedly originated in the middle ages. It’s a very beautiful sight scattered all around the city center. There are two epicenters. One is situated [...]

Last Tuesday I took the TestDaF for the second time. This time taking the test itself was much easier because it was in São Paulo. I didn’t have to travel since my parents live near the city and I could sleep over at a friend’s house so I would already be in the city at [...]

With one hour distance (with train) from Erfurt the city of Ilmenau is positioned between the Thuringian forest, which offers great occasions and moments for winter and summer sports, such as skiing, Nordic walking and mountain biking. Like many small cities it offers actually cheap life. As a student one can find small rooms in nice [...]

On the 16th of November 2011, a welcome reception was held for the new students of my department at the University of Erfurt, called the Willy Brandt School of Public Policy. It was a grand occasion and present were many distinguished guests. The location was the Erfurt City Hall—a very lovely setting indeed. The program [...]

Don’t forget that I’m a sociology student in a catholic university in Bavaria, so the information might vary a bit due to the differences for many other universities here (but I guess the central point of each topic is valid for the majority) 1. There are many ways to study and teach in german universities [...]