Das bekannte HolstentorThe Holsten Gate ("Holstein Tor", later "Holstentor") is a city gate marking off the western boundary of the old center of the Hanseatic city of Lübeck. This Brick Gothic construction is one of the relics of Lübeck’s medieval city fortifications and the only remaining city gate, except for the Citadel Gate ("Burgtor"). Because its two round towers and arched entrance are so well known it is regarded today as a symbol of this German city, and together with the old city centre (Altstadt) of Lübeck it has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1987. (Source: Wikipedia).
Lübeck view from above
The reason I have had a nice chance to visit the city Lübeck in the North of Germany was because the German Academics Exchange Service, i.e. Deutscher Akademischer Austauschdienst (DAAD), who supports me with the research scholarship, organized an welcoming event for all the scholarship holders in their first year. If you consider applying for some research scholarship in Germany, DAAD would be a very good choice. It is not only about the financial support, but also DAAD will organise for you to attend German language courses as well as arrange regular meetings and gatherings to take care of your social life. So I am quite thankful that I have received the support from DAAD.
(to be continued)
For our event in Lübeck, the total number of participants should be around 400 to 500. This meeting in Lübeck was only for students in the universities in the Brandenburg region, including Berlin, my university Cottbus, Hamburg, etc. We were all picked up early in the morning by bus from the city that we currently stay. The bus drive from Berlin to Lübeck took around four hours. After arriving Lübeck, we could check in at a four-star hotel. Especially, all scholarship holders could bring with them their family: husband, wife and children. That was really nice from DAAD. We were then taken to a big lecture hall at the University of Lübeck for an overall introductory session of the DAAD personel. Next, students were divided into small groups according to nationality region and had a small meeting with our very own DAAD person who is in charge of our region. We could express what we need during our research progress and any difficulty that we face staying and studying in Germany, etc. Let me show now some photos which speak better than words:
Our stay in Lübeck were two days two nights. After the first day mostly for introduction and personal discussion sessions ended with a very nice dinner in a well-served restaurant, on the second day, we all could attend a main presentation about environmental protection for our planet and short presentations with different topics made voluntarily from students. In the afternoon of the second day, which was the part that I enjoyed the most, an excursion around Lübeck was organised. The excursion allowed me to discover a small but very peaceful and beautiful city Lübeck.
"The Hanseatic City of Lübeck is the second-largest city in Schleswig-Holstein, in northern Germany, and one of the major ports of Germany. Situated on the river Trave, it was for several centuries the "capital" of the Hanseatic League ("Queen of the Hanse") and, because of its Brick Gothic architectural heritage, is listed by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site. In 2005 it had a population of 213,983." (source: wikipedia).
"The old town centre is dominated by seven church steeples. The oldest are the Lübecker Dom (the city's cathedral) and the Marienkirche (Saint Mary's), both from the 13th and 14th centuries." (wikipedia)
"The Lutheran Marienkirche (St. Mary's church) in Lübeck was constructed between 1250 and 1350. For many years it has been a symbol of the power and prosperity of the old Hanseatic city, and as Germany's third largest church it remains the tallest building of the old part of Lübeck. It is larger than Lübeck Cathedral. Along with the city, the church has been listed by UNESCO as of cultural significance." (source: wikipedia)
A "Hof", i.e. courtyard
Much of the old town has kept a medieval appearance with old buildings and narrow streets.
The Hospital of the Holy Spirit (or of the Holy Ghost) is the best-preserved medieval hospital in Germany. It was founded by Lübeck merchants in 1280 as a home for the poor, the sick and orphans.
"A crow-stepped gable, stepped gable, or corbie step is a stair-step type of design at the top of the triangular gable-end of a building, as a decoration and a convenient way to finish the brick courses. Access to the roof ridge motivated the crow-step design, along with the availability of squarish stones. The access would have been convenient for chimney sweeps and roofers in earlier times, where cranes were non-existent and tall ladders were not common.
Early examples of crow-stepped gable, from the 15th century onwards, are found in England, Estonia, Denmark, Germany, Switzerland, and Sweden. This design is the characteristic of many brick buildings in the Netherlands, Belgium, and in Dutch colonial settlements. Crow-stepped gables were also used in Scotland as early as the 16th century." (source: wikipedia)
Walking around the centre (telegraph.co.uk)
After the guided tour we got free time to discover the city by ourselves:
"Much of the old town has kept a medieval appearance with old buildings and narrow streets. At one time the town could only be entered via any of four town gates, of which today two remain, the well-known Holstentor (1478) and the Burgtor (1444) (wikipedia).
At the end of our event, this is what I have written to DAAD for my evaluation and sugesstions: "Ich möchte mich noch einmal bei Ihnen und dem DAAD für das Treffen in Lübeck bedanken. Unterkunft, Betreuung und Verpflegung waren sehr gut. Auch das Unterhaltungsprogramm sowie die Stadt Lübeck haben mir gut gefallen.
Für
das nächste DAAD-Treffen könnte ich mir jedoch vorstellen, dass nicht nur die
regionale Zusammengehörigkeit, wie z.B. der gemeinsame Tisch aller Stipendiaten
aus Ostasien beim ersten Abendessen, sondern auch eine fachliche Gruppenbildung
der Doktoranden sinnvoll wäre (z. B. Geisteswissenschaft,
Naturwissenschaft, Ingenieurwissenschaft, u.s.w.). Eine entsprechende Gelegenheit
hätte sich beim zweiten gemeinsamen Abendessen angeboten. Dadurch könnte man
gezielter mit anderen Doktoranden aus der gleichen Fachrichtung ins Gespräch
kommen und sich über Probleme und Erfahrungen austauschen. Dies würde das
angestrebte Ziel des Aufenthaltes in Deutschland, nämlich der erfolgreiche
Abschluss einer Promotion, sehr unterstützen. Aus meinen bisherigen Erfahrungen
heraus, ist es oftmals schwierig den Kontakt zu anderen Doktoranden der
gleichen Fachrichtung zu finden. Vom DAAD organisierte Treffen von fachlich
nahestehenden Doktoranden würde ich ebenfalls begrüßen."
The translated main points from my remark above are: "Accommodation, service and food were very good. The entertainment program as well as the city of Lübeck have pleased me well. The only suggestion I have made for next meeting is to divide students not only into groups according to our region but also on the second dinner evening, students could also be divided into groups according to the research subject. That would help to gain contacts between those in a same or similar field and surely help to succeed our research work."
The translated main points from my remark above are: "Accommodation, service and food were very good. The entertainment program as well as the city of Lübeck have pleased me well. The only suggestion I have made for next meeting is to divide students not only into groups according to our region but also on the second dinner evening, students could also be divided into groups according to the research subject. That would help to gain contacts between those in a same or similar field and surely help to succeed our research work."
DAAD-Treffen Lübeck 15-17.06.2012.
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