Back in 2014, I had the incredible opportunity to attend the Spring School in Saint Petersburg, Russia. Looking back on this experience now, I am reminded of the importance of peace in the world, especially in light of the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine.

I remember feeling a mix of excitement and nervousness as I embarked on this journey with my friends from Erfurt. We were excited to explore a new place, but we also had a little bit of fear as to what we were to expect in encountering a new country altogether. However, our mixed emotions were quickly replaced with a feeling of ease as we were warmly welcomed by two Russian colleagues and Prof. Ettrich.

During our time at the Spring School, we had the opportunity to learn about new ideas and immerse ourselves in a new country and its history. The lectures we attended were informative and engaging, and we had the chance to learn about the rise and fall of the Soviet Union and other important issues regarding border policies. The city tour was also a memorable experience, as we braved the cold to explore the history of St. Petersburg.

As we continued our journey, we visited Ivangorod-Narva, the border of Estonia and Russia. It was here that we gained a deeper understanding of the bitter reality of language problems and stateless people, and the importance of building bridges between nations. The table talk with the local administration was a road to another revelation for me to know about how the administration and policies work in Russia from the local level to the federal level. Hats off to the local administrator who tried to answer all of our questions. It would have been nice if we had gotten the opportunity to know more details from the Russian federal level, but I think it was not possible.

The same day we met with the Ivangorod administration, we also crossed the border into Narva, the third largest city of Estonia with 82% Russian-speaking minorities. In Narva, we had the chance to get to know more about Estonia and Russia, especially about the nature of the projects and the mechanism of collaboration at the local level despite having no connection to the federal level. It was quite surprising for all of us to have a close look at Narva through the perspective of the bitter reality of language problems and stateless people. I found this to be one of the most important things that we have to learn or researched during our Spring School.

With lots of information, we headed to Tallinn, the capital city of Estonia, where we had a methodology lecture on PEST analysis by Prof. Grimm. After learning about it through the lecture, we also discussed with the professor about the problems and other information we had collected during our talks with the local administration in the border region.

The presentation on the last day was another important and exciting part of Spring School. We tried our best to prepare and present. As a result, Professors Ettrich and Grimm were happy to know about the information and the ability of the students to present these topics in a comprehensible way. And, we also felt highly privileged in getting the opportunity to discuss with the professors.

The trip ended with wonderful sightseeing in Tallinn and the farewell dinner of the Haniel Spring School. I couldn’t have hoped for a better finale. The overall experiences, the emotions, and the knowledge I gathered during the period are so overwhelming, I feel I cannot rightly express my impression of the Haniel School in words.

Looking back at the experience, it is clear that the need for peace in the world is more important than ever, especially in light of the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine. The visit to the border of Estonia and Russia highlighted the need for building bridges between nations and working towards a future where conflicts can be resolved peacefully. It is crucial to stop wars like the one in Ukraine and promote peaceful dialogue and cooperation. It is important for all of us to remember that we share this world together and that we must work together to create a better future for ourselves and future generations.

In conclusion, my experience at the Spring School in Saint Petersburg was truly unforgettable. I had the opportunity to learn about a new country and its history, make new friends, and gain a deeper understanding of the importance of peace in the world. I am grateful for the opportunity to have participated in this program, and I hope that more people will have the chance to participate in programs like this in the future. Let us all work towards a future where peace and understanding prevail, and where conflicts can be resolved through dialogue and cooperation.