Sharmin_Shamim

It was sometime in the middle of June 2024 when I received an email from our MA Human Rights Programme Coordinator, Ms. Ines, stating that there was a scholarship opportunity available for students in our program. FAU President’s Welcome Award. The email also included a link to the scholarship website.   Little did I know then that exactly seven months later, my profile would be featured on that same website as a scholarship recipient.  With a leap of faith and my fingers crossed, I submitted my application to the President’s Welcome Award (PWA) team. I vividly remember July 8, 2024—a day that started as a typically busy day at work. At 11:37 AM, I received an email notification, but I couldn’t check it right away.  For days leading up to that moment, I had been thinking about the potential outcome of my scholarship application. That evening, after leaving work and settling in at home, I finally opened my email. The first email was from the PWA team.  For a b...

With an immense amount of homesickness, mixed emotions, and gratitude, my first 15 days in Germany passed by, and the time finally came for the official programme opening. It marked the beginning of a well-planned, long-cherished journey: a Master’s in Human Rights at one of the world’s most renowned and prestigious institutions, Friedrich-Alexander University of Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU).   Nürnberg, the city where I would spend the next two years, is deeply intertwined with the history of human rights. Its significance lies in both its tragic past and its transformation. It is the city of the infamous Nürnberg Trials, where, in the aftermath of World War II, the principles of international human rights and justice were redefined. Today, Nürnberg stands as a symbol of hope, resilience, and progress in human rights. It serves as the perfect backdrop for studying the subject that aims to challenge injustice and protect human dignity.    Why Friedrich-Alexander Universi...

As I boarded the train from Frankfurt to Nuremberg, I knew it was going to be a late-night arrival. I’d probably reach there by midnight. Sure enough, I arrived at Nuremberg Central Station at 2:30 AM on October 1, 2024. Realizing it wasn’t the best idea to look for a hotel at that hour, I decided to wait it out at the station. After all, it was just a matter of a few hours—I could check in at my residence at 8:00 AM. Now that I’ve visited Nuremberg Station several times, I know it pretty well, but that night of 01st of October 2024 was completely different. At first, I wandered around, looking for a corner to sit in. I noticed a few elderly people quietly sitting on the first floor of the station, so I assumed it would be safe to stay near them. I headed upstairs and found a spot. The station was eerily quiet, with just a handful of people moving about. As I sat there, after a while I realized the “quiet” didn’t mean calm. Some of the people sleeping nearby weren’t just tired—t...

And before you can even realize it, you’ll find yourself at Frankfurt Airport—lost, looking for that elusive train station that’s supposed to take you to Nuremberg. On October 1, 2024, in the early morning, I arrived at Frankfurt Airport with all my important belongings packed into two suitcases weighing a total of 40 kg. After clearing immigration, it was time to find the train station platform. Good news: there are plenty of platforms! Bad news: if you’re here for the first time, like me, don’t expect to get it right the first time. The immigration line was unexpectedly long. After finally crossing immigration, I found myself lost for a while, trying to get directions to the station. I realized that I was going to miss my connecting train to Nuremberg, but I still wanted to give my very best to catch that train. I took some wrong directions from confident-looking information providers, got myself onto the wrong bus, took a tour of the airport, and ended up on the other side of th...

Hello and welcome to my blog! My name is Sharmin Shamim Anchool, and I am honored to be a recipient of the prestigious FAU President's Welcome Award (PWA). As an international student pursuing a Master's degree in Human Rights, this award is not only a recognition of my academic potential but also a unique opportunity for growth and development in my field. Through the PWA program, I have gained access to invaluable resources, including training on scientific research in human rights and a year-long accommodation scholarship.  This blog will be my space to share my experiences navigating the PWA program, the challenges and triumphs of being an international student at FAU, and the transformative journey I’m embarking on within the human rights world. From reflections on academic life to insights into the social impact of my work, I hope this blog will provide a window into the intersection of education, culture, and social justice. I invite you to join me as I document my gro...