Jigokudani

Do you know those little monkeys in Japan that bathe in hot springs during winter?

That's roughly how I felt, except it was night and there was no snow. Instead, a fresh breeze swept across the pool, so everything sticking out of the water was rather cold, and everything beneath the surface was exhaustingly warm. In the distance, a glaring light shone. When I tilted my head at a certain angle, something moved into the light beam, casting its shadow through the sweeping water vapour onto multiple surfaces and growing larger the closer the vapour wall came, only to be immediately scattered by the wind and concentrate on another level. 

The constant change gave the shadow something moving about it, like an underwater monster that shoots up again and again to gasp for air. And I think to myself: Should I at least have a slip, seeing as I'm already in the swimming pool, or would that be too sad, all alone?

Mystery Box University is what this edition is called. Some university newcomers will receive Sprachrohr in their fresher packs and perhaps read this text. What can I say, hand on heart: at the beginning of my studies – this text dates from that time – I was lonely more often than I sometimes wanted to admit, more often than I would have liked. Of course, time to yourself can also be pleasant, creative, calming. But if I, as someone who has now almost finished their university time, may give a tip to all freshers: take every party that comes your way. Down the schnapps at the fresher rally. And turn around in lectures to your left and right: "By the way, I'm __. What's your name?"

Andreas Jäger