Sardana Nikolaeva

Despite the uncertainties and restrictions with the COVID-19 pandemic, I was warmly received and assisted by the Universität representatives, though most of our further communication was primarily online. It was upsetting not to be able to spend as much time on the university campus, occupy own space at the department, get acquainted with more colleagues, and visit other research institutions (such as the city libraries and museums) as I initially planned.

Nevertheless, I can say that my research and other academic pursuits progressed greatly despite the lockdown and restrictions. During my time in Hamburg, I completed the most significant sections of my dissertation (3 chapters), fully drafted the post-doctoral research project proposal in Sakha Republic, applied for several post-doctoral research funding opportunities (still pending), and submitted the proposals for articles to be published in a peer-reviewed journal and an edited volume, which will hopefully be available in 2022.

In addition, I had an opportunity to meet and cultivate wonderful friendships with the students at the Institute of Social and Cultural Anthropology at Universität Hamburg; learning about their experiences as graduate students in an European university and as aspiring anthropologists of different disciplinary tradition was illuminating. I am certain that we will stay in touch for a long time and am looking forward to potential scholarly collaborations.

Privat

Graffiti leaves its mark on Hamburg's cityscape

I am also grateful that the generous scholarship allowed me to spend several months in Hamburg, a city with an incredibly rich history and vibrant political culture (political graffiti, homeless- and activist-occupied urban spaces, street art, etc.).

I particularly enjoyed visiting the diverse neighborhoods of Hamburg, such as St. Pauli and Sternschanze, which streets embodied the importance of political and economic solidarity among the marginalized communities locally and globally.

In addition, I found the German higher educational system to be the most interesting to learn about, how graduate programs operate, and how university education seems to be quite accessible. I also became aware of and highly appreciated a lot of “little things” about Germany and everyday life in Germany, such as, “pfand” recycling program, delicious German bread and pastries, convenient U-Bahn system, popularity of biking, and going for walks under any weather conditions.

Privat

Sardana Nikolaeva has come to appreciate bike riding

Sadly, the untimely passing of Dr. Ulla Johansen prevented our meeting, which I was looking forward the most during my time in Germany; however, I am certain that her scholarly contribution will continue guiding my own academic career in the time to come. Finally, I want to express my gratitude to Dr. J. Otto Habeck for his interest in my academic work, words of encouragement, kindness, and generosity during the challenging times.