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Hurling - the Irish national sport - is one of the great passions of Jennifer Doyle, who plays at regional league level. It combines elements of field hockey, lacrosse and baseball

If you stroll across the campus of Aalen University, you will pick up many snippets of words in other languages - for example Georgian, English, Spanish, Arabic or Nepali. After all, many of the students come from all over the world. They all bring the international campus to life and create a cosmopolitan atmosphere. The university maintains close relationships with well over 130 partner universities. In a loose series, we present the inspiring stories of students from our partner universities who have decided to continue their academic journey at Aalen University - this time with Jennifer Doyle from Ireland.

“A big change”

From the green hills of Ireland to the rolling hills of the Ostalb: a good month ago, Jennifer Doyle came to Aalen University from picturesque Cork as an exchange student. “A big change”, she says with a laugh. For the first time, the young woman with the long, brown years is living alone, separated from her family and on her own two feet. "But it's a good experience. You have to find your way in unfamiliar situations and solve problems on your own. You grow as a person and become more independent." For her, the “German adventure” is more than just an academic exchange.

Right in the middle of the action

The decision to continue her studies in International Business Administration in Aalen was an easy one for Jennifer Doyle. The university is not only known for its practice-oriented education and international networking - the recommendation of two of her fellow students, who spent their semester abroad in Aalen last year, also helped in the decision-making process. Parallel to her studies, she works as an intern at the university's International Center. "It's fun to get a deeper insight. You're right in the middle of the action, also thanks to the many contacts with university staff and other internationals," says the 21-year-old enthusiastically. And as she learned German at high school and she and her brother were looked after by German au pairs at home, communication also works well. “I really like the German language, but I understand it better than I speak it,” she says modestly.

Start-up help

Her fellow student Anneli has also helped her settle in, providing advice and support as a “buddy”. In cooperation with the non-profit association International Society Aalen (ISA), Aalen University's “Buddy Program” offers start-up help and individual support for international newcomers. The “Buddies” are experienced students who volunteer to help integrate the exchange students. “It's a really good idea,” says Doyle, adding with a laugh: "I recently wanted to book a train ticket, but the Deutsche Bahn system was a bit overwhelming. Luckily, Anneli took care of it for me." And so, although she has only been here for a few weeks, the likeable young woman already feels at home at the university and strolling through Aalen's old town streets. “I particularly enjoy sitting outside at Café Podium and watching the people passing by,” she says with a grin.

Hurling and Gaelic football

In general, the surroundings of Aalen are a big plus. “I'm not a city girl, I'm more of a country girl,” says Doyle, who enjoys spending her free time outdoors in nature and is an active sportswoman. Her great passions are hurling - or the almost identical women's version, camogie - and Gaelic football. These two sports are practically part of the “Irish DNA”. With a history of over 3000 years, hurling is one of the oldest field sports in the world - and the fastest grass sport anyway. It combines elements of field hockey, lacrosse and baseball. It is played with a wooden bat (hurley) and a small leather ball (sliothar), which can be moved on the ground or in the air.

Intangible cultural heritage of humanity

“The teams consist of 15 people each and try to kick the ball into the opponent's goal or over the crossbar,” explains Doyle, who trains with her team four times a week and plays at regional league level. The fact that the ball can be hit very far means that the games are quite fast and the players are constantly on the move. In 2018, UNESCO declared hurling an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. "It's extremely tough on the body, but it's great fun. Few things bring you closer to the Irish soul than a dip in the enthusiastic crowd of Irish hurling fans,“ says the student, adding with a laugh: ”Maybe the university should include this sport in its university sports program." Although Jennifer Doyle does not (yet) get to play hurling in Aalen, she regularly runs longer distances, for example to the Aalbäumle.

“We Irish love to socialize”

Speaking of the Irish soul: what else characterizes it besides hurling? “Friendliness,” says Jennifer Doyle without hesitation. "If we meet someone on the road, we say hello - whether we know them or not. And we like to ask. Germans might sometimes think that's ‘nosy’ - nosy - or overbearing, but we Irish are just a bit extroverted and love to socialize." That's why she is already looking forward to a very special date in her calendar: “The spring festival at the Cannstatter Wasen is firmly planned,” says the student cheerfully.