I originally came to Coventry through a European language program to improve my English. That was 6 years ago. In Germany and other countries it is important to speak good English, especially if you want to be successful internationally. You really need to undertake a stay or internship abroad where you can get experience in language and see another culture. I liked it here that I decided to stay. I now work at Warwick University.

How are Coventry and Dresden similar?

Both cities have a similar history, both were badly damaged in the war and both have lost traditional industry. The size of the cities and the number of people are similar.

How do Dresden and Coventry differ?

Coventry is multicultural. There is a great diversity, people from Eastern European, Southeast Asian countries, not to mention students who come to study from all over the world in Coventry and Warwick Universities. Coventry seemed to have been more destroyed in the Second World War than Dresden. In the city centre Coventry seems to be made up of concrete buildings. Like Coventry, Dresden had many ruins and empty spaces but some of old buildings were restored after the reunification, for example the Frauenkirche and the buildings around it. Another difference is that Dresden is definitely greener than Coventry, it has large parks, such as the Grosse Garten and the Dresdner Heide. The area around the Elbe is famous, Dresden was known as Florence on the Elbe!

What do you like best about Coventry?

I like the multicultural way of life and the people I work with. In comparison to Dresden, wherever you go the food and the shopping is more diverse. I like my work at the university. In general, I like the 'mix of cultures' better, which is largely because I work at an international university.

What would you most like to change?

I would change the city centre. I would like to bring more culture and life to it. I would like to see more green, more flowers and plants. At the moment the city centre does not look very inviting and you tend not to linger.

If I wanted to visit Dresden, what do you recommend me to see?

Dresden has a lot to offer. The Frauenkirche, the Zwinger, the Semperoper, the Fürstenzug and the Green Vault are a MUST in the old town. A walk from the Blue Wonder along the Elba on a beautiful sunny day is great, ideally on the old town side. Pilnitz a bit outside and Moritzburg Castle are also very worth seeing. And of course the new town by day and night, where students and artists and more and more families live. The atmosphere is particularly alive in summer. Everyone is sitting in the beer garden and you can hear music in the background.