Hey everyone, one programmer girl is writing to you!
I’m Milena Kovacevic, from the beautiful lands of Herzegovina, right in the heart of the Balkans. My journey took me to the lovely city of Novi Sad, nestled by the calm waters of the Danube, where I dived into the world of programming and student life.
But my adventure didn’t stop there! The Zoran Djindjic Internship Programme of German Business for the Countries of the Western Balkans had more surprises in store for me as it took me downstream along the Danube to Regensburg, a city bustling with students, beer, and pretzels. Here, I started my internship journey through the Internship Programme of German Business, diving into the lively culture and dynamic work environment of a German company.
Regensburg is a city that not many people know about, but that’s what makes it so special. It has the power to surprise and delight anyone who walks its ancient streets, crosses its stone bridge, or takes the time to explore every hidden corner. I’ve learned that the real beauty of a place comes from the people who call it home, not just how it looks. And in Regensburg, I was warmly welcomed by the friendly locals and captivated by the charm that this city offers to all who visit.



Before going to Germany, I was really worried about speaking German. There were times when I felt completely lost, especially when I tried to order in a bakery or talk to the staff in a cafe. But when I started working at my company, AVL Softwares, I found a place full of different people from all over the world. With so many nationalities, we all ended up speaking English, which helped us connect and share our ideas and experiences.
One day, a colleague said, “I am Wolfram,” and I replied, “I am from Serbia, why do you ask?” and after a weird look l realised that my understanding of “where are you from” was not what the colleague tried to tell me. Working at AVL introduced me to many different cultures and traditions and I learned that in Indonesia and other Asian countries, people don’t say “Hi, how are you?” but instead ask “Are you hungry?” Also, in Iran, people rarely speak English and use Persian numbers instead. So, it was no surprise that, a new colleague from Iran came one morning into the room and greeted us all with “Good morning bit***es!” And after our reaction he realized that English can be used in movies but not in a serious IT company.

Working in a German company opened my eyes to new experiences with tough tasks in AI and programming and the city met me with the ins and outs of the German language, so that every day was a chance to grow both professionally and personally.
I believe that the Bavarian region, of all the regions in Germany, is the closest to the Balkans, not only in appearance and nature but also in people, customs, and habits. People here are loud, tall, with firm stances, but at the same time, kind and pleasant, and with style.
There were so many moments that made me feeling welcome and like a home… When I recently spilled coffee in the train restaurant, a passenger at the neighbouring table stood up, helped me clean up the mess, and then went to the counter and came back with the words: “I ordered you a new coffee on my account. Have a pleasant journey!” Or, when I accidentally left the student dorm without my key, knowing that the doors automatically lock, the dorm manager didn’t hesitate to come on Sunday morning and bring me a spare key so that I wouldn’t have to call locksmiths.
It didn’t take long in Bavaria for me to realise I was dead wrong about Germans being cold. In fact, they’re the total opposite!

Among all that this practice has provided me, the best of all are the friends with whom I could travel, explore, and share beautiful moments. What no one should miss, especially if near Munich, is the famous Oktoberfest. We, like most previous generations, forgot to reserve tables for Oktoberfest on time, so we found ourselves improvising. We managed to get into one of the tents and experience and participate in the full spirit of the Oktoberfest. But to make the evening even better, on the way back to Regensburg, one of the bands that performed at the festival ended up in the same train carriage with us, so we transferred the party from Oktoberfest directly into one of the carriages of DB trains. Whatever I had expected or imagined from this Internship Programme, I got even more – friends, experiences, travels, language, fun and constant support all the way through the Programme!
Milena Kovacevic, generation 2023