I regard the two years of this MA program as some of the best of my life. On the professional level, the program provided an excellent selection of courses touching on various social scientific fields - from anthropology to economics and IR - which kept me motivated from the start until the very end. Studying in English has been an important asset, not only because I read the most cutting-edge international literature, but also because I could easily convert my MA thesis into a PhD project proposal. This eventually gave me the opportunity to pursue my doctoral studies at an international university with a scholarship and led straight up to the postdoctoral position I currently hold. But my dearest memories come from the personal connections I established with my fellow students, some of whom have become my friends for life. The program consciously encourages collaboration and joint learning rather than pointless competition for the best grade; it is academy at its best.