I am a PhD student at the Institute of Plant Biology and Biotechnology in Münster, Germany and was working at the IHB for one month. I had a great welcome in the lab of Prof. Dr. Kaiyao Huang, who is a collaboration partner of our group since several years, and I could start almost immediately with my work, because everything was well prepared, including my working space in the lab. 

Besides the well equipped institute, everything that is needed for living can be found on the campus, including the apartment house where I was staying, a canteen, restaurants, shops and banks. Nevertheless, since I cannot speak Chinese, I am very thankful for my lab mates, who were not only very supportive at work but also a great help for everything else. I enjoyed the collective dinners and the taste and variety of food is something that I will miss back home. 

Despite a lot of work, there was also time for some trips across the huge and modern city of Wuhan, which is well connected with bus, subway and taxi. Starting with the campus of the Wuhan University and the Donghu Lake, which is both situated aside the IHB, there a lot of beautiful parks and lakes/rivers in Wuhan but also fascinating historical and religious buildings. Furthermore, I was lucky to attend the most important holiday in China: spring festival, a time when the city becomes quiet. 

All together, it was a great experience, not only because the research project went very well, but more important because of the warm hospitality and the friendly, smiling people. I would not miss a chance to come back.