#Off_the_record with Alina Saggerer, Germany!
This time, meet Alina Saggerer from Germany! Alina is pursuing her Master’s in Interdisciplinary Antisemitism Research at The Technical University of Berlin, and came to Israel to participate in our Semester program! 
1. Favorite Hebrew word:
Savlanut (Patience) 
. It sounds nice, and I like this ambivalence in this word – it also has the suffering aspect in it, but not only. It’s something that you would describe as something positive, even if it also has something negative in it.
. It sounds nice, and I like this ambivalence in this word – it also has the suffering aspect in it, but not only. It’s something that you would describe as something positive, even if it also has something negative in it.2. Why Israel?
First, it somehow has a connection to my Master’s program, and also – because of the history of the country. I wanted to know how a country that was built up in such a short time, under such special conditions, how that shapes the country, the culture and the people in a way. Also, the land has such a long history and there are all these religions coming together. I was interested to know how does this influence the atmosphere and the life in general.
3. How is your experience until now?
It’s interesting to notice what thoughts and feelings come up when you’re in a different environment, what kind of differences do you notice first, and what differences do people need to tell you before, and then you’re like – “oh, I never noticed that!”. I really liked when the international office offered this Rosh Hashana (the Hebrew New Year’s Eve) hosting 
, with families from Israel. I really liked the family that hosted me, I slept at their house, they also invited me on Yom Kippur, and when my family were visiting in Israel, we went to have Shabbat dinner at their place and that was so great having this connection 
, with families from Israel. I really liked the family that hosted me, I slept at their house, they also invited me on Yom Kippur, and when my family were visiting in Israel, we went to have Shabbat dinner at their place and that was so great having this connection 4. Favorite Be’er-Sheva activity?
Running in the morning 
Lots of times, I see the sunrise when I’m running and it is great 
. Running for me is also like a diary, I usually think about the past day and the day following. I have this one hour for myself reflecting on the time.
Lots of times, I see the sunrise when I’m running and it is great . Running for me is also like a diary, I usually think about the past day and the day following. I have this one hour for myself reflecting on the time.5. What’s your hidden talent?
Maybe vegan baking. For Christmas we did Christmas cookies 
, my favorite part is doing the decorations (Pictures of the cookies – in the comments). I also play violin since I was 6, maybe that’s a talent I need to focus on and practice more 
.I’d say that I’m not talented in practicing 
. Recently I did the course here at the university, when they put small groups together to play chamber music, so I did a duet with one student that was playing cello (picture from the performance – in the comments).
, my favorite part is doing the decorations (Pictures of the cookies – in the comments). I also play violin since I was 6, maybe that’s a talent I need to focus on and practice more .I’d say that I’m not talented in practicing . Recently I did the course here at the university, when they put small groups together to play chamber music, so I did a duet with one student that was playing cello (picture from the performance – in the comments).6. What’s one thing about you that surprises people?
When I tell them I did theater studies for my Bachelor’s, and now I do Antisemitism Research, they’re like “how is that connected??”. During my Bachelor’s, I already did an exam about a holocaust survivor who survived as a kid, and about the theater piece she wrote, and some related courses. I found out that it has Master’s when I moved to Berlin. I must say that still a complete understanding, the reason for it, was not found for me. I still have a lot of questions that weren’t answered. How could it happen, and how can it be prevented. I’m interested in what potential and what dangers lie in cultures. You still have to recognize and be aware of the dangers in a way.
7. If you could instantly become an expert in something, what would it be?
Maybe getting better in dancing 
I’m very flexible but handstands, or being upside down – there are some movements that I find hard. Or maybe understanding all of the theories that I read. But if I’ll be an expert there won’t be anything new to discover! so I want to be an expert, but want to leave something still to discover, that it doesn’t get boring 
I’m very flexible but handstands, or being upside down – there are some movements that I find hard. Or maybe understanding all of the theories that I read. But if I’ll be an expert there won’t be anything new to discover! so I want to be an expert, but want to leave something still to discover, that it doesn’t get boring 8. What’s your guilty pleasure?
I eat a lot of ice cream 
That’s not making me feel guilty but maybe others will consider it as guilty 
That’s not making me feel guilty but maybe others will consider it as guilty 9. If you could have one super power, what would it be?
Be able to make people understand on their own that it’s not their fault when the conditions are hard. There are people accusing themselves, when people tell you “you didn’t study enough for the exam, that’s why you will fail, that’s why you will never get a job”, but they don’t understand the context, that there are always conditions behind it. Maybe there was something in this person’s life that was keeping her or him away from that. That’s not really that person’s fault that he failed, and it’s more the conditions. I think that because somehow the society tells you that you are lazy and that’s why you didn’t succeed, it stresses us so much, and take so much time from us. I’d like to give people the time that has taken from them, or maybe in general – time when they aren’t able to do what they may be desired to do. Not to be a life trainer, more like to empower people 
10. What did you want to do when you were little, and now what’s your dream job?
Becoming an author 
and later an actress 
. Now, What I’m hoping for is to be able to switch academic research and combine practical art. So it didn’t change so much – author is also someone that creates something, and actor is someone who’s representing something but also creating something.
and later an actress . Now, What I’m hoping for is to be able to switch academic research and combine practical art. So it didn’t change so much – author is also someone that creates something, and actor is someone who’s representing something but also creating something.