Franziska Moßner at the “Generationen-Dinner”

Exchange between young and old

Franziska, how did you find out about the “Generationen-Dinner”?

Franziska Moßner: I saw an advertisement on the Internet and thought it sounded very interesting.

Did you apply directly?

Yes, exactly. To apply, I only had to give my name, my faculty, and the reason why I wanted to take part. From among all applicants, 10 persons were drawn by lots.

Who is allowed to participate?

Students from all over Germany. However, almost all of the participants of the dinner were from Munich.

How many people took part in the “Generationen-Dinner” altogether?

Ten students and nine senior citizens. On the evening itself, one of the seniors of the planned round had unfortunately fallen ill.

How did the evening go?

It was all very noble. First, there was a champagne reception. Then, we were seated at the assigned tables. At each table, there were as many students as seniors. We enjoyed a very tasty 3-course meal and held conversations.

What topics were discussed?

The motto of the evening was “Fernweh gestern, heute und morgen” (“Wanderlust – yesterday, today and tomorrow“). At our table, however, only about half of the time was spent discussing that topic. We also talked a lot about other social topics – such as politics or our degree courses.

What did you take with you – personally?

I was surprised, positively. The seniors were very interested and politically very open. The conversations were really pleasant. The two ladies at our table were both born in 1937 – and they saw a lot in their lives and travelled a lot.

Was that the first time you took part in such an event?

Yes. It was really a great experience. However, what I found a bit disappointing was that it was a little unrealistic: all the seniors had competed secondary school, were never forced to flee, never had any financial problems… In other words, they didn't really represent the majority of pensioners. I would love to take part in such an event again, but under more realistic circumstances.

What do you do when you're not involved in inter-generational exchange or studying Mathematics?

I'm very active in the MPI student council, I am a member of the board of a dance club, and I like to travel.

Why are you studying math?

Math was my favorite subject in primary school – and it soon became clear to me that I wanted to study. In addition, a degree in Mathematics allows you to work in many fields, such as software development, engineering, or process optimization.

In which direction will you be heading after your studies?

In February, I will start working in the field of process optimization for production sites in Munich. I always wanted to work in logistics, and I'm really looking forward to this new task.

(Interview: Verena Pongratz)

Franziska Moßner (24) was born in Augsburg. She is a student of Mathematics in Operation Research and has just completed her Master's thesis on web-based timetable optimization for special needs schools. The Tertianum Premium Residences organize intergenerational dinners throughout Germany in order to reactivate the lost dialogue between young and old. More information: Tertianum Generationen Dinner