u/Equivalent_debate07

Hi everyone,
I’m a Master’s student at TU Darmstadt, and I could really use some advice or perspective from those of you who have been here a bit longer.
I love the academic side of things, but I’ve been struggling a lot with the social aspect of student life. I regularly attend international and tutor-organized events, but I've noticed a recurring pattern: people are friendly in the moment, but no one ever reaches out afterward. Even when I try to initiate and exchange contacts, conversations fizzle out, and we rarely end up making actual plans or hanging out outside the event.

As a Master’s student, time flies fast, and I really want to get a full, meaningful experience of student life here rather than just moving between my apartment and lectures. What actionable things should I be doing differently? How do you transition from a nice one-time chat at an international mixer to forming a close-knit, reliable friend circle with other international students? Are there specific recurring spots, student initiatives, or approaches that actually work long-term? Would love to hear what worked for you!

I want to listen to sad and slow songs 😭
You can suggest me happy and energetic songs as well!

I’m an international master’s student in Germany and recently developed a crush on a guy in my class.
After class one day, I was walking ahead and knew he was coming from behind.
we ended up walking at the same pace and after greeting me he said, “I really like your outfit today.”
I was surprised and thanked him, but mentioned that I had to wear a jacket because it was cold outside. He then replied, “It looks good even with the jacket.”
I thanked him again and jokingly told him to take photos of me later. He smiled, asked what my plans were for the day, and we chatted briefly before going to our classes.
What has me wondering is that we only recently got to know each other, so the compliment felt a bit unexpected. I’m trying not to read too much into it because I tend to get quiet around people I’m attracted to and don’t want to get my hopes up.
Would you see this as:
a friendly compliment,
possible interest,
or not enough information to tell?
Especially curious to hear from Germans or people familiar with German culture, since I’m not sure how common it is for guys to compliment a classmate’s outfit like that.

Can I know the details please?