Student Blogs/Lauren in Germany
Call me dramatic, but the last week before my exchange was a whirlwind of emotions. I found myself getting misty-eyed at almost everything; petting my cat, shopping with my mom, even eating all-dressed chips (a Canadian delicacy, in my opinion). Regular things that I wouldn’t be able to do for a year made me sad. Moving back home between the end of work and beginning of my exchange and leaving my friends in Ottawa had me feeling rather melancholy.
I knew that the adventure of a lifetime was just on the horizon but it felt like it was still so far away. It felt like it almost wasn’t real, it wasn’t happening. My exchange was something in the faraway future that I daydreamed about. In reality, however, the date on my plane ticket seemed to creep up a lot faster than I anticipated. I had to get a new carry-on, an adapter, book a hostel room for my first night, and get in a year's worth of appointments (including my driver’s test, which I’m proud to say I passed).
If it sounds like I’m overreacting, it’s probably because I am. This can be easily explained: I’ve never been abroad, and I’ve been very stressed about moving to Berlin. I may have forgotten a few things, but it wasn’t anything I couldn’t replace when I arrived.
After a few hiccups during my journey, I had arrived in Berlin. I couldn’t move into my dorm the first night I was there, so I stayed in a hostel. The first night I was alone in a new city, I hadn’t slept in almost 30 hours, hadn’t eaten in almost as long, and I felt incredibly lost. I felt like I didn’t know why I was here, why I had gotten myself into this in the first place. This may have been another dramatic moment because the next morning after I had eaten and slept, I was ready for the next day.
I moved into my dorm, got a German bank account, got my residence permit, bought a router (which turned out to be the wrong one), unpacked, and hit up IKEA in one day. And yes, IKEA is exactly the same in Germany as it is everywhere else. I have a single room in a “Wohngemeinschaft” with three other roommates and we share a bathroom between the four of us, and kitchen between about 10 other residents. The room is nice, the bathroom is adequate, and the kitchen leaves something to be desired - but the building is in a great location so I’m happy.
There have been a few other bumps in the road but I’ve quickly learned that you have to let things roll off your back and keep going, otherwise you’ll spend most of your time being upset. This includes people speaking English back to you instead of German, spending twice your usual amount of time grocery shopping because you don’t understand the labels, and getting on the wrong train.
I live in the east-side of Berlin, in a neighborhood called Friedrichshain. The east side has a personality different from the west side. The buildings are reminiscent of the old boxy soviet style, and has experienced a recent influx of trendy, younger residents. Here, you can find an awesome blend of old east architecture and modern, hipster stores. Each neighborhood has a distinct character, but I’m reserving any final opinions until I’ve spent a little more time in each area. Needless to say, wherever you are in Berlin you will be met with an intense blend of character, style, beauty, and culture. I’m trying to allow myself not to judge, but to open myself to everything this city has to offer me.
I am lucky enough to have been paired up with a local student as a “Berlin Buddy” and on my second day we met for breakfast at a super cute local restaurant. She helped me set up a German phone number, return the router and buy the correct one, and gave me all sorts of advice for living in Berlin. It was super helpful to have someone local show and tell me all the hotspots. My buddy, Simone, is incredibly nice and made settling in a lot easier.
I was so busy my first week getting everything figured out and trying to settle in that I didn’t get to do any sightseeing until after about 10 days. Since everything is closed on Sundays, my roommate and I decided to check out the big flea market scene in Berlin, and finish the afternoon off with a bit of touring. I love second-hand shopping, and the flea markets are full of second-hand items, as well as lots of locally made products. I was in heaven. If you visit Berlin at all, you have to check it out!
Luckily for me, my roommate had already seen several of the note-worthy buildings and squares so she led the way. I enjoyed one of the last beautiful summer days getting to know my roommate and new city. I was wowed by the older, more conventionally beautiful side of Berlin. I am so looking forward to the rest of my year here.
Lauren is a third-year Bachelor of International Business (BIB) student studying abroad in Germany.