Earth Science 101 at Northwestern had given me a tiny glimpse into the energy efficient and saving habits that had been established in Germany. The country had become well-versed in using solar, wind, and renewable energy sources as a means of creating a country that could actually protect the environment rather than taking more away from it and consequently destroying the naturally prevalent resources available in the country. As an American visiting Berlin, I was shocked to see some of the minor changes that seemed to be important energy-saving techniques. Not only did Berliners rigorously o ..read more

As a student that primarily studies immigration, immigrants, and themes of belonging while at Northwestern, studying abroad in Berlin has offered me a unique opportunity to witness a new context in which immigration is significant. Approximately 30% of Berliners are immigrants. Thus, with my interests in mind, I had chosen to apply to study abroad in Berlin because of the huge immigrant population present in Berlin. This population made Berlin feel huge. When walking down a street in Berlin, I could hear upwards of 5 languages within a 5 minute time span which felt so special. It would be wron ..read more

Hamburg, Germany is oddly reminiscent of Chicago. After a rather quick train ride from Berlin to Hamburg on the ICE (high-speed trains mainly located in Germany), our surroundings seemed to have shifted completely as we exited the main train station and encountered brisk winds we were yet to experience in Berlin. Hamburg was scattered with a mix of old palaces and castles as well as more modern structures alongside the rivers and canals that flowed throughout the city. On a tour throughout the city, we walked across these canals on bridges that allowed us access to beautiful views of the city ..read more

After missing a group trip to a nearby city, 2 other peers and I organized a trip to Dresden. Though it is not as populous as Berlin, it presented a new scenery that was useful when envisioning what Germany looks like as a whole, beyond just Berlin. For example, not only was Dresden less populous, but it seemed as though there were less swaths of tourists roaming the city. Though this could have presented this as strictly a positive, it also meant that our German skills were challenged as the people we met were less likely to be able to or want to speak English. Thus, this trip was linguistica ..read more

Located in the buzzing Mitte neighborhood, Humboldt Universitat is central to the city of Berlin. For example, when I step outside to enjoy my 30-minute class break, the Berliner Dom is directly to my left, accompanied by 4 impressive museums on the right, all situated on what is called Museuminsel (Museum Island). When I walk to class, I walk along the beautiful historic structures that adorn Berlin gorgeously which is special. In the classroom, however, we are being aptly challenged by the 2 courses that we are enrolled in. I am personally enrolled in German A.1 (Beginning German) and Introd ..read more

Though I have experience with learning a language, namely Portuguese, I have very little experience with learning a new language that is dissimilar to Spanish or English, my native languages. Thus far, German has been extremely challenging – I’m learning to count from 1-10 again and Im familiarizing myself with grammar in a way I haven’t done since I was in the 2nd grade. German classes are held for 3 hours on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays for the first 4 weeks of the program. Because the group has been split into beginners and advanced german classes, I feel comfortable knowing that my cla ..read more

Upon arrival to the Berlin Brandenburg Airport, I had to shed my sweater as we had arrived in Berlin on perhaps the warmest days of the year. As the sun blazed through our huge dorm windows, my roommate and I relished in the new city and explored our local neighborhood after settling into our room. Though we could not order in German just yet, the shawarma shop owner was very forgiving as he did his best to help us order in English. After this first day of mindless walking around Kreuzberg, we sought out for the remainder of the week in which we visited the Tomasa (a local restaurant where the ..read more

On my last Saturday, I took a trip to East Side Gallery to see all of the amazing wall art on pieces of the Berlin Wall. It was so nice to see pieces from artists all over the world, all with deeper meanings. I have always loved murals because of the ways individuals are able to express themselves in a “non-traditional” way, and because the art can bring people and communities together in such a meaningful way. This gallery is so much more than pretty pictures and words painted on concrete. This gallery was created by over 100 artists from all over the world. Each painting is unique, and tells ..read more

When looking at study abroad programs during the Fall, I was conflicted as to what program I should apply for. Two summers ago, I participated in the GESI program in the Dominican Republic. I chose that program because I was already proficient in Spanish and I was interested in the different projects I had the potential to work on. This time, I wanted to do something completely different. I decided I wanted to do a program in a country I had never been to and with a language I had never learned. I knew it would be challenging, but I was up for it. 6 weeks later, I can definitely say I am being ..read more