Berlin is unlike many cities in Europe where there is a dominant culture with a dominant appearance. The beauty of Berlin arises from its patchwork of architecture, many being remnants of war, that Berliners have taken agency over. The city is an emblem of post-unification; people mingle, meet, dance, cross borders, cross boundaries, and ultimately find their most authentic, free self. If this freedom of identity is something you strive for, this is the city for you. If you are looking for a German city with more restrained charm and culture, I would look into Munich, Stuttgart, or Frankfurt. If you like electronic music, trashy charm, and meeting worldly expats, choose Berlin.
This article is a follow-up to Christina Chan’s Berlin Guide written in 2014. It is important to know that the housing economy has significantly changed since then. Many locals sound it out to me like a second New York City, where housing supply is scarce and rent is rocket high. I wouldn’t let that scare you away because you can likely find a shared flat (vehgay) for under 800 euros a month. Although do be mindful that living alone will likely be outside of your German intern pay. Other than rent, I stand by the relevancy of Christina’s recommendations.
Work
Since English has been Germany’s official second language for time, I would recommend Berlin as an approachable place to work abroad. I worked at Sauerbruch Hutton, where there was an array of international staff in addition to German staff. Thus, everyone spoke at least intermediate English. Documents were still in German and meetings with consultants were conducted in German. I think it is a great opportunity to learn the language if you wish to do so. I personally didn’t choose to enroll in a German learning course and went with daily Duolingo instead. This was great for my packed schedule but was not the best for learning conversational language. Meeting German friends is one of the best ways to make the learning process enjoyable!
On the topic of German architecture, you’ll quickly find that there is an abundance of standards and codes. I found them very interesting and fun to learn. You’ll also find a lot of amazing precedents around you, both from historical and contemporary eras. I would personally recommend booking an English tour of the Tempelhof Airport (a war-time built airport with incredible layers of history) and the Boros Foundation (former bunker turned night club turned art gallery). Other notable buildings include the Jewish Museum, any building on Museum Island, and Neue Nationalgalerie.
Living
The most affordable neighborhood when I was looking was Wedding. It is a tad far from the East side of the city but still manageable. There are many co-living apartments and shared flats there. I personally lived in Mitte, which I recommend for those who like a more tame, family-oriented, yet very connected urban area. Just be prepared to pay higher rent. For those who want a more chaotic yet young, fun, and cultured area, I would go for Kreuzberg or Neukolln! My coworkers recommended living here for the charm of the area, younger population, cheaper eats, and canals.
Food
I will start off by saying that I ate vegetarian in Berlin. For those who are also veggie, I would HIGHLY recommend Berlin if you love food. Since there is a large culture, almost every restaurant offers a significant veg section of the menu. You’ll also find a lot of totally vegan or vegetarian restaurants with incredible flavours. My favourite part was the vegan section of the grocery store (I shopped at Reve), which had an array of goods that blew North America out of the water. If you are not veg, there are still amazing options for you too. I would recommend Kreuzberg and Markthalle Neun as a good starting point. If you want “authentic” German food, grab yourself a beer, a wurst (sausage), and a loaf of bread from a bakery. Don’t forget to bottle return for cash back! German recycling is amazing.
Play
Play means something different for everyone. But I know you’re all thinking, what is clubbing like? All the most notable clubs are in the same area by the Warschauer Straße station. The most popular are Berghain (of course) and Kitkat Club (look this up yourself). Getting into Berghain is easier on Sunday mornings. They both require lines and dress code, which I wasn’t vibing with. I would recommend Sisyphos, Casseiopia, and ELSE for a more relaxed entry experience. The last thing I’ll mention is flohmarkts (flea markets). Berlin is infamous for having these spread around the city. I would recommend Mauerpark the most because it feels like a mini festival in itself. There is live music, vendors, people barbecuing, and just generally great vibes.
Final Comments
Overall, I would highly recommend Berlin as one of your coop adventures. The best time is always the Spring term since their Winters are quite gray and sad (so I’ve heard). The city is diverse, lively, and unhinged in the best of ways. If you have any questions about the process of going to Germany, feel free to send me an email at cynthia.zhang@uwaterloo.ca.
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