Prior to coming to Berlin, I had a few certain stereotypes embedded in my head but I can safety say that they have all been disproven. One of the biggest things that have stood out to me is the comfort Germans have with their art and history. As a tourist and street art fanatic, I’ll see a famous piece on the street and just stare at it for 10 minutes. But as I observe others walking on the street, I notice that not one person even looks up at it. And again, at the concentration camp, students are laughing and joking around where thousands of people died. It just really surprised me how familiar people get with their own culture because as an outsider, it still really affects me.
Before coming to Berlin, I was warned about the abrasiveness and harshness of the Germans but I have been pleasantly surprised by their friendliness. Everyone here has been so willing to help and they really appreciate when we try to utter our few words of German. I’ve been really impressed with Berlin in that regard.
I also didn’t exactly know what an “international” or “global” city meant, but after two weeks in Berlin, I completely understand. I’ve met so many people from different countries, speaking different languages, and practicing different cultures. It has been amazing to see the mixture of all these people and it fits in to my research topic very well.
Before coming to Berlin, I was warned about the abrasiveness and harshness of the Germans but I have been pleasantly surprised by their friendliness. Everyone here has been so willing to help and they really appreciate when we try to utter our few words of German. I’ve been really impressed with Berlin in that regard.
I also didn’t exactly know what an “international” or “global” city meant, but after two weeks in Berlin, I completely understand. I’ve met so many people from different countries, speaking different languages, and practicing different cultures. It has been amazing to see the mixture of all these people and it fits in to my research topic very well.