Passing it on...

Hello everyone!

This is officially my last blog post, and before it ends I just want to briefly mention some of my achievements from this experience in Potsdam university. I’m going to start with what I believe this year will change most about any of you that are considering doing a year abroad placement. And what kind of skills and qualities you will most likely develop- by linking it to my experiences. Then I will give you some tips and facts about the German citizens, German culture that I wish I knew before I came to Germany. Lastly, I will add some of my favourite places in Potsdam and Berlin, that are worth seeing while you’re here 😊

I have actually considered keeping this blog before, as I have really enjoyed sharing my experiences with everyone and it’s been a part of my life for almost a year now. However, the whole point of writing this was to give you some insight on what it’s like living in another foreign country, while still learning the language. It would be a bit silly to keep this, when it’s off the topic, but I’m not going to lie, I will miss this blog so much. Just as much as I will probably miss being an Erasmus student and just living in a new place. Maybe I will write something on this blog in the future, as I do a lot of travelling around Europe, but for now I think this chapter is over for me. And I want to focus next year on doing well at uni. Before I move on, I want to say this year has been incredible. And I wouldn’t change any of it, even though at some points I felt like giving up, and taking the easier route of going back home, where I can understand everything and everyone. But thinking about it now, I did everything this year that I believed I wasn’t capable of. I have made friends from all over the world, met some interesting people, travelled to so many beautiful places and most of all improved my language skills. If someone would have told me 5/10 years ago, by the time you are 22 you will live in 3 different countries, and meet people from all over the world, I probably would have laughed in their face. But I did it. I’ve challenged myself. I’ve changed as a person and became a lot more wiser and smarter. I’ve done so much at a young age and learnt so much about myself because of this year abroad placement.

Skills and Achievements

Firstly, the main thing that will change in your life is the accuracy of your language level. I never knew how much my language has improved, until a few weeks ago when a man on the train started asking me how to get to Saarmund from Potsdam, and I fully explained to him where he needs to get off & spoke to him for a bit after in German. Once I got off the train, I just thought ‘wow, no way! 1 or 2 years ago I would have had the confidence to do that and the ability to hold a conversation in German for that long’. At this point, I’ve realised how much my language and my confidence has improved. When I first came here, I had no idea what people around me were saying and under no circumstance would I ever be able to speak to a German person without getting nervous every time I say something. But it’s something I’m capable of doing right now. And it makes me so proud and happy. In 2014, while I was still at college, I did an exchange in Berlin for a week, where I had to live with a German family, and honestly, I think the only sentences that came out of my mouth back then were ‘Danke schön’ ‘Morgen’ ‘Auf wiedersehen’. I was so scared back then to speak to any German people. I don’t now what it was. Probably fear of saying something wrong and having them laughing at me. I still struggle with that at some points. But I’m a lot more confident than I ever was- and so thankful that this experience enabled me to work on my confidence issues. Although I know I’m no where near fluent, I just think if I can hold a short conversation with someone or express myself when I need to, or if there is a problem, then my language can’t be that bad. I’ve also seen some great achievements in my grammar and writing, which is something I have also struggled with back home. German grammar does make a lot more sense now than it ever did. I don’t think I will ever love it or enjoy it but it’s a lot easier now, thanks to some of the courses that I have participated in this year, that helped me to understand the concept of it. The efficiency of your language will improve day by day, you just won’t see it until moments like the one I described above. Or when you’re back home and you’re starting to think in German or say little words without even realising you’re speaking to an English person. It’s a great feeling.

I’ve already described above that I’ve become a lot more confident while being here, but just want to remind you that to be confident, you must challenge yourself all the time, even at points when it seems impossible to do something. When I first came to Germany or looking back on my second year at uni, I was a really shy, full of insecurities girl. I’m not saying I’m completely opposite now. I still struggle with insecurities but by challenging myself, putting myself in awkward situations, where I had to speak to people that had no understanding what so ever what it’s like learning a new language, adapting to a new society and culture. I feel as though I have achieved a lot, and my self-assurance is a lot higher now. Although at the time it was very stressful to go through these situations, thinking about it now, it only had a positive impact on my skills and on who I am as a person now. Yes, some people will be very unpleasant when they hear your accent. Some people might even make you cry like the guy at the car registration office made me cry. Some people will treat you like an outsider in your seminars or the outside world. But it’s not as bad as it seems. You will also have friends and people that will support you, those that will believe in your capabilities so honestly don’t stress or waste your time on people that will make you feel unwelcomed. Just carry on doing what you have to do, speak and practice your language as many times as you can. In addition to that, I think it’s worth going through situations like that as it reminds you how strong you are as a person, and despite whether you’re an A1 or C1 level German, you can improve your abilities, like I have this year (hopefully).

You will become more compassionate and understanding towards other people and cultures when you come back home, that’s for sure. I’ve always known what it’s like to feel foreign or like you don’t fully belong somewhere. Ever since I’ve moved to England at the age 10, I never fully felt like I was completely at home. Like a part of me was always somewhere else. But I never really considered what people must go through when they move to another country, with limited or barely any language skills and managed to cope in a foreign place by themselves- that was until I came to Germany. When I moved to United Kingdom I was quite lucky as I was still a child, so there was not so much pressure and expectations for me to learn a language as soon as possible. Or having to look after myself and worry about expenses or other problems. Yes, I remember not being able to understand a word my teacher at primary school or other children were saying, but I picked it up quite easily, as I was only a child. It was only recently when I started living by myself when I’ve realised how difficult it is to adapt to a new place, without barely any language skills but you have no choice other than to stay and continue working, hoping that one day you will pick it up. I honestly admire people that go through situations like that at the minute, after feeling so foreign at some points while living here. I don’t know how my parents did it. Moving to UK, on top of that with their children. It was so scary for me sometimes having to live here while not fully understanding everything that was going on around me. But I can imagine how difficult or worse it must be for other people that don’t have the support that I had this year. I just admire everyone that forces themselves to go through situations like that. I think it’s so brave. And I think most of you that are planning a year abroad placement, will gain a better understanding for these types of people as well. I also believe that, some of you will never fully feel like you’re back at home once you come back to UK. I genuinely feel like my home is in Germany, and it’s going to be so difficult to get used to living back in UK. When I went back in March and June, I just felt like I was out of place and could not wait to be back in Potsdam. At the same time, I know that it would be weird to stay here and meet new people, as most of my friends are going back home as well, so it wouldn’t be the same. Despite that, I know that a part of me will always stay here and I would love to come back to Germany at some point in the future. I think quite a lot of Erasmus- Students feel like that when they go back home.

You will improve your problem-solving and decision-making skills. I’ve already mentioned in my other posts some of the problems that I’ve had to overcome while living here. But yes, it’s not going to be always amazing and people won’t always speak in English to you, even when you want them to. Some people at uni won’t help you when you are desperate. But at the same time, you will get to meet friendly people that will be willing to help you, it depends on the person really. I prefer doing things by myself and solving it when there is a problem. I don’t know what the rest of you are like, but I just think it’s so much better to do things independently sometimes. It improves your skills and you become better at things than having to always rely on other people. If you are struggling really bad there will be someone out there to help you, but I just think it’s better to ask when it’s only urgent. I’ve developed some great skills this year by doing things on my own at times, not by sticking to how other people do things. You will have to make some very important decisions and make some great choices and the only advice I can give, is to do what you think is right for you. If you want to challenge yourself to a very difficult module next year, just to see what its like then go for it- but at the same time be reasonable and open minded. With decision-making I would recommend reading carefully what you want to do. When I came to Potsdam, I had no idea that they were offering courses for Erasmus-Students. I just picked anything that I thought sounded interesting from the catalogue and by the time I wanted to change anything it was already too late. I was only able to do 1 Erasmus course. My first semester here was difficult and stressful being in classes with just German students. But I don’t regret it one bit. I think that’s what mostly had a great impact on my language-understanding and on my other skills. I did however choose my courses more carefully in the second semester, as I wanted to learn things on top of just understanding the language. Your skills will improve! you just won’t see it until you’re about to leave 😊

Now on to some great facts and useful tips about Germany/ German culture/ Berlin and Potsdam and where you should go/ what you should know and what you should check out while you’re here.

1. I have never seen so many homeless people until the day I got off at the Zoologischer Garten-Berlin station for the first time ever. Berlin has a ridiculous amount of homeless people, and most of them are foreign surprisingly, so just keep that in mind. A lot of these people will probably ask you for things if they come across you, but quite a lot of them are peaceful. They won’t bug you or scare you, they will just ask for things. I can’t speak for every one of them, but the people that I came across have been very respectful, so don’t let it scare you if/when you are coming back home on your own from/to Berlin.
2. Berlin is a lot friendlier towards tourists. I remember my first days in Germany where I was still a bit apprehensive to speak German, so I was only saying small phrases and sentences when I needed to do/ or say something, until I went out in Potsdam, and realised the people here are not really big fans of speaking in English, like they are in Berlin. In Berlin, even if you speak in German, most people will reply to you in English or not really speak a lot of German. Where as in Potsdam it’s the other way around. It’s a lot easier to actually learn and speak German if you are living in Potsdam because not as many people will be willing to speak the language. But it also depends on who you come across. If you go to a restaurant and you’re being served by an older lady for example, she will most likely speak to you in German. But if you’re being served by someone your age, they’re more likely going to speak in English.
3. German people can be very direct sometimes, with their use of words and their face expressions that sometimes you may think they are being weird with you, or they have a problem with something. But, it’s just a stereotype or more like this is just how they speak. They don’t have an issue, they just like to be honest and direct when they have to be. Like with British people, there is a stereotype that they are very polite- sometimes even too polite, which is true, but not everyone will agree.
4. In Germany, people really do appreciate family time, especially on Sundays when most things are closed. The amount of times, I’ve seen groups of families or parents with their children sitting near a lake, going to a park together or riding a bike around Potsdam. It made me realise that German people really like to take advantage of Sundays to spend it with their families and do outdoor things together. Which I personally think it’s great. It’s something that I wish was more common in England.
5. German people are very liberal in some respects, but then not so liberal with other things. When I’m talking about being liberal, I obviously mean the fact that quite a lot of people here feel comfortable being naked, while they are sunbathing or just sat near a lake. But let’s say if you went to a party somewhere in Berlin dressed in a short skirt and heels, people are most likely going to give you weird looks. It depends on where you go I suppose, but most places that I have been to, I saw girls wearing jeans and clothes that do not expose so much of their body. I just find it really strange, that it’s not so comfortable for people to go out dressed a certain way, but it’s completely fine to be naked in front of many strange people. I don’t know, it’s a controversial topic. Also, just so you know, being naked while sunbathing is a very Eastern German thing to do. Apparently in Western Germany, it’s not really a thing. It’s something that was started in the DDR- when Germany was still divided into Eastern and Western block. So, if you go the West, you might not see so many people doing that, as you would at Teufelsee or Halensee.
6. When you come to Germany, get yourself a German card and open an account at a bank so you don’t get charged ridiculous prices by your bank. And if you do I would recommend Sparkasse because they are literally everywhere. I think I’ve already said this in my other post but in order to take money out of your card, you have to do it at your bank otherwise you will get charged if you do it at a different bank. And it’s just so much easier to be with a bank that’s literally everywhere& it’s easy to find.
7. At Potsdam University in quite a lot of my lectures it’s completely acceptable to speak over a teacher, which was really frustrating for me, when I was paying attention to what the teacher was saying to understand them. I know quite a lot of students do that in UK as well, but here it’s just so normal and not many people will actually say anything about it. There was only one situation where a guy that was sat next to me got so frustrated with the girls sitting in front of us as they were deliberately speaking so loudly, there was no way we could hear what the teacher was saying, as we were sat all the way at the back. And after he warned them, they still carried on talking- a bit quitter but I still didn’t hear the teacher. So, if you want to actually hear everything, I recommend sitting at the front.
8. DB App is the best thing that’s been invented. Honestly. I’m not even joking to you. There is so much transport here in Potsdam and in Berlin. If I didn’t have this app, I would have been so lost, especially in Berlin as it’s so big. The app tells you exactly where you need to get on/off, which platform you need to go to and whether you must change from S-Bahn- U-Bahn- Regional-Bahn or Bus. It will save so much of your time and your patience :D
9. Beer in Germany is cheaper than water. I’m not even joking to any of you. I went to the shop the other day, as it was so hot, and I was really thirsty. It was either 2 euros for water, or 29 cents (+25 for pfand) for a can of beer. So frustrating when you try not to drink alcohol but at the same time you’re poor ☹
10. Germany uses a Pfand system. So basically, every time you buy something in a bottle- like water, any alcoholic drink, or soft drinks, they will charge you extra price, depending on the bottle but if you bring these bottles back to the shop next time, you will get your money back. I tend to do that just before I do my shopping, as it’s nice to see how the price has dropped down from anything I was buying. Also, it makes more sense to carry all these bottles back to the supermarket when you’re about to do your shopping- so you don’t have to make journeys to the shop every day.
11. Bikes everywhere. Especially in Potsdam. It’s more common for people to use bikes in Germany to get to places. Also, there is more designated paths for people to use bikes on the road, which I think is brilliant. In England, most people don’t use bikes as there is no clear sign as to where they have to ride the bike and not enough space on the road. I personally never use a bike while in UK, as I think it’s a lot more dangerous. Whereas, here it’s a lot more functional and easier to get around. And it’s very safe.
12. In Berlin there is graffiti everywhere. I think it looks really cool and edgy. It makes the place look awesome and like the city itself has its own style. However, I do completely understand why you wouldn’t want graffiti in certain areas, buildings and historical monuments. And it’s not very fair on the people that have to clean all of this graffiti. It costs hundreds of euros to clean it all off, but somehow the graffiti always returns. I find it strange how you can see it sometimes underground, while on U-Bahn. Like who would go out of their way to get there just to spray something on the underground wall. Crazy.
13. Döner Kebap und Currywurst- are the ultimate food goals for Berliners. On most stations, you will be able to get a kebab and curry sausage. They are sold everywhere. I’m not really a fan of either of them, but I can see why people would be.
14. Berlin is very multicultural. There is no way, you could go to Berlin and only hear German. So many people from different countries and cultures live there. I think it’s great.
15. Berlin and Germany in general is very clean. There is not much glass on the streets, as people know they are paying extra for any type of bottle, in order to bring it back to the shop. Therefore, most streets and lakes are very clean. However, one thing you will find on most streets are fag ends. I believe, that in Germany more people smoke than they do in Britain. Smoking in public, and inside bars is normal in Berlin, which is why you can find fag ends pretty much everywhere.
16. Shops and supermarkets are closed in Germany on Sundays. However, on the main train station (in Potsdam and Berlin) there should be at least one small shop that is open for a couple of hours in the day. I actually did not know, or never really paid attention to it, up until I went to Mauerpark on Sunday and was shocked to see REWE open at Berlin Hbf. In Berlin, there are also Spätkauf shops, but I think there is only one in Potsdam near Luisenplatz and most of the time when we tried to go there, it was shut. I do think it’s a good alternative to have but in most cases, you can only buy urgent necessities from these shops. There is not much choice, like there is in supermarkets. And most people just use them to buy snacks and more alcoholic drinks while they are out in the evening.

Lastly, I just want to share with you all some great places in Potsdam and Berlin, which I believe are worth seeing at some point while you are here. I didn’t have time to see everything, which I know sounds ridiculous as I’ve been here for so long, but I suppose I have left some things until last minute. Tomorrow, I’m starting my trip around Poland as I wanted to learn a bit more about my homeland before I go back to UK, but after I’m back, I’m hoping to have some spare time left, to tick things off my ‘Things to do in Germany’ list. And to get everything sorted before my return to Nottingham.

These are some of the main places that were on my list:

Berlin

• Brandenburger Tor
• Reichstag
• Berlin Mauer/ East Side Gallery- near Ostbahnhof
• Alexanderplatz- Fernsehturm
• Museum Island- Berliner Dom, DDR Museum
• Checkpoint Charlie- there is a really cool Irish pub called Murphys right next to it 😊 and there is also a Checkpoint Charlie Museum there.
• Potsdamer Platz- some great shops in the shopping centre ‘Arkaden’
• Denkmal für die ermodeten Juden- Memorial to the murdered Jews. You can find it right next to Reichstag and Brandenburger Tor.
• Spree lake- check it out in the summer, when the weather is nice!
• Charlottenburg Palace
• Teufelsberg- a former under-construction Nazi military college. You have to climb on top of the hill to get to it and walk through the Grunewald forest, but it’s so worth seeing! It’s been transferred into a Hipster place, and you can get some nice views of Berlin from the tower apparently.
• Berlin Zoologischer Garten- plenty of shops at Kurfürstendamm and a nearby zoo.
• Deutsches Historisches Museum
• Stasi Museum/ Prison
• Tiergarten
• Altes Museum
• Mauerpark- go there on Sunday, when the Karaoke is on. It’s such a fun place!!
• Gedenkstätte Berliner Mauer- parts of the Berlin wall and a memorial.
• Jewish Museum
• Topography of Terror
• Unter den Linden
• Kreuzberg- probably the most fun area in Berlin. You should get off at Kottbusser Tor in Kreuzberg. You will find some amazing bars, restaurants and food such as Kebap in that area. /In Kreuzberg there is also a really lovely park, called Viktoriapark. It’s not very popular as other parks but it’s a good place to relax in without crowds.
• Halensee lake
• Teufelsee lake
• Natur- Park Schöneberger Südgelände/ Tempelhof Field- a park at a former airport.
• Friedrichstraße- Berlin
• Deutsches Spionagemuseum- spy museum.
• RAW Gelände- close to Berghain and other cool techno places.
• Berlin Wannsee- explore some of the mansions/ go on the boat/ swim in the Wannsee lake/ or go to the Strandbad Wannsee (the beach)/ Glienicke Palace
• Ballhaus Berlin- Berlin 20s Ballroom.
• Pergamon Museum
• Pfaueninsel
• Treptower Park
• Badeschiff- floating swimming pool
• Führerbunker- where Hilter took his own life.
• Sachsenhausen Oranienburg- concentration camp about an hour away from Berlin
• Oktoberfest- Berlin at Kurt-Schumacher-Damm
• Breakfast at Café Tuna in Mitte. It’s sooo good.

Potsdam

• Park Sanssouci- right next to the Neues Palais Campus/ it has: Sanssouci castle, New Palace/ Chinese House/ Charlottenhof Palace/ Orangery Palace/ Church of Peace/ Windmill/ Temple of Friendship/ Botanical Garden
• Neuer Garten- In this park you can find: Schloss Cecilienhof, castle where the Potsdam Conference took place in 1945/ Marble palace/ Belvedere on the Pfingstberg/ Heiliger See
• Park Babelsberg/ Babelsberg Castle/ Havel river/ Tower
• Glienicke Bridge
• Luisenplatz- Brandenburger Tor/ plenty of shops and restaurants. I would recommend: an Italian restaurant Ristorante Contadino and Assaggi/ Café Extrablatt/ Döner Kebap Bistro XXL/ Herr Dang and many more...
• Club Laguna- best cocktails I have ever tried anywhere!!
• Peter Pane restaurant near the Potsdam Hbf.
• Filmpark/museum Babelsberg
• Museum Barberini
• Bornstedt/ Ruinenberg
• St Nicholas Church/ Old Market Square/ Platz der Einheit
• Volkspark
• Nauener Tor/ The Dutch quarter
• Griebnitzsee Lake
• St Peter Church- near Luisenplatz
• Sacrower See/ Sacrow
• Caputh
• Geltow
• Werder
• Wildpark Potsdam
• Pub a la Pub
• Waschhaus
• Waschbar
• Nil Thursdays- on the Neues Palais campus
• Lake in Golm/ or a bike ride in Golm on the path next to the train tracks- beautiful views.

Other places

•  Lübbenau
• Tropical Islands Resort
• Lower Oder Valley National Park
• Barnim- Werbellinsee
• Liepnitzsee
• Beelitz
• Brandenburg an der Havel
• Cottbus
• Frankfurt Oder
• Spreewald- Lübben/ Burg
• Strausberg

At last, I would like to thank everyone that has supported me this year, to go through it and have the most amazing experience ever. I want to thank all my mentors and tutors, for helping me with any issues I’ve had this year.

And I would like to thank all of you that have been reading my blog. I know I’m not a perfect writer and sometimes I go into too much details, but I’ve never really been good at expressing myself, so it has been a struggle sometimes to write this blog. Despite that, I will miss sharing my crazy experiences with some of you. And I hope that the purpose of this blog- which was to help everyone to be fully prepared for their year abroad placement has worked. I remembered feeling so confused and scared before I moved to Germany. I wish there was someone that would answer all of my worries and questions. Which is why I wanted to share as much as I can here, so none of you would feel like I did before I came here. I hope it worked. And I hope at least some of you enjoyed reading it. As this is the last post, I will no longer continue writing on here. However, I will keep this blog in case if anyone wants to have a look at it, for some guidance and advice. But for now; Das ist alles!

Danke Deutschland für das beste Jahr in meinem Leben!

And thank you to everyone for reading this post,

Bis Später! MR x

Praha und München

May vibes...

I've been meaning to write this post for a while now, but so much has been happening lately, I think I just sort of lost the track of time. Like I've mentioned in my other post- May is a very festive month here in Germany and I had the chance to see it for myself.

A few weeks ago, straight after the Baumblütenfest (which was mentioned in my other post) I have attended Mauerpark on Sunday which is based in Berlin. I know what you're all thinking 'another park, isn't she sick of them after living in Potsdam for so long' but this park is very special. On Sundays it changes into a flea market which has a variety of good snacks and other things that could be brought for a reasonable price. Also, it changes into an open-air karaoke. This place is sooo fun. Like I've never been really a big fan of Karaoke- but honestly this place is so worth seeing while you're in Berlin. It's used as an activity for many German people on Sunday mainly because pretty much most of the shops are closed, so it gives them, something to do and it brings people together, no matter what culture you belong to. Everyone was so respectful towards the people that participated in the Karaoke. It was so nice to see that. I would never have the confidence to sing in front of thousands of people, but literally there was not a single person that would laugh at you whether you had the talent to sing or not, which was really cool. After this experience, I just could not believe that I've been living here for so long and I've never been to Mauerpark on Sunday before. Crazy. 

After Mauerpark along with Lee and some of my friends- we decided to go to the Festival of Cultures which was taking place at Mehringdamm in Berlin. That festival was good but so messy at the same time. There was bottles and glass everywhere. And I mean literally on every single street in that area. I have no idea how cars or anything would be able to drive on those streets after this festival. I mean someone would probably clean all these streets, but I have just never seen such a mess in my whole life. This festival sort of reminded me of the Caribbean Festival in Nottingham. There was lots of people dressed up in costumes, people dancing on the street and loud music. I feel like Mauerpark was a better experience for me personally, but I was happy to attend this festival and discover something new. Especially after missing out on all the street parties in Berlin, on National Workers Day- as I was in Leipzig. 

I also went to the Topography of Terror Museum in Berlin, as I was really interested in finding out more about the Nazi dictatorship before and during the war. I must say that if any of you are planning to see it, don't have high expectations. It's an outdoor museum, free of charge and there is plenty of detailed information, posters and old articles about the Nazi regime. It's worth seeing but there was not much there.

Not long after that, my mum has actually come to see me for a couple of days. The plan was that she would spend a few days here in Germany with me then we would go to Poland together to attend my cousins Holy Communion. I was so happy to have her here. The weather was lovely, and I was really missing my family at this point. I mean I haven't seen them since March, so I guess that's understandable. While she was here in Potsdam we explored Park Sansoucci, Babelsberg and Neuer Garten- as she has never seen them properly. When she came to see me in December, it was so cold by this point that she genuinely wanted to be inside somewhere most of the time- so we took the opportunity this time. We also went for a nice Italian food just at Luisenplatz in Potsdam and for some cocktails at Club Laguna. I think she really enjoyed herself here (I mean I hope she did). I was a bit surprised that she didn't want to go to Berlin. Anyone would if they were in Germany, but I think she's not a fan of big modern cities so instead I showed her what Potsdam has to offer and we explored all the nature stuff- which by the way are so beautiful at this time of the year. 

 Now that I've mentioned the lovely weather, I have also been taking advantage of the 30 degrees pretty much on most of the days and went to swim in the lake at both Golm with my friends and Werder with Lee (which is just one stop away from Potsdam). I mean don't expect a lot, it's not like swimming in the sea but it is so fun. And so many people do this here. You would never see in England, groups of people swimming in lakes- especially little kids, mainly because half of the time these lakes are absolutely filthy, and they have lots of bottles in them. Or because it might seem a bit weird to some people. Here in Germany, it is totally acceptable to swim in the lake, but you must take into consideration that you might also see people walking around completely naked. And it's normal here. Like the other day I was bored at home, so I went to a lake in Grunewald/ Berlin and literally I think I was the only person that was dressed there, while I was sunbathing. I tried to act normal, like it's not bothering me, but it was just so weird. I had to leave that place😂😂😂 I would never purposely laugh at people for sunbathing while they're naked or anything. I think I have sort of accepted that it's completely normal here to do that, but I just think some things should be kept to yourself. But it's okay for people to make their own choices I suppose. We also went for a bike ride with Lee around Potsdam, which was so fun.

As mentioned before, I went back to Poland towards the end of May with my mum and although it was great to see everyone again. I think I'm so done with that place now for a bit. I love going to Poland, seeing all the familiar faces and spending time with my family but I think it's just gone to the point now where I've had enough. I feel like I've spent so much time there this year that I need a little break. Also, I've missed Lee's birthday because it was on the same day when my cousin had a Holy Communion, so I was a bit devastated about that, after he has made my birthday so special this year. But I knew I had Munich and Prague planned straight after my return to Berlin and I knew he would be pleased with these trips, so I didn't feel that bad in the end. 💖💋

Munich and Bavarian Paradise

What can you say about Munich???  'Oktoberfest and Beer'. You hear it all the time everywhere. And most people wouldn't probably have a clue what this city is about if it wasn't for the fact that Oktoberfest takes place here and that you can get these massive- huuuuge 1 litre beer. However, there is so much more to this place. I was completely amazed with the Bavarian culture, the city itself and some of the buildings here. I'm going to start with what I've loved the most about this experience and by giving you some advice if you are planning to see it. Then talk about the things, I didn’t particularly enjoy.

FOR

1. You should see some of the museums and cathedrals

I know some of you aren't probably into that kind of stuff, especially when you're young and you're going there with a group of friends, but you so should. As soon as I got out the underground station and saw St Peter Cathedral, I was just so astonished with the place. I mean I still think that the cathedral in Cologne was a lot better and bigger, but Munich has such a good variety of beautiful cathedrals and buildings, that they are worth seeing, while you're there. Also, from what I heard, the Bavarian National Museum and Deutsches Museum are worth seeing. However, I've not had the chance myself to see them.

2. It's a great walking distance to all the sights

If you are thinking about going to Munich- Marienplatz is the place where you need to get to. Everything that you probably would want to see in Munich is either on this square or it's nearby. Except if you are planning to go to the castle or the Dachau concentration camp of course. I think I have already said this in my other post, but I’m really missing living in a small city where everything is close by and I don't have to get thousands of buses/ trains or other transportation systems. I mean Potsdam is not so bad, but every time I want to go clothes or shoes shopping or anything like that, I have to go all the way to Berlin,(as I can never find anything in Potsdam) which not only has plenty of shopping squares/ centres but there is always so many people everywhere, whether it's a Saturday or Monday. Which can be so annoying sometimes. Munich was so much more relaxed with that. And although we have used some of the transport systems there, there was no actual need for it. We could have easily walked everywhere, like in Hamburg. I could never say the same about Berlin.

3. You should go to Hofbräuhaus am Platzl or to at least one beer hall- just for the experience.

I mean Munich has this big stereotype that 'people just drink beer there all the time' even though that's not actually true, so why wouldn't you want to go to a beer hall. We went to Hofbräuhaus on our first day there and it was so worth seeing. It looks like a big hall and the waiters are dressed in the Bavarian outfits and you can obviously drink a lot of beer there. It was such a cool place- but pricey. If you are not a big fan of beer or any alcohol, then I wouldn't worry too much about this experience. I've seen families with little kids there, so it's sort of like a restaurant. You can still order some German food there if you're not a fan of drinking- but it's just for the experience and the atmosphere why it's so worth trying it out.

4. Viktualienmarkt is just as good as people say it is

We weren’t actually planning to go there, but as we didn't have a lot of time in Munich, we were aiming to see everything on our first day and we came across it by accident. It's a 200-year-old market with plenty of things that you could pick from and dozens of people there. If you are looking for some fresh goods or just want to see what it looks like, then you should go for it. 

5. Other things that are worth seeing in Munich city centre

Munich Residenz, Frauenkirche, Old Town Hall, St Peter Cathedral, Odeonsplatz, Hofgarten, Isartor, Karlstor, Feldherrnhalle, St Michaels Church, Olympic Stadium. My list could probably go on for ages. There is just so much to see and so much to do there. We didn't actually have the chance to see the Olympic Stadium as it's not near the city centre like the other places. However, on our way to Prague our coach went past it and it looked really good. I think it's difficult for me to say what everyone should go and see, as we are all different and like other things. However, if you are planning to go to Munich with the same motive as me- which was to understand what the Bavarian culture is all about, explore some new things and learn a bit about the history of the town, then you will definitely enjoy these places. There is probably more to it, but I only had 1 day there. 

6. Buy yourself a Bavarian ticket!

If you end up going to Munich and you're not enjoying it so much, or you've booked too many days there and it's getting a bit boring, you should see other places that are nearby or go to the Bavarian Alps. We actually did that with Lee on our second day there. We got on the train from the Munich Hauptbahnhof to Garmisch Partenkirchen, which is a small city located in the Southern Germany. I believe it took us an hour to get there on the train. The train ticket was quite expensive- think it was around 30 euros for 2 people. However, it's so worth paying that much money to see some the views that we have seen. You can use it anywhere in the Bavaria- not just Garmisch. So, for example if you wanted to see Neusschwanstein Castle or anything which is not placed inside or next to Munich then this is the best alternative. Also, just so none of you get confused, to get this ticket you must use the blue ticket machine- not the normal DB one. The normal machine will charge you a lot more for it, but you will see it straight away as soon as you enter the main station. After your ticket is printed out, you must put your name and surname on it. If you haven't got a pen or anything, I wouldn't worry too much. When the ticket inspector checked us, he gave us the pen to fill it in. He wasn't angry about it. Garmisch is so beautiful. Honestly, you would not regret seeing this place and if you want to experience the real Bavarian culture, try some amazing food or maybe do winter sports (if you are planning to go there in the winter) then this is the right place to be at. We actually ended up going there on National Holiday (Bank Holiday). I'm not entirely sure what the people in Bavaria were celebrating on this day. I know it was called 'Corpus Christi' and it was related to Religion but as we got to Garmisch Partenkirchen, many people were dressed in their traditional Bavarian costumes which was really cool to see. It felt like I was in a way experiencing the Oktoberfest. Everything was closed on that day, but everyone was out celebrating with their families. Even little children were dressed in their costumes. So, in a way I feel like I have experienced something completely, entirely new. In Garmisch you can also get a train which takes you all the way to Zugspitze (the highest peak- and highest mountain in Germany). However, just so you are all aware the tickets for that are ridiculously expensive. I do in a way regret that we didn't have the chance to do that. But it's difficult being just a student, trying to see as much as I can with a very limited budget. If you can afford to pay around 60 euros to go to the highest point of the mountain and get some phenomenal views, then you should so go for it. But we decided to take the other alternative and climbed for a little while just to get some lovely pictures. There are many paths that will take you closer to the mountains but the one we took was just past the train tracks and past the hotel (sorry I don't remember what it was called). If you look on Google Maps, and walk towards the lake that it will show then you should be able to get there without problems. 😃 We climbed all the way until we got to the waterfall and honestly, I think that was the best thing I have ever done in my life. I felt so good about myself and that has made me realise that I now want to actually climb a mountain all the way until the end. I think I have now found my new passion. I know it's going to be tiring and stressful, but the feeling you get after you accomplish it, is un-describable. I don't know which mountain I would like to climb yet, but I know it's going to happen at some point in the future. If you're not a mountain fan and might think this place will be a bit too boring but you still like other nature stuff, then you should still get the Bavarian ticket and head on the train towards Garmisch-Partenkirchen. Before we arrived, we have went past some beautiful places such as; Starnberg- it has a beautiful lake with boats, Tutzing, Uffing and many more. But these places are a lot smaller and there is not much to do there. On our way back to Munich, we stopped at one of these places. I cannot remember exactly which one it was, but the lake was absolutely beautiful there. I have never seen such a clear lake, but it was absolutely freezing. We tried to go for a swim in it, but we gave up on that idea. So, I would definitely recommend, visiting other places, not just sticking with Munich- and if you do that then get the Bavarian ticket. Although Munich itself is beautiful and I wish we spent more time there.

AGAINST

1. Englischer Garten was a disappointment for us

I don't know why but for some reason Englischer Garten was not what we expected. I mean it is beautiful, especially when the weather is nice, but I think this has a lot to do with the fact that I live in Potsdam, which not only has so many beautiful parks but also amazing lakes. So, my expectations were a lot higher. We did however, go on a boat and explored it for a bit, but if you are living in a place like Potsdam which has so much to offer in terms of nature, then I wouldn't expect too much from this park.

2. Don't go to Munich, on a National Holiday

When we got to Munich, we haven't checked properly if anything was happening at this day. Our plan was to go shopping the next morning to get some necessities, but we were highly disappointed when every single shop was closed. It was a nightmare to look for one and I feel like in a way we wasted a bit of time because of that. I think that's one thing that annoys me about Germany in general. Like fair enough it's a holiday or even if I'm just referring to Sundays. Supermarkets don't have to be open but there should be some other alternatives like how they have corner shops here in UK. I don't get the whole idea of it so make sure you're well prepared if you are planning a trip anywhere in Germany, especially if you are there on Sunday.

3. Munich is not a cheap holiday 

If you are going to Munich, thinking it's a better choice than Berlin and a lot more affordable then you might be a bit shocked when you get here. Munich is not cheap, which is why we were extra careful with our money while being here. The food is amazing and so are the beers that they offer here, and you should try it whenever you can, but don't go crazy with your money or expect it to be cheaper in any way because it's not. The 1 litre beer on Marienplatz in one of the restaurants, cost us 11 euros each which was ridiculously expensive, but we didn't want to miss out too much on the experience, so keep that in mind 😊

4. Hostels are not great, but they are cheap

This was my first experience at staying in a hostel and sharing a room with 4 other strangers. I must say this choice is a lot cheaper, especially if you are staying somewhere for the weekend. Like we only paid 60 euros for 2 people and 2 nights, which means it was 15 euros per night. That was decent and seen as we had Prague planned as well, that was the only choice that we had. However, from this experience I know that, I won't be sharing a room with any strangers any time soon, unless I'm desperate. I'm not a big fan of sharing anyway, but I wanted to give it a try, and it's a big NO from me. I mean we have made one American friend, but the rest of the people that stayed with us were messy. The room stunk most of the time and I couldn't bare sitting in it. On our second day we had everything planned. I woke up extra early to use the shower before we were heading towards the mountains, and one guy that was staying with us literally ran into the bathroom just before I wanted to go in and stayed there for about 40 minutes, which was really annoying. Another time, when we came back to drop our stuff a stranger was sleeping in my bed, despite the fact that I've left a note with my name on the bed, so they would know it's taken, which again was really frustrating. I don't think I ever want to go through this again unless I must. If you are going on a holiday with your friends or a big group of people, then this is the best option. The place where we stayed was Smart City Hostel Munich, and there was a small bar downstairs which was really cheap, and the breakfast was only 5 euros I believe, but this whole idea of sharing with strangers has put me off it for good. Don't expect for anyone to clean the room while you're out and bring your own towel, so you're not stuck looking around for one like we were.

Czech Me Out

Praha, Praha, Praha.

What can I say? This place was really good, and it's so worth visiting it at least once in your life but there have been some disappointments as well. We got the Flixbus (which is similar to Megabus in UK) and it was so cheap to go there from Munich. It was a place that me and Lee have been speaking about for a while, that we wanted to see so that was my birthday present for him this year.

What I liked about Prague

1. The buildings and architecture

Prague has so much to offer in terms of stunning buildings, churches and cathedrals. But I think what I liked the most about it, was that quite a lot of the buildings has statues on top of them. I don't know what it was, it just made the place look so charming. There was something about this place that made it look like you weren't in Europe, but then other bits looked exactly like many other famous tourist places in Europe. The perfect place to start at would be the Old Town. There is so much out there that would make you realise what I mean, when I say that the architecture is absolutely beautiful there. You can find St Vitus Cathedral and many more things over there. 

 

 

2. Very historical city

Czech Republic, along with other countries in Eastern Europe were attacked during the war and after were part of the Communist rule. If you like History and are interested in what these places had to go through, then Prague would be the perfect place to start at. I would recommend the Prague Jewish Museum and Museum of Communism and the Jewish quarter. Although I've not had the chance to go there myself if I did I would definitely like to find out more about the History of this place.

3. The views

Prague is a city which has many hills, therefore it enables people to get some wonderful views of the city. Along with that you can explore some beautiful parks on top of the hill while seeing what the city looks like from the higher point. Unfortunately, I don't have the names of the places where we went to get some stunning views, as Lee was actually planning this trip, but if you head towards the castle just past the Charles Bridge then that's where you can get some really nice views of the city.

4. Charles Bridge

I think this was my favourite thing about Prague, along with the Old Town square. The construction of this bridge finished in the 15th century, and it connects the castle along with the Old Town. It was so beautiful. However, if you want to get some lovely views and pictures then I would recommend going there while it's early in the morning or late at night. So many tourists are there in the morning that it would be impossible to walk through it without bumbing into people all the time. We woke up at 5 on our second day, got there around 7 am and there were already a few people. Not as many as there would be in the day, but just be aware that this bridge is so important for tourists, that the best time to see it would be while everyone is still asleep.

5. Prague has an amazing party scene

As some of you probably already know that, Prague is perfect for partying. We didn't go to Czech with the intentions of partying all the time with Lee, however I know that if we did we would not be struggling to find any place where we could have fun. There were so many people out everywhere on Saturday, that the streets were absolutely full. There were couples, groups of girls, stag and hen do's pretty much everywhere. We went to a Shisha bar first which was inside a bar right next to the Charles Bridge. That place was fun but the main place that we were hoping to go to was: Ice Bar which was at Karlovy Lazne club. The ques to this place was horrendous but we managed to get in in the end, and it was such a fun place. I enjoyed the dance floor and music a lot more than the Ice Bar, but it was worth trying it at least once 😄

6. Hostel Emma

I know you're probably thinking I'm advertising a hostel out here, but this place was so great. It was about 10 minutes away from the Old Town square. It was cheap and very clean. I also enjoyed the fact that we had our own room this time. We only had to share the bathroom, but most of the time it was so clean. The staff were very helpful as well. They explained to us exactly where to go and what to see, which was great as we probably would have been so lost without their help. There are also other affordable hostels out there in Prague, which are worth looking at.

7. The boat tour

As I have booked the hostel with Booking.com they gave me 10% voucher on a boat tour which was so good. They had all sorts of different packages, but we were just hoping to find out more about the city so we booked a 1 hour cruise which showed us some beautiful places in Prague and more about the history of the city. I would definitely recommend this. I feel like I have learnt so much from it.

8. The connection

In a way I feel like Czech Republic is in a lot of ways like Poland, not just because of the similar language but just in general how people behave and how things work around there. I felt really connected to this place and I enjoyed the fact that there was not so much language barrier, as it is very similar to Polish.

What I didn't like about Prague

1. Tourists everywhere

I know I can't really say much about this. I was a tourist there myself, but I do believe it was the wrong time to go there, as there were literally people everywhere. On top of that, some of the streets, especially in the Old Town are so small you feel like you're squashing people while you're walking to the other destination, which was really annoying. That's why we decided to do a little tour early in the morning just to avoid crowds. 

2. Don't expect too much from the service

Don't get me wrong. We didn't have any issues with the service or anyone that's worked in the restaurants that we went to, but I do feel like Czech Republic is a bit like quite a lot of the Eastern European countries, where top service always is not the main priority. That doesn't bother me too much, as I don't expect a lot from people and I know how stressful it is working in Food and Beverage. However, I know some people are really picky about small things, so don't have high expectations when or if you go there.

3. They charge you for table service

Not every restaurant, but quite a lot of them will charge you for table service which can be a bit annoying. Like I know it's important to tip people if they are offering a good service, but when they expect that along with a table service charge then it can be frustrating. Especially when you're just a student, who doesn't have money growing on the tree lol. Along with that, some places will take ages to give you a receipt, after you ask them if you could pay. Like for example: we went to a Czech restaurant, called Restaurace u parlamentu, and I swear we have waited at least 15 minutes just to pay. Like I know it was busy, but it was just annoying that people who came in after us were served straight away, while we were waiting around. 

4. Some staff can be rude

Not every place of course, but we had an unpleasant situation in the Ice Bar. Due to the fact that I've booked my room with booking.com, I was offered a discount on the entry to Ice Bar and a free drink. When we asked the bouncer about it, he wasn't very interested to help us, and said we can sort this out while we're inside. As I got to the bar, I showed them the voucher and the bartender just said 'I don't know, and I don't really care about this' which I thought was really rude. Some places will not go out of their way to help you out or explain things better, so keep that in mind.

5. Some exchange shops will rip you off

We were actually already aware of that, as the staff in the hostel told us to be extra careful when we are exchanging our money. We went to one place, which was right next to the Charles Bridge, and the person working behind the counter tried to rip me off by around 60 euros I believe. If it wasn't for Lee and his brilliant Maths skills, then I probably would have went for it. But in the end, we just left and found another place. So be careful. Make sure you calculate before how much you should be paid or do it while you're still at home, so no one can advantage of the fact that you're a tourist. 

6. The food was not great

When we came to Prague, I was determined to try some Czech food as I believed it would be like Polish food and because I like to try new things, rather than just going for the same food all the time. When we finally found a restaurant, I've realised that Czech dishes or most of them contain meat- which I'm not really a big fan of. Ever since, I've stopped eating meat in my second year at uni, it never tasted the same. I have days when I will try something with meat, but my appetite has changed so much. It feels horrible every time I try it so that was really annoying, that there was not much Veggie options there. However, we were more successful in finding a better place on our last day. We went to a lovely restaurant called u Svejka, and I tried fried cheese (it was a Czech restaurant), which was lovely.

7. Prague did not amaze me

Don't get me wrong, I think Prague is a beautiful place. It's so worth seeing at least once in your life and I can totally relate with the Czech culture as it's so similar to the Polish one. However, I remember the feeling I got when we walked into Marienplatz in Munich or when I saw the Bavarian Alps. I was so amazed with the place and everything else that was around me. But I didn't get this feeling with Prague. I don't know if it's because I was tired, the weather was awful when we got there or because I've still been so amazed with Munich. It just didn't surprise me in any way. I still think that it's worth seeing though. Also, I believed that Prague would be a lot cheaper than it was. I mean it depends where you go, some places were okay but just be aware that Prague can be very expensive.

Now that my trips are over, the main priority for me is to catch up with all the work from uni. Lee has officially left Germany now, so I'm a bit concerned about how things are going to work out. I've never lived in a foreign country all by myself, so it is really scary and frustrating, but hopefully everything will be okay. I'm so glad that I've actually made some friends here, because I know how difficult it would be for me to live here all on my own. In 2 weeks’ time, I'm going to UK for my mums wedding so I'm really looking forward to that, but for now I just want to focus on improving my language and working really hard at uni, to get back into this routine of doing things. I've been thinking lately a lot about my dissertation, which I know I have a lot of time for anyway, but everything is just going so fast lately that I want to be well prepared for it. I don't know exactly yet, what I want to be talking about in my dissertation, but once I do, I know that it will be epic.

Thank you for reading my post, MR x