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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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
- 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 ☹
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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
