Finding Myself in Berlin

This was such an incredible program! I participated in the FuBIS summer terms A and B in 2017. It was my first time away from home and from the moment I arrived at my apartment complex from the airport, there was a FuBIS advisor there to greet me, give me my room keys, and answer any of my questions. The advisor even accompanied all the students on public transportation to reach the Freie Universitat Campus the first few days. The students were from all different types of countries, and we all were interested in getting to know more about Berlin and Germany’s culture, and to get to know each other more. There was an excellent social atmosphere on campus, because all of us were excited and nervous to dive into Berlin’s vibrant cultural scene. We had an excellent support system with all the staff, as they helped us navigate the city, offering up the coolest spots for us to explore. I took a German language course and a history course on Nazi Germany, and my teachers were both incredibly proficient in their teaching topics, passionate about the subjects, and extremely helpful. It was such a unique, valuable experience to be able to learn about Germany’s dark past and how the country’s culture has been shaped by it, as well as learning modern German language and culture, at the same time as just being a young adult living in a modern city alongside other young Germans as well as many refugees. I learned more about the city than I would have just being a tourist. I also learned more about myself as I was pushed out of my comfort zone in a foreign country. As a result, I am now more confident in myself and more open to new experiences. I also recognize the value of cultural immersion in a country and learning it’s history to better understand the people, rather than just exploring on superficial terms. Overall, I would recommend this program to anyone I knew. It was absolutely life-changing.