Everything and More

I could go on and on forever about my experience studying abroad in Berlin and that's because I had such an amazing experience. IES in Berlin made sure that we felt welcomed, they got us set up with everything that we needed like a phone and a visa for staying more than 90 days in Germany etc. They also walked us through other things like how to assimilate into German culture and how to reassimilate back into American culture once we leave. They had plenty of options other than just taking classes, such as getting involved in German student organizations at Humboldt University, getting an internship, or volunteering with other organizations. They also had pre-organized trips you could sign up for and I absolutely loved those. Not only did they take care of all the details like food and housing and some activities and tours, but you could opt out at any time in case you really wanted to do something else. It was the perfect amount of autonomy mixed with ease of travel that I think was great for people our age who are perfectly capable adults but dont have the time or knowledge to plan out the best accommodations or find the best food. The trips were one of my favorite parts. When I was in Hungary, we were at a restaurant and the waiters called me over and I ended up cooking our cous cous dinner in a huge pot that they lit on fire! It was totally awesome and not the type of thing you can necessarily experience on your own. IES Abroad helped me feel like Berlin was my home and I felt like by the end of the program that I was very close to the staff and that we were family. I hope to return at some point soon so I can see everyone again (even though most of my American friends wont be there).