One big opportunity

Considering that Germany to me, as a Filipino who had never been there before, was almost a mystical, alien otherworld, I came into this program with fairly high expectations to say the least. And considering that, I thought that perhaps these high expectations would have bordered on the unreasonable and would end up not being met. And yet, as cliche as this may sound, it ended up not just meeting my expectations, but exceeding them. Throughout my time in Berlin and other places in Europe (Schengen visas are Godsends), I came to know a land with a rich history, remarkable culture, and beautiful atmosphere. And through IES, it seemed that every single week in this program brought something fun, something valuable, or something that was a mix of both. Whether it was in walking through the German Historical Museum and tracing the slow and steady rise of the Nazis, or in exploring the art and culture of Paris, reading literature that described life with the Berlin Wall, traveling to St. Petersburg to attend a ballet, or going to hear the German Chancellor speak, the opportunities this program brings are nearly endless. And this isn't even limited to the IES and its classes' sanctioned activities. The program also leaves space for independent enterprise. From exploring Prague while riding on a Segway, to hiking in the forests of Helsinki, to taking a boat tour through the fjords of Oslo, all of this and more can be done during the duration of this program. This is an opportunity and program like no other that is certain to showcase all that Berlin (and Europe) has to offer.