Going back to live in Germany for half a year after living in Finland for so long has been like a reverse culture shock in a positive and negative way.
Berlin is generally a place of extremes which for me has been often also quite overwhelming.
What I enjoyed the most was definitely the focus many people have on self – expression. I always look with fascination when I see people from different backgrounds and with different interests and styles come together and Berlin is the perfect place for it.
What I did love about the vast sea of options was all the vegan food spots of which I have visited a few, but also the unique little stores. I came across a store that sold everything relating to the Mexican ‘Diá de los Muertos’. It was absolutely stunning. Those little stores were definitely one of my highlights, as well as the Korean restaurant I found and the Italian bakery which only had vegan pastries. Heavenly!
Something that I heavily enjoyed and that I have missed in Finland was autumn and being able to enjoy the colourful trees and weather for longer. The winter on the other hand side was equally as depressing as it can be in Finland, even though there is some more sunlight during the day, but Berlin just turns grey and since there is usually no white winter everything is just wet and mushy outside.
With time I have also noticed differences between West – and East – Berlin. The differences between rich and poor become evident in the everyday life here, since most of the wealthier people live in West- Berlin like Charlottenburg for example. But also the German history and those differences between west and east are clear to see, since Germany used to be separated and under occupation from different countries.
Nevertheless, the majority of my time on exchange was spent at University. I attended the University of Europe in the centre of Berlin. UE is, as I found out during exchange, is a private institution. The biggest difference I have noticed during my semester is that the studies there focused heavily on individual work. In this whole time I had one group project which was a presentation and the rest was individual work. I personally feel like there is some more focus on group work in Finnish Uni’s. Otherwise I have really enjoyed my studies, I have met a bunch of lovely people from all around the world with whom I have shared stories and experiences and I have even made some new friends.
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