Erasmus Experience in Berlin, Germany by Arantxa

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Why did you choose to go to Berlin, Germany?

I had other options but everybody told me it was a wonderful city for students: cheap, full of young people, good level of English of Berliners, wonderful clubs of techno, great parties, being in the center of Europe and having really close cities to visit and good transport network. Apart from that, I wanted to learn some German and improve my level of English, and go to a country that I had not visited yet. So that is the main reason I came here!

How long is the scholarship? How much money do you receive to help you with living costs?

The scholarship is a full course, that means, I’m staying a whole year from September to July, which is perfect for knowing well the city and the lifestyle of Berlin. Nevertheless, I’m not getting much money. Although the rents in Berlin are quite cheap, more or less 200€ they’re giving me does not help me much with the living costs.

What is the student lifestyle like in Berlin?

The students here can have any type of experience. Berlin is a really bohemian and free city in which young people would have kind of the best time of their lives. I have been living in Madrid, which is quite a similar city, but has nothing to do, for example, with the parties. Apart from that, the low rents help a lot and the mini jobs that are offered all around the city too.

Would you recommend the city and the University of Berlin to other students?

Of course I would. I really love every single moment I’m spending here and I think that in the end almost everyone would say: “the Erasmus year it’s being the best time of my life”. As I said before, the low rents, the great clubs, being in the center of Europe and having really close cities to visit, the good transport network and the bohemian lifestyle would really help students or young people to have a great time.

What is the food like?

The gastronomy here is not as present as I thought. I mean, there are of course German gastronomy restaurants but not as much as I thought. On the contrary, they are selling sausages or Bratwurst, on the street, which are typical German (and quite cheap) but right now are like junk food. There are also so much Döner Kebab places! I really love Kebab but I thought I would have eaten much more German food by now.

Did it cost you to find your accommodation in Berlin?

Wow, yes! Actually, I’m still looking for a more central place as I live in Spandau and It takes me too long to go to the university or to the city center. It has been the worst experience ever and it took me 2 months to find a long term flat, and I found it the day before I had to move out from my previous flat! I don’t know how but something should be done, and in a short time cause the situation or migration it’s getting worse.

How much does it cost to live in Berlin?

Normally the rent goes around 300€ per month and taking good care of the money the living costs could be from 400-500€, including the rent of course.

Is the language easy to get to grips with? Are there language courses available at the University?

German language is much more difficult than I thought but if you spend time learning it you can get the basic language easily. According to the language courses, there are a lot of academies but sometimes the timetables don’t fit you. In my case, my university did not offer any course and I tried to fit my timetable with the ones of the academies, but I could not. Therefore, I started studying German on my own and later on I found that a Spanish guy was teaching it in a really original way. So I started his courses and I really like them!

What's the easiest or most economical way to travel to Berlin from your city?

By plane, for sure. It’s not the most economical one but I get to Berlin in just one day. However, it’s quite a desperation that in winter time I don’t have direct flight from my hometown to Berlin and that I have to do a scale.

Where would you recommend to go on a night out in Berlin?

The list would be really long! But there is a really helpful web page, hope it will be for you too: gaesteliste030/.

And for eating? Can you recommend some good restaurants in Berlin?

As I said before I haven’t tried so many German restaurants but I can tell you some that you should go to, once or twice: Stadtklause (German) in Bernburger Straße 35, Suno (Japanese & Vietnamese)in Karl-Liebknecht-Straße 15, Mustafa's Gemüse Kebap (Kebab) Mehringdamm 32, Fuku Sushi (Japanese) Husemannstraße 14, The Sixties Diner (American) Oranienburger Straße 1. Here you are some of them but my advise is to walk and walk and try different places that look nice, or not so much.

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What good cultural sites are there to visit?

Museum Island, Palace of Tears, German History Museum, East Side Gallery, Brandenburger Tor, Berlin Cathedral, Tierpark, Zoologischer Garten, Museum für Naturkunde, Charlottenburg Palace, Jewish Museum, Victory Column, Potsdamer Platz... These are the really typical things, actually.

And my favorites: Tempelhofer Feld or riding a bike, lay on the grass and chat with friends, Potsdam’s Gardens, Holocaust Memorial, Mauer Park Markt on Sunday’s and Oranienburger Strasse at night.

Is there any other advice that you could give to students going to Berlin in the future?

Feel free, have fun and take care of your friends!