Google Translate To the Rescue
The hardest thing to get used to in Berlin was definitely the language barrier. Even though most people spoke at least a little bit of English, I was always stumbling trying to read signs and menus, and a lot of the time people did not fully understand the point you were trying to get across. The google translate app saved the day more times than I can count. With the app and the help of some local german speakers I got a pretty good basic vocabulary down, even though it was mostly related to food.
Besides the language, Berlin’s whole punky-laid back vibe was a shock that eventually became comforting. Graffiti is considered an acceptable creative expression and it covers every surface throughout the neighborhoods. I’m not kidding when I say every surface because even the bushes and tree trunks were covered. At first it was really intimidating because back home graffiti tags sometimes mark gang territories. Once I saw that it was common throughout the city, I became fascinated with it and took tons of pictures of the street art. Berliners also leave behind their glass bottles and metal cans on the streets at night. I thought that it was messy and rude to do this, but it actually helps other people in town. If you collect the bottles and cans you can turn them in at the grocery store for cash. We would walk down the street at night and see hundreds of bottles lining the sidewalks and when we walked down those same streets in the morning on the way to class, everything would be gone and collected.
Being in a place so different from what I am used to was definitely scary at first. I was beyond nervous to get on the plane to go to Berlin and once I got there I thought I was in way over my head. I remember trying to order lunch the first day that we were there and the people behind the counter did not speak a word of english. I was ready to hop on a plane back home right then and there. I powered through though and decided I needed to embrace the change. During the beginning of the second week I decided to go explore by myself and that is when I realized what an amazing place Berlin is and I remembered all the reasons why I was so pumped to go on the trip in the first place. When August rolled around and the program came to a close, I was a semi-pro at ordering food and getting around on public transport. I even gave some tourists directions like a real local. The month went by faster than I could have ever anticipated and even though I have only been away from Berlin for a little less than a week, I really miss it!
