Berlin

In 2005, I spent three days in Berlin. This spring, I spent a semester there. I quickly realized my three summer days were definitely not enough.

Study Abroad Issue
Interactive flash version | HTML versionThankfully, as with most study abroad programs, classes in Berlin are scheduled to allow students the most time possible to really be abroad, whether that means traveling or just getting to know the new city. In the case of Berlin, there is much to get to know. Even though I was taking 18 credits, I managed to have a three-day school week, with Mondays that didn't start until 4:30 p.m., in essence giving me Thursday through Monday to practice my German and travel.

Although I had initially planned to do all sorts of traveling, I only actually left Berlin three times during my four months: for a long weekend to Athens, an NYU weekend trip to Krakow and a spring break trip around the country. I'm normally one who always likes to be planned and organized, but my spring break was an experience unlike any I'd ever known. I decided to buy a one week inter-Germany train ticket, allowing me five days of unlimited travel within the country. With nearly no plan and no schedule, I went from hostel to hostel, accompanied only by my duffel bag, seeing whatever I managed to see and (sort of) experiencing what backpacking is really like.

No matter how great my German wanderings and my Greek weekend were, each time I left Berlin, I couldn't wait to get back to my temporary Heimstadt (in English, "home city"), which has a lot to offer for every traveler and temporary resident. The city has more modern history than virtually anywhere else in the world, between the Golden '20s, the Nazi era and, of course, communism - all of which are well-documented in various history museums, and reactions to them are displayed in art museums. You can be at a club, drinking and partying until 7 a.m., then go and grab a dner (similar to schwarma, but better), then end your night by heading to an "after hour," another club that is full and partying at least until noon.

In such a city, everyone takes part in every aspect of life. Last March in Berlin, for example, we celebrated Europafest in honor of the 50th anniversary of the European Union. And of course, in addition to stands and bands and endless amounts of food during the day, the fest included an all night clubnacht (nightclub), where anyone and everyone went out to party. At Oxymoron, a club in Hackescher Markt where I started the night, Germany's foreign minister, Aussenminister Steinmeier, was also hanging out, entourage and all. I guess it just shows that in such a place, those who work very hard party just as hard.

Elizabeth Greenfield is a contributing writer. E-mail her at studyabroad@nyunews.com.