A Funny Thing Called Friendship: Berlin Edition

As I quietly type on my keyboard this Saturday morning listening to nothing but the Japanese Jazz musician Ryo Fukui’s Scenery 1976 album; the quiet atmosphere of a bus ride filled with exhausted teenagers, a view of symmetrical forests, tiny houses and titan-sized windmills symbolize my end to a great week in Berlin. 

Before I begin, I want to personally thank all of the adults who made this first week like a dream; the friends I would’ve never made in less than a week; and especially the family who’s supported me all the way from both Sao Paulo and Broward. 

Thank you.

Part I -

Waking up and airport customs lines share three similarities - tedious, nauseating and actually quite scary if you don’t know where you are. 

I arrived at Tegel airport in Berlin on Saturday, July 8, 7:50 AM, experiencing all three once leaving the arrivals gate and not knowing where I was, who was picking me up or why it was less than 15 degrees celsius in the month of July. 

After multiple calls from an international phone booth and my dying iPhone, a representative picked me up along with another student; walking both of us to a Mercedez-Benz taxi, placing our bags in the trunk, and riding off to the G-27 CIEE institute I would soon call "home" for the next 21 days. 

The first day felt endless. Not only did the jet-lag intensify my need for sleep, but meeting new students for the first time in the small quarters of a lobby also felt like a real life Facebook, introducing yourself along with your age, the state you’re from, and asking if they’re equally tired as you. 

Given that I’m studying Global Entrepreneurship and not immersing myself in language courses, CIEE requires all of the program’s students to live in dorms just two stories above our actual classrooms. 

As I stride the stairs and through the third floor with two 30 kg bags on each shoulder, I reach room 313. What I feel surprises students the most is not the “rustic” view or the fact that we have a cafe in the lobby; it’s the rooms. The simplistic design and bright atmosphere provide a welcoming atmosphere that pleases most and disappoints almost none.

Although my tired-self wishes nothing but rest on the first day, my consciousness is everything but tired. 

While walking through the dormitory halls and streets of Berlin scavenging for food, my impressions of the place make me feel like a puppy being taken home from the pound - interested and confused at the same time. Originally, Berlin felt confusing. I knew no one, I knew nowhere and I couldn’t even pronounce the nearest train station (it’s Gneisenaustraße by the way). It felt like a lot to handle at the time, especially because we had class first thing tomorrow morning. To be honest with you, my grasp on German is near towards illiteracy. What surprised me the most this first week is the fact that many Berliners speak a considerable amount of English, making me interested in the German schooling system and *slightly* disappointed in my own country’s language education. Although few spoke ONLY German, my determination towards learning how to correctly pronounce “where is the bathroom?” and “do you speak English?” in Deutsch is what kept me awake throughout the first days.

My beginning consisted of tiredness, my roommate Marcial (who I just found out was ALSO born on May 22), as well as a set of rules and orientations we reviewed all afternoon. 

Part II -

July 9. First morning, second surprise of my week: the teachers and program leaders.

Since I could remember, I have always been the “mom” friend; comfortable with talking to adults, teachers and basically anyone who’s open and friendly. I’m not sure if my friends were envious or weirded out, but I knew for sure that I could start and continue a conversation with anyone as long as they had a name, a hometown and a sense of humor. 

At CIEE, all program leaders of my program have given most students the opportunity to be that “mom” friend; serving as both strict supervisors and people YOU can rely on no matter what. Conversations and classes with the adults working at the institute provided me insight on how much they love either the purpose of the program, the subjects taught or both. 

When it comes to classes, I’ve seen how interactive the classes here can really be. The global entrepreneurship teacher, Mario from Switzerland, seldom lectures but instead, teaches us the building blocks we need in order to formulate an idea, a hypothesis, or a basic business plan. He does this through group activities, discussions and even roleplaying. 

Although classes are only part of our mornings, the learning continues in the afternoon through tours ranging from walking in the city to sitting in a startup restaurant that makes dumplings from “recycled” food.

What differentiates these classes from what I’ve had in the US is simply the level of interactivity; back home the teachers were solely teachers and seldom friends. Through the classes I’ve had here both language and business-based, I’ve experienced a greater sense of friendliness without compromising professionalism at the same time. 

To speak to someone on a comfortable and professional level not only arises a sense of trust but also a sense of enjoyment. 

Part III -

Class may be great and all…but sometimes a teenager needs independence, time with their friends and a sense of adventure. Since I am both a teenager and appreciate all three of those things, the “free time” CIEE provides us is greatly taken advantage of.

Throughout this entire post, I’ve talked mainly about my experiences with physical events, program leaders, and the vibe of what a “classroom experience” feels like.

What I haven’t really explained are the people I’ve met on the program, the memories I’ve made, and the places I’ve been. 

This section is best summarized by the pictures I’ve taken and the descriptions. All I can tell everyone on this trip with me right now is "keep learning new things, be yourself and live in the moment; some of your friends here are people you would've never met if it weren't for this program."

Enjoy Entrepreneurs, see y'all next week!

 - Kenzo K.