Jeremy Gouteix
Provider: AIFS
Berlin, Germany
2024 Fall

I’m proud of how quickly I’ve adjusted to Berlin. Navigating the city, speaking German (even at a basic level), and feeling at home here are huge achievements for me. I never thought I’d be so comfortable in a new culture, but it already feels like my own. Exploring places beyond the tourist spots and knowing how to blend into Berlin’s rhythm has made me feel like I’ve really embraced the city.

In my free time, I’m usually out exploring whether it’s hitting up museums, trying out new foods at street markets, or just hanging out by the Spree, the main river in the city. Back in the U.S., my free time is mostly on campus or in town with friends, but here, it’s all about discovering something new every weekend. I’ve been to art exhibits, open-air flea markets and even a few local clubs, which is definitely not my usual scene back home.

Here I am looking philosophical while admiring the statues in the Altes Museum, Berlins Museum on Ancient Italy and Greece.


My German is slowly improving! I’m starting to feel more confident with basic conversations, but I still mix up words sometimes. One funny moment was when I asked a cashier for eine Ente (a duck) instead of eine Entenbrust (duck breast). She just laughed and corrected me, but it was a good reminder to double-check my words before speaking!

Here I am enjoying the classic Berliner dish, currywurst. It is a sausage with a “curry ketchup” sauce and fries. A truly high-class meal.

In class, I’m studying politics, basic economics, sociology and most importantly the German language. Outside of class, I’m learning about Berlin’s culture, how to navigate the city, and even how to cook some basic German dishes such as pork roast. I’m also learning the art of blending in, learning when to speak English and when to give German a shot.

On the edge of the city is a neighborhood called Köpenick. I like to come here to get away from the hustle and bustle of the city center. I took this picture at the Schloss Köpenick, an old Hapsburg summer palace.

Berlin has such a vibrant techno scene, which is something I wasn’t really into before. But it’s everywhere here, and it just feels like the city. I’ve found a few spots that play great music, and now I have techno playlists on my phone!

The City of Berlin holds their Festival of Lights yearly where they display some pictures onto famous landmarks. This is when they illuminated the Berliner Dom.

I’m taking public transit everywhere, which is a big change. I take the U-Bahn daily, and I’ve gotten used to the “mind your own business” vibe. Also, back home I don’t often go out to clubs, but here it’s almost a rite of passage. I’ve also gotten into the habit of shopping for groceries more like a local, just picking up what I need for the day instead of stocking up for the whole month. I spend most of my time with other international students, especially those from my apartment. We’ve cooked together a few times, and it’s great hearing about their cultures. I haven’t met any other H-SC folks here yet, but I’m meeting a lot of new people who make Berlin feel even more like home.

This is a photo I took while me and a few classmates were studying for a midterm in one of the spare classrooms.

The IES Berlin Center is modern and well-located in Mitte, close to some of Berlin’s biggest landmarks. The classrooms are bright and simple, with a big world map in the hallway that reminds me of all the places everyone’s come from. It feels comfortable and familiar, as many of my classes are similar in size to those back at H-SC.

Me and Mom in Copenhagen at Nyhavn, the old main port. It’s a beautiful stretch of town with colorful houses, well they would be if it hadn’t just rained.

Inside of the Director of the Stasi’s office. It’s well preserved as the staff left in a hurry, but very few images of it in use survived.