Adelaide Deley

I've always wanted to participate in a study abroad program, and taking classes over the summer will also help me graduate on time. This program has the most relevant option for me, and I've always been interested in German history because it's very relevant to my major.

I really liked the public markets that they had everywhere. They sold not only groceries, but meals, clothes, souvenirs, local art, and even house supplies. They always had a really great atmosphere and allowed me to feel closer to German culture.

I was most concerned about the language barrier, even though I had heard that many people in Berlin speak English. I started learning German online a few months in advance and it ended up being very useful. I learned a bit more German while I was there, of course, but I also had some friends (as well as my professors and host family) who could help me communicate with people who did not speak English.

Usually I would have breakfast at my home stay and then take public transportation to school. I spent half the day in the classroom (until lunch at the cafeteria) and then my class would take an excursion to some part of Berlin. When the tour was over, I often went to other nearby stores or tourist attractions with my friends, before going back home to have dinner with my host family.

I took Architecture in Berlin and Urban Spaces and Places. These were easier than most classes I have taken at Berkeley, and place more emphasis on participatory and interactive learning.

I really enjoyed getting to know my host family. They taught me a lot about German culture and many other things, and they made my experience so much better.

It allowed to me to look at a way of life that's similar to my own, but that has a lot of different fundamental views. I think it affected how I view my own culture as well, and allowed me to learn about it from a different perspective.