Liebe Grüße aus Berlin!

What a few days it has been! We have been very busy not only getting to know the amazing city of Berlin, but also all of our participants, program leaders and CIEE center staff! The weather has been amazing (hot days are coming next week!) and we are having the best time. Students begin each day with a commute from their host family’s house to the German school where we are having classes. After three hours of learning German with our amazing instructors, it’s time for lunch! Students take their stipends and enjoy a meal at one of the many local restaurants near the CIEE study center here in Berlin. Our community conversations are becoming a quick favorite among our students; they have a chance to authentically use what they learned in class that day with Berliners around the area. Ask your student about those unique interactions! 

Each day we also have the pleasure of going on an excursion. We had our first two this week  and they were a great way to kick off the program! On Tuesday we did a walking tour with local guides and saw some of the big sites Berlin has to offer, such as the Brandenburg Gate, a piece of the Berlin Wall and even the TV tower from afar! We learned history at its origin, from WWII to the Cold War. This set a great background for what is to come in the next four weeks in Berlin. 

We also visited the new Humboldt Forum, which houses a really interactive and fun museum about Berlin and allows its visitors to engage with their opinions and those of others. From the sights and smells (literally…. The SMELLS!) of Berlin, students are already falling in love with the city.