Hiba during her internship in Berlin!

Hey! Where are you from? Where do you study/live/work?

Hi, my name is Hiba and I’m a student from London. At the moment, I’m doing an internship at a law firm in Berlin.

What was the first thing you thought when you arrived in Berlin?

When I arrived, I was so excited! No nerves or fear at all. Everything felt positive (except when I had to figure out where I would stay).

What was the most shocking difference between the Netherlands and Berlin?

Berlin and London actually seem quite similar; both are big cities, but to me, Berlin gives the full city experience without the hustle and noise. There’s so much more behind Berlin, and there’s also a lot to learn.

What does your typical workday look like?

My workdays are super busy and go by very fast. There isn’t really a fixed schedule, which I really like. I usually arrive a little before eleven, but if there’s a court case on one of my workdays, I have to make time for that. As soon as I finish my work and tasks for the day, I’m free to go home and enjoy my evening.

How is the working atmosphere at your internship company?

The atmosphere at my internship is very friendly. We always have lunch together, which means we often get to talk about what’s going on in our lives, the week’s schedule, and just take a break. My boss also always makes sure I have fun things to do!

Have you ever felt homesick? How did you deal with it?

I only felt a little homesick just before Christmas when I was about to go home. Apart from that one time, I luckily stayed in contact with my friends and family almost all the time. Sometimes friends came to visit, which made it much easier to share the experience. One tip I would give is to make sure to set aside time to keep in touch with friends and family back home.

Do you feel at home in Berlin? Why (not)?

I really feel at home in Berlin. There are lots of students and young people here, and they’re all super friendly! There are so many places to go just to have fun. Plus, the weather in Berlin is just as unpredictable as in London!

Give us tips about who you should befriend abroad. The Russians? The Irish? The Chileans?

Since I’m from London, I’m pretty used to seeing people from all corners of the world. I lived with a guy from Argentina and his cooking was incredibly delicious!

Describe the people of Berlin in three words.

Cool, honest, and fun.

What have you learned from your experience abroad? Was it the beloved community you liked? The cheap cocktails? The beautiful nature? Or was your experience less than expected? Details, we want details!

I’ve learned so much about myself during this internship. It has opened my eyes to new experiences. I’ve never really been very adventurous with food, so living and working with people from different backgrounds meant I had to try things I normally wouldn’t. Most of the time, I was really glad I did, except for that one time I got food poisoning. The most important thing is that my internship was very challenging. I’ve learned which parts of my work I like and which I don’t. I wish this internship would never end!