Sarah during her internship in Berlin

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

Hi! I’m Sarah Keijer and I live near The Hague. I study Hotel and Event Management at Tio University of Applied Sciences in Rotterdam.

What was the first thing you thought when you got off the plane?

After I had arranged everything for my internship, I couldn’t wait to go to Berlin. Together with a friend who’s also doing an internship in Berlin, I had looked up all kinds of fun events, activities, and clubs we could visit. It wasn’t until we were actually on our way to Berlin that I started thinking about my internship. After all, that’s where most of my time would go. That’s when I started to feel a bit nervous...

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

There isn’t really a shocking difference between Germany and the Netherlands. The only thing that really surprised me was that there is SO MUCH LESS variety in supermarkets here than in the Netherlands… In Germany, they don’t really have bread to take with you to work, there are very few ready-made meals, and you definitely shouldn’t ask for “snack cookies” — because those just don’t exist here...

Karaoke at Mauerpark on Sundays

What does your typical workday look like?

My day starts at 10:00. I work at an event agency in the office. Most of the time I’m preparing event proposals, researching restaurants or venues to suggest to clients, and calling contacts at those venues or restaurants to ask about their availability. My day usually ends at 18:00, but if I have unfinished tasks, I often stay a bit longer to complete them.

Aside from the office work, of course, there are also the events themselves. Just recently, I helped out at a Superdry store opening. Superdry wanted to boost their brand visibility, so they made it a big party: there was a dance battle, a beatboxer, a graffiti workshop, and a street food stand. It was super fun to be part of that! I’ve also helped with dinners, transfers, and activities.

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

No, I haven’t felt homesick for the Netherlands. I stay in regular contact with my family and friends, so I don’t really feel like I’m missing them. Plus, my family and friends are planning to visit me during my stay, so there’s really no reason to miss them.

Only in the beginning did I have to get used to a new language, a new environment, working 40 hours a week, and living on my own. But after about two weeks, I started to get into the rhythm of it all.

Do you feel at home in Germany? Why or why not?

Yes, I actually do. There aren’t many cultural differences, so it really feels pretty much like home.

View from rooftop bar “Klunkerkranich”

What are your tips on who to become friends with abroad? The Russians? The Irish? The Chileans? (We want the gossip on the other internationals you’ve met!)

Berlin is an international city with lots of young people, so you really meet a bit of everything! At Mauerpark (a must-visit if you're ever in Berlin!), we met a group of Irish people — they definitely know how to have a good time. I've also met lots of fun Germans, French people, Americans, of course other Dutch people (which is always easy for communication...), and many other nationalities!

Describe the people of Berlin in three words.

Alternative, free, and open.

What have you learned from your experience abroad? Was it the lovely community you enjoyed? The cheap cocktails? The beautiful nature? Or was your experience not quite what you expected? We want details!

Yes — definitely the cheap cocktails! Almost everywhere here has Happy Hours — or really Happy Days, because those Happy Hours often last the entire day. A cocktail usually costs around 4 to 5 euros… prices we just don’t see in the Netherlands!

I also think Berlin is an amazing city because there are so many weird, unique, and fun places to explore. Like the Badeschiff, a swimming pool located in the River Spree, complete with a beach, beach bar, and lounge chairs — right in the middle of the city. Or Mauerpark, where everyone sings and dances along during the weekly Sunday karaoke sessions.