The Berlin Bucket List

You would think that fourteen weeks in one city is enough time to do and see everything, yet somehow, I am catching myself scrambling to see and do everything I wanted since the beginning of the year. Berlin offers so many things to do, it is truly a city for everyone, that it is so hard to see everything the city has to offer.

Busy Bee

When I first came to Berlin, I was wondering how I could possible fill all this time up with things to do. Fourteen weeks seemed like an eternity back then and even with planned excursions and events by both my school and my ISA Program, I was wondering how I could fill me time, and what to fill my time with. The best way to figure out what interested me was by talking with my host family and other people who had been to the Berlin before. My cousin had spent a week in Berlin previously and told me all the main tourist/ hot spot attractions in the city. My host family provided me with more authentic activities like local restaurants and underrated places to visit that wouldn’t be swarming with tourist. With in a week or two I had enough on my list it seemed impossible to get everything done.

Fourteen weeks seemed like an eternity back then and even with planned excursions and events by both my school and my ISA Program, I was wondering how I could fill me time, and what to fill my time with.

So, with the impossible task of seeing all of Berlin in such a short time, I id what any tourist would do: I made a bucket list. Creating the perfect bucket list is really dependent on what a person personally enjoys and values. For me it was more about authentic cultural experiences and learning about Berlin. I prioritized a lot of museums and hidden local spots that would provide me with more insight on Berlin. I tried to limit myself to just one or two things per weekend to give myself time for school, but even that was a challenge.

Come one, come all

Not only did I have my bucket list to complete, once I found a good group of friends, we all “combined” our lists and bounced ideas off each other to se what we liked. I was no longer doing these things alone, but with people who could also learn and explore more about Berlin. Not to mention I was also accompanying my friends on their list items as well. So, then it became truly impossible to do everything we wanted to do, in addition to program events, in addition to school events, and then dealing with school itself. Weekends became busy exploration days, while school days were packed with studying and homework.

I was no longer doing these things alone, but with people who could also learn and explore more about Berlin.

I can easily (maybe a little wrongfully say) that my bucket list activities started to take priority over my schoolwork. It’s one thing to learn a concept in a classroom, but a whole different thing to experience a city in your own personal way. A big reason people go to study abroad is to experience their nation/ city and its cultural first handed. And while my classes do a great job of providing concepts and ideas, the best way to fully understand it to see it yourself.