CIEE Global Architecture + Design in Berlin, Germany

Studying abroad with CIEE in Berlin was an incredible experience! The school and living spaces are situated in the perfect spot in the city, right in Bergmannkiez of Kreuzberg. The area is lively and beautiful, as well as being a central area in Berlin, making it easy to get on the train and go anywhere. I lived in G.27, specifically the dormitory building, which was a lot nicer than a traditional dorm. The spaces were large and comfortable, including the kitchens and lobby. All of the CIEE staff members were extremely kind and helpful, which is necessary in situations that occur while studying abroad. One particular situation I encountered was getting COVID at the beginning of my term. The CIEE staff helped me feel safe by checking in with me often and setting up ways for me to easily order food or anything else I needed. Berlin itself was such a special city to experience, filled with creative people and places and a huge variety of parks, clubs, and restaurants. My weekends were filled with checking out huge parks like Tempelhof, trying trendy new coffee shops and stores, and experiencing all the techno clubs. I feel as if I learned so much from experiencing the culture of the city in comparison to American cities. Being an architecture major also gave me the opportunity to take classes focused on the architecture of Berlin, which was a unique and inspiring experience, especially due to the reconstruction of Berlin following the wars. I truly believe there is no better city to learn about urban and sustainable design from. CIEE also gave us many opportunities to visit and learn about other German cities, such as Dresden and Hamburg. These excursions paired with learning German, whether it was the more simple survival German class or the in depth German courses, helped me get a grasp on German culture as a whole. If you're considering studying abroad, I would highly recommend this program! I will always be grateful for CIEE Berlin and hold my experiences and friends I made there close to my heart.