This week was the first full week of my internship. I am not used to working 40 hours a week, so it was a little challenging getting through the week. I try to do things after the internship, so it is not just work the whole week. I still want to explore Berlin and experience things during the time I have available. After work I usually go to a mall to look for more clothes to wear to work. It has been really hot in the office since there is no air conditioning. I was not expecting the heat, so I did not bring outfits to accommodate. If I do not go to the mall after the internship, I usually go to a new restaurant. I also try to sit outside in the park right by the hotel. I want to make the most out of my time in Berlin. I already feel like I am not using my free time to the fullest. Time is flying by way faster than I expected.

On Saturday I went to Potsdam for the day. Potsdam felt very different than Berlin. The city gave a more European feel. There was a lot to see there, so I defiantly plan to go back. When I was there, I saw the Sans Souci Castle. I went on a tour of the inside and it was very cool to hear about the history of it. It was also so pretty with the style of architecture and paintings throughout. I also toured a guest house near by which was also very pretty. The whole area has a very interesting history. There was one castle I did not get to see because of timing, but as I said earlier, I plan to go back another day. There were many other buildings in the area of the castles too that I did not get to see the inside of.  Aside from the area with the castles, I walked around the city and saw many architecturally pretty buildings. Before the tours, I ate at a German restaurant. I had potato soup and chicken schnitzel. I do not like chicken so I do not know why I thought I would like that. I usually do not try new things, but if I am going to, I guess now is the time. I also ate at an Asian restaurant after all of the tours and walking around. The food was very good and the aesthetic of sitting outside was nice.

During the week at my internship, I did not have many tasks to do. I would say I have uncertainty about what I am supposed to be doing with my time. I have been working on an automation and standardization tool with one of the members of my team. The only thing is, we were both doing the same work. Nothing was actually relying on what I was doing. I think were both working on it so if I had questions, he could help me with it. This part of the project is only one section so I think I will be working on the other parts on my own. I am uncertain of that though. I will probably find out this week.

When I am working on this project, I get different instructions from my supervisor and the other team member. When this does happen, I ask my supervisor if it is alright if I do what the other person said. I go with the other team members directions because he is the one I go to with questions on the project. Everything has been working out with the system. My team member and supervisor are starting to get more on the same page with each other. Each morning I show my supervisor what I have been working on. If I showed him at the end of the previous day, I usually just get instructions from him or the other team member on what to do next. I check in with both of them throughout the day to give updates on what I am doing. I do this to try to avoid uncertainty. This week the team member who has been instructing me was out of the office most days. It was a little challenging finding out what I was supposed to be doing. It was also a little challenging to get ahold of him to ask questions. It is a lot easier to communicate with him when he is in the office. I can just walk down the hall to see him, or sometimes he comes to my room to check in on me.