Guten Tag! I have been having a wonderful week settling in with my new routine here in Berlin. It was my first full week of work, and my coworkers could not have been more welcoming. I have been sending emails, preparing invoices, reorganizing their systems, and contributing new ideas. Off work, I have been going to new Biergartens, trying new restaurants, and touring the city of Berlin! This week, I have found this new french fry place near my job and I do have to say they are some of the best french fries I have ever had. I will definitely become a regular there. On Saturday my roommate and I joined a running club my internship offers. It was such a supportive group and a great way to start my Saturday. I got to run past rivers, through the park, and famous monuments. A few of my friends and I went walking around the Brandenburger Tor and came across a fun outdoor bar by the river. It had live music and was lots of fun. I am definitely settling down and finding myself loving Berlin more and more!
I find that working in Europe has a very different balance than in the United States. Lunch breaks are long, and many make efforts to prioritize friends and family too. Although it was hard at first to work all day, I found that it was also important to do something with friends afterward. After work this week, we went to watch the soccer finals, went to a new restaurant called Ali Baba, and went to a Biergarten by the zoo. Exploring a city can be a lot sometimes, but having a good group of people with me has made this experience so much easier! Going to work is enjoyable and I have been learning so much, but also prioritizing myself has been something I have made an extra effort to do. For example, I went to the park, and went to the store to buy new Birkenstocks. It is fun going out with friends, but getting to be by myself can be very relaxing after a long day.
At work, I have taken it upon myself to find things to do. For example, making new well organized spread sheets of all the clients, cancellations, and upcoming classes. I noticed that my boss does not really give me tasks but expects me to do things myself more. I am the only accountant at my internship, so I have overseen sending all invoices to our clients and auditors. I find myself more confident knowing they trust me accurately calculating the taxes and contacting the clients. Although I do have a lot of tasks at work, I know it is important to relax from the hustle of working a full-time job. It was raining a lot this week; I am hoping to go for more walks during my lunch break and get to see more of the town I work at once it gets nicer.
Although it was Sunday, I had the opportunity to watch a class my internship offers at the rooftop of the Chateau Royal. I was a little surprised to find out that they offer classes on the weekends as Germany is typically known for having nothing open on Sundays. I got to meet a few clients as well as get tea with my boss. It was nice getting to know him a little better and get to watch part of the class. The class was Qigong, which is a meditative enrichment and breathing exercise. I hope I come back sometime, as it was a fun side quest compared to working in an office all week.
I think I want to make a bigger effort in the next few weeks to find time to reconnect with my friends and family at home. With the time change, I have found it hard to find enough time where both of us are available to catch up. Being in a new city means having tons of experiences at the tip of your finger. I have already been trying to see as much as I can, but I want to make sure I also get to show my family what wonderful things I am doing. I am excited for the European Soccer Championships beginning soon and getting to go after work. They have already begun preparing the watch party at the Brandenburger Tor and I cannot wait; I even bought a Deutschland soccer shirt!
Overall, I have been adjusting to the work-life balance, but whether I am at work or going to the Biergarten I am just happy to be here!
Bis bald!