After this week, you could technically call me a football fan. Just kidding! I am definitely not the target audience for the world cup, but I can appreciate the love and passion that Germany has for the sport. Throughout Berlin, there are public viewings all over the city, and despite the fact that the game puts me to sleep, the energy surrounding it is truly one of a kind. Sharing the experience with Germany fans is what makes the game interesting. I admire the sense of community that fans feels and how it brings people together. That is just one of the things I took advantage of this week in Berlin. It was a busy week!

I started week five with some fantastic pizza in one of my favorite neighborhoods, Kreuzberg. The area that we are staying in is pretty touristy and filled with older, wealthier people. The contrast between Charlottenburg and some of the younger areas is part of what makes Berlin so fun to explore. It is interesting to see how different people act in different areas. Each area has its own personality and culture that makes it unique. It creates the feeling that Berlin is multiple cities, not just one.

Later in the week I went to Cafe am Neuen See, in Tiergarten. The cafe sits next to a small pond where customers can rent boats and paddle around the water. One thing that stood out to me was that it was a pretty affordable activity. I can not help but think that in most US cities it would cost double. The weather was gorgeous and the bratwurst after tied the experience all together.

I started the weekend with a beautiful sunset picnic at Viktoriapark. The view had me so deep in thought that I started reflecting on my time in Berlin, and reminded myself how lucky I am to have this experience. It is easy to get caught up in the idea that you aren’t doing enough or fitting everything in. I think it is important to take time to relax and remember that not every second of the day needs to be filled. For the remainder of the weekend I went to the beach, thrifted, took plenty of photo booth pictures, and of course had a Milka Chocolate Bar taste test. This weekend was both relaxing and spontaneous, and was exactly what I needed.

At work, I shifted my focus further into sales and began reviewing several important documents that summarized the work completed over the past couple of months. This project allowed me to practice my Excel and Python skills while also gaining a broader understanding of HEYL. The experience definitely helped strengthen my knowledge and confidence when working with data. I would never have predicted that I would be excited to show off my Python capabilities, but there is a first time for everything. It has been rewarding being able to apply things I have learned at Pitt to real-world projects.

This week, I also did some research on Iceland and the stockpiling medical countermeasures. Since I had little prior experience conducting such specific research, I was a little weary going into the project. However, it ended up being a valuable learning opportunity. I navigated some brand new topics and ended up finding the research quite interesting. Throughout the process, I also received helpful advice from my supervisor.

In addition, my soft skills have been improving throughout my internship. Self-management, time-management, and adaptability have been especially important competencies to continue developing while living and working in Berlin. Being able to go beyond what is expected with tasks is important to earning respect from coworkers. It demonstrates independence, hard work, and genuine interest in your role to your superiors.

Naturally, I am shocked that it is already the start of week 6. Time has continued to pass longer than I have expected. This week I am looking forward to a visit from my family. I am excited to show them all of my favorite things about Berlin!