Hello! This is my last blog post from the International Internship Berlin Program, and I must say it is really sad to have to leave Berlin. It is a delightful and unique city, with so much to do and see, and I can only hope to back at some point. I can easily say I have had a splendid time and I am so grateful for all the things I have experienced this summer.

I’d like to highlight some of my favorite things below, which I found to be particularly fun or interesting.

First is the pfand. The “pfand” or deposit is a system where certain bottles have an extra cost and you can put them into a recycling machine near grocery stores to get a refund on that extra cost. From the perspective of an economics student, I think it is an elegant solution to internalize negative externalities (pollution) and incentivize recycling. The next big thing was Museumsinsel, or Museum Island. My internship was only two tram stops away and a quick walk from this UNESCO World Heritage Site, so I often found myself wandering there. I am proud to say that I have visited nearly all of the museums ( minus the Pergamon Museum) and enriched myself culturally.

Speaking of the tram, the public transit was amazing. I took the train, specifically the S-Bahn, and the tram to work every day and . I had a roughly 40-50 minute commute but it was surprisingly smooth sailing. After I got comfortable with the route and learned to recognize the name of my stop, I started to read during my route, and managed to finish an entire book this way (Conversations with Friends by Sally Rooney, specifically).

There were also some things that could have gone more smoothly. For instance, pretty much every weekend, I would forget that shops are closed on Sundays. More often than I would care to admit, I would get ready to go get my groceries before taking a step out the door and immediately turning back around. Similarly, while I did eventually obtain a better spacial awareness, I would oft get yelled at by cyclists for being too close to the bike lane. Along these lines, there were a handful of other adjustments that took some time to get used to. In fact, I’m certain that the longer I were to spend in Germany, the more such frictions I would discover and overcome.

As a result of this trip, I have grown tremendously. Of course, the main focus is professional development. In this category, I can easily say I have gained valuable experience which will aid me for years to come. As part of this internship I have attended a conference; wrote, edited, and fact-checked newsletter articles; conducted research on U.S. energy trends, cement sector decarbonization, and nature-based climate solutions for internal and client use; and maintained the firm’s Substack and LinkedIn presence while managing content scheduling and audience outreach.

I have also had the chance to collaborate with others and get to know others in my company and at my coworking space. One of the main things I came into this internship hoping to hone was my communication skills; as a result of these nearly two months in Germany, I find that I have indeed achieved what I set out to do.

Personally, I have learned that I am more capable and independent than I previously thought myself to be. I have found great joy in doing things alone, and I have developed confidence in living in a foreign country by myself for a little bit. After the initial excitement of being in a foreign country settled, I found myself enjoying some pretty unassuming things, such as painting in a park or going to the public library. Perhaps it is a testament to Berlin’s international culture, but I found it quite easy to adjust to, and it was extremely rewarding to find my place in the city.

Ultimately, this program served me on many levels and I am very glad that I had the chance to study and work abroad. I sincerely hope that I will have the chance to visit Berlin again, perhaps in my graduate studies or through my work. Auf wiedersehen, Berlin.