by María Alejandra Mendoza, Franziska Hertel, Wiebke Stedler and Žad Novak
Berlin is a city of contrasts. For some, it’s the political centre of the biggest country in the European Union and full of impressive history. For others, it is a city of epic techno parties on almost every corner. And for many, there are only two verdicts possible after a visit to the German capital: Either you love it or you hate it.
Despite Brussels undoubtedly being the major destination for Euroculture students both during their studies as well as after graduation, you might want to look at what other European capitals have to offer. And Berlin’s possibilities to live, work, and discover new places are infinite. We asked four students of the 2022-24 cohort who recently completed their internships in Berlin to give us a little sneak peak into their day-to-day experiences in the German capital. They either worked in the government or NGO sector so if you are interested in these fields the following interview which is a compilation of their experiences might give you some valuable insights why it is worth pursuing a work opportunity in Berlin.
Where did you do an internship, and for how long?
María Alejandra: At the Embassy of Ecuador in Germany for 4 months.
Franziska: German Federal Foreign Office, Berlin, at the unit Citizen’s Dialogue and Public Diplomacy
Wiebke: I worked at the Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung (FES) in the European Union and North America department for two months. The FES is the biggest political foundation in Germany.
Žad: I interned at the European Theatre Convention (ETC) for 6 months.
How did you find your internship position?
María Alejandra: By being social – I spent the summer in Hamburg and attended an event at the Bucerius Law School where the Ambassador of Ecuador and the Consul of Brazil were the main speakers on the topic of Latin America’s input to international law within the United Nations context.
Franziska: By discussing ideas with other students and the teachers from Euroculture and talking to students who had already done an internship at the FFO
Wiebke: I sent an application directly to the FES department. I already had some contacts in the institution as I had been receiving my scholarship to study abroad from them. This was not a major factor to be accepted, but it helped that I was already familiar with the foundation’s work.
Žad: I knew where I wanted to intern and work later for a while, even before starting the master’s. I applied spontaneously, saying I would like to do my internship with them as soon as I got accepted to Euroculture, so we had about 18 months to arrange everything to fit.
Name some facts about your internship: How many hours did you usually work? Were you paid? What were your main tasks during the internship?
María Alejandra: It was an unpaid internship, 40 hours per week. The main tasks were assisting the Head of Mission, Consular, and Cultural Department. Some tasks included drafting official reports, powers of attorney, communiqués, etc., a lot of research and critical analysis, a few accompaniments on official visits to the China Forum Berlin, German Chamber of Commerce, and Bundestag, assisting the coordination and organisation of cultural events, and co-creating a project called ‘Ecuador Herz der Welt’ and. At times, I would also do translation work.
Franziska: My internship was also full-time and unpaid. My main tasks were assisting the team in various projects such as “Diplomatie macht Schule” where diplomats visit schools to show and explain what the life of a diplomat is like. I also worked on the podcast the FFO regularly publishes (“Podcast vom Posten”) and was given the chance/responsibility to manage the visitor centre on my own. Other than that, I also fulfilled smaller tasks like correcting texts, coordinating meetings etc. Besides that, I had the opportunity to join my colleagues, e.g., at conferences and workshops or even at the Embassy of Japan.
Wiebke: I worked full-time as well, and I received 520 € per month, which is definitely better than nothing. I mostly did research and drafted documents for my supervisor and other colleagues on topics related to European politics, like far-right parties and gender equality. Another major task of mine was the preparation of different types of events as the FES regards political education as one of its major missions. I co-organised public discussions, roundtables for researchers, and workshops for stakeholders. I would also work with their internal databases or join my colleagues at different conferences and draft protocols.
Žad: My internship was 40 hours per week, paid. It also included a week-long business trip to a conference we were organising in the European Capital of Culture 2023 – Timisoara, Romania. My main tasks included booking many travels for the team and external colleagues, keeping minutes at various meetings, filling many Excel tables, and, under supervision, managing a small-scale project for young artists.
How did you experience Berlin as a city and your internship as a whole? To what type of student would you recommend an internship in Berlin? What is your advice for future students?
María Alejandra: Berlin is a chaotic city – but I can be chaotic too, so we get along well. It’s a very dense place not only in population and transit-wise but mostly because there’s always something to do like a festival, a new gallery or club opening, food fest, thematic weeks, marathons, Museumssonntag, an activism event, etc. So the offer is huge, and it’s a matter of figuring out what you enjoy in the city. But in general, I must say I love it, even though there can be a lot going on at times, and factors like the German winter can make it challenging but the city is continuously evolving, and you’ll eventually adapt.
As for the internship itself, it was amazing, I will always be grateful and fond of Ambassador Morejón, Ms. Canelos, Mr. Baumann, and Minister Avilés. The only downside was not receiving any pay, but I know that’s a matter of Ecuadorian law regulations. Concisely, the experience was wonderful as I was able to dive into the diplomatic world in Europe and see closely how the German-Ecuadorian bilateral relationship evolves in real time. Regarding the work environment itself, it’s constant learning of Ecuadorian, German, EU, International Law, political communication, cultural diplomacy, and even just day-to-day office activities in a multicultural environment.
My advice for future students who would like to do an internship in Berlin is to download the BVG Fahrinfo and Resident Advisor App, bring a thick jacket and winter boots, and most importantly, don’t get lost in the sauce!
Franziska: Berlin is an incredibly lively city that can quickly overwhelm you! So it is helpful to pick out a few things or places that you like and can always do. If you take the train out of Berlin, you are quickly in the countryside, as the city has many lakes and woods in the greater area. Berlin can be quite rainy during the winter, so an early internship starting in August or September has the advantage of experiencing the beautiful late summer.
I would recommend the FFO to students who would like to work in an environment full of diverse tasks ranging from cultural to political to economic aspects of German foreign politics. Plus, the employees working at the FFO transfer to different work units and/or countries every three years, so it is really exciting to hear stories from all over the world. Another great advantage is the Intern Program, where interns organise visits to embassies, international institutions, or other ministries. That way, you can quickly immerse into the political bubble of Berlin and find inspiration for future workplaces, another internship etc.
Enjoy Berlin with all of its features! There is so much to do, even if you work full-time. The train connections to cities such as Prague or Hamburg are pretty good, and of course, the city itself has so many things to offer. “Mitvergnuegen” on Instagram always keeps you up to date about flea markets, new restaurants, and much more, so get inspired!
Wiebke: I moved to Berlin first and foremost for this work opportunity, and to be honest, I absolutely hated being in that city for the first weeks. It was mid-January, and the weather was freezing. The city was dark and miserable all the time, and I felt exhausted. As Franziska said, I would advise everyone to come to Berlin in spring or summer – it is so much nicer. However, after a while, I realised that life in the city is not so bad after all. I lived in Charlottenburg in the central part of the city, right next to the Spree, and I absolutely fell in love with this quiet neighbourhood. The nice thing is that you are always close to a park, a Späti (24-hour convenience store) or a nice café. Also, being the history nerd that I am, Berlin has so much to offer museum and architecture-wise and lots to explore. The fact that some of my classmates, like Alejandra, were also in Berlin made the experience way more enjoyable. However, the best part of Berlin for me is that it is a conglomerate of the world’s cuisines. Whatever dish you crave, you can find it here. And do I need to say that Berlin’s Döner (kebab) is amazing?
Žad: I did my Erasmus year abroad in Berlin in 2018-2019. The city fully overwhelmed me then, and it was not on my list of favorite cities to live in. When I first got my internship, even though I really wanted the position, I felt quite a bit of uneasiness about moving to Berlin again. However, this time, I changed how I approach the city and adjusted my lifestyle. The most important change has been to see me living in Wedding and Mitte (two neighbouring parts of the city where I live and work) rather than in Berlin as a whole. I found everything I needed there: cafes, gym, doctors, shops, etc.… It saves me from spending too much time commuting. If I want to see a different neighbourhood or a friend who lives quite far away, I will treat that as an excursion, and try to schedule it on a free day. That small change of perspective has done wonders for my experience of the city. It also made me really invest in meeting people who live around me, which created a nice community feeling. I still live in Berlin after my internship, and it has been an easy decision. It is almost a from-enemies-to-lovers story that we share.
My internship as a whole went smoothly for the most part, and I have learned a lot, although I worked as a private tutor for an additional 10 hours on top of a 40-hour week to make ends meet – EU internship contributions are really far from realistic. And then there was the thesis portfolio as well. Keeping up with it all was a challenge I overcame, but I would never recommend undertaking it without a clear goal in mind. What got me through having a really tight schedule for 6 months included having an end goal in mind, communicating with friends and family when overstressed so that they could occasionally take something off my to-do list, and ensuring I got enough physical activity and sleep. Now, life is much calmer. I work for ETC on a 32-hour week basis and have scaled back tutoring to a minimum. I should focus on university way more now, but one step at a time….
To whom would I recommend an internship here? To anyone who wants to try it, and thinks it might be a good fit for them. You don’t know if you will enjoy a city like Berlin until you try living there. 5 to 6 months is a perfect tryout period, neither too short nor too long.
Last but not least: Our secret Berlin recommendations
María Alejandra: I’d recommend looking into “Rausgegangen – Tagestipps in Berlin” as you’ll find events going on in Berlin other than parties, and if you’re interested in cultural events I’d go to the city’s official webpage, Berlin.de.
On a more personal note, the best brunch spot is Annelies and the best Döner is in T’unas Gemüse Kebap, both located in Kreuzberg. The best tacos are in Taquería El Oso, and the best pizza is in Mamida, both located in Prenzlauer Berg.
My favourite museums are Bode-Museum, Humboldt Forum, and the Jüdisches Museum Berlin; my favourite bar is Matanga (really good sangría and Espresso Martinis), and my favorite clubs are ://about blank & Anomalie Art Club.
Finally, if you are here for the season, try to go to as many Christmas Markets in the city as you can. Potsdam is worth a couple of visits, and most flea markets in Berlin are lovely. I appreciate Berlin even more on Sundays because many places are open, even up to late hours.
Franziska: I can highly recommend the various flea markets and little cafés all over the city. Zimt & Zucker is a great breakfast place; most museums are free of charge on the first Sunday of each month, and every part of the city has different things to offer! Potsdam is also worth a visit as well as the Pfaueninsel, in case you want to get out of the city and enjoy the quietness of the countryside.
Wiebke: Honestly, I spent most of my time at the FES office in Tiergarten, which I absolutely did not mind because I loved my internship, and all my colleagues were extremely nice and helpful, without exception. I would go for long walks on the weekend or have friends visit me. Explore Berlin’s lakes, like Schlachtensee and Wannsee, which make for an amazing daily getaway even if it is not super sunny. The German Historical Museum (DHM) is also worth exploring (it’s free!). Mein Haus am See is a super nice bar in Berlin’s centre, and Rüya offers the best kebab in Charlottenburg.
Žad: Alejandra, Franziska and Wiebke took the words out of my mouth. Berlin flea markets and museums in Berlin are excellent. There will also be many small galleries to visit. The theatre scene is great, and you can get discounted student tickets – many shows have subtitles, too! If you are into film, Babylon Berlin is worth checking out. But as I said before, explore your neighbourhood, whichever one it is (though Wedding is the best, just saying…)
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