Navigating Between Cultures: Challenges as a Latin American Student in Berlin

Introduction

My name is Pablo, I am from Chile, and I studied Industrial Civil Engineering at the Pontifical Catholic University, a degree I completed in 2016 with a focus that seemed clear and definitive: Project Management in Construction. This was confirmed by my early work experiences, all in that sector. However, my proficient and early interest in calculus and mathematics in general drew me away from the “softer” world of management, leading me back to the “harder” realms but this time without renouncing the project/product vision. That’s why, in the last four years, I have dedicated time and effort to pivot my career, starting with a diploma in Python and currently pursuing a Master’s in Project Management and Data Science in Berlin.

Given that Germany, and Berlin in particular, were always destinations I desired to live or develop professionally in, I didn’t hesitate for a minute once I received acceptance from HTW Berlin. This motivational drive was accompanied by some comforting facts: The university had a good reputation, the job situation for graduates seemed promising, and Berlin, as a multicultural city, was more accommodating for foreigners to live in peace and with good quality of life. Additionally, as a lover of big cities, I found that Berlin struck a good balance as Germany’s largest city, with all the urban complexities this entails, but also boasted an award-winning public transport system with an average accessibility time of 30 minutes, making it less overwhelming from my perspective (compared to Santiago de Chile, for example).

While those expectations weren’t entirely shattered by reality, the latter did bring elements that didn’t seem to matter in my reality in Santiago but began to progressively impact me and the majority of international students. In this case, I will outline points that, at least from the perspective of a Latin American student, are important to consider before coming to Berlin:

1. The Language Challenge

The master’s program I’m enrolled in is taught entirely in English (a language I finally learned at 27), so the first few months were challenging to understand the classes on the first try, but now I’m much more adept at listening. Generally, I find myself speaking English 80% of the time (10% German and 10% Spanish), so it’s inevitable that my proficiency will continue to improve.

In everyday life in Berlin, it is perfectly possible to get by with English. In fact, most young people in the university environment speak it well, with clarity and a good vocabulary. However, in other cities and when interacting with older people, it’s different. Personally, after a year, I haven’t made much progress with German, and it’s likely to be the same over the next year. It requires dedicating at least 4 hours a week to make steady progress. I recommend looking into classes (there are many tailored for beginners with different native languages). From successful experiences I’ve known, a combination of a personalized guide with a teacher once a week and a group course for 3 hours a week can help advance one or two levels per year.

2. Adapting to the Climate

Every guide to moving or studying in Germany will mention this, and it sounds obvious, but most international students come from warmer countries. One thing is certain: even if you have visited Berlin in winter before, living through it long-term is always worse than expected. It’s not so much the cold — the buildings and clothing are more than adequate — but the lack of light and sun has been the most shocking for me. For the first time in my life, I’ve had to plan around these elements (waking up earlier, scheduling indoor activities after 4pm, and creating a personal protocol to stop everything and soak up the sun whenever it appears).

The best advice I can give for surviving Berlin’s winter is to leave. I planned my visit to Chile for December, which psychologically made the winter in October and November less daunting than the previous year, as if it were split into two 3-month periods instead of one long 6-month stretch.

Visiting your home country might be expensive, so as an alternative, I recommend traveling to nearby countries that offer a bit more warmth and sun (like Turkey, Greece, Italy, Jordan, etc.).

3. Adapting to the City

Coming from Santiago de Chile, a large city with its own complex challenges, I found certain similarities that made my adaptation to Berlin easier than it might be for other students. However, there are specific aspects that I believe are valuable for any new student trying to adapt to a new city:

• Actively Explore: Dedicate time to actively explore your new city, not just the tourist spots but also local neighborhoods and lesser-known areas. This will help you better understand the city’s culture and lifestyle.
• Neighborhood is Everything: The Berliner experience will differ dramatically if you live in a “cool” downtown neighborhood or in a suburb with hardly any access. Take this into consideration.
• Participate in Local Events: Attending cultural events, fairs, festivals, or local markets is an excellent way to immerse yourself in the city’s life. It’s also an opportunity to meet people with similar interests.
• Understand Public Transportation: Familiarizing yourself with the public transportation system is crucial. Learning how to navigate the city will give you a sense of independence and confidence.
• Learn About the History and Culture: Understanding the city’s history and traditions will enrich your experience and provide you with a deeper perspective of your surroundings.
• Be Open to New Experiences: Maintain an open attitude and willingness to try new things, whether it’s local food, customs, or activities. This openness will allow you to adapt more quickly and appreciate what the city has to offer.
• And the most important one for me: Find Connections with Your Hometown: Identifying similarities or differences with your hometown can be a comforting way to relate to your new environment. It helps you appreciate both the new experiences and what you’ve left behind. Almost in every neighborhood of Berlin I have some “bridges” with Santiago, I even send pictures to my family to see if they can tell which city it belongs to.

Adapting to a new city is an ongoing process that can take time. Being patient with yourself and the adaptation process is key. Remember, every learning experience, even the challenges, contributes to your personal and professional growth.

4. The Distance from Home

This is another aspect I underestimated before moving to Berlin. It became more pronounced during my first December away from home (Christmas and New Year’s are important family times). While the homesickness eased over time (or perhaps became more natural), there are some strategies that can help:

• Schedule regular calls with family and friends: Don’t assume they will always reach out; they continue their lives in their country, so take the initiative to maintain the connection (e.g., call friends on the first Tuesday of each month and parents every other Sunday).
• Create your imaginary garden: You will miss not only people but also colors, flavors, and smells. Your imaginary garden can be things that bring you closer to your homeland. For me, it was lavender-scented candles and cinnamon flavors. Capturing anything that brings a piece of Chile into my life, even in a small way, was beneficial.
• Make new friends (see next point): It sounds obvious, but as international students, we must be even more open to forming new connections. They will be our first support network, our initial networking, and our baseline of key contacts in the new land.

5. Making New Friends at 31

This is never an easy task. The narrative of friendship varies from person to person and culture to culture, making it even more complex.

The advantage for international students is that they coexist with many other international students who share similar experiences, making it easier to bond. I recommend starting by strengthening this base of friendship.

In this context, meeting another latinos friends is key. From this moment on you will notice even more the similarities with those nationalities from your continent that you always thought were different from you. Embrace your Latino friends and trust them too for the party (see that the best Latino party from now on will be at home).

In many places, it is also recommended to open up to meeting friends from the city you are living in, which is harder, so some actions that might facilitate this (at least in my experience in Berlin) are:

• Living in a WG (shared apartment) with locals.
• Joining a club or activity with locals.
• Using dating apps with a friendship mode (or not) with locals.

6. Navigating Multiculturality

There’s only one lesson I’ve learned in this regard, and it hasn’t been easy for me: Never judge a person from another culture with the lenses of your own.

This is particularly difficult when other cultures transgress values fundamental to you (in my case, when there’s homophobia, xenophobia, or sexism). I’m not saying you should accept it or not question it, but rather, first apply a “toll” to remember that there are contexts that shaped these people and thinking everyone had your path is arrogant, especially if it comes from privilege.

But deconstruction is not only in values but also in academia and work. If you haven’t worked in international companies before, this will be your first time, and you’ll need to reconcile different criteria and ways of defining and achieving results. The challenge is to reach common ground without imposition; otherwise, these won’t be understood by all team members.

Neither the content of the master’s program nor the number of museums and cultural buildings I’ve visited in Berlin compares to the learning I’ve gained from working in an international context.

7. Reflections on the Future

There is a question that has surrounded all the international students I’ve met in Berlin: Do I stay here after the Master’s? If so, should I do it in Berlin or another city?

It’s good to question this from the moment you arrive at your destination city, as the sooner you make binding actions, the better. If you’re more of a transient, your connections and actions in the city will be more nebulous and superficial, which isn’t necessarily bad, as you’d be prioritizing time to achieve the highest grades possible. But if your view is to stay long-term, just having good grades won’t be enough: you must dedicate hours to building relationships, learning about the history and the city, learning the language, and (trying to) understand its idiosyncrasies.

After my first visit to Chile, it became easier to see that I want to stay in Europe for a longer period. I have been able to notice the advantages of living in a country like Germany and in a multicultural city.

Conclusion

The best summary I can give you of my adventure so far is that, despite these challenges, both due to the contribution of the master’s program and the experience itself, I have zero regrets about deciding to move to Berlin for development. By sharing these things, I aim not to demotivate you but to encourage informed decision-making, to consider things in advance, manage them, and thus minimize their impacts.