If I think of spending time in Europe, my initial thoughts are definitely being more touristy. However, this trip was more about living in Berlin rather than being a tourist in Europe.
Whenever I would travel to different places for touring, I’d always want to move and look around a lot, trying to make the most of my time in where ever I was in that short amount of time. For the first week in Berlin, I felt the same urge, and I’d want to go out and explore after finishing all the homework which got pretty exhausting especially with having week’s worth of lecture and homework everyday.
Also, having to go to class everyday and come back with public transportation, buy and eat food from grocery store, and finish homework in the hostel at night was definitely more of a “living in Berlin” experience rather than touring in Berlin.
Traveling on the weekend were pretty nice too where we could take a break from school work, bond with each other, and be “more touristy” in different cities in Germany. Going to different parts of Germany and comparing the differences of each region and discovering the history behind it gave me a deeper understanding of Germany and it’s culture.
Finally, to all those who said how this trip was just like most other study abroad trips where you travel around and just have fun with little bit of “studying”, this trip was pretty academically intense as well. Most of us would struggle and work through homework together each night which was pretty nice as well. Nothing better than 28 engineering students living in the same place and all doing the same homework assignment :p