Berlin, Germany has been exciting from the moment I stepped out of the airport. I was greeted by an unusual but exciting landscape. A landscape that was filled with cars and people bustling from point A to point B. Already so different from the sleepy town of Santa Barbara. This city really never sleeps and honestly, it’s been hard for me and my classmates to sleep while being here and for more reasons beyond jetlag. For reasons that hold excitement and the joys of being in a new country.

I, along with the rest of my class, are expecting to gain a global standpoint on life that you can only gain through traveling. While we will also learn more about being artists and using the world around us to design. We’ve been taking Art 140 and Graphic Design 111. So far we’ve only gone over introductory topics, but as someone who is not an artist, I have already seen a lot of growth in my own artwork. As much as I appreciate the
classes my favorite part has been walking around this new beautiful town.

People are so friendly, not that we expected anything different, but walking around people will be so courteous about directing or explaining things to you if you find yourself confused or lost. Most natives also speak English, so if you find if they realize that you don’t speak German they are quick to accommodate. The majority of my classmates are excited for the interesting people they will meet and learn from here. Berlin is a very global city and thus explains its rich and vast culture. People, languages, clothing, and especially foods from all over the world can be found in this town alone. A local staple is the Currywurst. It is a sausage covered in the very coveted, special curry ketchup here in Berlin. There can be found a restaurant or stand selling these special bratwurst on every block. They are absolutely a staple of a trip to Berlin because they are so different and specific to this town. It may look unappealing but it’s worth a try.

It has only been a few days, but it seems like I’ve been in this town for a long time. We are constantly doing things as a group. For example, on Monday we challenged ourselves by taking the public transit on our own, which runs extremely efficiently, to the Brandenburg Gate. There we were first hand immersed into the Berlin history.

We walked around the Tiergarten and saw locals and tourists alike admiring the statues and rich greenness of the park. On Tuesday on Wednesday we visited some of Berlin’s finest art galleries. There we were introduced to artworks that forced us to think and understand. A lot of the artwork were pieces I wasn’t familiar with so I, along with the rest of the group, were forced to really think about what we were looking at more than just look.

However, after a long day of admiring the city and the artwork that it holds, we get to go back to our hotel and admire the ever beautiful sunset. Every night it has been amazing and we never miss it because it sets at 10PM! I can’t wait for more art, culture, sunsets, and Berlin that is to come.

Every night it has been amazing and we never miss it because it sets at 10PM! I can’t wait for more art, culture, sunsets, and Berlin that is to come.

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About Jenny Nnoli:
My name is Jenny Nnoli and I’m going into my second year at SBCC. It hasn’t taken me very long to realize all the amazing opportunities that this school has to offer. From the TAG program to the Promise, to Study Abroad. It’s not often one is presented with so many outlets for growth and knowledge. That’s why I’m studying abroad. The first and last time I left the county was in 2007. While I did learn and see many things in Nigeria, I’m now at the age where stepping out of my comfort zone is imperative to become an adult. Traveling and seeing the world through different cultures opens my eyes to the vastness of life.