I’m not sure I ever want to leave.

The German relationship with work, in my opinion, is much healthier than the one we have in America. Work isn’t everything. You aren’t defined by your job (or your major in college). You aren’t expected to stay late or come early. There are even laws in place to keep you from working too much overtime. If you want to go take a three-hour break to go swimming at the lake, feel free. You’re entitled to lots of vacation time – go ahead and take that month-long boating trip to Greece. Of course, every workplace is a bit different, but in general, work is not as important here. I’m terrified I’ll end up in a job where I’m expected to take work home with me, and finish projects over the weekend. The risk is a lot lower here.

Groceries, books, clothing, pretty much everything here is cheaper. Granted, the Euro is worth more than the dollar, but I can still buy a week’s worth of food (including candy and extra cleaning supplies) for less than 20 Euro. In America, that might get you two days. Eating out isn’t bad either. I’ve easily spent less than 10 Euro at restaurants, and that was ordering a nice meal. I’m not sure how salaries compare here, but the cost of living is a lot less. (Minus taxes, I’ve heard those are awful here!)

Public transportation here is a dream come true. And it’s not just in the big cities either – the little towns I’ve visited have also had train access. Buses, subways, trams, trains… I don’t have to worry about how to get anywhere. Sure, there’s more walking involved, but that’s good for you. I try to walk to work when the weather is nice. If you like biking, that’s also much easier here. I would guess that most people bike to work, or at least to the nearest bus/train station.

This country is dripping with history. There’s nowhere in America where you can find buildings from the 1500s nestled between modern skyscrapers. Berlin in particular feels like a hodge-podge of time periods. Some buildings are pre-war, some from communist occupation, and a bunch that have been built much more recently. All of them standing right next to one another with no real organization. I love it so much! It gives this city a lot of personality.

Speaking of Berlin’s personality, it’s so hard to capture. It’s everything and it’s nothing. Like most big cities, it definitely has a more liberal feel. Anything goes here. But it’s also structured. (It is Germany, after all!) There’s a very laid-back attitude here. No one is bothered or surprised by anything. The train shuts down in the middle of the tracks? Meh, all the passengers are going to keep reading their newspapers. (Speaking from personal experience here!) There’s also a big art scene here. Lots of galleries. The nightlife here is legendary (supposedly, I’ve not really participated). I've heard it's got a similar feel to Chicago. Berlin as a city feels like a college student: not bothered by much, living in the moment, willing to try anything once. It’s honestly not my favorite city in the world, but I’m very happy to be here.