Inside Student Blogs

Janet Ma Berlin, Spring 2010

Janet Ma is a junior at Pomona College shipping off from southern California to Berlin, Germany for a semester. She is a Religious Studies and Biology double major who is excited to make the most out of her time in Berlin as she jumps on the rollercoaster ride that is living and learning in a foreign country. While in Berlin, she plans on speaking German as much as possible, taking in all the culture and history she can, and most importantly, keeping her eyes peeled for all the exciting opportunities and experiences she just couldn't possibly plan for.

Janet's Posts

• Reflections on Berlin – A Year Later

  1/11/11 • (0)

  It’s funny how I spent 6 months adjusting to a new environment, only to slip right back into the old college routine.

  A Year Later, Berlin, Germany

• Finding your niche

  7/22/10 • (0)

  In Berlin and the rest of Germany, the issue of “integration” is a hotly debated one when it comes to certain immigrant populations assimilating into German culture and society.

  Berlin, Blogs, Germany

• I can feel the bass in my heart

  6/29/10 • (0)

  Berlin’s nightlife is an entirely unique culture of its own. You have countless number of bars, parties, clubs… and then you have those really exclusive, ‘elitist’ clubs.

  Berlin, Blogs, Germany, Nightlife

• Football fanaticism, friend dating, and more

  6/24/10 • (0)

  The last of IES finals were today, and it’s surreal to think that tomorrow is our IES farewell BBQ! Time flies. It really does seem like yesterday when we first entered the IES building with our bulky suitcases, jetlagged yet wide-eyed and ready to go. Berlin felt so foreign then…and yet in these 4 months, it’s really become a home of its own.

  Berlin, Blogs, Germany

• Should I stay or should I go? The weekend dilemma

  6/08/10 • (0)

  Centrally located, Berlin is a perfect take-off point for almost any getaway in Europe. Paris, Vienna, Amsterdam, Prague, Istanbul, Munich, Rome, Stockholm…my mind buzzed with excitement at all the tantalizing options when I first got here.

  Berlin, Blogs, Germany

• Taking a break from German: Cambridge/London escapades

  5/21/10 • (0)

  Last weekend, my friend David (who’s studying in Bonn for the year) and I headed up to England, where we visited my Pomona friends in Cambridge for a day and then spent 3 days exploring London. Two very different sorts of fun.

  Berlin, Blogs, Germany

• School is still school in any other language… right?

  5/10/10 • (0)

  Berlin may be 9 hours ahead of Claremont, CA, but it is a whole 2-3 months behind when it comes to classes. My friends back home are stressing over finals, and I feel like I’m just getting settled.

  Berlin, Blogs, classes, Germany

• Janet on German coffee & Turkish tea

  5/05/10 • (1)

  And as German coffee & Turkish tea are ungodly strong, be warned of the brain chatter that follows…incohesive, scattered thoughts of Berlin related things.

  Berlin, Blogs, Germany

• Dresden

  4/29/10 • (0)

  This past weekend, a bunch of us took an IES sponsored excursion to Dresden, which is only a few hours from Berlin via train. Great weather, great scenery, great company – it was a a perfect temporary getaway from the hectic bustle that is Berlin.

  Berlin, Blogs, Dresden, Field Trips, Germany

• A tale of two cities, Pt 2: Berlin through tourist eyes

  4/09/10 • (0)

  After Paris, my parents came back to Berlin with me for several days, where I had the opportunity to show them my daily routes and activities while also going to cool places that I’d still not gotten around to.

  Berlin, Blogs, Germany

• A tale of two cities, Pt 1.: An American (Family) in Paris

  4/05/10 • (2)

  We flapped our arms to describe our flight, played charades with orange peels to ask for a trashcan, and scratched our heads at how to convey hot/cold. And each time our theatrics were returned with blank, uncomprehending stares.

  Berlin, Blogs, Germany

• Life in orientation

  3/23/10 • (0)

  I’ve been here only 3 weeks now, but every day has proven to be its own adventure.

  Berlin, Blogs, Germany

• Language lessons from Berlin

  3/22/10 • (0)

  With the whole city of Berlin as my classroom and all the people I talk to – from my host family to random people on the street – as my teachers, it’s hard not to be learning German 24/7 just by existing here. Since I stepped off the plane 3 weeks ago to now, my German has vastly improved with my hardly noticing.

  Berlin, Blogs, Germany

• This must be love, or first impressions of Berlin

  3/09/10 • (0)

  Somehow, in just over a week, I’ve managed to fall head-over-heels in love with Berlin.

  Berlin, Blogs, Germany

• Blank slate

  2/16/10 • (0)

  At first I wondered why Germany’s semester schedule seems to be behind the rest of the world’s, but now I’m getting a sneaking suspicion that this just might be a clever tactic to get students to actually be excited for all the homework and classes and sleep deprivation…well, either way, it’s definitely working for me!

  Berlin, Blogs, Germany