#aarthiamarnath

[umichenginabroad]

IPEBerlin Week 6/6: A Reflection and a Celebration

I knew from the second I stepped out of my Kreuzberg apartment building on the first day of the program that leaving Berlin in six weeks’ time was going to suck.

The idea of cementing myself in a place for nearly two months, loving every second of it, and then having to leave was ruining any sort of moment I was in. But I quickly told myself that this particular line of thinking wasn’t really worth it. Instead of feeling bad about leaving, I was determined to live in the moment. Afterall, we still had one week left in Berlin.

A good chunk of this week was spent taking in Berlin and Germany one last time. Almost every free minute we had was spent on exploring around Museum Island, or drinks by the river, or a walk down to a biergarten or two. It was an opportunity to reminisce without feeling sad or even nostalgic. We would just talk about the strangest and most random conversation topics, or laugh at that one funny thing that happened couple days ago, or wonder how the next few days were going to play out – the same thing we’ve been doing for the last five weeks.

That’s not the only thing we were doing, though. As I keep mentioning in these posts (perhaps to also remind myself), there is a studying part to study abroad, and this week saw the amalgamation our final research projects. We had presentations to give, poster theses to defend, and questions to answer.

All while wearing business casual, too, so you know it was serious.

To be honest, I don’t think any of us were actually nervous to give this presentation. It was a rare instance in which I wasn’t necessarily intimidated at the idea of having to answer complex, left-field, or tricky questions. It well and truly was just us defending a thesis, showcasing an experimental outline, and describing any trend discrepancies and their potential causes. It was exactly what engineering should be.  

And the laws of the universe dictate that after every research defense presentation, there is an obligatory barbeque with free drinks included. Pretty sure it’s Newton’s 4th Law or something.

The annual barbeque tradition hosted by the IPEBerlin program was everything it was supposed to be – two grills under a small tavern pub with a massive keg on tap. The students were in charge of the dinner menu (that was super brave of the staff to trust us, I won’t lie). And suddenly, for the next 10 hours, nothing existed except for games and music and food and drinks and conversations. We all talked and danced well into the A.M, despite the fact that most of us had a flight to catch in a matter of hours.

To be honest, if I had to pick, that last night was probably my favorite out of the entire program. If Berlin taught me anything, it’s the importance of appreciating the small human moments that the world and life has to offer. Something as simple as sitting around a tavern talking about nothing can make for the best moments and memories. The program ended as it began – with laughs and random conversation topics and a deep appreciation for the city of Berlin.

Aarthi Amarnath

Computer Engineering, Space Science and Engineering

IPEBerlin

Berlin, Germany

[umichenginabroad]

IPEBerlin Week 3/6: Salzburg, and a farewell to German class

Ok so, shocker: learning the entire basis of the German language in two and a half weeks is kind of hard.

To be honest, time wasn’t really the issue. By having nearly three weeks of daily three-hour classes, I was actually able to learn a lot about the basics of the German language. If I ever get stopped on the street and someone wants to know what my favorite hobbies are and how much a cup of coffee costs, I got them covered.

But in all seriousness, I wasn’t expecting to enjoy this language class as much as I did. It was a little difficult getting used to lugging myself to class at 8:30 A.M via a 40-minute U-Bahn commute, and I definitely had my moments where I forgot how to say a sentence that was repeated 5-times over just minutes ago. But this German class was unique in that it was less like a “lecture” and more like a real-world simulation. Rather than learn German conjugation on Day 1 and sentence structure on Day 2, our teacher would simply converse with us in German and fill in any blanks when necessary. It was a method of teaching I was not used to, I’ll be honest, but it made every three-hour class so engaging.

That’s a crazy sentence, but its true.

It was a little sad to see the end of the class coming this week. By turning in my final exam (yes, we had a final exam – gotta love study abroad), it felt like I was marking the end to a core experience within the IPEBerlin program. I really want to hold onto the little bit of German I now have under my belt. The last thing I want to do is lose all that information and learning.

I guess that means I have to travel around Germany and Austria to make sure that doesn’t happen. The things we do for our education.

But for real, this weekend marked the longest holiday weekend we would have on the entire program – four days to just see and explore. A large group of us decided to explore the likes of Munich and Salzburg in the hopes of getting to immerse ourselves in different city cultures and see some beautiful sights.

I can’t even begin to describe how real and true these hopes came to be.

In all seriousness, I have never been met with sights as beautiful and worldly as I have in Salzburg. The startling views of the Eastern Alps reminded me of just how big and elegant the Earth is, and how little we as people were. That city was peppered with breath-taking, once in a lifetime views, and we couldn’t help but just sit at the top of a mountain peak for hours only to stare out in front of it. We also came across a beautiful hidden lake front, framed by green and snowy mountains and beautiful arching trees. Technically the lake was in Germany, so we re-crossed the Austrian border to get to it. That said, the land wasn’t defined by country borders and ownership. It was a piece of nature allowed to exist without much outside interference. It was quiet, and simple, and a perfect moment.

Munich was also defined by beautiful architecture and history. It was our first grand stop on our weekend trip, and certainly a good one. The second you walk up the stairs and out of Munich’s train station, you are met with the largest, most beautifully detailed Gothic building façade. We also went to the famous Hofbräuhaus restaurant in Munich, where we ate some of the best German food I’ve ever had and became friends with our waitress (we started off with her poking fun at our American-ness, and ended with the most wholesome group photo I’ve ever been a part of). If you’re ever in Germany, don’t miss the Bavaria region. The poets have written so much about it for a reason.

I always knew that traveling around Germany and Europe during this program would be fulfilling. The opportunity to explore very new and very different places with a group of new friends is rare to come across. I guess I didn’t expect it to leave such a massive impact on me. It was four days of pure fun, some stress (we almost missed the last train out of Germany and into Austria when leaving the lake – definitely don’t make that mistake), and an opportunity to just think about the world and myself. I definitely miss it a lot.

I guess that means I’m gonna have to come back here soon. Bummer.

Aarthi Amarnath

Computer Engineering, Space Science and Engineering

IPEBerlin

Berlin, Germany

[umichenginabroad]

IPEBerlin Week 2/6: The actual studying part in studying abroad

Who would’ve thought that studying abroad would involve studying?

Me actually… I’ve thought about it an embarrassingly large amount.

If I’m being honest, perhaps the most intimidating aspect to this entire studying abroad program to me has been the actual classroom part of it. School, especially college, is inherently a place people go to in order to learn and showcase an advanced and articulate level of knowledge they possess on a given topic. Engineering, specifically, is expressed in the language of symbols, numbers, and equations. Its complexities are often inherent and difficult to decode, and they rely on a strong basis of logical and scientific thinking.

Does that not already sound kind of terrifying? Now imagine doing that in a German technical university. Suddenly I don’t know how to count to 10.

The last thing I wanted to come across as a student was, for lack of a better word, stupid. I always imagined that a German classroom would be no-nonsense and rigid. German engineering and education does not get its reputation without cause, after all. And at a place like TU Berlin – which is so highly regarded on the national and international scene – I initially hesitated to make any move in fear of sounding ridiculously unprepared.

But hindsight is 20/20. If anything needs to be labeled as “stupid”, it’s that mindset (no offense… to me, I guess).

The days I’ve spend as a student at TUB, both in my German language class and my engineering research class, have been nothing but fascinating and enlightening. As soon as I stepped into each classroom, that aura of intimidation immediately vanished and instead was overtaken by this air of curiosity.

Now, all of this is not said to insinuate that TU Berlin is an all easy-going and overly-relaxed place to study. It’s a top technical university for a reason. Our group has been lectured and scolded several times over for a lack of punctuality (pro tip: don’t ever be late in German - we learned that the hard way), and there is a level of previous knowledge and self-determined logical thinking that is expected from us. I myself have been called out (in a friendly way, don’t worry) for zoning out in our 8:30 A.M German class.

But I’ve found that, with the professors I’ve been working with so far, learning is less like a rigid lecture and more like a form of conversation. There is a lot of interaction between the teacher and the students as lessons are carried out, and there’s a genuine effort made to ensure that all students are comfortable and confident in the subject. Sometimes that came in the form of cold-calling, or impromptu assignments, but I have to admit that it made me more engaged in the material. During lectures, jokes were made and side-conversations were had. Sometimes we would enter a tangent conversation that would transform into its own entire mini-lecture. But this was never an annoyance or issue, and it never took away from any opportunity to learn. It was all a fascinating and organic way to learn about the culture, political climate, and personal history that many people experience in Berlin and in Germany. It was easily my favorite part of class, only for the fact that it was nothing less than interesting. You could catch me staring intently at the teachers and hanging onto every word they were saying. It didn’t even feel like school at that point.

I won’t lie and tell you that the classes are easy or light work. Learning anything for the first time is difficult, and adding a language barrier doesn’t make it easier. But above all else, I’m taking this as a unique opportunity to learn about language and engineering in a way any textbook or video can’t ever teach me. I find myself realizing that you can’t get this opportunity anywhere else. And yes, it’s difficult and overwhelming at times, and I often find myself trying (and sometimes failing) to fight every impulse to just not do the assigned homework.

But as saccharine as it may sound, it’s a real privilege to be able to learn under these exact contexts. It’s a once in a lifetime opportunity, and I have four more weeks to take it in. So catch me writing pages of notes and raising my hand countless times to ask questions. It’s all worth it, even if I have to sit there and fumble counting to 10 in German.

Aarthi Amarnath

Computer Engineering, Space Science and Engineering

IPEBerlin

Berlin, Germany

[umichenginabroad]

IPEBerlin Week 1/6: Ok yea I like it here

The title reveals it all, and not a single person is shocked – Berlin is amazing.

I write this as I’m sitting in my small student apartment in Kreuzberg, eating a Brezel I got from the Lidl grocery store down the road. My patio door and windows are open, it’s raining a little, I’m drinking water out of a wine glass, and you can hear the city waking up.

I mean, come on. It’s a vibe.

The second I stepped into this city sans suitcase and plane-fatigue, I immediately fell in love with it. It’s quiet yet busy. Large yet local. Right outside our apartment lies the U12 train line, which you can see going back and forth multiple times a day. Although I’ve been here for all of 4 days, I can already feel myself getting comfortable with it.

Our apartments are about a 10-minute walk from the river that circles Berlin, which is right by a good chunk of the Berlin Wall. Known as the East-Side Gallery, it depicts restored graffiti paintings that once upon a time were scattered alongside the east side of the wall. You see photos of it all the time in textbooks and online. You learn about it all in history classes all throughout the years. But standing right next to it – being able to touch it and observe it closely – that’s a whole other feeling.

A large part of the past week also involved getting comfortable with the train and tram lines here. As a bonified American from the suburban Midwest, navigating a city-transport station was just a *tiny* bit stressful. The fact that everything is in German certainly didn’t help me read the station lines. That said, once we got the hang of it, all of Berlin immediately fell into the palm of our hands. And isn’t that just a little bit exciting?

One thing that definitely surprised me during my first few days here is the fact that most people spoke English. Now, it’s no surprise that Berlin is an international city. You just have to take one look around to catch that. But prior to coming here, a large part of my intimidation in taking part of the program was the language barrier. I was fully prepared to pull out Google Translate at every restaurant, café, and attraction.

Turns out that’s not an issue! Everyone speaks German here, yes, but most also speak English. In fact, when I make any attempt to actually speak German out in public, I immediately get clocked as an American and the interaction switches to English. I have to note that this is not said as a criticism, but more so as an observation. The English language is really prominent in Berlin, and what makes it more interesting is that this trend leaves as soon as you exit Berlin city lines. It’s made my life a little easier, I won’t lie, but I think I’m going to make a continued effort to speak German when I can. After all, when else would I be able to do that?

That said, I’m issuing a blanket apology in advance to any local I talk to for my butchering of the German language pronunciation and grammar. In all fairness, that was never my strong suit in English, either, I’m not gonna lie.

This week, a group of us also went out to Mauerpark, which is apparently a can’t-miss here in Berlin (can confirm – please don’t miss it). Highlighted by a massive flea market, it is scattered with groups of people just hanging around. It was difficult to find anyone who didn’t have a beer in one hand and a cigarette in the other as they say on the grass. So many people were around just to sing, dance, play music, or just talk. It was distinctly human, and so refreshing to experience. I loved it so much.

So yes, so far I’ve had my first döner, missed my first U-Bahn by mere seconds, had my first experience almost getting run over because our group was standing too close to the bike line (pro-tip: never ever ever stand in the bike lane they do not play around with that in Germany), and experienced my first of, I’m sure many, thoughts alluding to the fact that I never want to leave this place.

Aarthi Amarnath

Computer Engineering, Space Science and Engineering

IPEBerlin

Berlin, Germany

[umichenginabroad]

IPEBerlin Week 4/6: Prague and Carnival!

According to my research advisor, Oli, this year’s IPEBerlin Program has a lot more long-weekend vacations than normal. While that has caused our work schedule to get a slightly off-kilter (so it goes), it also means more opportunities to travel.

I mean… a win is a win.

This past weekend we had a three-day holiday because of Pfingsten (I’m not going to lie to you, dear reader, I’m not sure what this holiday is. We tried asking around, but a lot of our German collogues had a hard time translating its meaning). And, as the laws of the (well, my) universe states, a three-day weekend means a trip to Prague for as cheap as possible.

I won’t lie, this trip was as youth/college/you’re-only-young-for-so-long as it gets. It involved booking a 12 A.M train from Berlin to Prague, only for the train lines to break down resulting in our train being delayed for 3 hours. It also involved still not entirely understanding how international train lines work in Germany, which led us to board a random train and hope that it was going to Prague. And if it wasn’t going to Prague, then… oops.

In hindsight it was kind of stupid to do that. We were all a little delirious from spending half the night in the train station well into the A.M. But it ended up being the correct train, and we definitely did that on purpose . If nothing, it created a long-lasting memory.

Prague is as beautiful as the poets and the stories say. It’s clearly an old city, lined with cobblestones and hilly narrow sidewalks. Its quintessential red roofs and green oxidized-copper accents make for a breathtaking outdoor view, and its old cathedrals and castles had you feel the weight and influence that religion and European power held in this city. The hilly green countryside, which we only briefly caught in the sunrise during the train ride into the city, made me feel like I was back in an age that didn’t have skyscrapers and illuminated billboards. As strange as it sounds, a lot of us agreed that Prague felt so very “Europe”.

A few of us also took the opportunity to explore Prague’s nightlife. We had to stand in a very long line for a decently long time (so long that a few of us literally left the line to bring back a large pizza from the local döner place, true story), but it was well worth it. The particular bar we went to is apparently known for its international scene, so we met quite a few people from around the world. There was foosball, good music, a crazy fast bartender, and a purely fun vibe.

It was a truly shocking realization when we got to first-hand experience how close and interconnected European countries are to each other. It was hard for us to believe that Prague was just a few hours from Berlin, and yet both cities are defined by their own separate culture, history, language, and currency. A big part of me wishes that travel was that easy and close back home. But alas, after a couple hours of driving in Michigan we still find ourselves in Michigan (don’t worry I still love Michigan).

After staying out long enough to see the sunrise in Prague, we had to quickly catch a bus (yes, there are busses that take you across several countries in Europe) back into Berlin, where we were instantly met with Carnival.

Carnival is a weekend-long event hosted in the Kreuzburg area of Berlin, which is where our student apartments happened to be located. Known as massive multi-cultural festival, it’s filled with parades and music and intricate costumes. It’s a festival that highlights the intricacies of Berlin’s cultural diversity – a feature of the city that makes it unique when compared to the rest of Germany and Europe. Several of us got to catch the last day of it, and never have I ever seen so many stands selling food from so many different parts of the world. It was a level of diversity that I haven’t seen even in big cities within the United States, and it made for an incredibly unique and fulfilling learning experience.

This week was busy, no doubt about it. But as I’ve been saying over and over again, there isn’t time to get tired here. There’s still so much to see and experience and report back on. Never have I walked so many steps and been to so many places in a 72-hour time span, but it has easily been some of the best 72 hours of my life, and the blisters and two RedBulls were well worth it. It’s high praise, and absolutely deserved.

Aarthi Amarnath

Computer Engineering, Space Science and Engineering

IPEBerlin

Berlin, Germany

[umichenginabroad]

IPEBerlin Week 5/6: Still One Week Left

I must admit that, since this entire experience has started, I’ve unconsciously taken measures to convince myself that this trip would be a forever kind of thing. Up until now, every time I engaged in any sort of thought that even acknowledged the fact that I’d one day have to leave Berlin, I would immediately force myself to think of something else. When others in my IPE group mentioned something about having “only one weekend left” in Berlin, I would immediately push for a change in subject. I was very ok with not facing any sort of reality check, thank you very much.

I also must admit that this mindset broke this week. For the first time in a long time, I had to entertain the idea that I’d soon be packing my suitcase and be heading to the airport to go back home in Michigan. It was pretty upsetting, to be honest, to think about the fact that we only had one week left after this.

But as I’ve said before, there isn’t any time to be sad or bored or stressed when you’re in Berlin.

After spending two straight weekends exploring other cities in Europe, I was pretty determined to become one with Berlin again. I, along with most others in my group, wanted to explore the different neighborhoods and hangout scenes all throughout the city. This is, after all, IPE Berlin.

One thing that I haven’t personally done much of throughout this entire experience is visit the more quintessential “tourist” locations within Berlin. A lot of my exploration here was around the local bars and biergartens – places that don’t necessarily appear in the top searches when you Google “Top 10 Places to Visit in Berlin”. And in many ways, that has been my favorite thing about living in Berlin for this long a time. After a few weeks of visiting local areas, you start to feel less like a tourist and more like you know the place well.

That said, there is a reason the “touristy” places are so popular and touristy. They’re fascinating. Berlin, especially, is so rich in history. Given the fact that much of Berlin has been shaped by events that have occurred in the past 100 years, it’s not hard to see how change has manifested here.

This week, our entire group went on a guided tour around the Bundestag, known for being the home of Germany’s parliament. It was so interesting to learn how WWII and decades of a divided Germany shaped the German government into what it is today. A lot of the old and new history of German government was ingrained (literally and metaphorically) into the bricks of the building. As I walked through the hallways and came across Soviet graffiti and corroded bullet holes, I couldn’t help but be reminded that this city saw so much turbulence and growth. It was very surreal, to be so close to meaningful historical artifacts and footprints that you only really see in documentaries. It was a nice change of pace and perspective, to visit a place like this.

 And of course, we took some time to visit a few bars around the area too (can’t forget about that!). The dim yellow bar lighting, faded wooden furniture, and small but mighty drinks menu felt just as Berlin as the grand government buildings. Much of the past few weeks have been very go-go-go, and rightfully so seeing that we only have so much time left here. But it was so nice to just sit and talk with each other. If there’s one thing Berlin has re-taught me, it’s the simplistic beauty of easy human connection. Nothing beats a good conversation, or laughing in the middle of the sidewalk at two in the morning, or an impromptu race down the road in between bars. It’s fun and fulfilling, through and through.

So yes, as you can maybe see from the sappy words, the end of this program is creeping too close for comfort, and I am stepping dangerously close to sentimental territory. It’s a feeling I’ve tried to postpone in the name of living in the moment and taking in the sights. I’m slowly starting to realize is that, yes, there is only one week left.

But on the other hand… we still have one week left.

There is so much more of Berlin to experience and appreciate. You can bet that I’m not gonna miss out on a second of it.

Aarthi Amarnath

Computer Engineering, Space Science and Engineering

IPEBerlin

Berlin, Germany

[umichenginabroad]

Week 0/6 - It's Berlin!

I don't really think I had any concrete expectations when coming to Berlin. As I was packing my bags back in Detroit and desperately trying not to violate the laws of physics by cramming "just one more" shirt into my suitcase, I was just... so excited. And nervous. Excited and nervous.

Now you may be thinking: "Aarthi, what a descriptive and detailed insight into your mindset prior to this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity". I get it. I'm also thoroughly unimpressed with my explanation. But I've been pacing my apartment for the better part of an hour trying to sum up all my thoughts and feelings around going to Berlin, and I genuinely can't seem to articulate it any further. I was just so excited and nervous.

Because it's Berlin! It's Berlin, and it's not Ann Arbor and it's not Michigan and it's not the United States. It's an entirely different culture and language defined by an incredible and thought-provoking history. It's a city that's so different from anything that I had ever known, and so different from the rest of the world and even from the rest of the Germany. And to be honest, I was ready for a change. For lack of better phrasing, I was so unbelievably ready to run away to Berlin for a little bit. So yeah. I think "excited and nervous" sums it all up rather appropriately.

Now, as romantic as all that is, it also came some amount of trepidation. Traveling can feel freeing and insightful, yes, but it can also undoubtedly be a very stressful ordeal. I was most definitely worried that I would stick out like a sore thumb. I'm someone who doesn't know German, and I don't really know how to navigate public transportation, and I walk and talk like an American. That's not really something you just "get over" at the baggage claim carousel in the Berlin Airport.

But at some point, you just kind of have to embrace it. Yeah, you're probably (definitely) gonna stand out a bit. A local will take one look at you and pin you as "not-from-here". But embrace it! Because isn't that the point? To immerse yourself in a place you haven't been to before? It's an incredibly unique opportunity to embrace the uncomfortable while also taking in so much information. Take the time to learn the customs and ways of life where you are. Explore and engage in its day and night life with enthusiasm and respect. An opportunity like this one isn't gonna come again, at least not under these contexts. You have to make it yours, in a way.

It's cheesy for sure. I'm honestly rolling my eyes a little bit as I'm typing this out. But that doesn't stop it all from being true.

So pack your favorite clothes and shoes – whatever it takes to make you feel your best – even if it means your suitcase has to defy the laws of physics a little. This is your time to just… be and exist and explore. You have every right to be excited and nervous. Just have fun throughout it all too, and make sure to take something away from it at the end.

Alright, enough with the sappy stuff. This is, after all, a University of Michigan College of Engineering blog post, so let’s be calculated and efficient with the next bit of information. Provided below is a concise list of everything and anything (not really though) you need to know (if you want to know them) before you go on your study abroad trip:

Most places outside of the United States are NOT giant-suitcase friendly. Depending on the type of person you are and how long you are studying abroad for, packing a big suitcase may be unavoidable. That’s ok – just be prepared to lug it across the cobblestone streets of a city and haul it onto two separate modes of public transportation.

Pack light on the toiletries, especially the non-daily ones. I recommend buying the cheap travel-size shampoo and conditioner in the United States to hold you over for a bit, but I promise various grocery stores and pharmacies will also have them.

Remember that, although this is an amazing life and cultural experience, it is still study abroad. Make sure to bring a calculator, notebook, folder, and pencils as necessary. Gotta impress the international academic scene and whatnot.

If you forget something, that’s ok. There’s a high chance that the place you are going to has what you need. Just don’t forget your passport. That’s, like, the one thing the local stores can’t help you with.

Above all else, I’m excited to just have fun here in Berlin. I know that there won’t be a single moment on this trip where I’m bored, and I find myself realizing what a beautiful thing that is. How could I possibly find the time or place to be bored here. I mean come on – it’s Berlin!

Aarthi Amarnath

Computer Engineering, Space Science and Engineering

IPEBerlin

Berlin, Germany