Give Berlin A Chance - Here Is Why! A Story Of Kush
Yana Immis
“I am always fascinated by people of all kinds of professional, educational, and lifestyle backgrounds. You might be surprised how much you can share in common with other people if you can communicate well.”
Read the diary of Kush living in Berlin here!
Chapter 1: About Me
“Some people might feel a sense of security in a foreign country when they are around the people who speak the same language as their own or share something else in common.
We are all different, and we are not always perfectly aware of what we are doing. It is easy to fall into your comfort zone and revert to what is familiar. In a foreign environment, embrace the new as much you can, and you won't regret it.
I would encourage young students to challenge their beliefs and develop people skills. You don't know what you are missing out on if you form cliques at school and hang out with the same people all the time. As a student, I had no desire to stick to what my classmates were planning to do after classes.
One time I even just decided to show up in a social gathering at Technical University (where I was not studying, of course) all alone and had a great conversation with an ESA scientist; I came from a business background, but I learned something new. There is no perfect way to develop people skills, but you can start by opening up to new ideas.
People keep asking me why I travel alone, but this is just the way I am. You either get it or you don’t.
When I was 18 years old, I realized I am more of a free person if I just do what I want to. Before making my first ever solo trip, I was thinking about all kinds of what-ifs. I had the time and the budget then, but no one wanted to join me.
It just took that one solo trip during my student years, and I have never looked back since. I travel solo more often and meet backpackers and adventurous souls you would not usually meet. I have the freedom to wake up at any time or even make a spontaneous plan to go somewhere with someone I just met and have a great time.
It is incredible when you hear stories from people who have been traveling on a gap year, a sabbatical, or for more than a year at a time. I once even met a Frenchman who had been traveling and hitchhiking for 15 years on a limited budget. What a confidence booster is it to travel alone!
It is not selfish to think more about yourself and taking yourself on a solo travel journey.
It is also ok to break free of wherever you come from for some of your life. Trust me, people who love you will stay anyway.
As you grow older you may realize that the kind of people you attract and maintain friendships with would largely depend on your personal values. And the years as a student are a great time to rediscover yourself.
Chapter 2: What about COVID-19?
The German people and the government are going all in to curb the outbreak and save the economy:
I admire how people are showing tremendous discipline and resilience in these hard times.
I read an article on the local.de that Germany is the ‘second safest country in the world’ during coronavirus according to multiple sources.
The Germans are positive that they are managing this crisis well. As far as the global economy is concerned, it won’t be long until things will turn around and become good as soon as the health-crisis comes under control.
I can empathize with people who are feeling overwhelmed right now. I know some people personally who are overwhelmed by how this sudden shift has blurred the lines between their personal life and a professional one at the same time; this is especially true for people who are working from home and have children to take care of.
People are worried about all kinds of different aspects of their life getting disrupted. I have friends who are musicians and artists whose events and performances got canceled due to the ban on gatherings. I also know people who work in hospitality and tourism.
Despite a series of unfortunate events lately,
you are not alone in this.
Times like these challenge people to create a blueprint for a better future for themselves and for others. We can all come out stronger and better versions of ourselves if we put some work into it and give up on what is already not in our control.
It is important to count your blessings. Look at it this way, the western hemisphere is free of conventional warfare, and entire cities have been rebuilt because people put work into making it happen. Things require effort and cooperation. Berlin, for example, has risen from the ashes.
There is always a way to grow out of any crisis, and it can be done by acquiring new knowledge.
One can pick up a book and read it. You can also sign-up for a new online course and gain digital skills that are in demand. We can already see a swift transition into a more digital economy, and professionals in pretty much all industries will have to adapt to stay competitive.
Advanced technologies are already changing how we communicate, receive, and secure information. For example, AI algorithms can now diagnose patients with depression and prescribe the best-suited anti-depressant in their case. You can now codify legal prose that can lower your chances of getting into a dispute because codifying can lower chances of misinterpretation of terminologies. There are many other impressive use cases.
Just over a decade ago, a lot of us probably didn’t even have a smartphone, and we now realize how much our day to day life and communication depends on it.
If you are someone with extra free time, you can learn to be more mindful, exercise at home, or go outside for a run if the lockdown measures allow you to.
Social distancing can be a great time for self-reflection.
It depends on how you look at it.
A few years ago, I participated in a mindfulness meditation retreat course in the Indian Himalayas in the Dalai Lama’s residence town - Dharamsala. Practicing guided meditation has really helped me deal with a rush of thoughts and center myself.
I was inspired by talks of Dan Harris and Sam Harris to make this a part of my lifestyle. The retreat was a unique educational opportunity. We were people from all corners of the world, from varying age groups, different professional backgrounds, some of us even carrying emotional baggage and traveling the world for various reasons, but united in one place by the same idea.
And as strange as it may sound, a Japanese traveler who I had met almost two years before in New York at an arcade bar one evening was there for the introduction course. It was so unexpected to meet her in a completely different environment.
The idea was to improve our nature and grow into a more peaceful person. We stayed together in silence in a shared dorm for a program that lasts ten days, and you get no access to electronic gadgets during the time. I did three of those programs. I know that change doesn't come that quickly, but mindfulness does shift your energy, and you can continue to practice.
Chapter 3: Master Thesis - how to write it?
The thesis degree requirement for me specified that a Master level thesis needs to be more analytical than a bachelor level thesis (without specifying any concrete examples of how per se).
I was not required to write a thesis as a part of my bachelor’s degree program, so this was a new challenge. I realized that I like reading about new technologies and so why not start from there.
I took some hints from the theoretical knowledge I gained during my Master's and sent a proposal to one of my professors in Rome.
The professor connected me to other Masters and Ph.D. Erasmus students and business professionals who were all working on similar projects.
We all joined virtually through a video call to discuss what we want to contribute.
I ended up with a peer-reviewed case study about a smart contract solution deployed on a blockchain architecture.
At the start, I didn't have all the answers as the case studies were all written by developers in a very technical language. What I did have was course materials about contractual management from my Master's program and work experience in RegTech in New York.
So, I spent the first couple of months just familiarizing myself with technical terminology to gain a background of the problem that Smart Contracts solve.
The gap I filled was examining how that specific case from the study can be made legally compliant in the face of new regulations and policies. I also discussed new methods and solutions that can alleviate the security concerns of users and protect against malicious attackers.
Along the way, I found new technical solutions and structured the whole concept into something new that can improve workflows. It was all about connecting the dots, and it was a great feeling to have your work appreciated and valued by others.
A friend who owns a startup in San Francisco visited Berlin to talk about blockchain on his first-ever Europe tour. At his event, I gained some new insights on how I can add value to my thesis topic by talking to some people and gaining access to resources. There are so many things happening here in Berlin.
I required minimal support from my professor while working on the thesis. I spent a great deal of my time writing my thesis from public university libraries like at Frei University and TU Berlin. This was a really enjoyable experience for me. During breaks in the library, I would make a travel itinerary for my next trip and go for a beer at the end of the day. Things like that kept me level-headed while working on the thesis.
I became totally immersed in this topic last summer, and eventually, this led to crafting a well-written thesis and defending the topic successfully at La Sapienza in Rome. It was really satisfying to finish strong.
Chapter 4: How Berlin and you can contribute to each other’s success?
As a student, the quality of life in Berlin is good. In comparison to other places I have lived, worked, and studied - in India, Southern Germany, the United States, and Italy.
Berlin offers a thriving startup ecosystem, and it is great to meet innovators, who are essentially creating new markets.
I have had the opportunity to meet some forward-thinking people from New York, Tel Aviv, London, San Francisco, Boston, you name it. In startup communities, people are generally willing to help each other with finding connections.
There is an abundance of knowledge, so don’t just limit yourself to what goes inside a classroom, achieving certain grades, or sticking to a course structure.
Learn to be versatile. At work, anyone can master routine tasks as time goes by. But it is especially stimulating to manage tasks in a dynamic environment that requires working on new problems and tasks on a regular basis.
I personally think that to develop your entrepreneurial thinking ability, you should spend time working closely with other entrepreneurs who are getting things done.
I find Berlin as an incredibly dynamic city.
Berlin has seen a lot.
As a student in Berlin, I had been living near the Schlactensee lake, which offers a rich natural landscape around the lake area. I like the local culture of swimming in the waters, relaxing and drinking beer by the lake during the summer months.
I am a big fan of food and beers. I like Nürnberger bratwursts, schnitzel, and currywurst, and my favorite beverages include Club Mate, Fritz Cola, Berliner Luft, and Berliner Kindel.
The beers are relatively cheaper compared to other metropolitan cities outside of Germany. An average meal in a restaurant can cost around €15, which is fair, I think.
What you may find odd about how supermarkets here are managed is that the cashier tries to serve people fast, and you have to pack your groceries quickly.
Berlin is a model of tolerance and celebrates people and their individuality. There are no societal norms as such, and people are free to express themselves.
For example, Berliners proudly celebrate the LGBT community
The city became the first in the world to declare Frauentag on March 8th as a public holiday.
The best thing about Berlin is how well it is connected to the rest of Europe with its domestic airports and the city itself is located in the heart of Europe which is an added value.
It is so easy to live here. It is easy to travel from here.” - Kush.
