{"id":1561,"date":"2021-04-14T06:09:44","date_gmt":"2021-04-14T06:09:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/uberlin.co.uk\/december-2011-uberlin\/"},"modified":"2021-04-15T07:22:24","modified_gmt":"2021-04-15T07:22:24","slug":"december-2011-uberlin","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/uberlin.co.uk\/december-2011-uberlin\/","title":{"rendered":"December 2011 – \u00fcberlin"},"content":{"rendered":"
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December 30, 2011<\/abbr><\/h5>\n
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Ask \u00fcberlin: Itchy feet, cold feet<\/a><\/h3>\n

by James Glazebrook<\/span><\/h4>\n
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We answer our readers\u2019 questions about moving to, and living in, Berlin. An English student asks: \u201cDo you think I\u2019m making a mistake moving to Berlin with no support or back up plan?\u201d<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Hi guys,<\/p>\n

First off, I love your blog! The music you post is amazing. Secondly, I was wondering if you could possibly offer me some advice? I\u2019m planning to move to Berlin next summer from England but I\u2019m terrified at the prospect of \u201cfailing\u201d in my attempt to build a life for myself in a foreign country. I have a large sum of savings that I don\u2019t want to blow but will cushion me for the first few months. Ideally, my plan was to find an apartment to rent in either Mitte or X-berg (as these are the two places I know the best) and find myself a job in a bar\/restaurant\/coffee shop until I\u2019m settled and then look into something in the creative industry. I\u2019m 22 years old and about to complete a degree in Visual Communication. Do you think I\u2019m making a mistake moving to Berlin with no support or back up plan? Is there any advice you can offer me?<\/p>\n

Thank you!<\/p>\n

Roisin<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

First off, thanks! We love hearing from people who like what we do, and are thinking of embarking on a Berlin adventure of their own.<\/p>\n

The short answer to your question is: no, you\u2019re not making a mistake. As far as we\u2019re concerned, there is no such thing as \u201cfailing\u201d to move to a foreign country. Fears like yours kept us in London for five years, and our final decision to move came with the realisation that the worse that could happen is we have to go back home with a little less money, having done a lot more living. Other expats and travellers would agree that trying to change your life is rewarding in itself, and a risk worth taking.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Plus, you seem to be going about things in the right way. Coming cushioned with savings and prepared to work menial jobs is smart, as is coming in summer! And there\u2019s no better time<\/a> for creatives to move to Berlin. <\/strong>However, we have some advice before you take the leap:<\/p>\n

Consider a flat share (WG) rather than renting by yourself. <\/strong>Your savings will stretch further, and you might make friends with some locals who can introduce you to the city\u2019s hidden treasures. Check out WG Gesucht<\/a> for flat share ads.<\/p>\n

If your German isn\u2019t up to much, you might have problems getting work in bars, cafes and other service businesses where the occasional German person pops in from time to time. <\/strong>If this is the case, you might find the quickest route into the creative industry is an internship in one of the city\u2019s many awesome agencies or startups. Sign up to Watson Jobs<\/a>\u2018 newsletter for job vacancies and internships. If you already have great Deutsch<\/em> then well done \u2013 you\u2019re more prepared than most of the expats who already live here!<\/p>\n

Hope this helps. Let us know if you have any more questions, and when you arrive in the city look us up for a celebratory Berliner Weisse<\/a>. Good luck!<\/p>\n

\"Cold<\/p>\n

Cold feet? Or ready to take your first steps towards living in Berlin?<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Got a question about life in Berlin or making the move here? Check out our quick guide to Moving to Berlin<\/a>, or drop us an email<\/a> and we\u2019ll do our best to help!<\/strong><\/p>\n

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