Andreia
Cities lived — Oliveira de Azeméis, Berlin
Time in Berlin — 1 year and 1 month. I first visited Berlin to attend an inspiring workshop related to the financial crisis. The workshop was all about figuring out how young people can beat the crisis. I was prepared to hate the city — like when everyone tells you to watch some movie because it’s so gooood and all you want is to prove them wrong! But I fell in love with Berlin instantly and knew I wanted to move to the city — I just didn’t know when and how. I was about to turn 30 and felt stuck in a routine that was basically killing me. Underneath the financial crisis of Portugal, I was having a deep personal crisis. I was in a pointless place and really needed to do something different with myself to discover what I am about. Surprisingly, just few months later the same Berlin based organisation had a vacancy and I applied. It was time to step away from both financial and personal crisis and start a new life. Last month I had my first anniversary with Berlin. I had one of those perfect Berlin moments — walking down my street and seeing that amazing Berlin light hit the city. It’s all about being in the right place on the very right moment. You feel connected to the city and know you are doing the right thing — you belong here and the city belongs to you.
Profession — Waitress / actress!
Passion — I secretly draw. Illustration, cinema, music and books. Books are doors to other universes and guides to human nature. You get to read about an inner life taking place decades ago and discover the human experience is still the same — we all share the same struggles and self-doubts. For me books are the most pleasant way of travel — you can see so much of the world without ever leaving your couch.
Best in Berlin — Everyone says Berlin is such a grey city but for me it’s full of colours. I love the randomness of everyday here. Yesterday I was sitting in a metro. A girl humming a traditional Portuguese fado song entered and sat next to me. Hearing the familiar tune instantly teleported me back to home for a moment. I asked if she was Portuguese — she was French but she loved fado. This city has so much to absorb. In the beginning of the day you never know how it will end. There are always encounters — beautiful people and places constantly popping up on your way. In this city you can’t just execute life like a routine — you have to flow with it.
For me there is Andrea before Berlin and Andrea after Berlin. I was the wallflower — now I’m the social butterfly organising the parties. Before Berlin my life was mostly about pleasing other people instead of even finding out what would make me happy. I had to have some distance from everything I knew and get out of my comfort zone that was killing me. I figured that as leaving everything you know is such a big challenge there must be a reason why people do it anyways instead of just keeping comfortable. I wanted to see what is out there and what is so wonderful about it.
Bad in Berlin — On my first trip to Berlin I met inspiring people who made me realise the world was really on my reach. I too could see the world if I wanted. There was nothing that could stop me. Now that I’ve experienced the back alleys of this new international lifestyle, it doesn’t feel so fancy anymore. No matter what country — everyone has pain and everybody struggles. Everyone feels lonely sometimes. But it’s important to realise we don’t have to be happy all the time. First Berlin felt cold and lonely — then I realised how many tools for transformation this city offers you. You can really improve yourself. You have to! Some people tend to think that traveling people are simply escaping themselves. Actually I feel people often hide behind their background — their culture, routines and social circles. When you are all alone in a new environment, there is no way to hide from yourself. When you arrive to a new city, you start naked. I miss fado and a lot of other things but in the end my life is so much better here in Berlin.
Tip — All the great book stores! Fair Exchange (Dieffenbachstraße 58, 10967) is my personal all time favourite. Also Mauerpark flea market is full of books to be found. Sometimes they are free!
