Priscilla

Time in Berlin — 1 year & 8 months. I’m leaving next month to return to London!

Cities lived — London, Egham, Kampala, Berlin

Preferred area — Kreuzberg. It’s not too residential, every block will introduce you to a new cosy coffee shop or restaurant. The surrounding parks and canals are relaxing and beautiful.

Profession — Digital Marketing & Branding Consultant, Voiceover Artist

Passion — I studied Art and Media Production. Working in an established art institution made me realise that capitalism can creep into the art world and I saw a side of it that made me move more towards marketing. Sometimes talented people don’t get the opportunity to excel in this field (due to their social circles or lack of connections.) — it can be more about who you know.

Best in Berlin — I would recommend Berlin if you want to be challenged, surrounded by creativity and have less boundaries. But there should be a time limit for this city — for me I feel like my time is up. I’ve loved it here — in London there is not enough time or space for creativity. Berlin is not about pace, working hours, status or earnings — it’s a different culture here. In Berlin you wake up with new ideas and find new influences every day. Berlin has inspired me, but in terms of my career, I feel I will develop further in London. Experiencing Berlin has given me confidence and a more relaxed perspective. I now feel that I have more courage to try out new things.

Bad in Berlin — We Ausländers tend to have our own subculture, which can be distant from German culture. Language barriers bring most English speaking migrants together. It takes time to integrate into German culture, socially and professionally. Learning German is a must! Sehr wichtig!

Tip — Come to Berlin for personal development. Berlin is a transitional city, where you will not get caught up in the rat race. You have more time to yourself, space and access to different people, cultures and history.

Party, but make sure you have a plan as well. The Berlin life style can be infectious, if you’re career orientated, it might not be the best place to focus on your goals.

Don’t lose your ambition — keep connection with the rest of the world and keep pushing yourself further.