{"id":16053,"date":"2019-05-24T12:38:01","date_gmt":"2019-05-24T07:08:01","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/fsl-india.org\/blog\/?p=16053"},"modified":"2019-05-30T11:08:28","modified_gmt":"2019-05-30T05:38:28","slug":"berlin-my-city-sahil-anees-outbound-participant","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/fsl-india.org\/blog\/berlin-my-city-sahil-anees-outbound-participant\/","title":{"rendered":"Berlin, “My City” – Sahel Anees, Outbound Participant"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

In September, I came to Berlin to kick-start a beautiful\nbut immensely challenging journey of volunteering at Unionhilfswerk\nFluch\u00fctlingsunterkunft, Lichtenberg. Two seasons and half a year later, I can\nsafely say that Berlin is \u201cMy city\u201d. It\u2019s unreal how this city has grown into\nme. It amazes me how, in the midst of hustle and chaos, there is so much\ncalmness and peacefulness here.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Working at the Fluch\u00fctlingsunterkunft (Refugee Centre),<\/strong> every day is a learning experience.\nIt gives me different perspectives to look at things, having heard the stories\nfaced by different people hailing from different parts of the world. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Being alien to trade skills or repair work, working with\nthe housekeepers has helped me learn several new things, such as, using\ndifferent types of tools, fixing different appliances and most importantly, how\nto work in a systemised manner. I have also learnt the values followed by the\nsocial work team, who work tirelessly, providing different types of counselling\nin improving the lives of the refugees. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The most challenging task I face here is teaching the\nchildren, primarily because of the language barrier. However, this has brought\nout a skill in me of using different and unconventional methods of teaching,\nwhich I did not know I possess. This has not only helped the children\nunderstand different concepts, but also has created a special bond between us,\nwhich I believe will go a long way. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u201cAll work and no play, makes Jack a dull boy.\u201d Berlin\namazes you with the depth of events and programs it has every day. As an avid\nlistener of music, I got the chance of seeing some of the most famous artists\nperform live. I recently got to witness the concert of Bob Dylan. Having heard\nthe rough baritone voice on my mp3 player all my life, watching him live was\nthe most surreal feeling. I also went for the concert of a British band called\n\u201cSeafret\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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It\u2019s amazing what people do to escape the mundanity of a\nroutine life and traveling is my proud executioner. I must tell you that\nNeuschweinstein Castle also known as the Disney Castle is even more beautiful\nthan the pictures on Instagram and the books. When in Bavaria, do as the\nBavarians do, one has to experience the atmosphere inside the Allianz Arena\nwith a plate of Brat Wurst and Pommes. I\u2019m sure that the stadium will make your\nheart say \u201cMia San Mia\u201d no matter which football team you support.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Traveling to Switzerland and Paris has been a dream come true. Walking in the villages of Grindelwald, Lauterbrunnen and Wengen is something I will never forget. Traveling to the top of Europe and the views of the Swiss lakes from the trains was the ultimate Yash Raj Bollywood experience. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Paris on the other hand, with its charm, captured my heart and I now believe why the writers and artists of the 1920\u2019s never left Paris. With so much history, immense beauty and hustle of the commoners, Paris reminds me of what the \u201cTelegraph Road\u201d must have been like in the song by Dire Straits.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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These experiences have made realise how insignificant we\nall are, and there is so much to learn and see, rather than being absorbed by\nthe negative things around us. It has been a thoroughly different experience so\nfar, I\u2019ve found comfort in being out of my comfort zone, and I feel that is the\nonly way you learn new things. I am looking forward to the rest of time here\nwith challenges ahead and myriad memories to be made. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

In September, I came to Berlin to kick-start a beautiful but immensely challenging journey of volunteering at Unionhilfswerk Fluch\u00fctlingsunterkunft, Lichtenberg. Two seasons and half a year later, I can safely say that Berlin is \u201cMy city\u201d. It\u2019s unreal how this city has grown into me. It amazes me how, in the midst of hustle and chaos, there is so much calmness and peacefulness here. Working at the Fluch\u00fctlingsunterkunft (Refugee Centre), every day is a learning experience. It gives me different…<\/p>\n

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