Soon after I arrived in Madrid, I called one of my hometown best friends who was also studying abroad in Seville, a city about a three hour train ride from Madrid. The purpose of this call was to plan the trip we had been envisioning since early college, when we both decided we would probably study abroad. Â
We either wanted to go to Prague or Berlin, and when we went through all the details of flight costs, hostel availability, and our class schedules, Berlin ended up being our pick. Everything was paid for and planned, but the week of the trip, my friend called me and told me she had a family emergency and was flying back to the United States for the remainder of the week and weekend. She urged me to still go for both of us; the flights and stay were already booked.Â
I was wary at first of going to this unfamiliar city alone. However, Berlin was a city I had been wanting to experience for years, and I was finally in a situation where I could go. I did research on basic things like safety, but also on things to do and explore during the daytime. I came up with a list of cool spots to sit at, landmarks to visit, and restaurants and bars to try, and then made the decision that I was going to go for sure. Â
I wasn’t necessarily fearful for my safety, as the city is very large and well-known, but I was more concerned with whether or not the actual experience would be enjoyable given that I would be staying and exploring the city alone. Despite these feelings in the back of my mind, I hopped on the short two-hour flight from Madrid to Berlin. When I touched down, I took a cab to the room I was staying in, dropped my bag, and found a lunch spot nearby. I then ate while planning the rest of my trip.Â
I explored the city during the day, walking miles and miles just listening to music in my headphones while taking in the scenery and the architecture surrounding me. I sat in parks and read my book, simultaneously engaging in people-watching. At night, I experienced the techno nightlife scene, one of the main reasons I had wanted to come to the city in the first place. I have a love for techno music and Berlin is historically rich in techno and rave culture. People in the city were so kind and inclusive to me, despite me being American and a first-timer in the city. Â
The weekend I was there was one of the most incredible weekends of my life. I never felt alone, or anxious about the fact that I was there alone, and instead I actually enjoyed it more. Obviously, the experience with my friend would have been so much different, but the experience of being in a new city alone opened my eyes to what I am capable of. I now have so much more confidence in myself that I can figure it out and be comfortable with being alone in a new place. Prior to this trip, I had some doubts about whether or not I would feel sad or alone while being in solitude, but the experience in Berlin opened my eyes to a new side of myself that I had not yet been shown.