Lichtenberg, Marzahn, and Hohenschönhausen areas

Hello again. Here I am for more questions on accommodation and living arrangements... I will be studying at Humboldt University in September and apparantly if I try and arrange accommodation living in a Studentenwohnheim through Humboldt... (and they arrange accommodation through Studentenwerk)..Anyways apparantly they stick most exchange students in the Lichtenberg, Marzahn and Hohenschoenhausen regions.. I looked on the map and these areas seem like they are quite far from the center.. Can anyone tell me about these areas? I am not sure if I should look for a WG on my own or if I should let the University place me somewhere (might be an advantage to be with other International students etc..)

Any advice would be great!!

Thanks

Krista

I had a similar problem some years ago, as I moved from bonn to berlin. Searching for a WG or flat if you are some hundreds kilometres away is a pain the ass and so I went for the easier way - Studentenwohnheime. I didn't want to live somewhere outside of the city so I decided to move into the Tiergarten area (Siegmunds Hof, which is also quite popular with international students). The drawback is that the rooms are very small and shower/bathroom is shared with some other people. Maybe you have also the opportunity to decide where to go? or at least do suggestions?

anyway, lets come to the districts mentioned: They're quite huge and there are wohnheime rather near the center but also some very far away. have a look at http://www.studentenwerk-berlin.de/wohnen/...n/lageplan.html
If the wohnheim is near an S-Bahn Station (especially somewhere with more than one line, for example Lichtenberg) it's no problem to get anywhere in Berlin (about 20 minutes to the center/friedrichstraße). Be sure to avoid Wohnheime which are only connected to buses or Trams.
The areas itself are rather not that great, but even Marzahn has some nice places. Anyway, most Wohnheime are DDR-plattenbauten and therefore rather ugly - as the surrounding blocks and the inhabitants are more the german "redneck"-type, but there are of course exceptions and also many families are living there. For bars and cafes you have to go to Friedrichshain (Ostkreuz, Warschauer Straße), which is about 10 to 20 minutes away.

I don't know how long are you gonna stay here, but you have the option to quit your Wohnheim within three months (or so) and then move into a WG/flat if you're not satisfied... this is what I did.

Hi Toby, Actually Ive been to Siegmunds Hof before I stayed there with a friend last June for a weekend. Apparantly all students who are exchange partners get put in the Eastern parts of Berlin.. in those districts I mentioned. We dont get a choice or preference where to go they just stick us somewhere and thats it! I reckon I might just sign up for it so I can meet other international students and so life can be easier. Thanks for telling me about the 3 month thing.. if I dont like it I can always search for a flat somewhere else right?!

Also when you were studying in Berlin did you end up taking an intensive language course beforehand? I am not sure if its worth it... 400 euros plus accommodation vs working for the last month in Canada to save up some cash..

Thanks a bunch..

Krista

Krista08, from Kreuzberg to Lichtenberg/Marhzan, oh no! I have African friends here who can recount several personal attacks on them in the areas on the east side of Berlin -- L/M. When I first came, people liked to warn me (white American) not to open my mouth in such areas as my obvious accent could even make me a target (they can't tell I'm not German until I speak). I don't want to spread rumors so I'll ask if there are any people of color who can speak from personal experience. My general rule is to never consider housing outside of the ring-Bahn. Unless you're close to the S-Bahn your transport situation will not be particularly good and it would be a bit of a bike ride to Humboldt (tho one of my African friends used to do it from Nöldnerplatz).

On language, are you studying at Humboldt in German? If so you should have an intensive German course there, I think, for about 6 months? The private language schools do tend to be expensive and I wouldn't think it's worth it if you're getting instruction at your university. If you're NOT and you don't speak much German (I'm guessing), then yes, you need instruction. It's very hard to function here if you don't speak some rudimentary German, and if you do end up "deep east", the English abilities of the people living there drop like a rock (former East Germans learned Russian and immigrants of course didn't study English).

Katchya is 100% correct concerning her views on the Marzahn/Lichtenberg area. I will detail my experience here. I am an African-American female studying German here for a year while completing my Master's degree in the states. My fiance is German/Russian with his mother residing in the Marzahn area. Due to cheaper apartments, we moved to Friedrichsfelde Ost in the Lichtenberg District. In simplest terms, the racism here is unequivocably massive for this to be 21st century Europe. I was always told that there was a greater tolerance in Germany ( because of past atrocities) than in the USA. That idea must of excluded East Berlin.

Although I have not been physically attacked, like I've read about some African individuals, the racism here was a shock to my system. In the beginning I shed tears and I had to put myself in the mood to step outside the front door. Many stare like they have never seen a black person before. If you stare back at them, some turn around. Others continue to gaze at me without blinking. Sometimes, my fiance steps inbetween me and the person who is staring when they will not avert their gaze. Other times, they glare at me like I am the scum of the earth. Clerks at some stores in this area have been hateful, but my fiance says it is not about my race, but general rudeness when it comes to customer service. The jury is still out on that one. When I speak English, it tends to be a double shock for them. Perhaps they expect a Bantu language with their backward thinking, I don't know. Although I can't tell the difference visually, my fiance says that many of these people with these reactions here in the East are predominantly Russian immigrants. If I decide to stay here and find work, we are moving to Western Berlin faster than a lightening bolt.

I believe that a Euro-American would have no trouble here. Actually, a few Euro-American students I have talked to love Eastern Berlin, their clubs, and hangouts. Most of these are the left leaning or more Bohemian Americans like myself. However, I am Black and that puts me in a particular element of intolerance and exclusion here and has given me a horrid experience in these parts. I don't think they are intolerant of the English language as someone stated before, especially when spoken by a White American. I think you will be okay. Their intolerance seems to rest upon how much melanin you have in your skin.

Good Luck.

Wow that sounds really horrible actually. I live in Vancouver and its a really multi-cultural city.. that will be a big shock for me if I end up somewhere like there :S:S:S:S. I lived in Karlsruhe Germany last year and never witnessed any problems of racism... and I thought a bigger city would have been more tolerant. I am half chinese/half caucasian... I would prefer to live in Kreuzberg or some other area in the mitte obviously but for the first 3 months I am really considering just signing up for a Studentenwohnheim.. actually the guy who went on exchange before me from my Uni wasnt even put in those areas so maybe it was just an overexaggeration on their application form. I also want to live somewhere that is close to an S-bahn, U-bahn.. Im guessing Marzahn isnt lol? My German is actually quite alright because I lived there for a year already and Ive been studying the advanced levels for 2 semesters here in Canada.. the course they are offering is just one month and although Im sure it would help I just dont really know if I can afford it I guess.. It really sucks how we have no choice where we live they can stick you wherever they want.. :S Thanks for the replies..

Maybe you should try to get a room directly over Studentenwerk? I think this is not impossible... maybe more work for you. An alternative would be to stay for a week in some cheap hostel and search for a room in a WG.
Anyway, I think racism is not so much a problem for asian looking people - simply because there is a big vietnamese community in the eastern parts of Berlin.

@NightGypsie: regarding racism in the eastern Districts: In most parts of the east berlin districts Mitte, Prenzlauer Berg and Friedrichshain, there virtually is no racism. The racism in the eastern suburbs of Berlin arises from the fact, that many smart people moved to either west germany or the better parts in Berlin plus the general frustration in east germany and the nearly non-existing immigrant community in GDR. It's a problem you can notice in many of the ex-communist countries (especially russia, speaking about russian racism...).

TobyG - how do you know this to be a fact? Isn't that a bold, sweeping statement? Are you a person of color who has personally experienced this to be true? That there is "virtually no racism"? In general I agree with your posts, but I find this statement to be a little hard to swallow.

Ok, this was too much, I just wanted a short concies statement because of the generalisation regarding racism in all east Berlin of NightGypsie. Of course there is, unfortunately, maybe NO place in this world totally avoid of racism and no, I'm not coloured. So, maybe it's better like this (and be sure to not forget my "most places" of this districts - I know there are parts of Prenzlauer Berg and Friedrichshain where racism plays a bigger role): There is much less racism than in the districts mentioned above; about the same amount as in western districts like for example Charlottenburg or Zehlendorf.

On a totally separate note, it is amazing that how everytime this comes up, immigrant Russians have been pointed out as the cause...and this is like the 8th or 9th time I'm hearing this...

Hey Krista!!!

I'm moving over to Berlin from Victoria! It's a British Columbian invasion!

Zobirdie

Guess Toby hasn't been keeping up with current events. There have been several attacks by racists/nazis in Friedrichshain in the last few months. Because there are quite a few alternative/lefty types around there, Nazis from the neighbouring eastern districts make 'excursions' at the weekends to cause trouble. My girlfriend is a teacher in a state school and has recently attended a conference for teachers which covered the rising anti semitism in schools. Places like Marzahn are big recruiting grounds for the NPD, (the closest thing in existence to the National Socialists).
I worked with an African guy a few months ago who recounted some nasty cases of abuse he'd suffered in central and suburban Berlin. I think people are a bit too optimistic about the past being behind us, it seems like old habits die hard. Particularly the German's anti semitic habits.

This is all pretty much what I wanted to say, but Toby said it well first

I'm from Victoria too We should start a BC club haha.

Hahaha yes we should! Our first meeting will be when I get there in September! Hahaha.. how long are you guys staying in Germany for? I am going over to Victoria in the summer for a bit... but I am from SURREY... Hahaha.

I'm here forever. I have a German passport and I love it here!