NYU Summer in Berlin

Pre-Departure Orientation Guide for Students

Director in New York/ Professor Thomas Ertman

NYU Summer in Berlin

Table of Contents

Welcome p3

Expectations p3

Flight p3

Arrival p3

Orientation p3

Housing p4

Program Calendar p5

Excursions p5

Academics p6

Courses p6

Facilities p7

Meals p7

Phone Calls p7

Weather p8

Electricity/Voltage p8

Currency & Banking p8

Packing p9

Contact Information p9

Health & Safety p10

Parent Information p10

Welcome

This pre-departure guide is meant to help you in planning your travel to Berlin this summer and will provide you with detailed information about the program. With its numerous museums, art galleries, parks, and magnificent architecture, Berlin has much to offer. Your summer will be a busy one, with challenging courses through which you will experience all the highlights of this vibrant city.

Expectations

Please remember that you are representing many things while you are abroad: New York University, college students, etc. Always be respectful and tolerant of the people around you AND each other. You’ll find things abroad will be different from what you are used to at home. We encourage you to embrace these differences, as learning about cultural differences is exactly the point of studying abroad! If you remain open-minded and flexible you will have a much more enjoyable experience.

Flight

As you know, you are responsible for booking your flight to Berlin. While you may choose to purchase your flight at any time and through any carrier, we recommend using NYU’s preferred partner, Egencia, to buy your ticket.

Typically, flights from the New York area depart in the evening and arrive the morning of the following day. We encourage you to purchase a flight that arrives between 8am and 2pm on arrival day.

Arrival

When you arrive in Berlin you are responsible for getting to the student apartments on your own. Airport pick-up is not available because of the many different arrival times of students’ flights. The easiest way is to take a cab from the airport, especially if you have a lot of luggage and are on your own trying to figure things out. Detailed information on how to travel from the airport to your NYU housing will be provided prior to departure.

Orientation

There will be an orientation upon your arrival. It is mandatory that you attend the entire orientation. You will meet with faculty, staff, and fellow students, and also receive important and useful information about classes, facilities, our summer itinerary, the city, and the neighborhood. NYU Summer in Berlin Orientation will take place on July 7 at the academic center, KulturBrauerei. It will consist of information on Administrative stuff, Academics, Safety, Transportation, and Excursions. Students will have an opportunity to talk to their instructors during this meeting.

Housing, NYU Berlin, Charlottenstraße 96-97, 10969 Berlin Each student will be living in a fully furnished, fully equipped apartment in NYU Berlin’s student housing, centrally located in the district of Kreuzberg. All rooms are spacious and contain plenty of room for clothing and other personal belongings. Apartments range in size and house anywhere between two to eight students. Most students will live in a double room, though a very limited number of single rooms are also available. This modern building was originally drafted in 1984 by New York architect John Hejduk, and features wheelchair accessible rooms as well as rooms with fire alarms for the hearing impaired. With newly renovated and fully stocked kitchens, each apartment allows residents to prepare their own meals at home and many students enjoy cooking larger dinners together with roommates and friends. Berlin offers a plethora of excellent and affordable cafés, restaurants and bakeries located all over the city. Students also have the option of dining at the Humboldt University cafeteria, just a quick U-Bahn ride away. The student housing facilities feature an array of other amenities, including 24-hour security, quiet study rooms, computer lab, and a cozy student lounge complete with a flat-screen TV, blue-ray player, pool table, and an electric keyboard. In-building washers and dryers along with a weekly laundry service for bedding linens are also provided. If students elect to get a bike while in Berlin (and you should!), a secure bike-room is available for storage.

July 6 Student Arrival/Housing Move-In (Ideally between 8am-2pm; housing orientation is anticipated at 5pm)

July 7 Mandatory Orientation at the Academic Center / Classes Begin

July 22-24 Weekend Trip to Prague

July 29 Day Trip to Dresden

August 15 Last Day of Classes

August 16 Student Departure/Housing Move-Out

Program & Excursion Calendar *Subject to change*

Excursions

There are day trips and excursions in and outside of Berlin, all of which are included in your program cost. Your classroom learning is broadened by these visits to local points of interest as well as journeys to other regions. If you'd like, you can also make plans for your own weekend adventures beyond the city. It's very easy and relatively inexpensive to travel from Berlin to other cities in Europe. Participation in these two excursions is MANDATORY.

Academics

The program features NYU courses taught by NYU faculty and members of Berlin’s wider academic community. Students must take courses totaling EIGHT CREDITS. You will register for courses prior to departure. Once registered, if you wish to modify your schedule please email global.academics@nyu.edu.

Courses All students must register for 8 points Language Courses • GERM-UA 9001 Elementary German I – 4 points • GERM-UA 9002 Elementary German II – 4 points • GERM-UA 9003 Intermediate German I – 4 points • GERM-UA 9004 Intermediate German II – 4 points • GERM-UA 9111 German Conversation and Composition – 4 points Content Courses • GERM-UA 9293 Exploring Historical and Contemporary Berlin – 4 points • SOC-UA 9133 Comparative Modern Societies: The Third Reich and the

Holocaust in Berlin– 4 points

Faculty Thomas Ertman, Ph.D., Harvard University

Facilities

The NYU Academic Center in KulturBrauerei is a converted former brewery complex in the district of Prenzlauer Berg. The NYU program in Berlin is also affiliated with one of the most prestigious higher educational institutions, Humboldt University. Humboldt is located in the historic heart of Berlin on the boulevard Unter den Linden. Founded in 1810 and based on the ideas of education reform proponent Wilhelm von Humboldt, the Humboldt-Universitaet zu Berlin was the “mother of all modern universities.” Meals The question of how much you should budget for meals is a tricky one: it really depends on what kind of lifestyle you plan on having in Berlin. If you go to the supermarket and buy ingredients to cook for yourself you will spend much less money. Groceries are reasonably priced. We suggest you band together with other people on the program and cook together—this will probably happen pretty naturally as you make friends in the first weeks of the program. As for eating out, there are a lots of great options throughout Berlin. You will be able to find just about any type of food, including vegetarian and vegan. Even though eating out in Berlin is not considered to be as expensive as other European cities, it does become expensive to eat out often.

Phone Calls

You can either unlock your smart phone and just replace the SIM card when you get to Berlin (if you have a GSM phone), or you can buy a cheap phone there from one of the service providers. Internet access will also be provided in the apartments but students must bring their laptops. As for making international calls, many students prefer to communicate via Skype. You and your friends and family at home will need to download Skype to communicate for free. Taxis

Taxis are very safe in Berlin; however, hailing a cab off the street is actually illegal. Taxi stands are conveniently located throughout the city for this purpose. Students can also call a taxi to any location through Taxiwuerfel, a free 24-hour service, by calling 030-210101 (or 011-49-30-210101 from a US cell phone).

Weather

Berlin has a moderately variable climate, with cold, frosty winters and warm summers. Winter temperatures generally hover above freezing in the coldest months, and summer sees temperate days in the 70's. Although summer is the wettest season, the rain is often thundery and short-lived, so that summer sunshine amounts are moderately high.

To check current weather anywhere in the word, visit: www.weather.com.

Electricity/Voltage

Germany operates on 230V, while the US operates on 110V. Items like laptops, digital cameras and iPods usually have an internal transformer, so you’ll just need an adaptor (because the shape of the plug is different). You can purchase adaptors in the US before you leave or once you get to your destination abroad. The prices tend to be lower in the US. Smaller electronic items such as hair dryers, flat irons, electric razors, etc. will NOT convert and can burn out due to the higher voltage level. Do not bring them! For detailed information about electricity and voltage visit www.voltagevalet.com.

Currency & Banking

The currency in Berlin is the Euro. You will be able to use ATMs to withdraw Euros, so it is not necessary to bring one lump sum with you unless you prefer to do so. In general, you will get the best exchange rate by using your ATM card, though you will probably be charged withdrawal fees. ATM cards issued by your bank should have a numeric PIN. Convert letter-based pins to a numeric pin number before you go because the key pad is different in Europe. Visa and Mastercard are accepted quite widely throughout much of Europe; American Express less so. However, in Berlin, largely you will use cash. It will be difficult to find places that accept credit cards within the city. If you plan to use ATM cards and credit cards, we strongly encourage you to contact your bank and credit card company ahead of time to let them know you will be out of the country. This will prevent them from putting a stop on your account. Also ask your credit card company for a phone number to use to call from abroad. (This may also be printed on the back of your card.) The 1-800 number on the back of your card will not work abroad. As of today (4/28/2016), the current exchange rate is 1 EUR = 1.13 US Dollars. Keep in mind that this rate fluctuates on a daily basis. For the most up-to-date conversation rates go to www.xe.com. Approximate typical costs of basic items:

Public bus or subway ticket 2,70 € / $3.05 Monthly Public Transportation Pass 79,50 € / $89.84 Postage USA (letter / postcard) 0,75 € / $0.85 Coffee 1,20 € / $1.35 Breakfast (coffee and pastry) 3,00 € / $3.39 Bottled water (1 Liter) 2, 00 € / $2.26 Combo Meal at McDonalds 5, 00 € / $5.65

Packing

We strongly recommend that you pack lightly and bring clothing that is mainly wash and wear and made of cotton. Remember that bedding, towels and kitchen utensils are provided. We can’t stress this enough – PACK LIGHT! You will have to carry your luggage yourself, and airlines charge extra for overweight luggage. Please check with your particular airline about any specific restrictions they may have. The following items are a must: • Comfortable walking shoes • Medications (make sure you know the generic name of the drug and bring enough for the

duration of your stay, as it may be difficult to refill abroad, and medication can NOT be shipped to you)

• Contact lens supplies (available abroad but may be pricier) • Light jacket (for cooler mornings and nights) • Adaptors • Sunblock & sunscreen (available abroad but may be pricier) • Backpack for side trips • Umbrella • Raincoat/Trench • Berlin/Germany Guide Book

Berlin Fast Facts:

Country: Germany Capital: Berlin Population: 3.4 million (city), 4.9 million (metropolitan) Language: German Main religion: Christianity Country Dialing Code: +49 City Area Code: 30

24 Hour Emergency Phone:

NYU Public Safety: (212) 998-2222 (in New York)

911 equivalent = 112 in Europe

Berlin Transportation Authority www.bvg.de

Contact Information

Email: summer.in.berlin@nyu.edu Stephanie Leahy (@NYU in New York) Study Away Advisor, NYU Global Programs Stephanie.leahy@nyu.edu 25 West 4th Street, 1st Floor New York, NY 10012 (212) 998-4804 Dominik Fungipani (@NYU in Berlin) Special Projects Coordinator dominik.fungipani@nyu.edu New York University Berlin Schönhauser Allee 36, Haus 2F 10435 Berlin, Germany +49 30 290 291 009

Information for Parents

*Please give this page to your parents or guardians before you depart*

Health and Safety: The NYU Student Health Center and the Department of Public Safety work closely with program staff to plan for safe, healthy, and enriching opportunities long before you arrive. Students are introduced to many of these services in the months leading up to their departure while others will be explained in detail during the mandatory on-site orientation such as meetings with local health care providers, presentations of local laws and crime prevention techniques, and examples of cultural differences. While an issue is unlikely to surface, should an emergency situation arise, there is a contact person designated for wellness issues on call 24 hours a day located locally; as well, the Department of Public Safety in New York will assist with international emergencies (212-998-2222). For medical situations, the University assigns coverage by HTH Worldwide, an international insurance company, to ensure that treatment is available to you by qualified professionals when needed with no out of pocket expense. Students are also required to maintain insurance with their home policy. The Department of Public Safety in conjunction with the Office of Global Programs works to create a safe and secure environment for students, faculty, staff and visitors to pursue their educational and professional goals and aspirations.

***Important Billing Information***

Once registered, students will be billed for tuition, program fees, housing, and any course fees. All Bursar bills must be paid in full by the indicated due date. Because bills are issued before housing costs are finalized, the first bill from the NYU Bursar will include an ESTIMATED housing charge. An adjusted housing bill is later sent if the cost of final housing placement is different from the estimated charge. Please visit the NYU Bursar website for payment information www.nyu.edu/bursar or call them at (212) 998-2806 if you have any billing questions.