Berlin (Germany)—The City That Sparks Joy at Every Corner
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“All free men, wherever they may live, are citizens of Berlin. And therefore, as a free man, I take pride in the words, “Ich bin ein Berliner! (I am a Berliner!)'”
~John F. Kennedy (35th President of the United States of America)
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Berlin fills me with endless optimism and wonder. Every time I arrive in this city, I feel like a battery being recharged back to life.
The city hums with a certain creative energy that lifts my spirits and allows me to soar. In Berlin I believe that everything is possible.
One of the things I love most about Berlin is the sheer number of bookshops. They seem to appear on every corner, each a small haven filled with the scent of paper and possibility.
Stopping in one of these cosy shops is like stepping into another world. In a city that often feels hurried and chaotic, Berlin’s quirky bookshops are a gentle reminder that curiosity and imagination still thrive.
I imagine living in this city and discovering new worlds in words. There are lit and historical books, books for young adults and books abound with mystery. Fantasy lovers do not have to look far either.
As I stare at all those books, my heart starts to sing and my mind sees the possibility of expansion.
Exploring the neighbourhoods, I notice that Berlin does not demand conformity. Here, I feel like I am allowed to be myself. Here, people move through the streets with effortless individuality and that freedom is contagious.
It gives me permission to breathe more deeply, to follow my own rhythm instead of the world’s expectations. From vintage shops, lively cafés to sprawling parks, every street feels like an invitation to wander, to discover and to connect.
Berlin has a unique way of making me feel alive and expansive. There is space not just in its parks and broad boulevards, but in the city’s spirit itself. I don’t feel boxed in, watched or pressured to conform. Instead, the city stretches me outward.
In Berlin, I feel encouraged to explore, to create, to try new experiences and to embrace the unknown. Hence, I leave the hotel and just walk. I let the city dictate its course.
I am glad to stumble upon Checkpoint Charlie and discover a previously unexplored part of history in Germany. I take photos to immortalise the moment.
The joy of being in Berlin is infectious. I feel the joy radiating in my heart and I want this moment to last. Most of all, just like an addict, I dread the moment when this supply of joy will be taken away.
The joy moves through the city like music. I see it in the laughter of strangers sharing a table. I can sense it in the rhythm of bicycles gliding past. This joy is apparent in the bursts of colour decorating walls and shop windows.
And then there is the friendliness that I never expected. Berlin has a reputation for being cool or aloof, but Berliners in Germany prove me otherwise. Strangers smile, help me with directions or mundane questions. They listen to my budding German and provide me with feedback, patiently.
I am not yet comfortable speaking German and let my interlocutors know beforehand. They understand and take their time to explain. For me, they are patient guides on my journey towards understanding and fluency. I do not take this for granted.
That quiet kindness, woven through daily life, makes the city’s energy even brighter. It makes one feel welcomed, alive and full of possibility.
Every time I leave Berlin and Germany, I carry a little of its energy with me: a sense that renewal is always possible, that curiosity matters and that joy is contagious.
The city reminds me that wonder can be found around every corner, often in the shape of a bookshop, a “Guten Morgen, schöne” from a stranger or the freedom just to be.
For anyone seeking a city that awakens the mind, the heart and the spirit, Berlin is an endless invitation to explore.
Listen: Berlin (Germany)
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Further Exploration: Berlin (Germany)—The City That Recharges My Soul! My First Awesome Vlog in German! (Level A2-B1-B2)
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About the Author
Thandi Ngwira Gatignol is the founder of Learn English With Africa. She was born on June 11th, 1981 in Blantyre, Malawi. When she was 19, she left her country of birth for France. She currently lives with her two daughters and husband in Poland.
Thandi holds a Bachelor’s degree in English studies obtained at the Université Paris X Nanterre in France and a Certificate in Journalism from Malawi. She has taught English as a French Ministry of Education certified teacher both in France and in Poland. She speaks English, French, Polish, Italian, Chichewa and Chitumbuka. She is now learning Kiswahili, German and Spanish. Salt No More is her debut novel and you can find her other books here on the website or on Amazon.
Video music credit:
- Do It To Myself by Atch, Free Music Archive, (CC BY)
Blog Article: Berlin (Germany)—The City That Recharges My Soul! My First Awesome Vlog in German! (Level A2-B1-B2) © Learn English With Africa, October 2025
