• No True German — What It Means to Be German in 2026

    No True German — What It Means to Be German in 2026

    Is there really one German identity that defines all Germans? One German identity to rule them all? We’re going to get into this question, but bear with me for a few paragraphs. I want to take a moment up front to provide a little context, tell you where I’m coming from.  We’re going to dip into some culture-war nonsense and talk…

  • Berlin Wiki: From Postal Voting to the Ballot Box 

    Berlin Wiki: From Postal Voting to the Ballot Box 

    How Does Postal Voting Work? In Germany, voters can choose to vote by post instead of going to a polling station on election day. Information on how to apply for postal voting can be found in the voter notification that eligible voters receive in the weeks before the election. Depending on the municipality, voter notifications may also include a QR code…

  • From Peru to Berlin: Building Bridges Between Different Ways of Knowing 

    From Peru to Berlin: Building Bridges Between Different Ways of Knowing 

    Are degrees really the only measure of knowledge? Should humans focus on altering nature or adapting to it? Do international studies actually include perspectives from all around the world? Academic credentials, adapting nature to suit modern lifestyles and Eurocentric education are standards that are rarely questioned.  Marita Orbegoso Alvarez, Peruvian educator, community organizer and activist, made it her mission to spark…

  • Berlin Wiki: The Overlooked Election — BVV and Local Democratic Participation

    Berlin Wiki: The Overlooked Election — BVV and Local Democratic Participation

    How Does the BVV Election Work? On September 20, Berlin goes to the polls. On that day, the election to the House of Representatives (Abgeordnetenhaus) will take place, along with the elections to the District Council Assemblies (Bezirksverordnetenversammlungen, BVV). Berlin is divided into twelve districts, each of which elects its own District Council Assembly. This is the elected representative body of…

  • Finding Trauma Instead of Belonging: A Review of I Keep My Shadow Light 

    Finding Trauma Instead of Belonging: A Review of I Keep My Shadow Light 

    TL;DR “I Keep My Shadow Light” is the self-published debut novel by Fionnuala Kavanagh. This challenging work follows a cast of four characters from different backgrounds as they try to find a home in Berlin. Very dark in places, the book gives us a chance to read something that would probably never come out of any publishing house. Its uniqueness alone…

  • Berlin Wiki: Who Makes Decisions in the Districts?

    Berlin Wiki: Who Makes Decisions in the Districts?

    What Does a District Office Do? A Berlin district office (Bezirksamt) manages the administration of one of Berlin’s twelve districts and serves as the district’s political leadership. It consists of the district mayor and five district councillors (Bezirksstadträte), who are elected by the district assembly (Bezirksverordnetenversammlung, BVV). The district office implements adopted laws and policies. Like the Senate, the district office…

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