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Join us: Concert in Ernst-Reuter-Haus

Join us: Concert in Ernst-Reuter-Haus

Come by and celebrate the beginning of summer and the longest day of the year with us on June 21. As part of this year’s Fête de la Musique, various bands will perform in the garden of the Ernst-Reuter-Haus, there will be drinks and snacks, hopefully best weather, lots of good vibes and nice people.

Start: 21.06.2023, 16:00 clock
Where: Garden of the Ernst-Reuter-Haus, Triftstraße 67, 13353 Berlin.
And the best thing: It’s for free.

The event is open to everyone – not only the tenants of our student residences, but also neighbors, friends and our staff.

Program

16.00-16.45  Uhr
Ska Seelig: Soul, pop and jazz

17.00-17-45 Uhr
Mr Phlegmatic: Solo e-drum loop project

18.00-18.45  Uhr
ARTWHY: Indietronic

19.00-19.45 Uhr
Doppelgänger: DJ, techno, house and electro

Feeling at home

Interview with one of our inhabitants | Intervista con uno dei nostri residenti

Curious to see who lives in our student residences in Berlin? In a series of interviews, we introduce you to some of our residents from around the world.
Siete curiosi di vedere chi vive nelle nostre residenze per studenti a Berlino? In una serie di interviste, vi presentiamo alcuni dei nostri residenti di tutto il mondo.

Interview with one of our residents at Home in Berlin

Facts about Federico | Fatti su Federico

He is 21 years old, originally from Italy and has been living in one of our apartments in Lichtenberg for 2 years. He is studying acting in Berlin.

Ha 21 anni, è originario dell’Italia e da due anni vive in uno dei nostri appartamenti a Lichtenberg. Studia recitazione a Berlino.

Why did you choose Berlin? | Perché hai scelto Berlino?

I was doing some research, to find the perfect subject of study for me. After that, I was looking for a university, where I could study screen acting in English. Berlin turned out to be one optional choice. So, I came for a visit with my parents back in 2019 to see, how it was. I really liked it here – Berlin is very nice, welcoming and friendly and I didn`t choose it only for study reasons. 

Ho fatto ricerche in anticipo per trovare il soggetto giusto per me. Cercavo anche un’università dove poter studiare teatro in inglese. Berlino si è rivelata un luogo possibile. Così sono venuto qui con i miei genitori nel 2019 per avere una prima impressione. Mi è piaciuta fin dall’inizio – Berlino è bellissima e ci si sente subito accolti – non l’ho scelta solo per gli studi.

Why did you choose Home in Berlin for living? | Perché hai scelto Home in Berlin come fornitore?

It was simple to apply. It was, compared to the prices of other accommodations, very reasonable, for what I was asking for. And, as I said, I’ve been staying here for 2 years,  so there is a reason why I stayed … I really like it. I met some very nice people, for example my best friend who is also living here and I will stay, until I find something else.

È stato facile applicarlo. Rispetto ai prezzi di altri alloggi, era molto ragionevole per quello che chiedevo. E, come ho detto, sono qui da due anni, quindi c’è una ragione per cui sono rimasto …. Mi piace molto questo posto. Ho conosciuto delle persone molto simpatiche, per esempio il mio migliore amico che vive qui, e resterò finché non troverò qualcos’altro.

What do you like best about Berlin? | Cosa ti piace di più di Berlino?

I think, the people. Although there are a lot of dodgy people, they are all very open and friendly in a way, what you don`t find in many capital citys of this size. Berlin is very multifaceted and international. You find so much difference and variety in each district. Forget about the fact, that not all people speak English. And I love food … there are a lot of food options. It’s just so nice! I love it … and it’s very easy to move around as well.

Sono le persone. Anche se ci sono molti loschi individui, sono tutti molto aperti e cordiali, cosa che non si trova in molte capitali di queste dimensioni. Berlino è molto varia e internazionale. In ogni distretto si trovano così tante differenze e diversità. Il fatto che non tutti parlino inglese non è una cosa negativa. E adoro il cibo … ci sono molte scelte. E’ fantastico! Inoltre, è facile arrivare ovunque in città con i mezzi pubblici.

What do you miss in Berlin compared to your home country? | Cosa ti manca di Berlino rispetto al tuo paese d’origine?

I don`t miss anything from my home country. Bevor, I lived in Spain and the Netherlands. Wherever I go, I make it a home in a way … so I guess the only thing I miss is my family. I see them once or twice a year. So long, story short, I do not miss anything.

Non mi manca nulla del mio paese d’origine. Ho già vissuto in Spagna e nei Paesi Bassi. Ovunque vada, la faccio diventare la mia casa… l’unica cosa che mi manca è la mia famiglia. Li vedo una o due volte all’anno. Per farla breve: Non mi manca nulla.

How was your start in Berlin? | Com’è stato il tuo inizio a Berlino?

Rocky … very scary, because these “Get together Events” that you’re offering now didn’t exist. Nobody told me where to go, if I needed something. For the first three months, I didn’t dare use public transportation, because I didn’t know where to get tickets. So I rode my bike almost everywhere. As time goes on, you feel more comfortable, you meet more people, and you just drift. That’s what I learned from Berlin: Just take your time and things will happen … So, if I would have had these “Get together Events” when I came here two years ago, my life would have been much easier.

Difficile … anche spaventoso, perché questi “eventi di incontro” non esistevano all’epoca. Nessuno mi ha detto a chi rivolgermi quando avevo bisogno di qualcosa. Nei primi tre mesi non osavo usare i mezzi pubblici perché non sapevo dove comprare i biglietti. Così ho pedalato quasi ovunque. Con il tempo, ci si sente più a proprio agio, si incontrano più persone e ci si lascia andare alla deriva. Questo è ciò che ho imparato con il tempo: prenditi il tuo tempo e le cose accadranno … Se questi “eventi di incontro” fossero esistiti due anni fa, la mia vita sarebbe stata molto più facile.

What places and activities would you recommend to new people in Berlin? | Quali luoghi e attività consiglieresti ai nuovi arrivati a Berlino?

If you are 18+, I would recommend to experience the night life in Berlin. It’s so different from any other, because there isn’t a schedule. You just go and see where it leads.  If you are here with your family, you should see the typical sites: Brandenburger Tor, Alexanderplatz. Berlin is stylish, so you should go shopping as well.

Don’t stick to the same locations, just go around. Google some typical German food … for example currywurst is actually very good and German food in general is very nice.

A chi ha più di 18 anni, consiglio la vita notturna di Berlino. È così diverso dall’Italia perché non ci sono routine fisse. Andate e partecipate.
Se siete qui con la famiglia, dovreste visitare i luoghi più famosi come la Porta di Brandeburgo o Alexanderplatz. Berlino è anche un luogo ideale per fare shopping.
Non limitatevi sempre agli stessi luoghi, ma andate in giro. Cerca su Google alcuni piatti tipici tedeschi … Per esempio, il Currywurst è davvero buono. Anche altri piatti tedeschi.

Have you made friends at Home in Berlin? | Hai fatto amicizia a Berlino?

I did. I met my best friend at one of the “Get Together Events” and a few cool people from the building, not to forget my girlfriend. It took a while. But all the time of waiting was worth it, for the friends, I have met now.

Sì, l’ho fatto. Ho conosciuto il mio migliore amico a uno degli “eventi di incontro” e alcune persone interessanti a casa mia, per non parlare della mia ragazza. Ci è voluto un po’ di tempo. Ma è valsa la pena aspettare per gli amici che ho incontrato ora.

Would you choose Berlin again? | Sceglieresti di nuovo Berlino?

I would! If I decide to stay in Germany for a long time, I think I wouldn’t grow up my kinds here, but for someone in the twenties it´s perfect. I would choose Berlin again.

Io lo farei! Se decidessi di rimanere in Germania per molto tempo, probabilmente non crescerei qui i miei figli, ma per chi ha vent’anni è perfetto. Sceglierei di nuovo Berlino!

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Saving money,
made easy

Energy saving tips

You don’t like constantly rising rents? Neither do we.
The good thing is, you can do something about it by saving energy.

These simple tips will help you

Heating and ventilation

  • Only heat when you are at home and the temperature requires it.
    The ideal temperature during the day is 20 degrees (rotary valve level 3), at night about 16 degrees (rotary valve level 2),
  • lower the shutters or close the curtains at night,
  • do not put clothes on the radiator,
  • ventilate 3 to 4 times a day for 5 to 10 minutes, turn off the heat and open the window fully, do not tilt.

Bathroom

  • Use cold and hot water sparingly,
  • take warm showers instead of hot ones and turn off the water while soaping up,
  • turn off the tap when shaving and brushing teeth.

Kitchen

  • Set the refrigerator to level 2 to 3,
    open the refrigerator door only briefly to remove food,
    do not put warm food in the refrigerator,
    put food in the refrigerator only wrapped or covered,
  • use a kettle for hot water, only fill with as much water as you need,
  • when cooking, use a pot that fits exactly on the stove top, this will save you energy,
  • turn off the stove top and the oven 5 minutes before the end of the cooking time and use the residual heat,
    do not preheat the oven if possible,
  • use the highest setting of the cooker hood only when necessary,
  • wash fruits and vegetables with cold water, this also preserves vitamins,
  • do not wash dishes with running water.

Electrical devices

  • Do not leave devices running in standby mode, this costs unnecessary electricity.
    It is better to switch off all devices completely or use a power strip with a switch to switch off several devices at once,
  • Turn off screens even during short breaks,
  • set screens and computers to less brightness,
  • do not use a screen saver.

Lighting

  • Turn on the light only when you are at home and only in the room where you are.

Washing machine

  • Always fill the washing machine, this saves energy.

If we all work together, we will succeed in slowing down the price increases for energy.
If you have any further questions, please do not hesitate to contact the staff at the Service Point.

Team Wedding

T  +49 30 491022-252
wedding@hib-brst.de

Triftstraße 67
13353 Berlin

Team Lichtenberg

T  +49 30 491022-292
lichtenberg@hib-brst.de

Alfred-Jung-Straße 14
10369 Berlin

The best Christmas movies

Christmas is: Watch the best chrismas movies!

Before Christmas, when it gets cold outside and dark very early in the evening it is the best time to cuddle in a warm blanket, drink some tea and watch the best christmas movies.

We put together the ultimate list of the most wonderful, funny, romantic and most christmassy movies for December:

 

Kevin – Home Alone

Kevin McCallister is an arrogant eight-year-old boy who hates the fact that he lives in a family who constantly bullies him. While his family leaves for their Paris Christmas vacation, they leave him behind by accident.

Three Wishes for Cinderella

A royal prince and heir shows little interest in politics or marriage, so his royal parents stage a ball to find a suitable match. His Highness prefers prancing at the hunt in fields and woods with his courtier buddies. Hunting, he’s fascinated by a mysterious cocky youth crossbow-sharpshooter who keeps outclassing them in tree-climbing–and keeps eluding his royal party. It turns out to be tomboy Popelka (Cinderella), whose stepmother shares nothing of the inheritance with her and has reduced her to being an unpaid servant at the lucrative estate manor. Cinderella’s closest friend is her father’s stallion, who helps her greatly, as do the wishes granted by three magical hazelnuts. When her stepmother and stepsisters cruelly crush her hopes to attend or at least watch the ball, she manages to intrude veiled and is followed how by the prince, who can’t resist such an atypical hunt.

The Grinch

Whoville is wondrous little town where the residents, the human-like Whos, celebrate and keep the joy of Christmas close to their hearts all year round. But at Christmas time, the Whos pronounce their joy for the season loud and proud. However, not far from Whoville lives a creature who despises everything about Christmas. The creature, known as the Grinch, is a green furred outcast whose only company in his lonely cave is his loyal dog Max. The Grinch wishes he could stop Christmas from coming, but he has not quite found a way how.

Scrogged

Francis Xavier Cross is a cynical, mean spirited television executive, he treats his loyal assistant with contempt. He just sacked a member of staff on Christmas Eve for simply disagreeing with him, and he’s alienated himself from his brother who still insists on inviting Frank to Christmas dinner despite him refusing to go every year. However, Frank is forced to learn the true meaning of Christmas when he’s visited by three ghosts.

Klaus

Klaus begins when Jesper distinguishes himself as the postal academy’s worst student. So they stationed him on a frozen island above the Arctic Circle, where the feuding locals hardly exchange words; let alone letters. Jesper is about to give up when he finds an ally in local teacher Alva, and discovers Klaus, a mysterious carpenter who lives alone in a cabin full of handmade toys. Their unlikely friendships return laughter to Smeerensburg; forging a new legacy of generous neighbors, magical lore and stockings hung by the chimney with care.

Die Hard (1)

New York police officer John McClane flies to Los Angeles on Christmas Eve to celebrate the holiday with his local family. He also hopes to reconcile with his wife Holly. But when he goes to his wife’s Christmas party, it comes to an abrupt end because it is stormed by terrorists. Only McClane manages to escape unnoticed in the chaos. Now he has to face the terrorists alone and fight for life and death.

 

The Polar Express

In this film based on the classic children’s book by the same name, a boy grows skeptical of the magic of Christmas and the existence of Santa Claus until he is visited by mysterious train called the Polar Express. The train takes the boy, and several other children, to the North Pole to see Santa Claus. Along the way, the skeptical boy makes a new group of friends and encounters wonders and magic that cause him to question what he truly believes.

A Christmas Story

The nine-year-old Ralphie wants only one thing for Christmas: a Red Ryder Range 200 Shot BB gun. When he mentions it at the dinner table, his mother’s immediate reaction is that he’ll shoot his eye out. So after his teacher assigns a Christmas theme, he writes about the gun. She too replies with his mom’s reaction. While fantasizing about catching bad guys with Red Ryder at his side, he decides to ask Santa. Santa too gives Ralphie mom’s same spiel. When the big day arrives, he gets lots of presents under the tree—including a lovely gift from his aunt—whom his mother adores. But does Ralphie get that BB gun?

Bring a christmas tree in you room

The reason why everybody brings a decorated tree in their room?

The Christmas tree is the most famous symbol of Christmas worldwide. However, the custom of putting up a decorated Christmas tree in the home is still quite young. Originally, the green tree with the apple was associated with the story of Adam and Eve and the serpent. Over time, a connection to the Christmas story developed from the “paradise tree” – hence this is the archetype of the Christmas tree later decorated with golden nuts, cookies and baubles.

As early as 1535, small yew, holly and box trees were sold in Strasbourg (France) during the Christmas season. At that time, however, they were still set up without decoration and candles. From 1570 onwards, apples, nuts and dates were hung on small cultivated trees in Bremen (Germany). The children were then allowed to take off the jewelry and eat at Christmas.

Christmas trees decorated with candles first appear in tradition at the end of the 19th century and then became an integral part of Christmas in Germany. After spreading throughout Europe, emigrants and German soldiers who fought in the American War of Independence made the Christmas tree popular in America in the course of the 19th century. The decorated Christmas tree in the apartments therefore has a long history, repurposed from a Christian story. But today, the Christmas tree is an integral part of the Christmas season. It exudes comfort and festivity.

Perhaps you will also find a Christmas tree in your student apartment?

Christmasmarket

Meet us on the christmas market at 6. 12.

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It was a wonderful visit that we like to repeat once a month from now on.

Visit the zoo of Berlin

A trip to Europe’s biggest zoo

We chose the perfect fall day with wonderful sunshine for our first trip to the biggest zoo of Europe – the zoo of Berlin.

In a group of six students we made it to see all the aesthetic animals like lions, leopards, giraffes and funny little penguins, monkeys and sloths. The most popular animal was the panda. We recognized, the zoo of Berlin has wonderful big cages for all the animals. They have the chance to be outside in a green area or to stay in a warm and cozy interior.

It was a wonderful visit that we like to repeat once a month from now on.

Get Together Events

Meet new friends and get to know the Kiez

It doesn’t matter whether you’re new to Berlin or already an old hand in the neighborhood – we invite all of our dorm residents to our regular get together events.

There, the tenants have the opportunity to get to know each other over cold drinks and snacks, exchange experiences and spend a wonderful evening. It’s nice to see new tenants and the more experienced tenants connecting and arranging to meet up for restaurants or events. And a few tips from experienced tenants will certainly make the start in Berlin much easier for newcomers.

We are looking forward to all upcoming social events and great conversations!

New Faces for Home in Berlin

Fotoshooting for dormitory “Keithstraße”

Each of our dormitories is located in a different neighborhood, each has its own charm.

The dormitory “Keithstraße” is located in the Kiez Charlottenburg-Wilmersdorf. In September we had a photo shoot for this dorm location with four residents as the new faces for Home in Berlin.

Whether on the Kurfürstendamm, at the Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church, the Bikini Berlin or in the Zoological Garden – this neighborhood offers a great variety for students. It’s guaranteed never to be boring here, because the hustle and bustle of the city and the shopping mile are shown in this neighborhood and right next to it is the purest oasis of well-being with the zoo, the zoo and a green planted canal.

We are very happy to present the great results of the photo shoot on our social media channels and website.

A huge thank you goes again to our wonderful photo models and the photographer Thomas Hedrich.