My First Week in Berlin: Sugar, Stress, and Finding My Way

Okay, so, let me tell you, moving to Berlin has been… intense. It’s amazing, obviously. The city is incredible – so much history, so many cool places to discover. But it’s also really overwhelming, and I’m realizing that sometimes, my brain just wants to collapse. I’m living in a little flatshare near Prenzlauer Berg, which is great, but it’s noisy, and everything feels…new.

That Conversation with Markus and Alice

I met Markus and Alice through my language course at the Volkshochschule (adult education center). We’re learning German together, and it’s been really helpful. The other day, we were chatting, and Markus said, “Hallo Markus! Wie geht’s dir denn heute? Hallo Alice! Nicht so gut, ehrlich gesagt. Mir geht es echt schlecht.” (Hello Markus! How are you today? Hello Alice! Not so good, honestly. I’m really bad.)

Alice then said, “Oh, was ist denn los? Ich habe wieder so einen starken Drang nach Süßigkeiten. Es ist, als ob ich nicht anders kann.” (Oh, what’s wrong? I have such a strong craving for sweets again. It’s like I can’t help it.) And honestly, it was a little bit like that for me sometimes. I immediately thought, “Yeah, tell me about it!”

The Sugar Rush and the Stress

I’ve been battling a serious urge to eat sugary things. It’s insane. Like, one minute I’m okay, the next I’m desperately wanting a Schokoriegel (chocolate bar) or some Gummibärchen (gummy bears). I realized it was similar to how Alice felt. When I’m stressed – and let’s be honest, there’s a lot of stress when you’re trying to navigate a new city and learn a new language – I just…I just want to eat.

Markus was saying, “Das klingt frustrierend. Was denkst du, warum das passiert? Ich glaube, es ist, weil ich mich oft schlecht fühle und mich dann mit Essen tröste.” (That sounds frustrating. What do you think, why does it happen? I think it’s because I often feel bad about myself and then I comfort myself with food.) And he was totally right. I do it. It’s like my brain just says, ‘Hey, you’re feeling awful? Eat something!’

Chips and the Cycle

It’s not just sweets. I’ve also got a massive weakness for Chips (crisps). If I start eating them, I just can’t stop. It’s a vicious cycle, isn’t it? Like, I have the problem and then it gets even worse. I told Markus, “Es ist ein Teufelskreis, oder? Ja, genau! Es ist, als ob ich das Problem habe und dann noch schlimmer werde.” (It’s a vicious cycle, or? Yes, exactly! It’s like I have the problem and then it gets even worse.)

German Vocabulary I’m Using

Here are some key phrases I’ve picked up:

• Echt schlecht: Really bad
• Starker Drang: Strong urge
• Trösten sich mit Essen: To comfort themselves with food
• Ein Teufelskreis: A vicious cycle
• Was ist denn los?: What’s wrong?
• Ich habe wieder…: I have again…

Thinking About It – And the Smoking

Alice also mentioned that she often feels worse after smoking. She said, “Es ist doch logisch, dass wenn du etwas Schädliches tust, es sich negativ auswirkt. Es ist, als ob du dich selbst kaputt machst.” (It’s logical that if you do something harmful, it negatively affects you. It’s like you’re hurting yourself.) That made so much sense. I’ve been trying to quit smoking myself, and it’s really hard. It always makes things worse.

Support and a Change

We were talking about how to deal with the stress, and Markus suggested, “Vielleicht sollten wir versuchen, andere Wege zu finden, um mit dem Stress umzugehen. Hast du schon mal über Sport nachgedacht? Gute Idee!” (Maybe we should try to find other ways to deal with the stress. Have you ever thought about sports? Good idea!) And I definitely need to try something different.

I think it’s about needing support, too. “Vielleicht sollten wir uns gegenseitig unterstützen, um eine Veränderung zu bewirken. Das ist, als ob wir uns helfen können, gesünder zu werden.” (Maybe we should support each other to make a change. It’s like we can help each other to get healthier.)

Small Steps

I really think it’s a good idea to start small. “Ja, das ist ein guter Anfang.” (Yes, that’s a good beginning.) Maybe we could go for a walk in the park, or try a new German restaurant – that would be a good distraction, right? I’m trying to focus on small victories, you know? It’s about building healthy habits, even if it’s just saying “Nein” (no) to that extra slice of cake.

Learning More German

I’m starting to realize that learning more German is key. I’m going to try to focus on practicing my conversation skills, and maybe even look into some German-language wellness resources. It feels a little bit silly, but maybe knowing more phrases will actually help me feel more in control.

Let me know if you have any tips! Ich bin neu hier! (I’m new here!)