This past summer, Computer Science major and German minor Houston traveled to Germany as part of CofC’s Summer Internship in Berlin program, which combines an immersive homestay with intensive language training and a professional internship placement. Drawn by his interest in the German language and the chance to build real-world technical skills, Houston found that his summer in Berlin offered both professional growth and meaningful cultural experiences. We sat down with him to learn more about his time abroad.

Why did you choose Germany for your study abroad internship?
I’m a German minor, so I’ve always been interested in the language and culture. The chance to practice my German while gaining experience in my field really appealed to me.
How did you find and secure your internship?
AIFS, the internship provider for CofC’s Summer Internship Program to Berlin, placed me with DataPulse Research, a data visualization company. The process went smoothly, and I was excited to be matched with a company that aligned with my computer science background.
What were your goals going into the experience?
I wanted to improve my German and immerse myself in the culture. Professionally, I hoped to gain experience in software development and learn what it’s like to build products for real users.
How did you prepare before going abroad?
I actually arrived a week early to walk around, get familiar with Berlin, and learn the public transportation system before starting classes and my internship.
What were your first impressions when you arrived in Germany?
Berlin felt huge—much bigger than I expected—and incredibly multicultural.

Can you share a moment when you felt fully immersed in German culture?
Walking around Berlin or reading in different parks made me feel immersed. Hearing conversations around me in German really reminded me that I was living there, not just visiting.

What were your main responsibilities at your internship?
I built a news web scraper that generated daily and weekly newsletters. I also created an automatic newsletter system for DataPulse’s new posts. Some newsletters were for subscribers, and others were internal, so I had to think about different use cases.
How did the experience support your career goals?
I learned a lot about designing products for multiple audiences and about SEO and web scraping. I worked independently most of the time, but feedback from my boss and coworkers improved my problem-solving skills.
What did you do outside of work?
I explored Berlin’s parks and museums, watched F1 and football at sports bars, and traveled to smaller German towns on weekends for a different view of the country.
How did you grow personally and professionally?
I became more independent and learned how to handle unfamiliar situations. Living abroad showed me how I react to experiences I wouldn’t have at home, and that helped me grow both personally and professionally.
What advice would you give to students considering a study abroad internship in Germany?
Do it. Experiencing another culture will help you grow in ways you don’t expect.