Dear IWBie,
I’m writing this letter wrapped in a blanket, with a cup of tea going cold beside me. I lasted until mid-October before I gave in and turned the heating on.
This is the week Berlin slips into its autumn coat. The clocks go back next Sunday, so you get one extra hour in bed and lose about three hours of daylight.
So, what ‘s inside? Students taking to the streets, a nationwide alcohol ban at train stations (goodbye, Wegbier), Hamburg being crowned one of the world’s friendliest cities and a week of events that runs from queer dating and cumbia nights to literary dinners and a very spooky GAY PANIC party. It’s nearly Halloween, darling. Dress accordingly.
Every edition of this newsletter is made by a small team of immigrant women in our free time, between day jobs, German classes and the eternal search for a decent flat. If IWB has ever saved you a Google search, found you a room or simply made Berlin feel a bit smaller, a coffee’s worth of support keeps us going.
Until next week, stay warm, stay curious and go out at least once. The sofa will still be there when you get back.
With love,
Sabrina & your IWB team 💖
As immigrants, it’s important to stay informed about what’s happening in Germany. Here are the most important news updates you should be aware of:
🍺 Since the 15th of this month, Deutsche Bahn has been banning the consumption of alcohol at its 5,400 train stations across the country
📉 Germany is shrinking, but Berlin & other major cities are not
🤝 Hamburg has been named the sixth friendliest in the world, but only because locals were marginally more friendly than tourists expected them to be
🚬 Bundestag committee approves tobacco reform. How will it change smoking in Germany in 2027?
🏠 Germany’s “House of Hope” project is bringing refugees and local Germans together under one roof
🎓 How to study in Germany if your school certificate is not valid
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Send us a message at internationalwomeninberlin@gmail.com
👉 Week from October, the 19rd to October 25th - Berlin is a city full with events to suit all tastes. Here are some highlights that we think you and your friends would enjoy:
💘 Queer Dating at Curly Bar - FLINTA* non-monogamous Edition. October, 22
🎧 Curió Curió Listening Session by Mr.Bongo. October, 23
💃 Mood2Moove - fun, good vibrations, moving our bodies and souls. October, 24
🎉 STUDIO 55 ANNIVERSARY AFTER PARTY. October, 24
☀️ Return of the Sun - 8 hours old school music on two floors. October, 24
🎺 La Cumbia del Barrio 002 - The music of the Latin Working Class. October, 24
👻 GAY PANIC: Alter Ego, the night to let your BOO-ty do the talking. October, 25
📚 All you can read - Literature and Dinner with Josephine Apraku, Ozan Zakariya Keskinkılıç, and Sophia Hoffmann. October, 24
🍸 Rooftop Cocktails & Compute by Hyperbolic. October, 20
🥳 WOMEN’S LIFT CLUB 6 MONTHS ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION. October, 24
🏐 Queer Volleyball Club. October, 25
IWB, with +41k members, is a very active community. Given that you might not have time to catch up on everything and some good posts may get overlooked, here are a few highlights from our group, from the last week:
🛍️ “Is there any brand cheaper in Paris than buying in/from Berlin?”
🧘♀️ “Can anyone recommend a place in Berlin for intense, deep stretching classes?”
👞 “Can anyone please recommend a good & trusted shoes repair service, preferably in Prenzlauer Berg?”
🥾 “Vivaia winter boots. Are they really worth buying for the winter in Germany?”
🌡️ “When do you usually start turning on the heating in Berlin?”
We know finding a place to stay in Berlin is a hard task, sometimes. That’s why we gather, every week, some links that might help you - from women to women:
