01/2025 Marina Gonzalez Moron

Age: 25  |  Nationality: Spanish

What are your favorite spots in Potsdam / Berlin / surroundings?

You can usually find me around Kreuzberg on the weekends enjoying in a caffe near the Spree, In the flea market in Friedrichshain or in the beautiful park of Lietzensee in Charlottenburg. I find inspiration in Berlin everywhere I go, I like the colors, the contrasts between the neighborhoods, the parks, and the ideas that people come out with to deal with gray and cold days.

What are the places and moments that make you feel at home here?

I really think that home is not a place but a community of people that supports you and love you, for me sharing moments with my friends here is the biggest source of happiness.  Arrive after a long day home and share dinner and a conversation with my roommates,  think how to make our flat more beautiful or go to a football match on the weekend just make me feel that I am a tiny piece of something bigger and that I somehow belong here.  Lately I joined a local art studio where I feel extremely connected with the city since I am the only International in a group of women that lived here or over 50 years. I am happy to say that even though is not always easy for me, Berlin and Uni Potsdam are not different than my home, I just have more than one haha.

Tell us about your degree program. How did you get interested in your field of study? Any favorite classes?

My Master degree is a balance mixture between Biochemistry, Human Molecular Biology and Pharmacy where we learn the basis of toxicity within the human body , its origin and the treatments available. I always wanted to find a purpose to my career. When I couldn’t study medicine, I thought that I had to be my whole life working in a lab where things only make sense for myself, but when I started my first practical courses I realized that in toxicology there is a very direct connection between what we do in the lab and have an impact in human health habits. I don’t question anymore my personal impact in the field but just appreciate that people working in science are just passionate about solving questions that affect all of us in all fields.

Your studies are in English – what about your German skills?

Currently I am enrolled in my B1 level at Zessko in Uni Potsdam. Slowly I am getting there, and I am so grateful to the Uni for offering those courses, probably I wouldn’t have been able to reach that level because Language academies are rather expensive

What do you hope to gain from your studies in Potsdam, and how do you envision personal and academic growth during this time?

I think what I ambition the most is the confidence that knowledge give you. I visualize myself leaving Uni Potsdam with a solid foundation that allows me to trust in my own criteria which is super important in science. Apart from that I would like to carry with me all the good friends I made along the way and the acknowledgment that there is always a place to refer to if you have a problem, the most important is to have the energy to solve them.

The Christmas season and New Year are over - how did you feel about the holidays in Germany?

Spending the holidays in Germany has been a magical experience. The Christmas markets, with their lights,  Glühwein, and festive spirit, were truly enchanting. I loved exploring the holiday traditions like Advent calendars, saint martin’s day and baking Christmas cookies, which were new to me. I found comfort celebrating with friends, exchanging small gifts, and cooking meals together. It reminded me that warmth during the holidays comes from the connections you make, no matter where you are. Luckily my family is relatively not far so I could visit them for the main festive days

How do you plan to spend the long, often cold months in winter here? Are there activities that help you feel comfortable and stay motivated?

Winter in Germany can be challenging, but I’ve found ways to make it enjoyable. I spend a lot of time in cozy cafes, catching up on reading wrapped on a blanket or working on my studies. Joining university sport courses has also had a huge impact of my wellbeing during winter. For motivation, I try to balance indoor activities like painting with outdoor walks in Berlin’s parks, even on cold days. The key is embracing the season rather than fighting it.

What is most surprising thing about Germany for you?

That is a funny question, I probably answered that many times that I don’t know the answer anymore. At the very beginning a lot of things surprise you. The weather, the public transportation, the architecture… But with time (after 3 years) I came to realize that the differences are mostly in the surface. One thing that I consider very surprising is the lifestyle in general, there is more concerned people with the current situation of the world for example and I find people extremely open minded here, which is something that I really appreciate.

Your future plans:

Long-term, I’d like to collaborate internationally and bring perspective into some aspects that concern human health now a days. Personally, I hope to keep growing my connections and perhaps mentor young scientists in the future, just as I’ve been supported during this time. Big part of my plan through doesn’t involve science but rather build a life that get me satisfaction and happiness. Low levels of stress, rich in activities and creativity and a community that I can rely on.