Manuel Xarez (25)

loves the club and techno scene in Berlin.

Where do you work?

I am a Backend Engineer at Back Market. Back Market was originally a French start-up. We now have offices and platforms all over the world. So also in Berlin. We create a circular economy for electronic products by running a marketplace for refurbished devices.

In my job I am responsible for developing and maintaining various features. Right now I am working on a repair project in which we motivate customers to have our service repair their electronics.

Why did you choose Berlin?

I wanted to try a bigger city. Before that I had always lived in smaller cities. I had often visited Berlin as a tourist and loved how multicultural the city is. I love the club and techno scene. I was also attracted to the unique start-up environment.

What do you love about Berlin?

Berlin is very diverse. One day I can go and enjoy a nice cultural event and the next day I can go out into nature – for instance one of the many parks. I can also just go out and visit one of the many restaurants – there’s a lot of restaurants from almost every culture here. There are so many different things to do in Berlin. That is unique.

Who or what made it easy to start out in Berlin?

I had already done a six-month internship in Bavaria and lived there. I got to know German culture during that time. I decided to tag along when a good friend of mine moved to Berlin. He helped me find my feet. I was able to live with him in the beginning until I found my own flat. That was a big help.

If you could offer advice to someone who just moved to Berlin, what would it be?

Don’t be afraid to come here even if your German is still not good enough! Berlin is very friendly to English-speaking people. I would say it is still good to learn German gradually to get into the culture. But you can easily get by with English. I learned that it helps a lot to be around people who speak German. You learn quickly that way.

I also have a location tip: Go to Holzmarkt 25! It’s a great place right by the Spree with restaurants, bars and a very popular club called the Kater Blau.