Özge Tor (age 35)

Where do you work?

I am the Managing Director at Medical Fly GmbH – a company that offers medical treatment abroad in connection with tourism. We organize medical trips to Turkey, but also to Germany from abroad, such as from the Arab countries.

Tell us about it!

My goal was to unite my two home countries, Germany and Turkey, in my job. Even as a little kid, that's what I wanted to do. Since I like organizing communicating, traveling and always wanted to be independent, I participated in the Berlin-Brandenburg business plan competition for company founders in 2012 and then founded my company. Now, three years later, I have gained industry-wide recognition and have become a specialist in the field. I love my job.

Why Berlin?

I am originally from Bremen – but after the third semester of my studies, I decided I wanted to broaden my horizons. So I came to Berlin. I wanted to get to know other people, make new friends and live in a major metropolitan area. I wanted to go where the action is. I didn't lose contact to Bremen – my oldest friends live there. But Berlin is simply exciting. There's something going on every day: concerts, theater, festivals – it's right up my alley.

Who or what helped you when you first arrived in Berlin?

Definitely my husband. That's a crazy story. I met him the second I got off my train. It was destiny. Now I've lived in Berlin for eleven years, so I've been with my husband for eleven years. We even got married in 2014. I'm very happy here.

What do you love about Berlin?

There's so much to do in Berlin, that's what I was missing in Bremen. Here you can go grocery shopping, to a restaurant, or get a coffee no matter what time it is. And what's very important for me as a German citizen with deep Turkish roots: the Turkish language is everywhere. It just feels good to live here. Oh, and one more thing ... it doesn't rain as much in Berlin as in does in the North. When I first got here, I wondered why people would shelter under something when it rains and simply wait for it to stop. But here it's common knowledge that rain showers pass quickly.

If you could give a new Berlin resident a tip, what would it be?

Enjoy the diversity of this city! Take advantage of all the cultural offerings and especially the many education and training opportunities!