A post by HZB-summerstudent Diego Moreno Ramos: It seems like yesterday when I was preparing for my final exams at home in Madrid. After tons of unsuccessful applications sent to lots of institutions, I was getting used to the idea of spending another relaxed summer in Spain. Little did I know back then that this time fortune had smiled back on me. An email arrived, I had an interview, and I was selected to participate in the HZB Summer Student Programme.
An opportunity and a problem
My supervisor, Hans-Walter, the cavity and me at the storage ring of BESSY II.
Out of the blue, I found myself in Berlin, ready for a summer adventure in Germany. I happened to find a room in Studentendorf Adlershof which is a five-minute walk to HZB. Soon my first day of work arrived and I met my tutors, Pablo Echevarría and Hans-Walter Glock. Through a brief (but intense) discussion about thermodynamics and electromagnetism, they introduced me to the subject of my internship: one window from a superconducting cavity of the storage ring in BESSY II had unexpectedly been broken. They needed someone to run some simulations that would help them understand the electromagnetic fields acting in that part so as to know how did this happen. I felt the pressure of a huge responsibility, since many scientists depend on this synchrotron lightsource, however, the excitement of the task helped me overcome it.
A modern way of living
Despite all these calculations, it was difficult to forget I was in the middle of a cosmopolitan capital city, which basically meant two things: many historical sites, and partying, a lot of partying. One of the first things I learned was that not only Berlin is a modern city but also a beautiful one. Walking through the Brandenburg Gate to meet the vast Tiergarten, chilling out surrounded by history at the Museum Island, or contemplating the world’s biggest outdoor art exhibition at the East Side Gallery alongside the Spree river, are some of the breathtaking activities waiting for you if you were to visit this astonishing city. At the beginning I was not really enthusiastic about clubbing since I am not a techno music fan, nonetheless, I can assure you Matrix and Sisyphos are a must-visit if you truly want to experience the endless parties of Berlin.
Downbound trains
Once I was settled in Berlin, I started wondering: “Okay, life here is great but what is happening in the rest of Germany?” From that day on, I started planning some train trips with the invaluable help of my Deutschland-Ticket. The first logical destination was Potsdam, the state capital of Brandenburg, where I could enjoy the amazing palaces in Park Sanssouci. One of the most special moments for me during this summer was my visit to Hockenheim, near Mannheim, where I could attend a Bruce Springsteen concert at Hockenheimring with another friend from Spain —it was absolutely amazing!—. I also thought about visiting Hamburg and Dresden, but, of course, I had to save some time for working on my research as well!
Last but not least, I can now proudly say that not only I am an accelerating scientist but also, I am a Berliner.
