The big move

Hi there! Long time no see..
Welcome to the new chapter of my life.
The chapter that I've been excited to start for a long time now.

For those who don't know, I moved to The Netherlands for college. I'm studying business administration in a small town called Leeuwarden. (Actually, it's supposed to be larger than my hometown.. It's fun.)

I'm meeting new people, and experiencing many emotions; excitement, happiness and the feeling of being in the right place at the right time. (Which I very much appreciate.)

Leaving home is never easy. However, you have to look at it from the positive side. The tears of saying goodbye to good friends, sisters, my brother and the rest of my family aren't necessarily sad.. Those are tears of joy as I know I'll see them again, hug them like no time has passed and have many stories to tell. This period of my life is the most liberating I've ever felt, and even though I'm 1489 km away from all my favourite people, I feel appreciated, I know they're there for me just like I'm here for them.

The same way I know it'll sometimes be hard, I know this experience will shape me into the person I'm supposed to become and I can't wait to see where it takes me.

So.. How has it been so far?

1. the housing.
Ha! Not an easy one. There are a lot of scams! From overly expensive properties to requests for deposits before even seeing the accommodations.. In the end, I found a place at my college campus. Definitely on the more expensive side, however, it does have its benefits. The biggest tip I could give for this topic is, as you would expect, start looking for a place months in advance, but also be realistic about what it is that you're looking for! A mistake I made was thinking that I could find a "cheaper" option by living in a shared house with other people even though deep down I know I'm not that simple.. I prefer having my own space. I understand that it's still on the more expensive side to say that, however, had I booked a studio months ahead, it wouldn't be that big of a price difference compared to those "shared house" options.
Definitely do your research, and book ahead! Don't lose your "decent" options by thinking you could find something "a little" better!
Also, my DM's and email are always open if you have any other questions about housing or moving here to study altogether!

2. budgeting
To be honest, since the inflation in Croatia, prices aren't that different here. If anything, I could even say that certain foods are actually less expensive. I'm still getting a hang of it (I've only been here alone for a week), but so far all my launch meals have come down to around €2 per serving! I know it's not quite equivalent to Croatia's student cafeterias, but I'd say it's pretty good. Do watch out for a "my favourite recipes" post once I get good at cooking and explore foods other than rice, veggies, chicken and pasta.. Regarding other shopping expenses, again, not much more expensive than Croatia. For certain "home equipment" goods I'd, again, say they're even cheaper. Furthermore, an example: shoes like Nike Air Force 1's that everyone loves are more affordable here as well and there's a larger city called Groningen just about 30 minutes (by car) from Leeuwarden where the basic clothing stores like Zara, Bershka and many others can be found.. I like to be practical and save money where I can, so everything so far has been decent. However, take this with a grain of salt, I'm not an expert and I will update you on it more later;)

3. the city itself
I can't get over how beautiful everything here is. Croatia is full of natural beauty, but here, the way people take care of their houses, the streets, the aesthetic of the town and even interpersonal relationships is on another level! I specifically love the cohesive mix of the tall modern buildings with the full of soul, old pieces. Everything is renewed in a way that fits the old architecture. Each place, each house, and each store is in a cohesive relation with everything else around. They use plants for decoration, they have them on every corner, around the entrances of store doors, the flowers are blooming on the street lamps, and you can even smell them! There are pretty much no cars in the center, which makes you more relaxed and calm. There are still mopeds and bikes which you have to be careful of, but everyone is so polite, that even if you get in someone's way it's not an uncomfortable experience. I have to admit, my Balkan heart is simply amazed.

4. the lifestyle
To follow up on what's been said above, which my mom specifically noticed, it seems that everyone here pays a lot of attention to interpersonal relationships. Wherever you go, everyone is extremely polite. One of the first times my mom and I went to the grocery store, the old lady in front of us at the cash register was buying a bouquet of roses and gave a rose to all the workers there. It's like in the movies. When you enter somewhere, nobody is judgemental. People are there to help and are listening to what you have to say. There is no frustration, everything is handled calmly and with a smile on their faces. Again, I've only been here for two weeks (one week alone), but so far the impressions are keeping up.

and lastly,

5. my college <3
As mentioned, I'm studying business administration (BA) at NHL Stenden in Leeuwarden. I chose this program because I'm interested in management, entrepreneurship and altogether, how the business world works. I have many ideas and dreams for my future and one of them is to start a business of my own. I'm also interested in psychology which I'm taking upon myself to learn about on the side. So far, I've only had a week of classes, but it's been great. The university itself isn't free like public colleges in Croatia, but therefore it does not disappoint. From people to the design.

And since photos can be worth more than a 1000 words, I'll just use them to show you the rest <3

PS.
You can also keep up with me through my socials linked down below;)

As always, thank you for reading, and if you have any questions, my DM's are always open! <3