By Elina Veelenturf
You might wonder what this blog is about – German village girl who lives in a big city for the first time? Not quite yet but let me start with a little introduction first. My name is Elina and I am 24 years old. I grew up in a very small village in Germany and by small I mean yes there live more cows than actual people.
Since my dad is Dutch and my mum is German, I grew up with two cultures which I believe triggerd my high interest in exploring and getting to know even more cultures. After I finished my school in Germany, I searched for possible Bachelor studies and found the Hotel Management School in Maastricht. Studying hospitality in an international environment felt like the perfect opportunity to learn about a topic which highly interests me but as well to explore and get to know new cultures. So yeah, I decided to leave my small village and move to Maastricht.
During my bachelor I did not only learn about topics such as management or hospitality but I learnt as well what it means to grow an international mindset. Looking back at my bachelor and my time in Maastricht, I would definitely say that working with people from different cultures is a true enriching experience and that hospitality is not just confined to the walls of hotels and restaurants, but that hospitality can be found in every kind of organisation all over the world. The combination of those two aspects and my desire to learn even more led me to the decision of starting my Master degree in Consultancy & Entrepreneurship in Rotterdam at the Rotterdam Business School.
Moving from Maastricht to Rotterdam was again a complete switch of scenery. Rotterdam is a vibrant and international city and can not even be compared in the slightest way to the burgundian Maastricht in my opinion. To put it in other words during my first week I was completely overwhelmed from all new impressions and I even doubted if I would fit in.
Rotterdam’s diversity mirrors the multicultural environment of my Master program, where I study with people from all over the world. This exposure to a wide range of cultures and perspectives has been both exciting and unpredictable, pushing me once again out of my comfort zone in the best possible way. The Master program is very hands-on and has a lot of interactive activities through which all students connect with each other. While the Master can be demanding, my experience so far is incredibly rewarding. One of my fellow students shares similar thoughts as she describes our experiences in Rotterdam as “exciting, unpredictable, and challenging.” Another student states that everyone is very open and helpful which makes him feel welcome in the city and the program.
What I appreciate the most about my journey is the balance between challenge and opportunity. Yes, stepping out of your comfort zone can be daunting, but it opens the door to a world of possibilities. Meeting people from different backgrounds has not only broadened my horizons but also deepened my appreciation even more for the globalized world we live in.
Looking back, Maastricht helped me grow a global mindset and Rotterdam put me into a new stage of international engagement. I have always felt the need to explore and understand different cultures but throughout my journey I realize it is not just personal interest but something I want to have in my professional pathway in the future as well. To conclude I am grateful for my journey and I am looking forward to the future. So yeah, in the end maybe this is a blog about a village girl who moves to a big city but I hope my shared experiences will trigger you to jump into new waters and enrich your life with learning, understanding and cultural exchange.