Change Your Location, Change Your Life

It is less than two days left before I leave Groningen. I have been staying here for almost two months now. I would surely say this is a lifetime experience I will never regret. I used to think that two months is going to be a long time, but it is not. Two months is absolutely not enough to learn new languages, blend in with the locals, see their cultures and lifestyle, taste the different vibes. There are so many things I have obtained, much more than reading a pile of books. Being in a country, half the world away, 6 hours of time difference, has brought me a broader scope of view.



For at least one in their life, everybody should try to talk to a stranger. I did it several times, mainly in long-distance train. People who is wearing headset would be more difficult to approach, of course. I met two Indonesian students, a nice Dutch lady whose husband is from Ambon descendant and she helped me dealing with train station lockers, a business man, a hitchhiker who was just back from Portugal, an old Dutch couple who used to live in Medan 60 years ago, and a Romanian student.

From some people I met here I have learned that IKEA offers breakfast for just 1 Euro, there is a cheap and tasty Chinese restaurant where 6 people can eat enough for only 10 euro, discount card/bonus card/student card/member card can be very useful to save your money. It is common for people here to bike to work and bring homemade lunch, even some doctors and professors. People read books everywhere, on the train, on the bus, while waiting for their flight. Real books, the one without pictures in it. It is also common to eat your sandwich, yoghurt, salad, snacks inside the train, but most of the train remain clean from food waste. Cheek kiss three times for friendly greetings. Do not take picture of men pretending to be a statue unless you want to waste some money. Drive and bike on the right side of the road. Go shopping before Sunday, because all the shops close on Sunday except the first Sunday of the month. Go shopping before 6 pm, except on Thursdays. Check weather forecast before going outside. Make appointment before meeting someone. Bring something if you are invited to a dinner. And so on. And so on.

Living abroad encourage you to tolerate new things. People are meant to be different, so there is no use to keep thinking in your close minded perspective. Try the most gross food, drink a local beer, walk a lot, talk to the locals. For the last is what I think the most important. I have come to a conclusion that people from every part of the world can be really different at one point or very similar at another point of view. Lifestyle, culture, history, language, family background, perception, religion. Those are all the golden heritage that make our world a very rich place. If everybody has so much similarities, what's so beautiful about it?
I embrace diversity.

It is not about being a different person and totally change the way you live. You can be your self, with your own original value, cultural background, and religious practice. The main point is to know that diversity exists, and growing into a better person while you adapt. Adaptation is the key.

The world is too big for us to just settle in one place.