The Erasmus diary of Rosalinda

First Days in the Netherlands: My Honest Experience

Hello, my name is Rosalinda and I come from Serbia. I come as an internist in marketing and I received an excellent offer from The Orange Academy through the Erasmus+ program. Here is my honest account of my first days in the Netherlands.

Travel and accommodation were provided for me, but I still had a lot of anxiety about coming to the Netherlands. I was fortunate that my boss met me at the airport and drove me to the city of Maastricht, where I will be spending most of my time for the next two months. First, we went grocery shopping and bought other essentials to ensure I was well-prepared for a good start.

When I thought of the Netherlands, known for its high standard of living, I wondered how I would survive the first month. It was surprising to discover that prices in supermarkets are almost the same and that there isn’t a huge difference, except for the price of cigarettes, which is quite high. After shopping, we went to the apartment so I could leave my things and meet my roommate before she left for work. Then, my boss took me around the city so I could get an idea of where everything is.

I was so tired that I could hardly wait to get back to the apartment, unpack, and rest. I tried to connect to the internet to let everyone know I had arrived safely, but it turned out the password wasn’t correct. Fear and excitement drove me to immediately start exploring the city on my own. Soon, I realized I had made a mistake – I had forgotten the apartment key. Alone, without internet and without a key, I felt lost and sad, but I decided to keep going. The problem was soon resolved, and I could hardly wait for my roommate to arrive. I went back to the apartment, waiting for her call. Time passed, and there was still no call from her. It turned out that I had forgotten to give her my new Dutch number, so she was already out with her friends. She soon came back with a friend of hers, a Spanish girl. We had a relaxed conversation, and they gave me great support. We then enjoyed dinner by the river.

The next day was a full day of sightseeing – visiting a beautiful Christian church, an enormous bookstore in the oldest church with lots of books in all languages, enjoying an orchestra on the square that was delighting people, trying their pastries, especially pies that are so soft. I observe people who are so relaxed, dressed casually on their bikes,many cafes and restaurants, large parks where people have picnics, and I told myself that I will have the opportunity to experience life in the Netherlands.

I am entering the first workweek bravely, despite the "unfortunate circumstances" and great fear. They are, after all, part of everything new, and I just need to trust the team that shows a strong desire to help me learn the job and make my stay unforgettable.