From Bulgaria to the Netherlands

I MASTERdam

Bozhan is building up his life in his new geographical basis. With enthusiasm and optimism. 

Name:  Bozhan Chipev

Age:     25

From:   Sofia, Bulgaria

To:       Amsterdam, the Netherlands

For:      Master in New Media

1. Why Amsterdam?

“I came to do my Master’s degree in Amsterdam, because it’s the best education in terms of value-for-money. It is cheaper than the UK, and better than in the Scandinavian countries, at least in the field of New Media.”

Balcony view

2. Your academic interest.

“My academic background is quite diverse – I completed a dual BA degree at the American University in Bulgaria (AUBG) with Journalism and Mass Communications as one major and Political Science and International Relations as the second. After graduating I ended up spending a year as a junior reporter in a large print and web media outlet in Bulgaria, which sparked my interest in technology and new media.”

3. The hardest thing to get used to in the new city.

“Nothing has really been hard, as people in Amsterdam are very accustomed to foreigners and communicating in English with them. Perhaps the toughest part is dealing with the government administration, and especially the tax authorities, who are forbidden by law to communicate in a language other than Dutch.”

4. People of the city in 3 words.

“Tolerant. Direct. Biking.”

5. What you miss the most from your country.

“Life is easier close to home. There are all kinds of safety nets – friends, family, less bureaucracy. Maybe what I miss the most is the sense of belonging, the feeling that I’m at home, and not in a foreign country. Because as open and tolerant as Amsterdammers are, they can often make you feel as an outsider, even if it’s not on purpose.”

6. Your new habit.

“Oh, there are so many of those. Biking is the main one, but also having only bread and cheese for lunch, or always carrying an emergency jacket in case of unexpected torrential rain.”

7. What do you find the most impressive thing about the Dutch culture.

“The fact that they are literraly conquering land from the ocean and creating new space from themselves out of nothing. The Dutch singlehandedly invalidated one of the many emblematic Mark Twain quotes: "Buy land, they're not making it anymore".”

8. Your career plan.

“I’m currently working in Marketing for a German startup company based off of the RockStart accelerator in Amsterdam. The plan is to continue getting experience in the field. Ideally, I would like to travel and work/live in different places around the world, but if I “only” get to stay in Amsterdam, I will be a happy man.”

9. Your thoughts about going back home.

“Although I realise that Bulgaria needs all the Western-educated young people it can get in order to improve the socio-economic situation in the country, I would rather continue my life and work abroad.”

10. Your furthest dream.

“My most far-fetched dream is to start an online business that can be headquartered anywhere (or nowhere), allowing me to both make a good living and not rooting me to one particular city or country.”

11. What you will keep forever after Amsterdam.

“The skill to ride a bike in heavy rain and wind while holding an open umbrella. If I ever learn it, that is.”

Young Dentist in Wales

Setting up a new life in UK

 Romina is a dentist who has just started her career. She took the decision of  moving in Wales to build the foundations on which she can base the start of her life. Until her return in Greece, 

she explores the English culture and landscapes.

Name:  Romina Gkioni

Age:     26

From:   Piraeus

To:       Barmouth, Wales

For:     Work and Studies

Caernarfon, Wales

1. Why Wales?

“I found a very good work offer there. I went for the interview, liked the place and some months later moved in. Quite simple. UK generally was the goal. Wales was just good luck.”

2. Your decision to leave Greece.

“It was not easy but it was something that I've been thinking for many years. I was at the second year at University when I first heard about what UK offers to young dentists. Very good working opportunities as well as a lot of different options for postgraduate studies. It's not simple to leave your home and everything that you knew until now behind, but in life you need to try for the best. The crisis made it much easier to take  the decision of course...”

3. The first difficulty you confronted after you left.

“Bureaucracy!!! You may not believe it but it seems worse than ours.

And the language which is much different from the English that are taught in Greece.”

4. The hardest thing to get used to in the new city.

“That you are different from the others. And this is not common here because it's a small city and population is only Welsh and English people.  We are a small minority here.”

5. What do you see from your window.

“Trees and after that the ocean! I love it!”

Window view

6. People in the city in 3 words 

“kind, smiling, helpful”

7. The best thing to do when it’s sunshine.

“Explore different aspects of this beautiful country!”

8. The best thing to do at night.

“Stay at home and watch a movie. There is not much to do outside.”

9. Your impression about working as a dentist in England.

“It is nice. It's just a different approach to the same thing. People here have different needs than people in Greece. It is interesting, you have the chance to work with many patients and gain a lot of experience something that is not easy any more for young dentists in Greece.”

10. Your new habit.

“Painting…”

Harlech

11. Your thoughts about going back to Greece.

“That's something I am really looking forward to. It's really nice here but there is no place like home. One day...”

12. How the Greek crisis affects your life in England.

“It really didn't. People ask us about the crisis sometimes but quite typically, to tell the truth, they don't really care. The only way in which the crisis made our lives different is that we meet Greeks all the time everywhere around the UK!!”

Greece

13. Your furthest dream.

“Live in Greece, have a family, be surrounded by people I love, in a society that has finally found it's way, have a job that enables me to cover my needs and… travel a lot.”

14. Your definition of “home”.

“Home is where you feel safe, where you can be happy and most of all where the people that you love are.”

Volunteer in India

 Experiencing a different cultural reality

Anastasia left her job as a journalist for a while, to travel in spiritual India as a volunteer in a children teaching program. Having explored the Indian daily life, its bright and dark side, she came back with strong impressions and beautiful pictures, some of which she shares here. 

  Name:  Anastasia-Areti Gavrili

  Age:     24

  From:   Piraeus, Greece

  To:       Bangalore & Calcutta, India

  For:      Volunteer Program: 
            Street Children Teaching

      1. Your motivation to go in India as a volunteer.

   

“While working as a journalist over the past four years, I have written dozens of articles about poverty, human rights and all kind of social and economic problems that less-developed countries face. But my work was always done through a computer in a safe and comfortable office. 

I suddenly realized that I wanted to open my eyes and see the real world, discover a new culture and a different -and definitely more simple- way of life. I wanted to change my attitude in life, appreciate what was given to me and do something meaningful.”

2.     How long did you stay?

“I spent two months in India volunteering in two different programs. My visa was only valid for three months so I could not stay much longer. But there are volunteering programs that last over a year. And there is always need for help back there.”

3.     Where did you stay?

“During my first month I lived with a host family in a small house in Bangalore. I had to live as a true Indian… Sleep on the floor, eat with my hands and take a “bucket” shower, as I used to call it. When I moved to Kolkata I shared a room with other volunteers at a University facility, next to Mother Teresa's house. Being able to share and adapt is really important while in India.”

       4.The most impressive thing about India.

“The colors! India is like a huge colorful canvas. Every corner looks like a unique work of art.”

5. The hardest thing to get used to.

“The images of children sleeping on the streets, walking barefoot and playing on piles of garbage. Eating rice and spicy carries for every meal was a big challenge as well.”

6.     What was your job?

“My job was to help children from the streets return to the regular schooling system and stay away from exploitation.  I used to spend 6 to 8 hour a day with 4-12 years old children, teach them English through creative methods and keep them occupied with art activities. I also undertook some simple renovation work in the schools like painting and tree planting in order to make their environment more welcoming.”

    
  7. How was the communication with the children?

“Like an imagination game. The children did not speak English so we had to be creative and find new ways to teach them.”

8. Some of the activities you did with the children.

“English lessons, games, drawing etc. One of the best days in my life was March 27^th. It was the day we celebrated Holi Festival with the children and welcomed spring by throwing tones of color to each other.”

9.     The best memory of you as a “teacher”.

“One of my strongest moments there was my last day at school when some children wrote me beautiful goodbye notes.”

      10. The best way to spend the day in Kolkata, when not working.

“Get on a local bus and get off on Howrah Bridge. Follow the people carrying huge baskets full of flowers on their heads. At the East end of the bridge, the Mullik Ghat riverside you can see Kolkata's unbelievable lively and amazing Flower Market. When you manage to walk through the chaotic alleys find your way to Victoria Memorial monument. Walk in front of the Writers’ Building and end up at Mother Teresa's house. Don't forget to taste some delicious mangos! Enjoy!”

Flower Market

     



11. Is it really a different reality as they say?

“It feels like it is a different world. A spiritual and crazy place at the same time. You experience new tastes, sounds, religions…”

     12. Something that “we” think about India which is not true.

“Not all Indians are bad and dangerous. They might stare at you for hours and try to take pictures with you like you are the world’s biggest celebrity, but they are usually harmless”.

     13. The taste linked to India.

“Mango ice creams and freshly cut pineapples! I am not a big fun of curry…”

     14. People of India in 3 words.

“Religious. Curious. Calm.”

   

  15. What you will keep forever?

“My students' drawings, my love for India and Gandhi's quote: “Poverty is the worst form of violence”.

[Photos by Anastasia]

Studying Architecture in Torino

Una Greca in Italia

Maria was always sure about what she wants to do and never gave up chasing her dream. 

By the time she left Greece at her 18, she managed to find her balance 

between growing up and living alone.

. 

 Name:  Maria Stergiou

 Age:      25

 From:   Piraeus, Greece

 To:       Torino, Italia

 For:      Architecture           in: Politecnico di Torino

1. The progress of your relationship with Torino.

Torino

"When I came here, everything was new and strange. It was too difficult for me to understand people and their culture, not because they are different from us-not at all-, but I was feeling like "detached" from my beloved city at a very young age. 

It was too early. 

However, I was observing the city (without admitting to myself that it was beautiful) and I started finding things to do that where making me happy, such as going on my bike for hours in the parks and hanging out with my friends, discovering bars and places. I was trying to make my new life similar to my old one and many times I achieved it. 

Now, I don’t know if I want to leave Torino. I love it. But every person that I love is in Greece or somewhere in Europe. I don’t know if I have to follow and who I want to follow."

2. In what way architecture changed your point of view?

 "It might sound silly, but architecture made me more sincere. With myself, with my relationship with the professors, with my parents, with my feelings. I was thinking: if I wanted to continue my studies in that unfamiliar city and spend my perents’ money, I had to decide if I really liked what I was doing. The only way to find it, was being sincere."

3. The hardest thing to get used to.

"The fact I didn’t have my family next to me, in every step I was doing. It was the first time I had to deal with everything on my own and I had to organize my life, my priorities and my desires. Discipline was too hard for me."

4. Your basic interest in the field.

"Architectural, eco-sustainable projects and restoration."

5. What would be your personal contribution in a better world through the art of architecture?

"Stop doing architecture! Or better, stop constructing. Architecture has not only to do with the concrete. Landscaping could be a more helpful way to make better this world. We need green, we need water, we need oxygen. We need our history and heritage. Restoration and renovation could be a solution."

6.International majorities in Torino.

 "Morrocans, Romanians, South-americans, Africans"

7. People of the city in 3 words.

" “Bon vivant”, competitive, superficial."

8. The song linked to your life there.

"“Love in Portofino”, Andrea Bocelli "

9. The taste.

"Fresh basilico and tomato."

10. The best thing to do alone in the city.

"Biking along the river, reaching the cliff and watching the whole city spreading in the horizon."

Workshop

11. What is special about the University.

"The large number of workshops that give us the opportunity to practice on programs and become better at the presentation of projects."

12. Your new (Italian) habbit.

  "The Coffee, of course! And the “aperitivo” "

13. Your furthest dream.

"Become an upstanding architect and go back to Greece with my future family and work there. In an island maybe. Wherever near the sea."

14. The greatest thing you learned during these years in Italy.

"Patience, helping (me and the others) and loving whatever I am doing."

15. Your personal definition of “home”.

"Home is not only the house I was raised in anymore, but wherever I feel comfortable and full of love. Wherever someone tells me “Here, I prepared something for you to eat”. Wherever we talk for a while before we go to sleep and wherever the sheets smell like soap. Wherever there is someone waiting for me."