"Maribor is an excellent city for Erasmus+ exchange" Kaan Babalar

I never thought I would get used to Maribor so quickly. My first impression was really good and I never expected to feel at home in such a different country. I come from one of the largest and most dynamic cities in the world, Istanbul. Since childhood, I have lived in a crowded city full of people, markets, colours and music, but here in Slovenia everything is different.

You can feel nature in a completely different way. Never in my life have I explored such a green country, full of forests and wonderful landscapes. I am really glad I chose this destination. I also often take walks along the River Drava, which brings me only good memories, as I grew up near the Bosphorus River in Istanbul.

Maribor is truly a tolerant city. It is full of students and student organisations, such as KMŠ or ESN Maribor, which you can find in almost every street of the old town. I have met many people from different countries and we all agree that Maribor is an excellent destination for carrying out the Erasmus+ programme. Here, in the middle of the Alps, you have all the entertainment and activities you would expect from a European city, yet you can also find a peaceful environment. There is even the Pohorje ski resort, which is only 15 minutes' drive from the city centre.

Another reason why I think Maribor is an ideal city for exchange is that you can enjoy the high standards of a European country with quite affordable prices for students, compared to other surrounding countries. With student meal vouchers, our life is much easier, as we have the opportunity to eat in almost any Maribor restaurant for less than 3 euros. This allows you to try many different types of food and save money for trips and other activities. Moreover, one of the best parts of living in the heart of Europe is that you have the opportunity to visit another country every weekend. I have already been to Austria and Italy and in the next few months I will continue to visit other countries.

I can truly say that Academia Institute of Technology helped us a lot in the first weeks. They provided us with all the information needed to apply for student meal vouchers, tax number, legal procedures, etc. Therefore, I never felt worried because I always felt their support. In addition, the lectures are excellent. We are a small international group and we feel that our lecturers help us a lot during lessons to make them fun whilst also offering a lot of practical knowledge. All the staff at the institute treat us with respect and kindness, which creates very good feedback from me about the lectures and the international office staff.

I am really glad I took the step forward and moved to Slovenia. I feel part of this city and its people.

Source: Academia (28. 3. 2019). Fotografije: arhiv Academie.

This English summary was produced automatically from the Slovenian article and is pending editorial review. Slovenska različica