Why did you choose to come to the Netherlands?
I decided to come to the Netherlands because I wanted to broaden my horizons in terms of my education. I also looked at options to travel and study/stay in other countries as well, but the option of the Netherlands during COVID time seemed more appealing.

Did you suffer from culture shock?
Of course, there are many differences between my homeland and the Netherlands. Some of them can be found below in this list:

• Where I come from, we usually have lunch after 3 p.m. and usually the food is cooked the same day. Dinner is also served later at 9 p.m. and not at 5 p.m., as usual in the Netherlands. There is no option to have a sandwich for lunch, however, we usually prefer to eat a sandwich earlier than our lunch at 10 a.m.
• When we use the bus in Greece, we usually don’t thank the bus driver. Here I see a lot of people saying “thanks!” before getting out. I think this is a very nice custom of Dutch culture. It should also be mentioned that the punctuality of transportation is unparalleled and amazing in this country!
• The Dutch generally prefer to be direct, but I do feel that sometimes they do not take into account the feelings of their interlocutor. More and more I see people from southern Europe conveying the same message in a different way, just with different wording, and still keeping the connection with their discussant intact. Perhaps there is room for improvement in this area!
• The Dutch really love their bikes! I was amazed that they cycled everywhere with me, even to weddings! In Greece, and especially in downtown Athens, cycling can make you limp through heavy traffic!
• The health care system is different and it can seem confusing to an expat. Going directly to a doctor is not an option here. In Greece, going directly to the doctor is something that can be done the same day, without requiring a referral from a general practitioner.
• King’s Day! That’s another cultural difference. In my country, we don’t have a similar celebration. But Dutch people love this day, and there are music venues in every city! It’s a happy and festive day for everyone!
• Ticks everywhere! In NL, you can receive an invoice for payment after a party. In Greece, if you are invited to a party, usually everything is covered by the owner of the party (otherwise you know from the beginning that there is a payment to be made).
• Conversations about mental health! Here I feel that taking care of your mental health is something that is promoted and supported by a large majority of people. I am very happy with this approach on this issue, and I hope that Greece will be similarly open on this issue in the future.