Khalid: Home is aspirations

How long did it take for you to feel at home in Brainport Eindhoven?  

It took me around five months, but there is a good reason behind it: I was limiting my social circle. I was focusing on school, and that's how my father raised me with the mentality of work, then home, work, home, and nothing more. So, I was just trapped within that mindset, which prolonged me from settling in the Netherlands and having that inner peace that this is a very good place to stay in and be in.

What makes you feel at home in the region?   

Everything, to be honest. I really love the center of Eindhoven because I love shopping, I love design, and photography, and the center of Eindhoven has all of those components. That makes me feel comfortable and have peace, and that's what means home to me.  

Also, my friends make me feel at home here, and the food, like shawarma in the Turkish street (Kruistraat) because it, kind of reminds me of back home. Basically, the environment of Eindhoven. Eindhoven's environment encompasses many cultures; it has everything you need. Whether you are from India or Arabic, you're going to find whatever you want, and it's multicultural, it's very mixed.  

How did you meet your friends here?   

At school. We didn't really connect for the first 1-2 years because we were just seeing each other from afar and weren't talking to each other. But then we had a project last semester and were working on the same thing. And we discovered we have good chemistry and energy and also school brings us together. Now I also have more friends from the minor as well. It's all about connection. If you are willing to start small talks, you will have a very big circle. But in the beginning, I was trying to avoid that, which is why it took me longer to expand my social circle.  

Do you feel you can be yourself in Brainport Eindhoven?  

Yes, definitely. 100% in this region. You can do whatever you want, talk about whatever you want, and be whoever you want. Sometimes, I wear my slippers outside because I don't feel like changing to go to the supermarket. Yes, people might look at me, but they don't make a big deal out of it. In my country, people make a big deal about the image you portray but not here. I mean, who really cares about that? I don't.   

If you could give any advice to someone that just moved here, what would you tell them so they can feel more at home?  

Try to find a social circle but don't forget your goals. It's important to have a balance between your social life and your studies or your job. Try to feel like your most comfortable self and try to not treat your life here as if it's just temporary. Try to live it and make the most out of your experience, and then you'll see that it's, maybe, even better than in your hometown.   

Would you encourage other internationals to move to Brainport Eindhoven?  

It would be the best decision you could ever make in your whole life. Because this is one of the biggest regions, especially if they're in the tech field. This is one of the biggest tech regions in Europe, if not the world. And I knew that from the beginning, that was one of the reasons why I came to Eindhoven and the Netherlands to do my bachelors because this is the best environment for technical people to grow and have an impact in the world.  

And another reason, in the Netherlands, they work to live, not the other way around. In other parts of the world, it's all about work, and companies take advantage of that, but in the Netherlands is pretty sustainable. There's a very nice balance between your profession and your social life, and you can actually live comfortably.