“Rotterdam has a heritage of diversity,” says Cara from Namibia. Cara was born in Windhoek, the capital of Namibia. Her mother was also born there. Her father was born in the United Kingdom. His family migrated to South Africa when he was a child. After Namibia gained independence from South Africa, he ended up there.
Carla always wanted to study abroad. So she completed her bachelor’s degree in Cape Town, South Africa. Then she returned to Namibia, where she was confronted with the coronavirus. It led to a life of isolation. “After the coronavirus, I wanted to do something different with my life. I wanted to continue my studies in Europe, and that was also an easy way to get a visa.” She considered the United Kingdom because she speaks English well. “It’s the main language in Namibia. My mother and her family speak Afrikaans, but at school I spoke English.” However, studying in the United Kingdom proved too expensive. She opted for the Master’s degree in Media and Creative Industries at Erasmus University Rotterdam.
“I didn’t know much about Rotterdam. Many friends said, ‘Why not Amsterdam?’ But I wanted to live in the city where I studied.”
Multicultural through history
Carla remembers her arrival in Rotterdam well. “I arrived at Central Station and thought, ‘How peaceful and beautiful!’ The city immediately felt open and welcoming.” Rotterdam turned out to be very different from what she expected. “It’s much more spacious than I thought and incredibly multicultural.” That’s what made her stay longer after her master’s degree.
She’s now lived in the city for four years and feels at home. “People often ask why I don’t live in Amsterdam because I work there. But Rotterdam suits me better. Amsterdam is international, but many expats come and go. Rotterdam has a history of migration, which makes it multicultural. You can feel that. The city is warm and welcoming.”
Meeting new people
Yet, living in the Netherlands wasn’t always easy. “In Namibia, people are very open. You make friends quickly. I found that harder here,” says Carla. She noticed that Dutch people often keep their circles of friends separate. “I’m used to having friends who know each other. Here, it’s often just casual connections.”
She tried to make friends through her studies, work, and a few people from Namibia who also live in the Netherlands. “I do have a network now, but not a real group of friends like I was used to.”
Cycling to the cinema
Getting around in the city also took some getting used to. “Namibia has a lot of hills, so people don’t cycle there. Here everything is flat and everyone cycles,” she laughs. “I hadn’t cycled in years. It was a bit nerve-wracking at first!” Now she easily cycles around the city and knows the best spots. She likes to go to the Kino cinema herself. “I love movies. With my Cineville pass, I’m a regular there.”
Missing Namibia
What does she miss about Namibia? Especially the food. We love braai—barbecuing. It’s a real social occasion. Unfortunately, it’s more difficult here with the weather, and my boyfriend is also vegan. That’s a bit of a shift sometimes, because Namibian cuisine is very meat-focused. But she doesn’t want to go back to Namibia entirely. “I’m staying in Rotterdam for now. I’ve built my life here. But Namibia will always be in my heart. Maybe one day I’ll live part of the year there and part of the year here. Who knows?”