“When I first came to Rotterdam, I thought: wow, what a different city!” says Laila from Burundi. Although she was born there, she also lived in other countries like Tunisia and Brazil. In Burundi, she had her own business, and that’s why she wanted to gain financial knowledge. To do so, she pursued an MBA in Belgium. “I learned a lot there. And I really enjoyed my time in Belgium. That’s why I wanted to apply what I’d learned in Europe.”
She closed her business in Burundi and looked for the best job opportunities in Europe. “I already thought the Netherlands would be a good place for that. Some assume I’d go to France because we speak French in Burundi. But that country seemed racist to me. And I had a friend who lived in Rotterdam; she’s half Dutch and half Guinean. She wanted to introduce me to some people.”
Cube houses
So, in 2021, she moved to Rotterdam. And Laila was impressed. She was amazed by the buildings and the freedom in the city. “In Belgium, the buildings are much more austere and standard. Here, everything is different: some windows lean forward, others don’t. I found that really special.” She was also impressed by the cube houses. “At first, I thought no one actually lives there, but it’s truly a place to live.”
A bit strange
At first, it was difficult to feel at home in the city. “I was afraid to come here because I didn’t know anyone, I didn’t speak the language…”, Laila says. “And I was afraid it would be harder to find a job here.” And the Netherlands turned out to be a bit strange too. “That sandwich for lunch… I’m used to hot meals in the afternoon, so that was a shock,” she laughs. “And here everyone cycles. I saw that in Brussels too, but not as much as here. Here, people even cycle without using their hands or while talking on the phone!”
Fortunately, her friend helped her discover Rotterdam and make new friends. Laila started with activities like chess, taekwondo, and salsa. “Through those hobbies, I met people I would never have met otherwise,” she says. These social contacts helped her integrate quickly.
Different cultures
What Laila especially likes about Rotterdam is the mix of cultures. “I can meet people from all kinds of backgrounds, discover their customs, and learn from them. I really appreciate that. Because so many people of different nationalities live here, I can find everything I need here,” she says. She can go to a mosque to pray and get Turkish cookies from the bakery, just like she was used to in other countries where she’s lived. “It’s the little things that show me that I can truly feel at home here,” she explains.
She especially appreciates that the city is big enough to explore, yet small enough to reach everything. “There’s always something to do here.”
Customs from Santiago, Tunisia, and Burundi
Laila has brought many customs with her from the countries where she previously lived. “In Santiago, Brazil, I learned to talk a lot with my hands. In Tunisia, I saw people drinking a lot of coffee, but I didn’t. When I went back to Burundi, I drank a lot of coffee, and I’ve always kept that.” She also adapted her cooking, but she still holds on to some traditions, like using basmati rice.
Now Laila feels completely at home in Rotterdam. “I don’t want to leave here anytime soon,” she says.