“I don’t feel any different from others here. That’s special,” says Cherub from Bhutan. And she should know, because she has lived on many different continents. At the age of eight, she was adopted by a Dutch family living in Bhutan. “At the time, I still spoke the language of Bhutan, but I quickly learned English,” she says. Her parents soon moved to Laos and then to the Netherlands. “I didn’t speak Dutch yet, and my parents thought it was important for me to learn it.”
So, at the age of ten, Cherub ended up in Oegstgeest, a small village near Leiden. It was a big transition. “I was completely different from the people there. Together with my adopted sister from Ecuador and my best friend, we were the only ones at school with a different background.”
After five years in the Netherlands, the family moved again, this time to Indonesia. “I had just learned Dutch well, and then it started all over again.” She then lived in Nepal for a year and a half, where she finished high school.
Peace in Rotterdam
“I didn’t return to the Netherlands until I was twenty, to study,” says Cherub. She deliberately chose Rotterdam. “This city is so rich in cultures. This is the first place where I feel truly at home. In Rotterdam, you don’t have to be tied to a single identity or nationality. That gives me peace of mind. For now, I’m happy here.” She compares Rotterdam to other cities such as The Hague. “I lived there too, but Rotterdam feels more connected. Less divided.” She also appreciates the Rotterdam mentality. “I like the directness. It makes communication clearer. I’ve really adopted that.”
Fortunately, she spoke the language, which helped. But that wasn’t enough for an easy transition to the Netherlands. “I really struggled to find my place.” Still, she succeeded, by welcoming the city with open arms. “Sometimes you have to step out of your comfort zone, but if you dare to do so, Rotterdam has a lot of wonderful things to offer.” That’s also what she advises others. “You get a lot in return. If you open yourself up, smile on the subway, you’ll notice how warm the city actually is.”
Cherub eventually completed her degree in International Public Management. “That degree even took me to Costa Rica for three months,” she says with a smile. “I’ve always had a dream of working abroad, because of my childhood.”
Differences between neighborhoods and people
Cherub now works for an organization that connects people from different backgrounds. “That teaches me a lot about the city and the people who live there. You see the opportunities, but also the challenges.” One of those challenges, she says, is the difference in people’s incomes. “There is a big difference between neighborhoods and communities. I see that up close because I work in the field. People struggle, sometimes financially, sometimes mentally.”
Compassion and a sister from Bhutan
Although Cherub no longer speaks the language of Bhutan, she still feels connected to her homeland. “I have a lot of compassion for others. That’s something that fits in with the philosophy of Bhutan and Buddhism.”
A few years ago, Cherub found her biological sister after 18 years. “We met in Japan. It was incredibly emotional.” Her sister now lives in Germany and they are in touch from time to time. “Hopefully we’ll see each other again next year.”
That would also be from Rotterdam. “I see Rotterdam as my stable base. A place I always return to. But I am also curious about the world. I definitely want to discover other places. But Rotterdam feels like coming home.”