STORIES

Participating in an Erasmus Exchange program has always been a dream of mine. I wanted to step out of my comfort zone and satisfy my curiosity about student life outside my home country. When it came to choosing a location, I noticed that most students opted for big cities that everyone knows about. I decided to take a different path and chose Maribor, city with much to offer and learn, yet not commonly in the spotlight. Below, you will find how my student life in Maribor unfolded, included its difficulties and beauties I learned from this remarkable experience.

It all started on 24 February. I couldn’t believe that I was in Maribor and I was very excited for the new life that awaited me there. One of the first difficulties was orientation, but with the help of the kind people, we managed that. Most of the people in Slovenia speak English, so it was easy for us to find what we needed.

The first day of school included a presentation about the university and faculty, during which I felt very welcomed. Everything in that presentation was well prepared, and the staff was kind throughout my entire experience.

Studying at the Faculty of Economics and Business was an enriching experience. The university offers a diverse range of courses designed to provide both theoretical knowledge and practical skills. The professors are not only experts in their fields but also approachable and supportive, always encouraging us to think critically and engage in discussions.

Student life in Maribor was full of different activities, and I never felt bored there. Every day there was something new to do, and every Tuesday was party day. We would all go together by the lake for drinks and conversation.

In this exchange, I learned a lot, not only from studying but also from life experiences. The first thing was learning to live alone and manage everything by myself. Additionally, staying with many international students with different cultures and mindsets taught me a lot about other countries.

I really enjoyed the student life there because the state offered many facilities for students. This experience made me more independent and more confident.

To conclude, this experience means a lot to me, and I want to end it with a beautiful quote: “You will never be completely home again because part of your heart will always be somewhere else.”

Sibora Grymshi
Faculty of Economics and Business

Student from: Tirana, Albania
Period of exchange: February 2024 – July 2024