Settling in – our first few weeks in Hoi An

The first few days, even weeks, at a new place are very intense. Especially living in a bubble like Kulturstudier often feels like, there is so much to process and take in.

When arriving to a place where you don’t know anyone, or close to no one, it can be a bit uncomfortable because you have to get to know everyone.

We are about seventy students, and just the thought of having to remember seventy names belonging to seventy different faces can feel quite overwhelming.

The good thing is that this is the same for everyone. Everyone will be going through this phase of trying to get to know everyone, while also trying to find your place in the group, at school, in the house and in general.

Sharing a room with someone you’ve never met before can be challenging. Often, our room is a. place where we can pull back to, relax, and be by ourselves.

Now, your room is also a space where you have to get to know someone. Although this feels like a lot in the beginning, getting to know your new roommate is often a fun process and it usually works out pretty well.

Regardless of your personality and preferences, being able to communicate well with your roommate will often make the process easier and more comfortable for the both of you.

Expressing if and when you need some alone time or if you want to just be quiet will make life a lot easier.

Adapting to a new routine, everyday life, and school situation will take up a lot of time in the beginning. Having moved to a new house and a new city, you don’t know where anything is located or how things work.

Creating a new morning routine with getting ready, breakfast, and commute to university takes some getting used to, but it always works out.

Sharing a bathroom with your roommate, you're forced to make a morning routine that works for both of you.

We have all found our favorite breakfast spots where we get a Bahn mi, which is a Vietnamese sandwich, and then we continue on our way to the university.

Finding a balance between schoolwork and social activities might also take some time, but everyone eventually finds a balance that suits them and their needs.