My relationship with Olomouc was not love at first sight. I struggled a lot trying to feel connected to this city. I lived here, studied here and walked through same streets every day, but it never truly felt like my place. Being far away from home was a true challenge for me. I would have never believed that my life will change in just one day.
The beginning of something unexpected
I think the most important moments in our lives begin in the most unexpected ways. Mine started with a completely ordinary evening in the dormitory. I happened to meet a guy in the hallway, without having any idea that this brief encounter would eventually change my experience of living in Olomouc.
We started talking and through him, I got to know more and more people. One introduction led to another, and before I realised it, I was becoming part of a completely new social circle. These were people from different countries and because of them I started to feel happiness and joy.
At that time, I couldn't have imagined how important these people would become to me. I didn't know that some of those random conversations would turn into lasting friendships, that ordinary evenings would become precious memories, or that I would eventually meet someone who would make this city even more special. Looking back, I find it fascinating how something so small can lead to something so meaningful. Perhaps it was simply coincidence, but I am quite certain that I can call it fate.
Meeting my international friends changed the way I experienced student life. Day by day our connection was becoming deeper. Sharing experiences, making memories, laughing about things that only we could understand became part of our lives.
My favourite memories weren't made in big or special places, but in an ordinary hallway, where with a cup of tea in hands everybody could be themselves. Every day was a special day only for us. Over time, our friendship became much more than a part of my university experience. They became a part of my life that I cannot imagine my time in the Olomouc without.
Becoming a Version of Myself I Had Never Known
Perhaps the biggest change was not in the way I saw Olomouc, but in the way I saw myself. Being surrounded by people from different countries encouraged me to become more open to new experiences. I became more willing to step outside my comfort zone, to express myself, and to embrace opportunities without overthinking everything.
I also discovered how much happiness can come from allowing yourself to connect with others. I didn't become an entirely different person; I just finally opened my whole personality. I became more open, more confident, and the most important for me - happier.
A City Full of Memories
I began to see Olomouc differently. It used to be the city where I just studied. As I began building friendships and creating memories, those same places gradually acquired a new meaning. The dormitory became more than just a building where I live. Certain streets became connected to conversations, laughter and moments I wanted to remember.
I found true love here, something I had never expected to become such a meaningful part of my experience in the Czech Republic. It can be strange how a place can remain physically the same while feeling completely different to us. Sometimes, we don't fall in love with a city because of its architecture, its history or its beautiful streets. We fall in love with the life we have built there. Olomouc didn't suddenly become a different city. It became the setting for a life that means very much to me.
Finding a Second Family Far from Home
My international friends have become a second family to me. Coming from Ukraine, Romania, Georgia, Indonesia, Myanmar, Mexico and Nepal we have created something that belongs to all of us. We share experiences, learn from one another, and bring respect, happiness and love in each other’s lives.
I truly believe that people we meet unexpectedly, far away from home, always become the most essential part of our lives.
The Ambassador Program of the Welcome Office is an initiative that enables international students at Palacký University Olomouc to engage across all faculties, offering peer support in academic matters, university integration, and cultural exchange. Ambassadors assist fellow students in navigating their studies, adapting to university and city life, and fostering a vibrant multicultural environment. They actively participate in cultural days and events, share best practices, collaborate on projects, and share their academic and personal experiences. Ambassadors also organize social events and facilitate effective communication between students, faculties, and the rectorate of Palacký University. If you are interested in seizing the opportunity to become our next ambassador, you can register here.