Can you introduce yourself?
My name is Achouak. I’m coming from Algeria and I am studying tourism and hospitality.
How did you decide to study in Serbia?
I think it’s important to mention that when I came first to Serbia, I came as an Erasmus student. I didn’t come to study tourism. That was last year. I was selected from my home university to represent my university here in Serbia. I was studying English literature and when I came here to Serbia, it was already my last semester for my previous degree. I really liked it and I found everything that I wanted here. So I decided to just go back to my country and come back here again.
Where did you find necessary information?
The moment I knew that I wanted to come back to Serbia, I started doing my research online. The first thing that popped up when I typed tourism in English, was Singidunum University. I just talked to them and they gave me all the necessary information to apply and I did it. That’s how I came to Serbia.
How did you approach the language barrier?
It’s important to highlight that I do not speak Serbian, but it was not really hard for me to find a place here. Because Serbia is really full of foreigners, not as I was expecting. When I first came here to Serbia, everybody was speaking English, so it wasn’t really hard for me to fit in, to communicate or to make friends. That’s actually what I like about Serbia. What made me come again is the friends and the people.
What is student life like in Belgrade?
Belgrade as a city is a really living city. You can do a lot of things, especially if you are young. You have a lot of opportunities, a lot of activities, especially with the university. And, being a foreigner, I can say that it really helps me. Because when you are a foreigner and you come here, you will always start looking for some interesting things to do.
Do you mind sharing your future plans?
Actually, I’m just going with the flow. But I chose Singidunum University because it has a lot of internships and it will really help. It will help me with my degree, which is tourism. That’s where I will start my career.
What’s your message to anyone considering studying in Serbia?
They should definitely do this. Studying abroad is really good for everyone. I recommend it, especially to Serbia. If you come to Serbia, you can both find developed cities and you will also find home. You can feel at home here. That’s why I really recommend Serbia. It’s a small country, yes, but it has so many things and so many opportunities. So I really recommend this for everyone. Just do it and your experience will be unforgettable.
