‘Open attitude and right drive will get you a long way’

‘I come from a very eventful and beautiful capital city,’ says Zanechalova. ‘I like living somewhere that always has something going on. Bratislava will always be my favorite, but I really enjoy my life in Enschede now. The presence of a university makes it a lively and dynamic place. Besides that, I am a big fan of the cycling infrastructure. It is amazing that I can simply take my bike every morning, hop onto the F35, and ride all the way from Enschede to my work in Almelo.’

Before moving to Netherlands, Zanechalova spent some time in Boston, England to improve her English. ‘I discovered that the flexible British education system suited me well, which inspired me to continue my education outside Slovakia.’ By chance, she came across the University of Twente’s Open Days. ‘The main reason to choose Enschede, was UT’s high ranking as a technical university. What I had not realised, though, was that everyone speaks Dutch at home and on the streets.’

Even during her studies in Applied Mathematics, she encountered a language barrier. Adviced by her student counsellor, she switched to Industrial Engineering and Management, where she found a more international environment. ‘Joining the floorball club Messed Up also gave me a sense of belonging. I made good friends and met my boyfriend there.’

Although speaking Dutch in public still feels a bit uncomfortable, she has gradually become much better at understanding the language over the years. ‘To pay attention to my surroundings, listen to conversations, and read signs around me, helped. At some point it starts making sense, and in certain situations I always force myself to speak Dutch; in shops or when I bump into my neighbours.’

At her workplace, HITEC Power Protection, there is an international work culture. This Almelo-based company, which originated from Holec, provides uninterrupted power supplies for, among others, hospitals and data centres. ‘During the Career Days, I spoke with one of my current colleagues, also an expat, and she was very excited.’ Zanechalova went for it. After completing her thesis, she was offered a position as a data scientist.

‘Suddenly, you are working eight hours, travelling back and forth, and you have little energy left’

The transition from student life to working life was challenging. ‘As a student, you fill in the days, and then suddenly, you are working eight hours, travelling back and forth, and you have little energy left for anything else.’

The lunch culture also took some time getting used to. ‘I hardly saw anyone having lunch! Most colleagues go for a half-hour walk, but almost no one actually had lunch. In Slovakia, we always go out for a full lunch with soup, a main course, and dessert. I really had to learn to adjust to the new situation.’ She regularly discusses these cultural differences with her colleagues. ‘For example, this year I went on my first typical Dutch holiday: camping in the south of France. My colleagues were a bit confused why I called it a Dutch holiday, but for us this is not something we do. Whereas most Dutch people go camping for holiday since they are children.’

What advice can she give to other recent graduates? She finds a difficult question. ‘For me, everything came together at some point: a job at an international company, a great group of friends, and a boyfriend. I had not planned anything and never had to take major decisions. I think having an open attitude and the right drive will get you a long way.’