Independent University Newspaper
Copenhagen Business School

Popular searches:

Independent University Newspaper

Copenhagen Business School

Sorry, I’m a nomad

Madina Balgabek. (Photo: Aliya Balgabekova)

Blog |   01. Apr 2019

Madina Balgabek

Blogger

Have you been on exchange? Have you moved around a lot? Or are you from a nomadic culture?

Anyways, you know what it feels like to move from one place to another, from one city to another, from one country to the next and next and next…

When you’re 18, it all seems like an adventure when you’re asked if you’d like to move to New York or Bali, Copenhagen or Almaty for a while. In fact, you’re surprised people even have to ask that question. Of course! It’ll be fun! But how long will that desire for something fresh chase you? How many times will you have to have a new start, a new life, a new everything? Want to develop adaptability and good communication skills? Go on exchange!

My family moved and changed houses eight times from the time I was born. Every time, in the same city with the same routine, until I turned 17 and then I moved to another city for studies. The circle of friends changed. People who I was used to seeing six days a week were no longer there. I moved to a place where I didn’t know anybody and nobody knew me.

I remember that first day at university and the excitement of being in a full bus with 35-degree heat. I was on my way to a place where I could be whoever I wanted to be. It was a great year with lots happening. The first year alone with no parents or any adults being around. I believe that’s when I really started to appreciate the word ‘home’. It was never a question of where it was or who it was. It’s always been the parental home in the smallest city in Kazakhstan.

My family moved and changed houses eight times from the time I was born

That definition changed once I started my own little family without even really thinking much about living in a new city, country, or continent every summer. I remember my first exchange program, which was the best thing I could have done at 18. There were a lot of firsts: first time abroad, first time on a plane, first time in Japan, first time finding myself, first time being so in love with life, first time meeting my life partner.

Years later, now that I’m an exchange expert, I know there are a lot of things that will never stay. When you’re on exchange, you meet people, hang out with all sorts of cultures, bond and tell your deepest secrets, get drunk and try new unexpected things. You live life to the fullest because exchange has a tendency to end before you know it, so you need to make THE MOST OF IT. Once it’s over, you promise to keep in touch. To Skype. To visit and invite them to visit you. To travel somewhere together with them.

Well, sorry, it won’t happen with everybody.

There were a lot of firsts: first time abroad, first time on a plane, first time in Japan, first time finding myself, first time being so in love with life, first time meeting my life partner

I caught myself thinking about how I find it hard to bond with people on a deep level. I’m not afraid to make the first step towards people I like. But if I don’t get a step towards me in return, then I let them go. If I don’t have topics to discuss with someone I used to call ‘best friend’, so be it. I wish you all the best, my dear friend. You’re free to go. You’ll always be in my heart. I think it’s okay to let people go when it’s time for both of us to move on.

 

You just step out from that bubble, each with your own paths. Yes, the first year you’ll write to people and tell them how you miss them and that you should meet sooner. But people get involved with other people, physically present ones, and you become a memory. And you know what? It’s okay. You’re fine and they’re fine. That headlong dive into a new relationship with the absolute knowledge that it’ll end is something worth having. Living a life being afraid of getting hurt is no life at all. Why play safe when you can play like a winner?

I wish you all the best, my dear friend. You’re free to go. You’ll always be in my heart

I’ve been on exchange four times and each time I met wonderful people and completely fell in love. I love meeting people with stories, special ones, broken ones, crazy and weird ones. Each of them plants something in my memory – a funny moment or knowledge, an experience or THE experience.

Before my last exchange to Japan, I had a serious conversation with myself and said, “Girl, this time try not to bond with people too much. You’ll have a hard time letting them go once you get home”. Guess what? They brought me so much joy and I thank them for being in that period of my life. It might have been short.

But guys, it was amazing. Thank you. I will always remember you – each and every one of you.

Comments

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Sorry, I’m a nomadby

  • News

    Layoffs break the crucial trust between organisation and employee

    CBS is laying off a number of employees soon, which will affect our university in different ways. When employees are fired without having done anything wrong, it shatters the trust between the organisation and employees, while also taking a toll on productivity, according to a CBS expert. Layoffs also affect the ‘survivors’, who are forced to adapt to a changed workload and the loss of cherished colleagues.

  • News

    Here to help – at the touch of a button and at Campus Desk

    Exam anxiety? Lost student card? I’ve wedged my car between a Fiat 500 and a lamp post, can you help? You never know what you’ll be asked next. But that’s just how the Campus Desk team like it. And if they can’t fix your problem, they’ll know someone who can. CBS WIRE asked the team about the whole range of topics they advice on every day.

  • News

    Why so sudden? The CBS financial crisis explained

    Employees and union representatives have posed many questions in the wake of the 17 August announcement of a firing round. In this interview, University Director Arnold Boon explains how Senior Management has been working with the budget and a change of financial strategy since the fall of 2022, and why layoffs are now necessary.

  • Illustration: Ida Eriksen

    News

    Here’s what you need to know about the master’s reform

    The political parties behind the master’s reform have adjusted their original proposal to shorten or reorganize up to 50 percent of master’s programmes after pressure from CBS and the other Danish universities. Fewer shortened master’s and longer to implement changes are some important revisions to the reform. CBS’ president is pleased that the government and other parties behind the reform have listened to some of the critique given by the universities but raises concern about cutting more study places in bachelor’s programmes.

  • News

    CBS Quiz Time: Unraveling the success story

    A successful university environment such as CBS is often associated with academic pursuits, but campus life extends far beyond the classroom. At CBS Quiz Time, a student society motivated by creative thinking and social engagement, students join in a refreshing range of creativity, excitement, and social interaction. CBS WIRE talked to Celine Møller-Andersen to find out about the society’s vision, strategies and the factors that are driving its rapid expansion.

  • Gif of the week
  • Blog

    Uncertain times: Essential for business schools to understand their market

    The alliance of European business schools met at CBS in June to enhance recruitment strategies, stay informed on industry trends, and analyse where the global economy is heading. The CBS MBA Programmes shares some key take-aways from Associate Dean and Professor Jesper Rangvid’s presentation.

  • News

    Working hard all summer: Bachelor Admissions

    The employees in charge of bachelor admissions at CBS are a small exclusive team. They ensure the validity of diplomas and the fulfilment of entry requirements for bachelor’s degrees at CBS – and, not least, that the applicants get the necessary help to upload the right documentation and find their way around the application procedures.

Follow CBS students studying abroad

CBS WIRE collaborates with Videnskab.dk

Stay connected

Close