From Düsseldorf to Dublin to Prague: Julia’s Journey to Finding “Home”
Episode #0019
What does it really mean to feel at home? For Julia, that question has taken her across borders, through languages, and into unexpected realizations—each chapter shaped by curiosity, courage, and a deep love for connection.
Let’s rewind a bit.
✈️ First Stop: Ireland – A Leap of Faith at 18
Fresh out of high school in Germany, Julia wasn’t sure what she wanted to study. Business? Philosophy? Law? She wasn’t ready to commit. So instead, she did something beautifully uncertain—she took a gap year. (Side note: Germans really seem to have cracked the code with gap years. More of us should borrow that idea.)
Her dad casually mentioned an internship opportunity at the German-Irish Chamber of Commerce in Dublin. It was close enough to home, she knew the language, and hey—why not?
And just like that, 18-year-old Julia landed in Dublin.
What she found was a city that felt just the right size. Big enough to be exciting, small enough not to feel lost in. Walkable streets, seaside views, little hikes, and most of all—open-hearted people. Irish friendliness wasn’t the forced kind either. It was the kind where strangers at bars become storytellers of their cities. Where even in Prague or Portugal, if someone started chatting you up, odds were they were Irish.
🇨🇿 Next Chapter: Prague – Familiar, Yet Foreign
After returning to Germany for university, Julia knew one thing: her master’s wouldn’t be in Germany. It wasn’t that she didn’t value her studies there—she actually loved them. But she craved something else.
France was on the table for a while. Then—almost last-minute—she pivoted to Prague.
The decision made sense. Her mom is Czech. She grew up speaking some of the language, and the idea of reconnecting with that part of her identity was... grounding.
Even so, Prague still managed to surprise her.
🎭 Czech Culture – More Than the Slavic “Grumpy Face”
At first glance, Czech people might come off as distant. That classic “don’t talk to me” look. But Julia learned that once you scratch beneath that surface—even just a little—there’s warmth. Especially if you try to speak Czech, even with a heavy accent.
And trust me, they’ll switch to English without hesitation, but they’ll do it with a smile.
Still, for Julia, the deeper connection with locals has taken time. “You’re still the German one,” she said. Despite being half Czech and technically having Czech citizenship (which she had to convince the authorities about—yeah, that was a whole scene), blending in takes more than paperwork.
📚 The Reality of Studying in Prague
“I thought everything in the EU was kind of standardized,” Julia laughed.
Wrong.
She found the Czech system surprisingly intense—two classes per course (lecture + seminar), mandatory attendance, weekly presentations, and a “state exam” that Germans usually associate with law or medicine.
It was exhausting. At one point, she didn’t sleep for an entire night just to finish a group project. Not because she was lazy—far from it. Julia’s a perfectionist. And the idea of “just passing” doesn’t sit right with her.
Still, the city helped her breathe. Matcha lattes, parks nearby, quiet walks. And one thing she loved that Germany didn’t offer? The ability to schedule your exams within a multi-week window. That flexibility made all the difference.
💬 Building a Life Beyond the Lecture Hall
Here’s the thing about moving to a new city—it’s easy to meet people, but not always easy to find your people.
In Prague, Julia leaned into the international scene: expat events, personality-based dinner meetups, even Instagram-famous locals hosting gatherings. She also admitted something most of us can relate to—when family is around, it’s easy to stay in that comfort zone. Why push to meet strangers when cousins are a phone call away?
Still, she’s carving her own path. Learning to balance ambition with joy, work with self-care, socializing with solitude.
🧠 A Little Wisdom From the Road
When asked what advice she’d give to anyone thinking about studying abroad in Prague, Julia didn’t hesitate:
“Don’t stress out too much. It’s not that deep. The professors don’t want to make you fail. And—enjoy the city. You’re not here just for the uni.”
And the biggest life lesson?
“Just because you haven’t had a bad experience, doesn’t mean you should push your luck.”
Dublin taught her about safety—the hard way. And while she was lucky, she’ll never ignore her instincts again.
🏡 So, Where’s Home Now?
That’s the question, isn’t it?
For Julia, home is where her family is—but also where she feels grounded. Where she knows where to find her favorite coffee. Where she has her own dishes and a spot in the park that’s just hers.
Maybe home isn’t a single place. Maybe it’s the feeling of arrival—of finally putting your feet up and thinking, “Yeah... this fits.”
🎧 Final Thoughts
Julia’s story isn’t about a perfect path. It’s about flexibility, self-discovery, and a slow burn toward independence. It’s about being scared at 18, feeling overwhelmed at 25, and figuring it out anyway.
And if you ask her what she’s planning next?
She’s not quite sure. Maybe a summer in another city. Maybe just enjoying Prague a little longer. But Germany? Germany is still there—waiting for when she’s ready to return. Not because she has to, but because she wants to.
And that’s a different kind of homecoming altogether.
