When leaving my country, little did I know about the things that were about to happen. I knew I had a flight ticket; I knew I had planned studies from Monday to Thursday abroad, and I also knew that I was going to arrive at a family home in a completely unknown country.

This, in addition to fear, filled me with uncertainty because I had no idea who these people were, who I was going to start living with for the next month. In this case, we had only paid a month lodging in that cosy Irish house.

Photography by @miguelarocha (Gotland, Sweden)
Nikon D3300

Upon arriving in Dublin city, I was amazed by the beautiful reception that was given to us as students. The owners were an Irish couple in their early forties. The lady was a teacher in an elementary school, while her husband was a personal assistant for people with disabilities, who, a few minutes after arriving, gave us a quick tour around the old house, assigning our rooms and marvelling at the freedoms that we had inside the facilities.
For the first fifteen days, we were in love with the life in that house at the Irish capital. When we felt as comfortable as in these moments, suddenly we began to feel stressed, as we remembered that this accommodation was only valid for a month, having to find another home immediately.

With the passing of days, the host couple was very helpful with us in our unsuccessful search, because at that time, Dublin was going through a critical moment when referring to rent for students due to the influx of students who continued to arrive to the country.
After looking for external opinions, calling several landlords and writing down many contact numbers, we were able to schedule several visits to renting sites where humidity, bad sectors, high costs and poor accessibility made it difficult for us to search for a place to live for a longer time.
After 25 days in the family house, we decided to ask the couple the price of the rooms we were occupying in order to stay there since having done everything through the language school, we did not know the real value of the rent. After a warm conversation, the number that almost caused us a heart attack, was six hundred euros monthly, per person. Having an idea of our savings, not having a job and little chances of getting another place to rent in less than five days, we decided to stay there while we were still searching for an apartment or rooms. In this way we spent a few months, knowing more people who were willing to provide any information about a place to rent.

Photography by @miguelarocha (Stockholm, Sweden)
Nikon D3300

After six months we were sharing a house with ten foreigners. Who’s responsible filled the small rooms with beds to generate more income. Fortunately, in that house I shared a room with only my partner, a room that by the way had no lock, depriving us from securing our belongings during long days of work outside. As is evident, the coexistence among so many people in such a small space was going to be almost impossible to sustain and after three months of several discomforts, one day we left that house almost immediately. Situations such as dividing our time in the kitchen. Try to rest while someone had a meeting in the living room, with beers included. Arriving home exhausted for work and having to see all that people with whom you do not get along very well and gathering in a common room speaking very loudly, were important reasons to make the decision of leaving.

This time being aware of the situation, we were able to get a room in a small shared apartment at the city centre for a modest price.

The next three months of staying with this couple from India, was much more bearable. Rules were imposed that everyone could follow without problems and the coexistence flowed until the last moment, when we decided to move to a small apartment that was being ceded to us by a couple of friends and in which we stayed for almost two years till we decided to leave the country. Where we had a great time and good communication with the landlord, and where small parties and celebrations were not a problem. At this place, we decided to create our own rules and finally we started to feel the place as home.
Five years after, I have left two countries, but I still remain in Europe. This time in Stockholm, Sweden. From where I have had many experiences that I can tell as stories now. I am sure I will be telling a lot more about renting in the future.

Photography by @miguelarocha (Stockholm, Sweden)
Nikon D3300

This shows that when we look for accommodation in a country that we do not know and where, in many cases we have not learned the language, it can be a bit tedious and possibly seem almost impossible, even more so when we are young students and people see us as unruly guys on many occasions, we must go through quite uncomfortable situations before finding a balance in our lives that can generate comfort. But it is not that complicated if we really try hard and focus on this important goal. Just do not take the first option however good it may seem if you have time to choose. You must also evaluate costs, benefits and difficulties that the house provides. And most importantly, remember that in the end there will always be the perfect place waiting for us as we all have the same opportunities.

We just must insist.