Moving to Europe is exciting… until the first week hits, and reality sets in. Suddenly, €1 = 140+ Bangladeshi Taka, your stomach starts missing mom’s curry, and your bank account whispers, “Are you sure you need that latte?” Don’t worry, you’re not alone. Here’s a friendly guide to survive your first month in Europe without falling apart.
“Are you sure you need breakfast and lunch? Maybe we can survive with only one meal a day! ”
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1. Currency Shock: Stop Converting Everything in Your Head
At first, you’ll catch yourself converting every price to BDT. “A sandwich costs €6? That’s… 720 BDT! Ouch!” You’ll spend hours doing mental gymnastics, and then realize the €1 = 120 BDT calculation is giving you anxiety.
Tip: Try a “rough estimate rule”: €1 ≈ 100–120 BDT in your head. It’s close enough to stop panic mode, but loose enough to let you actually enjoy life.
2. Housing: Cheap Options Exist, But Be Smart
You’ll see listings like “€400/month for a room” and think, “Wow, luxury!” Reality: it might be a shoe-box-sized room with three roommates, a bathroom down the hall, and a mysterious smell that changes weekly.
Options for the first month:
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Hostels: Not just for tourists. Many European hostels offer weekly or monthly stays for students and newcomers. You meet new people and get a soft landing pad.
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Short-term rentals: Airbnb or local platforms can give you a temporary home while you search for something permanent.
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Student dorms: If you’re studying, dorms are cheap and sometimes have free events.
Pro tip: Don’t spend more than 30–35% of your monthly budget on housing in the first month.
3. Food Anxiety: Finding Halal Options
You thought you’d just pop into the supermarket and find your regular chicken curry. Nope. Suddenly, you’re staring at sausages wondering, “Is this halal… or is my karma doomed?”
Tips for survival:
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Look for halal butcher shops or stores near your area (your phone is your best friend).
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Stock up on easy-to-cook staples: rice, pasta, eggs, and frozen vegetables.
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Get creative: spice it like home! Even instant noodles can feel like a mini Bangladeshi feast.
4. Missing Friends and Family
At 2 a.m., the loneliness hits. Everyone else is asleep, and your WhatsApp is silent. You think, “Why didn’t I just stay home and finish my mom’s biryani?”
Survival hacks:
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Schedule a weekly video call with friends/family. Seeing them alive will keep your sanity.
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Find local meetups or student communities. Even chatting with someone in a coffee shop about the unbearable price of croissants counts.
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Keep yourself busy: explore nearby parks, museums, or the weirdest street in town. New experiences distract from homesickness.
5. Budgeting: Your New Superpower
Your first month will teach you the painful math of European life: transport, groceries, rent, coffee… it all adds up fast.
Tips:
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Track your expenses daily. Yes, it’s tedious, but worth it.
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Cook at home as much as possible. Eating out every day = instant regret.
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Take advantage of student discounts, public transport cards, and free events.
6. Mental Health: Laugh, Cry, Repeat
There will be moments you laugh at yourself for buying a €5 tea, moments you cry because you miss your mom’s dal, and moments you panic over laundry instructions in a foreign language. It’s normal.
Advice:
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Humor is your armor. Make fun of your mistakes.
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Accept that it’s a learning month. You’re adjusting, not failing.
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Every small victory counts: you cooked pasta without setting the kitchen on fire? Congrats, adulting level +1.
Final Thoughts
Your first month in Europe is like jumping into cold water: shocking at first, but you’ll swim eventually. Plan smart, budget wisely, find halal food, connect with people, and laugh at your mistakes.
Remember: €1 may be scary, your room may be tiny, and yes, you’ll miss Bangladesh… but this is the adventure of your life. And after the first month, suddenly, Europe doesn’t seem so scary after all.
