Inside the café, we found a cozy place to sit and decided to play Wizard, a card game we both enjoy. The relaxed setting made it easy to talk and reflect on the time we had spent together over the semester. As usual, our conversation moved naturally between everyday topics and cultural differences.
We talked again about Germany and the Netherlands, especially how close the countries are geographically, yet how different certain habits and mentalities can be. In Germany, things often feel more structured and planned, while in the Netherlands there is often a more direct and informal way of communicating. At the same time, both cultures value reliability, honesty, and spending quality time with friends, something we had clearly experienced ourselves during these weeks.
Sitting there, playing cards and looking out over the city, it became clear how much we had enjoyed these shared experiences. None of us had expected that the “Each One Teach One” concept would lead to such a genuine friendship. What started as a cultural exchange slowly turned into regular meetups, shared routines, and real connection.
As we talked about the future, we agreed that this wouldn’t be the end. We plan to see each other again, either in Germany or the Netherlands, and continue what started here in Finland. Leaving the café, the city lights below us, it felt like a quiet but fitting ending to this part of our exchange: no big gestures, just the certainty that something meaningful had grown out of it.
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