Studying Abroad, Finding Home: Two KTU Students’ Journeys to Lithuania

Lithuania for Aria Fullon is both new and strangely familiar. Her father is Lithuanian, her mother is Filipina, so deciding to move across continents became very personal to her. “Growing up, I was already very familiar with my Filipino side. Coming to Lithuania was not only about studying but also about discovering and embracing my Lithuanian roots. I wanted to understand the culture, traditions, and the place where my father was born and raised. For me, this journey is deeply connected to family, identity, and belonging,” says Aria.

For Birganym Igissinova from Kazakhstan, Lithuania began as an idea shaped by her friends’ experiences. They were already studying here, travelling, meeting people and living lives that went far beyond lectures. The more she heard, the easier it became to imagine herself in Kaunas, building that kind of experience too. “Looking back, it was definitely the right choice for me,” says Birganym.

Different reasons brought Aria and Birganym to Lithuania, but both paths eventually led them to Kaunas University of Technology (KTU), where they now study Communication Studies and Information Management Technologies. In Kaunas, both of them are also learning the less formal side of studying abroad: how to keep close to people at home, how to build new connections, and how to make a different city feel familiar.

Home Is the People

Both students are honest that adapting to life abroad is not only about discovering new places. It also means learning how to deal with differences, uncertainty and the moments when home feels far away.

Aria’s beginning in Lithuania came with a different kind of adjustment. She had left behind not only her home country, but also a professional life she had already built: a full-time career with technology brands Motorola and Lenovo and modelling experience.

“When I first came here, I honestly did not know how to start again, but instead of stopping me, those challenges motivated me even more. I realised that growth starts when you step outside your comfort zone. Every experience here pushed me to improve myself, learn more, and become stronger personally and professionally,” she says.

At the same time, Lithuania has changed the way both of them understand daily life. For Aria, Kaunas has brought peace, a stronger connection to nature and a feeling of belonging she did not expect. For Birganym, living abroad opened up new perspectives and helped her understand more clearly why people think and behave differently.

“I think studying abroad is one of the most transformative experiences for personal growth. Through travelling and meeting people from different cultures and backgrounds, I became much more open-minded,” she says.

Newly-Found Independence – Making Important Decisions Yourself

Birganym remembers a similar sense of tranquillity from her first days in Kaunas. “I still remember arriving for the first time and being surprised by the calmness of the city and how comfortable it felt. I really liked the infrastructure, especially the parks and green spaces – it felt like a city where you genuinely want to spend time outside and walk a lot,” she says.

That comfort now shows up in small habits. Birganym often prefers walking instead of taking the bus, and as someone who enjoys running, she values having parks and green spaces close by. Spring in Lithuania stands out to her in particular – when warmer weather brings more people outside, and the city becomes especially good for walks, picnics and time in nature.

Aria describes a similar change. Living in Lithuania taught her to enjoy quieter moments, a more organised daily rhythm, and a healthier work-life balance. At the same time, it helped her become more independent and disciplined. “I learned how to adapt to change and connect with people from different cultures. It also made me more confident about the future and the kind of person I want to become,” she adds.

Trying To Stay Genuinely Curious About Life

For Birganym, communication first became interesting long before university. In high school, she took part in public speaking events and realised that she enjoyed shaping thoughts and presenting ideas in an engaging way.

“I liked the challenge of finding the right words, structure, and tone to make people truly listen and reflect. I think this was one of the first moments when I understood that communication is much more than simply delivering information,” she says.

Now, Birganym is glad about her decision: “What I especially appreciate about my studies is how KTU encourages innovativeness and cultivates a flexible, curious, and modern mindset in students. As a communication student, I do not only study theories or learn how to communicate mindfully, but we are also encouraged to apply these ideas in practical and interdisciplinary contexts”.

Aria came to the field from a different direction. Having already completed a Bachelor of Science in Information Technology in the Philippines, she was interested in a study programme where communication, innovation and human interaction meet.

At KTU, both have found opportunities that also go beyond lectures. Birganym joined the athletic running club, went on an Erasmus+ exchange semester in Cyprus and took part in an ECIU hackathon. Outside the university, Aria is building an active life in Kaunas: working as a Junior Human Resources Manager, continuing modelling, teaching as a pageant mentor, and volunteering with the Filipino community in Lithuania and Caritas Kaunas.

Birganym hopes to carry the excitement of this period into the future: “Whether it is starting a new semester, going abroad for an exchange, joining activities outside classes, or simply meeting people from different backgrounds, there is always this feeling of curiosity about what comes next. I want to remember what it means to be genuinely curious about life.”

Aria links the same period with gratitude: “Gratitude for having the courage to leave my comfort zone, discover another side of myself, and experience a life that helped me improve so much. This chapter of my life taught me that sometimes the most meaningful journeys are the ones that bring you closer to your roots and to yourself”.

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