“Last summer I traveled with two friends through Eastern Europe. Every time I arrived in a new city I would turn on Tinder kind of as a fun experiment. I was curious just to see what would happen. When we arrived in Ukraine, Maryana and I matched and we started talking. The next day we continued our journey so we were not able to meet in real life. When I got back to Amsterdam I kept in touch with her. After a few months I suggested we would meet and so she invited me to celebrate Orthodox Christmas with her family in Ukraine. The first few days I stayed with her in Lviv, the city where she goes to university. After four days we went to her parents house by train in Ternopil. I really liked her but I was too shy to tell her that so on the train when she suddenly asked if I liked her, I panicked. Instead of answering her questions I repeated her question: ’‘Do you like me?” which made her think I meant I was being sarcastic. Luckily it did not take long before we both understood we really liked each other. We just spend a romantic long weekend here in Amsterdam. Unfortunately I’m about to take her to the airport because she is flying home. I’m really going to miss her but also I know it won’t be long before I see her again.“

“We are in the middle of our final exams and we needed a break so we came to the city. We are from a small village and there is not much to do over there. We have been best friends for over 13 years and we see each other almost every day. After the summer we are going to study in different cities and we are both a little anxious about it. Two weeks ago we didn’t see each other for 3 days and we already missed each other so so much.”

“I was only 20 when I found out I was pregnant with Elias. It wasn’t planned but when I saw his heartbeat for the first time during the ultrasound I felt that I could not part from him. Two years ago his dad and I split up and I was insecure about raising him on my own. Luckily I get a lot of support from my parents so I was able to go back to school again. For a long time, I was worried because I thought I was missing out on life.
Also when his dad and I split up I was afraid that no man would ever want to date me because I have a son. I’m still a single parent but now I know that is not true. Life is really good, I have a job and a supporting family. Maybe I missed out on some things in life, but it’s okay because I have him.”

“I guess everywhere in the world people love money but in Switzerland where i’m from, people love love love money!”