From the daily rush to mountains and the ocean: How Tenerife changes the way you see life

For most people, Tenerife means a holiday postcard: ocean views, beaches and year-round sunshine. Our student Nela sees the island through a very different lens. What does everyday life look like in a place where the pace of life has something in common with the famous Blue Zones? And why can the connections you make at university become one of the best investments you make in your life?

A master’s degree is not just about the qualification. It’s about the people you meet along the way.

For Nela, continuing with a master’s degree was never simply the next step on an academic checklist. She sees education as an ongoing process that does not end with your first degree, but continues through a commitment to learning and personal growth.

“I knew from the very beginning that I wanted to continue my studies, and I never questioned that decision. I believe we should keep learning throughout our lives and constantly work on ourselves,” says Nela.

While a bachelor’s degree provides a strong theoretical foundation, a master’s degree gives students the opportunity to specialise, connect theory with real-world experience and, perhaps most importantly, shape their professional identity.

But some of the greatest value comes from the people you meet along the way. Inspiring lecturers, fellow students, professionals from your field and the relationships you build through shared projects can become valuable long after graduation.

“My master’s studies give me the opportunity to focus on the areas I’m genuinely interested in. At the same time, I’ve realised how valuable it is to maintain these connections. For me, that’s something you simply can’t put a price on. Continuing with my master’s degree allows me to build on those relationships and keep growing,” Nela adds.

Life in Puerto de la Cruz: Neighbours in the street, hills under your feet and no need to rush

Tenerife attracts millions of visitors every year. But for Nela, the real experience begins when you look beyond the tourist hotspots and start paying attention to how the locals actually live.

“There are obviously a lot of tourists, but I’ve always been more interested in looking beneath the surface and seeing what everyday life is really like for the people who live there,” she explains.

Spending time in Puerto de la Cruz means noticing a very different rhythm of everyday life. There are elements that echo some of the principles associated with the so-called Blue Zones, where strong communities, everyday movement and a slower pace of life are often seen as part of what helps people live long, healthy lives.

The contrast with life in the Czech Republic becomes apparent almost immediately:

• Movement is simply part of everyday life: Getting to university, going shopping or running everyday errands often means walking up or down steep streets. There is no need to schedule every bit of exercise. The landscape does it for you. “Almost everywhere you go, you’re walking uphill or downhill, so people are naturally much more active than we’re used to back home,” Nela says.
• Community is part of public life: Social life does not disappear behind closed doors. Families spend their evenings together in squares and public spaces, while neighbours stop to chat in the street. Public spaces are places to meet and connect, rather than simply somewhere to pass through on the way from A to B. “You can see human relationships much more clearly there. Whether it’s families spending their evenings outside or neighbours simply chatting in the street, it’s something I don’t see nearly as much back home.”
• Less rushing, more time to be present: The constant pressure to hurry seems to have a much smaller role in everyday life. There is more space to slow down, enjoy the moment and simply be. “If I compare life in Tenerife with life in the Czech Republic, people there are definitely less rushed and seem to enjoy both their days and evenings more,” Nela reflects.

Sunshine is just a bonus

The warm climate, ocean and abundance of sunshine naturally shape the atmosphere too. But for Nela, the biggest difference is not the weather itself. It is the way people seem to respond to it and to life around them.

“Of course, the warm weather, the ocean and the sunshine all play a part. Personally, I felt that the local people were generally more positive than what I’m used to back home,” she says.

Studying abroad is about much more than adding another qualification to your CV. It is an experience that takes you out of your comfort zone, introduces you to new perspectives and opens the door to international connections.

And when you come home, you bring back more than new knowledge. You return with a different perspective on work, time, relationships and perhaps even on what you want your own life to look like.