If someone was asking me what is Buffalo, for you my answer would definitely be this: The city that opens the door for you! And I’m not trying to devalue the beauty of the snow and the deliciousness of the chicken wings, but frankly this kind habit made the biggest impression to me when I first stepped my foot in Buffalo, just nine months before. I was coming from a country which is supposed to be famous for its hospitality, and it really is, but I rarely remember somebody holding the door for me to pass and tell me “How are you today?” without even knowing me.

For me, this simple move says a lot about the kindness and greatness of the Buffalo community. This city managed to win my appreciation and respect in such a short period of time. Buffalo treats you in a way that makes you want to be a better person, a caring citizen and a kind individual. It makes you feel this sense of belonging to a community even if you are not a native Buffalonian. It is amazing how harmonic the different cultures can exist in this area, and I think this is a great asset to work upon for Buffalo’s further development. This diversity appreciation and human dignity makes Buffalo a unique place to live. Driving back from a day trip out of Buffalo once, I faced the road sign “Buffalo—An All America City” and I said to myself, “If all cities in the United States are like Buffalo then this must be a great country.”

Many interesting doors opened here for me. One of them was definitely the career door that the University at Buffalo opened to me, but more than that I think I met some of the most interesting people in my life behind those doors. Buffalo, through its people, is already in my heart and I know I will miss them all this summer…especially the first time someone will slam a door in my face!

Kyriakos Zannikos
MBA International Student, UB

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