When Isaac Samuel Michael Solomon arrived in Kaunas in the middle of a snowy January in 2018, everything felt new. “The entire city and the roads were covered in snow, and it felt like the whole world was glowing white,” he recalls. Coming from hot, humid and crowded Chennai in India, he had never experienced such brightness before.
The silence of Kaunas, so unlike the constant movement and sounds of Chennai, felt both strange and exciting. Learning to live independently in a completely different environment was challenging, but it soon became an experience that helped him grow and adapt. That winter marked the beginning of Isaac’s journey in Lithuania.
Getting used to strong coffee and kibinai
Isaac completed his bachelor’s degree in Chennai and came to KTU for his master’s. The decision, he says, was influenced by both the affordability and quality of education in Lithuania, as well as the strong technical programmes at KTU. “The positive experience, combined with excellent research and collaboration opportunities, inspired me to pursue a PhD at KTU as well,” he explains.
What impressed him the most was the openness and fairness at the university. “The management has always been supportive and welcoming to international students. There has never been any sense of bias or discrimination. This openness allowed me to access collaborations, mobility programmes, and conferences across Europe, which were immensely beneficial for my research and personal development,” says Isaac.
Adapting to Lithuania was not always easy. The freezing mornings of December and January felt challenging, but Isaac was inspired by the punctuality and discipline of Lithuanian professors: “They arrive on time and are fully prepared even on the coldest mornings. Their dedication motivated me to stay engaged and give my best”.
Over time, he also grew fond of Lithuanian habits – strong coffee, green tea, and even kibinai from local bakeries became part of his daily routine.
He also noticed cultural differences between Lithuania and India. Lithuanians seemed more reserved, while people in Chennai are very expressive and social. “It initially felt unfamiliar, but later I came to appreciate how people here value personal space and punctuality,” he says.
Building community through cricket
The team trains regularly at KTU’s Hangar Hall, but cricket has grown into much more than just a student activity. In 2020, the players formed Kaunas Cricket Club (KCC), which helped promote the sport in Lithuania and connected students with the wider Baltic cricket community.
Together with students from Vilnius and Klaipėda, they represented Lithuania in international tournaments, including the Baltic Cup in Estonia and matches against national teams of Latvia, Poland, Finland, and even the prestigious Marylebone Cricket Club from London. The club has also participated in professional tournaments in the Czech Republic, playing against ICC-recognised teams from across Europe.
“Cricket is more than a game – it’s a way to bring people together. It fosters discipline, focus, teamwork, and cross-cultural friendships. For international students, it creates a strong sense of community in a foreign environment,” says a KTU PhD student.
Looking ahead, Isaac hopes not only to continue his research in mechanical engineering but also to see cricket continue to grow in Lithuania. With the committed efforts of students and alumni, the aim is to one day make Lithuania an official ICC cricket nation – with KTU as one of the starting points of this journey.
