Mykolas Romeris University (MRU) Tourism and Management and Heritage student Carlos Sanchez from Colombia says that Vilnius is the first place he feels truly at home, after leaving Colombia at age 15 with his mother.

Having spent the last decade living in Heidelberg, Germany, and Orlando, Florida, he says he feels fortunate to live in Vilnius. "I love it here. I'm so glad to be here," said Carlos, who this week celebrated his first anniversary of life in Lithuania.

Carlos says the people in Vilnius and their openness is what made him decide he wanted to study and live in Lithuania.

Having first accompanied his friend Charlie on a trip to Vilnius in 2015, he felt an immediate attraction to the city with its cobblestone streets and architecture.

"The size of the city was perfect for me. The beautiful, accessible Old Quarter were also extremely attractive," he said.

But, it was the Lithuanians themselves, and their welcoming ways, that paved the way for him to stay in Vilnius. He also decided to pursue studies at MRU, after a graduate of Vilnius University (VU) recommended MRU because it had a Tourism & Management programme.

When he is not studying, he and his friends like to dance. Carlos hails from Cali, a city where everyone - from the old to the young dance. He knows how to dance salsa, bachata, merengue, cumbia and kizomba.

Carlos said he would like to teach students to dance. That is an upcoming plan.

Living off campus with a fellow Colombian from Cali, Carlos said they have already taught countless guests and visitors, who have visited his home, how to dance.

Music and dance have always been part of his life from an early age.

He will be singing in various venues in Vilnius this summer. It is more of a hobby, he said.

Carlos was encouraged by a Lithuanian singing teacher, to try singing.

I got discovered by a Lithuanian singing teacher last year. She asked me to dance with her. When we were dancing, I was singing along with the song. She told me that she liked my voice and that is how I started to take singing more seriously.

He also likes to spend time outdoors backpacking or walking in beautiful parts of Lithuania.

On May 13th, he took part in a 25-kilometer walk along the coast in Klaipeda. He only felt tired at the 20th kilometer, but successfully completed the scenic walk.

Carlos is now concentrating on his studies and looking forward to summer break.

He says it will give him a chance to participate in the coming music festivals and concerts this summer as well as perform live. In the future, he may perform in music festivals himself.

Carlos also likes to cook, especially Latin American cuisine.

He considers dancing, cooking and singing as his 3 passions.

I want to incorporate those three in a future business venture in Vilnius, he said.