My name is Steffie Nuijts, I’m 21 years old and I’m currently studying Business Economics at Tilburg University. I just returned from Sydney, where I studied for 6 months. Unlike most other students, I wasn’t sure if I wanted to go on exchange at all. Tilburg felt like my new home, I really enjoyed living here and I had a busy student life. When the deadline for submitting for exchange came closer and closer, and more friends started talking about their decisions, I also started thinking about it more. I thought ‘what do I have to lose? Let’s try, and that’s where my search for a nice location and university started. Soon I realized I wanted to go to a country where the common language is English and where the culture is kind of the same as in Western Europe, although I didn’t want to go somewhere inside Europe. Australia seemed the perfect country and so I chose for University of Technology in Sydney. By the time I heard that I was selected to go to my first choice, UTS, I was thrilled, but also scared about all the things that were waiting for me. I had to arrange so much; my visa, a place to live, plane tickets, submitting at university, English tests and choosing the courses I’d like to take. I was very lucky that two of my friends were also going to UTS, so we could arrange a lot of stuff together, that was really nice and comforting. “I never experienced this kind of kindness in The Netherlands!” In July we finally departed! I got a room at UTS Housing, a 6-share flat on campus. I lived together with 2 Australians, 1 German boy, 1 American girl and 1 other Dutch boy from Rotterdam. It was really nice living with people from different nationalities, especially living with two ‘real’ Australian people! Living at Campus is definitely something everyone should consider! During the first few weeks in Sydney, UTS Housing organized a lot of activities for the new students. In this way I got to know Sydney and other exchange students really soon, this was so good! After a few activities we already had a nice group of friends with people from all over the world. The following weeks were especially about studying, but since this wasn’t that hard (3 hours a day, 4 days a week), we had enough spare time to do nice things together and especially to party! In September we had one week off, called Springbreak. Together with 5 others I rented a campervan and we drove from Melbourne to Adelaide. This week was amazing! Australia is so beautiful! After this break, it was mostly studying and exploring Sydney itself again, and in November we had our final exams. Since UTS works with a lot of assignments, I already passed 2 out of the 4 courses I took without even taking the final! Because nobody was really busy with studying, there was plenty of time to explore Sydney and its surroundings; beaches, new neighbourhoods, national parks etcetera. “I know it can be hard to make the decision, and it will definitely be scary, but it is so so worth it!” In the middle of November I was finished studying and I started travelling. First I travelled down the East Coast of Australia with 3 friends and after that we went to New Zealand for two weeks. It was so amazing! It is unbelievable how fast you get to know new people and how social and kind everyone is you meet. This is so different compared to The Netherlands! People are truly interested when they ask ‘hi, how are you’ and the average Australian ask voluntarily to help you when they see you can’t find where to go, I never experienced this kind of kindness in The Netherlands! Australia is a beautiful country, which has a lot to offer; beautiful big cities, intact nature, many beaches and all the nature wonders like the Great Barrief Reef, Fraser Island en Whitsundays. During my 5 months in Australia I haven’t regret my decision once. It is a country where lot of different cultures get together, without conflicting, and is amazing to be part of this. I would strongly encourage every single one of you to go on exchange. I know it can be hard to make the decision, and it will definitely be scary, but it is so so worth it!!
Studying in Taiwan: A Great Choice!
I chose to study for a semester in Taiwan, I really wanted to go to a country with a totally different culture than I’m used to and I definitely don’t regret that decision! The people are very nice, the weather is perfect, the nature is amazing and it is not too expensive. Also, the location is perfect, I traveled to Japan, the Philippines and Vietnam, all within 3 hours of flying from Taiwan. Arrival: My first week in Taiwan I couch surfed, this is a platform through which you can sleep at local peoples houses for free. I ended up in a Taiwanese family in the middle of Taipei. The oldest son, Chong-Han (22) fortunately spoke English very well and showed me a lot of beautiful and fun places in Taipei. By living in this Taiwanese family I was totally submerged in the Taiwanese culture, I learned a lot from it. After this week I was ready for my exchange at the National Taiwan University (NTU). Taiwan & the culture: When I arrived in Taiwan I had not a lot of knowledge of the culture and the country itself. Living at the Taiwanese family helped me a lot in understanding it. It was a pretty big culture shock for me, because a lot of people don’t speak English very well and the city looks completely different than I was used to in the Netherlands. Also the food was different ( a lot of rice). But I actually managed to adapt well to the culture. I found out Taiwanese people are very friendly, helpful, respectful but also very shy. As tourist you will likely not be bribed and if you ask someone a question, he will do anything to help you. They however are a lot more shy and less direct than us Dutch people, which could lead to some frustrations in group projects. Taiwan is a beautiful country with a lot of mountains and a great climate, I’m writing this letter in January and it is still around 20 degrees here. In the summer it can get extremely hot though, to around 35 degrees. I became a big fan of hiking, which is great here. You can also visit the nature parks and scouter around. Partying is different here, we always go to an all-you-can-drink club, where you can drink everything you want all night for about 10/15 euros, this led to some amazing night. “I do notice that, as a blonde- blue eyed European guy I do get stared at a lot by the local people.” The NTU: The National Taiwan University is quite highly regarded, the Taiwanese people really look up to you when you say you study at NTU. From Tilburg, you are obliged to collect 30 ECT’s, but I got 42 in total. I chose voluntarily to get Chinese lessons and have taught English to Taiwanese children. Both additional courses for me were great experienced for me. I held Skype-sessions weekly where, with help of a translator, I tried to teach them English. I was responsible for a class of 26 children, around 11 years old in a primary school. The children looked up to me and called me their teacher. We were received in a great way, they performed dances for us, organized group games and prepared a delicious dinner for us. I was enrolled in the College of Management and chose a lot of courses related to Finance. I have had a couple of nice courses about investing, risk management and mergers & acquisitions. The overall level of courses was a bit lower than in Tilburg, a couple courses were very easy, where others were more challenging. I think Chinese language was the hardest course I had. A part of your grade is coupled to participation and every course I followed was in a group. I worked with many different nationalities, made presentations and reports. Accommodation: Accommodation was well organized, I live in a big complex with student dorms. Almost just Exchange students live here. Male and female dorms are strictly separated and unfortunately you can’t have friends over in your room between midnight and 07:00 in the morning. My dorm room is pretty simple, with a bed, desk and own bathroom. It is pretty cheap, I chose a double room and I pay about 150 euros per month, but you can also choose a single room for 220 per month. By living in the dorms you meet a lot of new people very easily. All these fun international exchange students made my time here fantastic. The location is perfect as well, 10 minutes walking to lectures and in the middle of Taipei with easy access to metro and buses. Overall, I love Taiwan, perhaps to most chill place I have ever been to. The atmosphere is very pleasant, I felt at home very quickly. Despite Taiwan being a huge city, I didn’t have the feeling it is very chaotic and crowded. Moreover the interaction with the local Taiwanese truly is fascinating, they are really genuinely interested in me and my life (and I of course in their lives). It is just incredibly cool and funny to hang out with Taiwanese people. In the Netherlands I feel pretty normal, but here in Taiwan I feel super special. There is also so much to do in Taiwan, I literally was never bored for one second. I feel like I did and been through a lot here, life was truly intense here! I enjoyed the people, the nature, the culture and the amazing weather. In short: Taiwan has been an amazing choice for me and I would definitely recommend it to others!
Sheffield, that is my cup of tea!
Exchange: amazing! In contrast to a lot of other students, the question for me was if I really wanted to go on exchange. I really enjoyed my time in Tilburg, so there was no big reason to leave the Netherlands for another country. However, when the moment of choice came closer and closer, I started doubting it. Fellow students were really enthusiastic about exchange and their possible destinations and I also heard very positive stories from students, who already went on exchange or who were there at the moment. However, a third year student who didn’t go on exchange totally convinced me. We were sitting in the local pub in Erp and he told me that he absolutely regretted the choice to not go on exchange. I didn’t want to tell the same story to other students. From that moment on, I intensively started looking for destinations. After I read a lot of reviews and looked up a lot of information, I still didn’t know where to go. One day I wanted to stay in Europe and the other day I wanted to go to Asia. Some days before I had to start writing my letter, I was almost sure that Asia should become my destination. However, 24 hours later this thought was the complete opposite. Finally, I had to choose, and I chose for England, Sweden and Norway. I was really happy when I had been assigned for my first choice, England. Currently, after more than 2 months, I’m really happy to be in England. It’s truly amazing here! At first, you get to know so many new people, who all come with the same idea to Sheffield: to have an unforgettable time. Almost every day, you meet new people and you do a lot of great things with them. From going out, to playing some card games in the kitchen, and having corridor meetings (our own definition here), to studying together. Even studying together can be funny. There’s almost always someone in the kitchen or the corridor to have a talk with, because we live with so many international students together. “I was doubting about it for a long time, but I’m really happy that I have chosen to go” You can’t forget the city trips if you talk about exchange. In my case, these trips are (for now) mainly on the agenda. I have visited Manchester twice and Edinburgh once, which is the capital of Scotland. I also want to go to Liverpool, London, Belfast, Dublin and Cardiff, but I think that’s a bit too ambitious. Additionally, for me, as football fan, I have to see some football matches. However, it’s really difficult to get tickets for it. Matches in the Premier League are almost always sold out, so we have to be a bit creative. Anyway, I’m going to visit Old Trafford twice, the next two weeks. In conclusion, exchange is amazing! As I wrote earlier, I was doubting about it for a long time, but I’m really happy that I have chosen to go. Of course, every student is different, but I can recommend to every student to take advantage of the great opportunity Tilburg University offers us. You learn a lot of studying abroad, because you have to survive outside your own comfort zone. Besides that, you get friends for the rest of your life (yes, I know that for sure right now). Moreover, if you go to China, South-Africa, Canada or England depends on your own interests, but I can give you down on paper that it will be an unforgettable time!
Lisbon: What a way to live!
It is the end of the afternoon in the beginning of October while writing this, I am sitting here on a nice roof terrace in a pleasant 26 degrees with a cheap but great cup of coffee. Today was a busy day, the surfing session in the morning and the class at university I just came back from made me a bit dull, but the day is not finished yet. Dinner in one of the many great restaurants in the city and after that a few drinks in its nightlife are on the agenda. While I am describing all this I realize that it won´t be that hard to justify my choice for Lisbon as exchange destination, life in this city is not too bad. I would love to give you an insight in my ´Erasmus-life´ in Lisbon. My Choice The choice for a semester abroad came a bit later for me than usual, when I got the chance to go on exchange in the 3rd year of my bachelor Business Administration I wasn´t really paying any attention to it. Later, when I looked into it a bit more, I realised that I couldn´t let this chance slip. So I kept 2 courses open in my minor to make sure that I could add a 7th semester to my bachelor. The choice for Lisbon as destination was made pretty quickly, I liked Portugal´s climate and the city of Lisbon was recommended to me by lots of people. Since being here (from the beginning of August), all of these positive messages about Lisbon have become clear to me! Let´s go! The adventure began in the beginning of August, university wouldn´t start until the first of September but since my apartment (that I share with a Swiss and another Dutch guy, both met via Facebook) was already available for us in August I decided to travel to Lisbon on the 5th of August already. Housing for students in Lisbon is pretty good, if you are early there are a lot of great rooms/apartments available for low prices, really low actually compared to other European capitals. The main focus of the first few weeks was exploring the city with my roommate, the first month was over in a flash. What I discovered quit quickly is that some prejudices about Portuguese people are actually based on some truth. They are indeed not always on time for informal meetings and not really precise or effective, being a typical Dutch guy that was a bit hard getting used to. But I do have admiration for this Portuguese way of life too, living with as few stress as possible and just enjoying every single day of your life is something that I (and I think most Dutch people with me) can really learn from. In the end of August Lisbon began flooding with students. The student community in this city is really big, I don´t know the exact number but with something like 20 different universities the number of exchange students is pretty big. This leads to the fact that every day there is something to do and always someone to do things with, there are 2 different organisations whose sole purpose is organising activities for all the exchange- (or: ´erasmus´) students. Still after 2 months I meet new people every day and the list of things that I still have to see and do in this city is long. You will never get bored in Lisbon, with its countless viewpoints (Lisbon is also called ´the city on 7 hills´ and the altitude differences are therefore high), beautiful neighbourhoods, buildings, churches and terraces it is a city where you can easily spend a whole semester. As a football fan, a visit to games of Sporting CP or Benfica is cannot be skipped, tickets to the games are pretty easy to get and not that expensive. The next games for me are the Champions League fixtures Benfica – Napoli and Sporting – Real Madrid! Then of course the beaches, the beautiful beaches around Lisbon are very well reachable with public transportation, traveling time ranging from 30 minutes to an hour for most of them. I won´t be spending as much time as before there since the weather is going to become a bit less good in the next month. It will begin to rain a bit more soon but still it won´t be that cold, in October the temperature won´t drop below 20 degrees. In the winter, the temperature during the day can drop to about 10-14 degrees so that´s still pretty good compared to the Netherlands. ”No exchange semester is, of course, complete without traveling, and that´s also a thing that you can do well here” Portugal itself is great, I have already been to Porto and to the amazing beaches of the Algarve and there are trips planned to the Azores (an island group in the Atlantic Ocean) and to Madeira. Also tickets to Madrid or Seville are not too expensive from Lisbon, and even Morocco is very reachable. Let´s also talk a bit about the main reason I came to Lisbon; my studies. On the first of September I began with classes at my University. The quality of the available universities (for students from UvT) in Lisbon is excellent. Católica (my university) and NOVA are both top business schools with great rankings in both Europe and the world. The lessons at Católica are a bit different that I am used to; classes are smaller and more often mandatory and the professors are mostly people with a lot of experience in business. This gives the courses just a different dimension and it actually suits me well. It is often said that the quality of classes on exchange is way worse, but that is not the case in here. Moreover, only the fact that I work together with so many different nationalities is a great experience already. I hope I have been able to give you
Exchange; the experience of a lifetime
Esmee Aarts writes about her experiences in Stockholm. She is studying her semester abroad at Stockholm University Business School. Moreover, she extensively describes all the beautiful places that Sweden has to offer. I am doing my exchange at Stockholm University Business School. The reason why I chose to go to Sweden is because I really love Scandinavia. It has got everything; pretty good weather, nice people, beautiful nature and everybody (yes, everybody really means everybody) can speak English. Before I went to Stockholm, I already saw Denmark and pieces of Norway so I had a vague image of what Stockholm could be like. But of course I did not know what to expect when I arrived When you ask someone what they think about Sweden, the first words they will say are: cold, moose, reindeer and beautiful blond people. There is some truth to this, but not all of it. Stockholm is a beautiful city that consists out of different islands. The city is divided into fourteen districts, which are spread across the islands. So everywhere you look, there is water. Stockholm is therefore also called ‘Venice of the north’. The only difference is the weather and the width of the canals. Every part of the campus of Stockholm University is located in nature. Also the Business School is, and it has its own campus called Kräftriket, which is surrounded by water. Everyday it is a blessing to go to the university, so studying becomes something fun. I could choose my own courses, and they offer something interesting for everybody. Business School also has an introduction program of two months with all kinds of activities to get to know the city and your fellow students. The last activity was a ‘booze cruise’ to Turku and back to Stockholm, which was a great end of the introduction program. In Stockholm you have different kinds of people. First there are the students, who all dress the same. The girls wear a black skinny pants with a black or grey sweater and some ‘Chelsea boots’. Their hair is long and has got the messy beach look. The guys are all wearing basic grey or black pants with a classy white shirt or a sweater. And you have the young parents with their little children. The parents look like they are 25, but in fact they may be older, nobody knows. Here the mothers are at home and the fathers walk with their kids. They are also called ‘latte papa’s’ because they drink trendy latte macchiato while spending time with the kids. One thing that every Swedish person has in common is that they all care about their health and how they look. During the day, all you see is trainings leggings and sport shoes, and in the evening everybody dresses up to go out. Next to the fact that I am here to study, I am also here to travel a little bit. And this is what I am doing since I arrived in Stockholm. First I went to several little islands by boat, for example Fjäderholmen. This is a little green island with big rocks and small beaches. I also went to Gotland, which is a big island with the nickname ‘Ibiza of Sweden’. This island has every type of nature that you can imagine. Long white beaches, rough rock formations in the sea, big green lands and savannah-like areas. We had a great time in a house that looks like the house of Pippi Longstocking. I did not only discover beautiful parts of Sweden, I also went to Norway to see Oslo and some villages and nature around it. For example, I went to the oldest town in Norway called Tønsberg. I also travelled by boat to Tallinn, St Petersburg and Helsinki. These three cities are even more amazing than anyone can imagine! There are still some trips coming like Kraków to see Auschwitz. And the last trip of my exchange semester will be to Lapland. Here I will go dogsledding, driving a snow scooter, visit the ice hotel and I will meet people who are member of the Sámi society. And if I am really lucky, maybe I will get to see the northern light. So, my stay in Stockholm is amazing! Going abroad is something that I can recommend to everybody. You develop yourself as a person and get to meet a lot of people from different cultures. Going on exchange for one semester is the experience of your lifetime!
A Dutch Perspective from Down Under
A contribution by Faces editor Georgie Watson. She is an exchange student from Melbourne, Australia and studies Finance and Economics at TiU. She writes about the highlights and surprises she discovered in Netherlands and around Europe. A reoccurring question that has been proposed to me, is why as an exchange student from Australia, did I chose to study in Tilburg, of all places? Let me start by stating the obvious: speaking a foreign language is not a current talent of mine. When considering my options, it was the Dutchmen’s ability to communicate in English with such affluence that sparked my interest in the country. Globally, the Dutch are renowned for being “ahead of the times” in their English speaking ability and this I can confirm. What’s more, the feedback I received from friends who had previously lived in the Netherlands made me realise that this country could be an exciting place to learn, travel and socialise. My first impressions, having just traveled through the Mediterranean the previous month, I landed in Schiphol Airport and there were three things that stood out immediately. Obviously, the high degree of English-speaking locals, the mass of generally well-dressed and well-groomed men, and finally, the unbelievably heavy rainfall outside (given it was August!), which particularly shocked me as I dragged a twenty-eight kilo suitcase full of summer clothing behind me. Three months on, I can confidently say that I have had the most amazing experience, have met fabulous people and have been surprised by such vast facilities available in Tilburg and at the University itself. It was the Economic School and its strong global reputation that drew me to Tilburg University. The emphasis on economics and world trade in my chosen subjects has been challenging yet incredibly relevant and rewarding, particularly given the current hype around European economic instability. It has been enlightening to live in a country within the European Union and simultaneously study fiscal and monetary issues that align with news headlines. Coming from Australia, it makes you realize how isolated we really are. The combined effect of living and learning within the European Union has given me invaluable insight. It is clear to me that The Netherlands, despite its small size, is a big player and contributor to the European economy. Professors here (taking note that they are teaching in their second language) are incredibly thorough and passionate about what they are teaching. I have adapted to the strict emphasis on arriving on time to lectures, though conversely, have not been so flexible in adjusting to the coffee, which does not compare to Melbourne’s high standards. Of course, the people I have met have been the highlight. Living in international student accommodation, I have been exposed to so many different cultures, religions, perspectives and cooking styles, which create an environment that is conducive to learning something new every day. In Tilburg there have been countless opportunities for exchange students to meet new people. From the international student associations to Dutch study organizations (ASSET being one of them), they provide a setting to meet interesting characters, make friends and create networks that wouldn’t otherwise be possible. The Netherlands is clearly an international hub attracting thousands of students from around the world. Unlike some countries, the diversity of people that you interact with daily creates a foundation of insight into a variety of cultures that you cannot experience anywhere else. From Colombia to South Korea, we share stories and contribute to heated debates at the dinner table, which provide a platform of continuous development within a social setting. The combination of these daily interactions, along with studying international economics truly makes for an invaluable time abroad. Some highlights for me also include the overwhelming ease of international travel. Given Australia’s inaccessibility from the rest of the world, popping over to Barcelona for your birthday weekend would be impossible. I have loved how proximate European countries are to one another. The nightlife has also been memorable, however, adapting to the bike ride home at four am in the morning is still a struggle. I have additionally loved being able to run in any direction to find yourself bound by dense forest or rich agricultural landscapes. This contrasts’ strongly to the typical Melbourne run: heavy traffic, modern skyscrapers and artificial noises. Finally, there was one thing I had to do before my time was up: learn to ride a bike without hands. The achievement was a memorable occasion and I will be taking this trendy skill back home to Australia! With only a few months left, I cannot imagine what life will be like when I have to depart. Upon graduating from my Bachelor of Commerce in July 2015, I will be applying for graduate positions in finance and I hope to one day return to work in Europe, whilst always knowing that my second home is right at my doorstep.
