My Exchange at The University of Amsterdam
My exchange has been a whirlwind. It has challenged me a lot. It has taught me a lot. It has been so much fun.
It is so beautiful to live in Amsterdam, a city so connected to the rest of the world, a city with such a great public transport network, a city with so much history and so many different influences and opportunities. It was so illuminating to go to all these different events and clubs and gigs and cool spaces and museums and galleries and to try things I never otherwise would. At times it was a little overwhelming, but I think around the third month it started to feel much more familiar and home-like. This is a really beautiful time in the exchange, where you feel like you can grow a home away from home. This was in big part due to the friends I had made. We hung out most days and made the most of weekends. As long as you don’t burn yourself out, I would recommend taking as many opportunities for socialising and going to gigs and museums etc. as you can. There is so much to see and learn!
Getting accommodation was a bit stressful at the start, especially with the lottery system, so if possible have backups ready in case you don’t get an offer for student accom (i.e. family friends, facebook pages, accommodation websites etc.). In the end I got a place about a 30-min bike ride from the city center. At the start this made me feel really disconnected and sad, but as the year went along I really appreciated the opportunity to get to know a place outside of the city (as I would still go into the city most days), as well as an opportunity to appreciate nature and the quiet of the surroundings, and get some excercise!
I would say be easy on yourself. It is difficult being so far away from home for a long period of time. Don’t be afraid to lean on family or friends back home, or the new friends you make on exchange! I guarantee that they are in a very similar position to you. It may bring you closer together.
I will also say that the time difference between Europe and New Zealand is really challenging. Be prepared to not communicate all the time, as otherwise you may lose opportunities to live more where your feet are. It is a balancing act that everyone has to work out for themselves! But remember that everything will still be there when you are home 🙂
The last thing I will say is don’t forget to have fun. That is the reason I embarked on an exchange, and it should be front of mind for anyone wanting a good experience I think.
Aroha nui.
Q&A
What were some of the highlights of the academic experience at your host university?
Learning in a different class environment. The teaching methods are different overseas and it was really nice to have that challenge. As far as global studies goes, there are very varying approaches to teaching the content material. Being in Europe, there is an added degree of connectivity in all of the politics, environmentalism, and legislation. It can be a bit overwhelming coming from New Zealand, but it is good to see how a country like the Netherlands considers global issues.
Would you recommend any particular activity/activities unique to your host country or university?
I would 1000% percent recommend everyone take advantage of the incredible cycling infrastructure of Amsterdam. New Zealand really misses out by lacking this! Also get out on the canals in Amsterdam 🙂
What are your top 3 tips for future students attending your host university or going on exchange to your host country?
- Make the most of the orientation activities! Don’t take on more than you can handle, but they are there for a reason and it is a great opportunity to meet people, even if you don’t stay close with them for the whole exchange.
- Be mindful of money but don’t be afraid to spend! I would argue that it is a better use of money to spend on experiences rather than food or consumables that you could get at home.
- Don’t stress too much about having to do every single event that comes your way. If you burn the candle at ALL ends then you may end up enjoying the whole experience less. I found that – especially in winter – I enjoyed staying in and made the most of the movies etc rather than going out into the town a whole bunch. This has given me more energy for the summer!
How much did you budget for your exchange? Was this enough? Were there any lessons learned that would help future students budget for their own exchange?
I budgeted out 10,000 NZD for my exchange. This was not enough. I needed student loan the whole time to cover my rent and I needed to get a part time job for the second half of my year abroad. Amsterdam is expensive. Generally more than New Zealand, especially events and eating out. Again, just be mindful of where you want to spend your money. It is easy to go in guns a blazing, but remember that you may have unforeseen expenses or travel things come up later down the track!
Also, it may not work to have ALL your travel planned out ahead of time, but if you buy some travel expenses way ahead of time, then it feels like you are spending nothing when the travel comes around! lol.
Also If you are doing 6 months it is more manageable than a year!
What are your most significant takeaways from your experience abroad?
I learnt to enjoy my own company more. I lived with people that I wasn’t super close with and it was a good opportunity to become more independent and tap into some hobbies of my own. And of course, I was able to learn more about different kinds of people – Europe is such a melting pot, especially Amsterdam. It has been challenging but great to see firsthand how people who aren’t kiwis walk the world. I think it’s been great for my own growth.
Do you want to share anything about travels you did outside your host city/country?
Travel as much as you can afford. Especially in Europe there are so many places to see! Be smart with where you go based on your own budget (e.g. Scandinavia/Alps/UK are more expensive, Balkans/Spain/North Africa are cheaper) and try to experience a wide variety of places if you can! Of all the travel I have done I have never regretted a moment of it. I think it is more likely you will regret not going than regret spending a little more.
Final Comments
Think hard about how long you want your exchange to be. For many students – including a lot of my friends! – one semester is not enough to truly get to know a place and goes by in a flash. For others, two semesters may be a little too long. I think that ended up being my case a little. I don’t regret my exchange, but with the place I was in personally I could have benefitted from a smaller window away from home. So weigh up all the factors you have at home and all the reasons you want to come away on exchange and try figure out the best fit for you!