Orientation and First Weeks
I joined the ESN (Erasmus Student Network) introduction event which was a three-day orientation to meet people from all over the world, who turned out to be people I hung out with during the exchange. The three-day event included a boat ride through the canals, ice skating in front of the national museum, sports events, and a final party. I definitely joining ESN orientation!
Business students also have their own orientation for the business department. We had a nice event with some snacks and we were given a UvA Business and Economics water bottle as a gift.
School is fast-paced because all classes are done in 2 months, so studying is necessary from the first week to prevent cramming for exams.
Accommodation and Living
I secured a room from Lieven De Key, which had a lot of options depending on your needs. I chose a private room with a private washroom and shared kitchen with 6 others. I absolutely enjoyed it because I became very close to my hallmates. We would hang out in the kitchen and we always took care of each other when someone's in need. It is a great way to meet people compared to those rooms that have a private kitchen.
Day to Day
Depending on the week and workload, I was able to take care of schoolwork meanwhile hanging out with friends at night. When I have class, I will normally ride my bike to school, which is usually a 25-minute ride. It does rain and gets windy sometimes, which will take me longer. I have to bike through a nice park - Vondelpark, which I really enjoy.
When I don't have classes, I either go out for a walk somewhere or go to a cafe to study. I also hang out with my hallmates in the shared kitchen a lot. We would play some board games and drinking games, or just listen to music and chat in the kitchen. I am very grateful to have close hallmates to spend time with.
On most weekends I am traveling around as I don't have classes on Mondays and Fridays. I utilize my time to discover other parts of Europe.
Learning and Adaptation
The school system is a little different from SFU so it took me a while to really understand. Classes are taught in English and professors have a high level of English proficiency so there was no problem understanding.
One thing to keep in mind is that some classes require a certain grade for the midterm for students to be eligible for final exams. It is important to check the requirements when the classes start.
Learning Dutch is not necessary because most Dutch people speak English, so I didn't have language barriers while living in Amsterdam.
Accomplishments and Challenges
Challenge:
Adapting to the Dutch education system was challenging because I really had to make sure I passed the midterm exams as they are the entry tickets to the final exams. I was able to pass the exams meanwhile enjoying my time there and traveling around.
Biking in the rain and wind every day was also challenging for me. I left Vancouver thinking that the weather in the Netherlands was nothing like Vancouver, which turned out to be wrong. It was as rainy, if not more, like Vancouver. The wind just makes it hard to bike as well.
Proud Moments:
I am very proud of myself for always ending up biking regardless of the weather to save on expensive transportation costs.
I am also very proud of myself for having the courage to go on a solo trip!
Cultural and Environmental Observations
Dutch people are generally friendly and open-minded. However, they can also be a bit impatient towards tourists when biking. It is important to learn the essential biking rules to ensure the safety of yourself and others, even if you don't plan on biking in Amsterdam.
People who travel to Amsterdam to study are very open-minded and friendly as well. I was able to meet people from all over the world and I had the opportunity to learn about different cultures.
Social and Extracurricular Activities
ESN hosts several social events during the week, which really encouraged me to meet new people. I had different groups of friends to hang out with, and we normally chill at a bar, play pool, play board games, chill in our shared kitchen, or sometimes we would have movie nights together.
I personally didn't join any sports clubs, but I really recommend CREA (Student Cultural Center). They host different classes, from salsa dancing to tennis, and these are great ways to meet new people who have the same hobbies.
Wrap Up
It was an absolute blast and I really appreciate all the opportunities to meet new people and travel around! Amsterdam is definitely a great study-abroad destination. You will never get bored as there are always a lot of things going on in the city, It is also a safe city to live in. Although one downside is that public transportation is very expensive, but biking is the solution to this problem. The design of the streets in the Netherlands is extremely bike-friendly, so having a bike is essential.
It is easy to get around the Netherlands itself because the public transport network is developed. It is also easy to travel abroad because the Netherlands has flights connecting from Amsterdam and Eindhoven to the rest of Europe, with cheap flight ticket prices.
