A different perspective: studying in The Netherlands

I actually remember quite vividly where I did my fieldwork. The place is known to most of us and it is very close to Leiden and The Hague: it is called Utrecht. To be more precise, I did my fieldwork as an exchange student coming from Iaşi, Romania, at Utrecht University in The Netherlands. The university buildings and the campus in general were my fieldwork locations.  This period brought me rewarding and life-changing experiences. I spent almost six months in Utrecht in 2007. My memories of this period are so vivid! Even after more than 10 years.

Shaping and being shaped
I went on exchange since I was very eager to broaden my knowledge in the field of sociology, to get to know a different culture, to speak English and to get to know people from other corners of the world. Back home, I was studying sociology and for this exchange programme I chose courses related to this field. I played the role of the actor and of the observer at the same time. Everything was a new experience. The work we were expected to complete in class, complemented with group work to complete assignments outside class hours, getting to work with colleagues from different parts of the world, hearing their opinions and educational experiences…. this all immersed me in a new world in which, from a sociologic point of view, I was literally shaping the culture in which I was present, while simultaneously being shaped by the culture in which I was present. 

I definitely discovered many things about “the other”, but by doing so I did discover a lot more about myself. As an exchange student in The Netherlands, I learned a lot about the educational system and about the importance of group work in completing your assignments. I visited many cities in 2007 and I learned how many beautiful places The Netherlands has to offer to its tourists. I developed friendships and strong connections not only with Dutch people but also with people like me, coming from another country. The Netherlands is a country that welcomes and nurtures a cultural mix.

Continue learning: get to the next level
Both learning and growing, personally and professionally, I stayed at the heart of this cultural mix.  What I discovered about myself was that I was the same as everyone embarking on such an experience: curious, open-minded, courageous and hungry to learn, to understand and to grow. Coming from Eastern Europe, this experience taught me that cultural differences are a great way to celebrate unity in thought, experience, vision and career. I remember it felt weird to address my teachers using their first name. In Romania, you always use the formal way of addressing your teachers. The funniest thing was that I could cycle as much as I wanted and this was a childhood dream come true. I definitely became more culturally aware and I learnt to practice listening more. Multitasking is a skill I heard about and practiced while being abroad. I’m pretty good at it and I also brag about being very organized and quite efficient when it comes to meeting deadlines. I value fresh, unique and creative input from the people I interact and work with. Valuing individual contributions is a cornerstone to any teamwork accomplished successfully. My Language and interaction skills have improved invaluably and I am proud to say that I continue to learn; there will always be “a next level” when it comes to any of your experiences abroad.

Teaching at the BA International Studies requires any lecturer to be and stay culturally sensitive. It’s not easy to acquire such skills while not having spent at least a short while abroad. I do not mean visiting, as a tourist, I do mean living in a different place than your own country for a few months. The experience opens you up to something new forever, an experience that you learn to cherish and will you will continue to seek all the time. Any career path is smoother if you have experienced life abroad as you get to embrace cultural differences, you will be shaped by them and be also part of the shaping process.  

Georgiana’s advice to students
What our students should do is to visit as many places as you can and, while visiting, do listen a lot: listen to the people’s life stories, to their pieces of advice, to what they like or dislike, to how they speak about other people, countries, about music etc. You should definitely avoid isolation and doing things in excess: stay balanced to stay happy! As a final word from my side: safe travels and make the most of your time abroad!