As you have probably come to realize, The Netherlands is a country that cannot make up its mind when it comes to the weather. The day could begin with the sun shining and a light breeze that makes your morning ride to uni pleasant and bearable. Then next thing you know, the sky has turned grey and the tiny rain droplets, you though would quickly pass, have turned into a light rainfall and then a full-on rainstorm. Though it’s unpredictability is annoying to say the least, we’ve just got to accept this country the way that it is and not let it discourage us. We must fight the rain and the only way to do so is to constantly be prepared!
Here are 5 tips to survive rainy Holland:Â
1. Always have an umbrella in your bag
As simple as it sounds, many of us often forget to bring our trusty umbrellas. In case you got tricked by the clear skies or you forgot to wear a rain jacket one day, a foldable umbrella in your bag will be a life saver. By always having an umbrella you will always prepared for the unpredictable weather! If you do happen to have a rain jacket because you started doubting the weather after being tricked multiple times, congrats, you are 5 steps ahead of most us. However, rain jacket + umbrella = extra protection, so it’s not a loss!
2. Learn to bike with an umbrellaÂ
Continuing with the umbrella tip, biking with an umbrella in one hand whilst steering your bike with the other, is the ultimate Dutch skill everyone needs to learn asap. It is a skill so valuable, it should probably be on your CV! If you have ever wondered how the Dutch look so dry and composed as they climb the stairs of Polak, whilst your drenched from head to toe, this is probably how they do it.
If the thought of biking in the pouring rain makes you want to cry, using the 9292 app will instantly brighten your mood! 9292 is a public transportation app which gives information of what form of transportation to take and at what time. By using it you can check which public transports you can use to get where you need to be. Making sure your bike is securely locked in a safe place, you can happily walk to the nearest tram/metro/ bus stop and avoid being soaked by the rain. If you do take public transport on the regular, using the 9292 app to check if the weather conditions have affected the tram times, will be a major time saver and it will help you from unnecessarily waiting in the rainy cold.
4. Use the rain as motivation to get things done
Instead of having to YouTube “rainy mood’, use the live sound of rain pouring as background noise / music to help you focus on the assignments or reading you’ve been leaving to the last minute ;).
5. Hot bath & comfort food
Lastly, if you tried it all and still managed to arrive home soaking wet, it is okay, just accept your fate. Get rid of all your wet clothes, slip into something warm and comfy and binge eat comfort food as a way to forget the traumatizing experience that is biking in Dutch rainstorms. If you need help deciding what to eat, why not read our last blog post on 5 Dutch foods to try!
Here were 5 tips to survive rainy Holland. Got suggestions? Leave them down below!
I’ve always loved travelling; it’s an escape from my everyday life, and there is sightseeing, meeting new people and pub-crawls. But the best part of it all is definitively the food! Discovering flavours and dishes you’ve never tried before is always exciting, and it tells you so much about a country’s culture. I have been in the Netherlands for almost one month now, and spent most of my free-time hunting down local food. Here’s what I’ve tried so far and my impressions of Dutch food:
Goudse Kaas
Cheese is a big business in the Netherlands, and the most ubiquitous of all the Dutch cheeses is Gouda. You can find it everywhere – from the farmers’ markets, to local grocery stores – and its flavour and texture can vary greatly depending on the aging process. So far, the Old Amsterdam brand is my favourite – as tasty as Swiss cheese (yes, I am from Switzerland)!
Stroopwafel
This is one of my favourites. Two thin waffles stuck together with a generous layer of hot caramel, they are just so good. You’ll find these sweet treats almost everywhere, but the huge ones street market vendors sell are to die for.
I have to admit, I really wasn’t looking forward to trying raw herring, and my Dutch friends had a hard time convincing me to give it a try. It was during my trip to Amsterdam that I finally braced myself and ordered some “broodje haringâ€, which is basically raw herring served in a small sandwich with pickles and onions. To be honest, I didn’t manage to take more than a couple bites, but well…it was worth giving it a try.
Poffertjes
These are little fluffy cloudy pancakes served in restaurants, pancake houses, and street markets all over the Netherlands. They are traditionally served with unsalted butter and powdered sugar, but you’ll also find many other toppings. Simply delicious.
Drop
Dutch people seem to love drop – the Dutch version of liquorice. In fact the country boasts the highest per-capita consumption of the sweet in the whole world. When I first tried drops, I was surprise as they are much saltier than normal liquorice. Not a favourite of mine, but I’ve never been good with liquorice to begin with.
That was the five Dutch foods I got to try since I arrived in Rotterdam. I hope you’ll enjoy them as much as I did! What should I eat next? Leave me some suggestions in the comments!
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Heya, it’s An and I’ll be one of the new bloggers for the next year! I hope you enjoyed this blog and will stick around for more to come. Cheers!
Checking my usually neglected mailbox, on top of a bunch of spam mail, sat a flyer stating that ISR was recruiting new members! Within two seconds of reading the flyer, I was urged into applying and knew without a doubt that I wanted to be part of the ISR community.
5 months later, my journey with ISR is about to begin, so here I am to hopefully spark an urge in you that might make you want to join ISR as a manager in a committee, a family member or simply come to one of our events!
Here are 5 reasons to join ISR:
#1 | The great family vibe
As soon as I entered the room in which an ISR get together was taking place, I felt like I belonged! The old members were so welcoming of the new members, I already felt like I was a part of the family even though it was my first time meeting everyone. If you ever feel a family shaped hole missing from your heart, ISR will definitely be the one to fill it!
#2| Social drinks + ISR events
Apart from meeting new friendly faces at social drinks with the help of beers or wine to sooth your nerves after a long day; ISR also has academic events such as I-BET where employers and international students get to network, as well as leisure activities including beer pong tournaments and more! With ISR you get the best of both worlds: work and play.
#3| Meeting people from all over Rotterdam
Unlike other student organizations, ISR enables you to meet people from various places in Rotterdam instead of just people from your university. This is so great as the possibility of meeting unique likeminded international and non-international students is endless.
ISR strives to welcome and accommodate all international students in a multitude of ways! With our student guide, you will never feel lost or foreign in Rotterdam as we prepare you for all that you could encounter. With an ISR membership there are student deals and discounts with Housing Anywhere, the Study Store and more. ISR also provides you with internship and job opportunities. If that doesn’t sound great, I don’t know what does!
#5| The ISR committee experience
Lastly, for those looking for extracurricular activities or would like to be a part of the daily running’s of an international student association; why not join an ISR committee!? Apart from an amazing experience including all four of the previously mentioned points, ISR also allows you to practice your skills and interests and experience a professional working experience all whilst having fun and gaining lifelong friends and colleagues! The ISR website has all the information you need if that interests you 😉
Here were 5 out of many reasons to join ISR! Are you a member of ISR? What were the 5 key reasons you joined? Let us know down below!
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Hey, it’s Anaelle and I’ll be one of the new bloggers for the next year! Hope you enjoyed this post and you stick around for more to come! 🙂
University is just as stressful as trying to bike in the Netherlands in the rain while looking out for bikes, trams, metro, trains, people, and just about everything else (living and dead). Am I the only one who stresses about that?
Looking back, there are always things you wish someone else would have told you.Today, I would like to bring your attention to a few (who’s counting?) things my friends and I wish we knew when we were freshman in Rotterdam.
1. Everyone will be your best friend during freshman week.
2. Bring medication. You will need it for the first few months.
3. It takes time to adjust. Moving to a new country on a “clean slate†with no friends paints a dark picture. Just know that things get better with time (and a few drinks).
4. It is easy to fall behind in the first few months. With all the dancing, drinking, and hungover mornings, it’s quite easy to lapse and be slapped in the face with midterms around the corner.
5. Hydrate. Water tends to be forgotten amongst all those beer, wine, and vodka bottles.
6. Friends will come and go. It is totally normally to jump between different friend circles until you find the right one. No hard feelings.
7. Go to the first lecture for each subject. This will give you a clearer picture of the upcoming 3-4 months and help you decide whether it is worth it to come to class or not.
8. Even if classes are not mandatory, push yourself to attend as many (of the useful ones, at least) as you can. You would be so surprised how easy it is to skip out on lectures according to your “prioritiesâ€.
9. For further emphasis, PRIORITIZE.
10. Do not buy books (before the first class). Trust me, you will regret buying them in the first place and wish you used that money on something else. I can bet you on that! Also, summaries exist (e.g. SlimStuderen and Reken Maar Verslagen).
11. Call your parents. Definition of parent: one that begets or brings forth offspring. You’re welcome.
12. It is okay to drift away from your high school friends. You might as well filter out the ones who gave up on your friendship just because of distance apart, let’s be practical.
13. No, you don’t HAVE to go to every party. There will always be more nights to go out but not enough nights to chill, study, and have “me timeâ€.
14. Ask questions. Whether it’s in a class of 500 students or a meeting with a professor, ask questions. More than 60% (yes, I just made up that percentage) of the time, there will be others who were also wondering about that concept.
15. Befriend at least 1 person who actually reads the course manual. In other words, befriend a German. You’ll thank me later.
16. Get involved, but don’t overdo it. You and I both know it is good for your CV. Also, it’s better to be fully invested in something than stretching yourself out over several activities or organizations, only to give 20% to each.
17. Experiment with your study habits. Try a study group, study buddy, different location, using music, using incentives, and making notes. Who knows, you may have a new winning study habit.
18. Keep notifications on at all times (except summer, of course) for your class Facebook group. I know it’s annoying to get a lot of notifications. However, you might miss out on a question someone has asked or important announcements.
19. Do not leave your references for last minute. Most times your university has a reference guide they require you to follow. Unfortunately, the online generators just don’t cut it. [/vc_column_text][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/2″][vc_column_text]
20. Do not underestimate that word count. I guarantee you will spend more time trying to cut down words than the time you will spend waiting in line at any freshman party.
21. Randomly assigned group projects may be the cause of a few grey hairs.
22. Your first year DOES count. Make sure you know the passing guidelines as well as you know your own name.
23. Avoid becoming heavily dependent on campus and takeout meals. Yes, exam time is stressful and you may not “have timeâ€. Eating out is not only bad for your health most times, but your wallet is also crying.
24. Go to the market. You would be surprised how much you can get for €1.
25. Invest in a personal ov-chipkaart. This helps you save money by subscribing to NS travelling plans. Google has all the answers.
26. Make sure everyone walks with their ID when buying alcohol.
27. Make time to waste time. You’re going to procrastinate anyways, so why not include it in your schedule to be on top of things?
28. Invest in a Netflix plan with your friends. Some days just call for binge-watching. Actually, I take that back, because we don’t need occasions to binge-watch anything.
29. Take advantage of supermarket specials and student deals. It is these little joys in life that make student life bearable.
30. Walk. Trust me when I say that you learn a lot more about a city on foot than you will when you bike, metro, or tram.
31. Sleeping > Partying after you pull an all-nighter. Depends how you argue it, though.
32. Group pressure is a thing. You better toughen up.
33. Always drink or go out with a friend, never alone. Two is always better than one. Two mojitos.
34. There is always someone smarter and dumber than you in the room. I’m a realist, what can I say?
35. Figure out how to use a basic washing machine. Don’t let those clothes pile up, because do you know how hard it is to function in the Netherlands without socks?
36. It is okay to wear sweatpants to class. But it depends, really.
37. Bring a bottle of alcohol (OR TWO) to your last exam. It’s 5 o’ clock somewhere, right?
38. It is possible to get absolutely trashed by only drinking wine. I promise I have two friends who can vouch for this.
39. It is perfectly acceptable to reach a new low of living off of €1 instant noodles. I recommend Indo Mie.
40. Get to know people first before asking them to be your next housemate. Even if you can’t possibly find out everything about the person, do not rush this. See how they react in different scenarios and think whether you can really stand to be around them for longer than 12 hours!
41. You have the power to study for finals, watch a YouTube video, cry, and eat at the same time. Do not undersell yourself, come on.
42. Most of all, you are all in the same boat. You are not the only one panicking and winging life.
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Yashita here! This will be my last post for ISR and I hope you will be able to relate to some of these experiences. Thank you for stopping by this blog over the past year and good luck first years!
[vc_row][vc_column width=”1/2″][vc_column_text]Ah, it’s that time of the year again. You can taste the sweet sensation of summer vacation, but still have a few weeks of suffering through exams and deadlines before you’re free. We at ISR are also all students, so we understand the struggle, and have decided to collect a few study tips and share them with you to make this period more bearable!
Tip #1: Visit the New Library
Polak was a temporary study building to be used while the original Erasmus University Library was under construction. All of the work has now been completed, and the new library is better than ever. Goodbye, study space shortage! One half of the library is dedicated to silent studying, and the other half non-silent. Please be aware of where you’re sitting and respectful to other students.
Tip #2: Teach Others About the Subject
If you can teach someone a concept, it is a clear sign that you yourself have a thorough understanding of the subject. This demonstrates a complete grasp of the underlying concepts and the reasons why things are the way they are.
Tip #3: Use Food as an Incentive
Imagine this: it’s the day before your exam, you’ve got another half textbook to get through, and you’re as good as falling out of your seat from exhaustion. Try motivating yourself with a rewarding snack (like a gummy bear, a chip, etc.) at the end of a chapter, or after every ten pages or so. You’ll have something to look forward to, and the snacking will keep you awake. Win-win situation!
Tip #4: Chew Gum While Studying
Studies have shown that chewing gum while studying or taking an exam improve focus and results because the chewing movement keeps your brain active. It has also been shown that, if you study while chewing gum of a particular flavor, and if you chew that same flavor during the exam of that subject, then you will likely perform better. For example, you study math with peppermint-flavored gum, and take the mathematics exam while chewing peppermint-flavored gum. Give it a try!
Sometimes, a lecture is just too early, and you decide to skip. It happens. The best way to catch up with any complex calculation processes or concepts is to watch videos explaining them. There are abundant websites offering educational videos, such as Youtube and KhanAcademy, that are nearly as good as a lecture. So if you find yourself not really understanding how to get from one step to another, look up a video!
Tip #5: Music Keeps You Going
Some people prefer music while studying, others prefer silence. Others prefer background noise, like the noise from an airplane cabin or rain falling (my personal favorite). Some even study best when they’re listening to the Top 40 pop music playlist. Although studies have shown that listening to classical music helps the brain absorb information better, it is entirely up to you. Eventually, you may get sick of your playlist, and might be looking for another source of study music. Here are some of the best playlists we’ve heard about (all YouTube, so accessible to everyone) :
We sincerely hope these tips will help you improve your studying techniques and maybe result in some higher grades. ISR wishes you the best of luck in the rest of your studies this year, and if you’re almost done, a wonderful summer vacation!
On the 17th to 18th of May, ISR hosted its third edition of ISR Boosts Exceptional Talent (I-BET)! Our team have worked exceptionally hard to put together this wonderful event together for participants! Numerous companies attended IBET and interacted with participants with workshops, information sessions, case competitions, company stands and networking  opportunities! Special thanks goes to all participants, companies taking part as well as our Academic Events team!
Here’s a message from Academic Events:
“The third edition of I-BET turned out to be a success. We managed to connect more than 60 students with the international companies, help them develop their skills and enable them to find their career opportunity. We would like to thank all the participants, volunteers and companies who contributed to the happening of this event. See you next year!â€
On Wednesday, Fortune 500 company Eastman participated in the company stands, ready to recruit interested and exceptional talent. This day also boasted Housing Anywhere, Flexpat, Student for Students, World Startup Factory and Alpha Solutions who gave informative and helpful presentations to many eager participants. This was followed by a networking drinks that allowed them to communicate with representatives of these companies that will help them gain that notch to their applications.
The next day saw Eastman, World Startup Factory and BimBimBikes in the stands the C-building hallways! We saw a lot of wonderful connections there being made! In the afternoon, the Dutch Immigration and Naturalization service came to give helpful and highly important guides and information for any international talents looking to start a career in the Netherlands. Tech giant Dell also came to give an interesting workshop that would prove valuable for any participant looking to delve into the technology industry. VenturesOne and BimBimBikes held presentations that would build one’s entrepreneurial spirit. This was followed with another networking drinks with the day’s participating companies and students at Venture Cafe, creating a memorable end to a value-creating and wonderfully fun event!
So there it is everyone! We thank you all for attending! Thank you to Eastman, Housing Anywhere, Flexpat, Students for Students, World Startup Factory, Alpha Solutions, BimBimBikes, IND, Dell and VenturesOne for your participation! A shoutout goes to the Academics Event team and all members of ISR for your tireless work to create this event!
If you wanna reminisce the awesomeness of IBET, head on to our gallery and see if you’re featured there! Cheers to the next one and we hope to see you all again in our social drinks!
[vc_row][vc_column width=”1/2″][vc_column_text]I-BET (ISR Boosts Exceptional Talent) is an academic event aiming to connect employers to international students of Rotterdam. International students often face hardships when looking for a job in a foreign country: needing to apply for a Visa, unable to speak the language, and needing to adjust to the new culture.
ISR aims to eliminate these hardships and show certain companies in The Netherlands that international students are valuable and innovative and can be an important addition to a company. The goal is to help you, an international student, find an internship at large and successful companies, and begin the progression of your international career. This will give you the opportunity to think about continuing life in The Netherlands and transition into life after your studies.
I-BET 2017 is partnered with the following companies: Eastman, BimBimBikes, VenturesOne, Housing Anywhere, World Startup Factory, Alpha Solutions, Dell, and IND (Immigration and Naturalization Service) providing lectures and workshops at various locations at Erasmus University Rotterdam. Students participating in I-BET will have the chance to speak with representatives from these companies during I-BET events and during social networking drinks afterward.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/2″][vc_column_text]Speaking with internationals who have been able to find a job in The Netherlands can help you learn a lot about how you can best tackle career building in a foreign country. To see the full schedule, visit: https://www.isrotterdam.com/schedule/.
ISR’s Academic Events Committee has been very busy these last few months to put this event together. “Our goal is to connect international students with companies that look for motivated and driven internationals, whom we believe can contribute to the unique development of a company.†– ISR’s Academic Events Committee, organizers of I-BET. Does organizing an event like this interest you? You can apply for an Academic Events Committee position at https://www.isrotterdam.com/recruitment/.
Last year, I-BET partnered over 80 international students with internships, and this year ISR is aiming for even more. This is a unique opportunity to jumpstart your career in The Netherlands and present yourself as a driven and talented international student. Don’t miss your chance!
Do you ever find yourself in any of these situations? Do you find it difficult to identify yourself with certain experiences? Take me as an example. I was born and brought up on an island called Saint Martin, but my parents were born and brought up in India. What do I identify myself with? Saint Martin, no questions asked.
You’re most likely to be asked similar questions regarding your identity in your first year settling here in Rotterdam. If you’re a third culture kid or TCK (brought up in a culture other than your parents’ own), raise your glass, because you’re not alone!
You might have experienced some of the following:
1 – Explaining your “accent†in regards to your appearance
It’s natural for humans to categorize certain things with certain phenomena. Similarly, the human brain tends to associate certain accents with specific countries and traits. That first “Hi, my name is ..†is being analyzed tenfold by every new person you meet. It’s possible for people to get your accent right; however, for third culture kids, it goes deeper than just your voice box and skin. You may sound Italian, but you look Chinese. I’ve been told I have a slight American accent or a “neutral†accent (whatever that is, haha!), but I look Indian. Humans tend to get a bit confused when you don’t sound how you look. It may be draining to explain your heritage and solely be categorized based on your accent and physical qualities, but try not to get offended or feel uncomfortable when asked for “further explanation†of your accent. Everyone is just trying to get to know you, which will happen to you very often in your first few months here!
2 – Cultural traditions
Do you celebrate both traditions – where you were brought up and where your parents were brought up? Call yourself diverse! Growing up in a country naturally pushes you to celebrate its traditions and national, cultural events. With your family, you might celebrate their cultural celebrations.
[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/2″][vc_column_text]We TCKs are open to so many more experiences, values, and morals that mold our upbringing and perspectives on life into something truly unique. And who doesn’t like the extra food and social gatherings that come with being multicultural?
3 – Feeling of belonging to a community, but not really
I recently visited family in India, and I can confidently say that I went through this. I celebrate similar traditions and my ancestors come from this country, but I don’t think they will ever accept me as a full-fledged Indian nor will I ever consider myself one. The same goes for what I consider “home†(Saint Martin). It’s a constant struggle as we find ourselves hanging in the middle between all the countries we’ve been brought up in. It’s only natural for us to want to be part of a community, and having this experience can be a real setback for some people. But remember, there’s more food and celebrations involved when you’re a TCK, so who’s really losing here?
Hear me out. If you change your perspective on things, label yourself as unique. You’re international, you’re multicultural, and most importantly, you belong. Even if you’re not a TCK, you may have experienced some of these things. Carry your pride as a badge on your shoulder, because Rotterdam is one big international family. You would fit right in here.
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Yashita here! This blog is more personal to me, and I hope you can also relate to some of the experiences I’ve had. Cheers to being a TCK!
[vc_row][vc_column width=”1/2″][vc_column_text]It’s recruitment time and we are interested in YOU! The goal of International Students Rotterdam is to make international students feel at home. If you would also like to contribute to this mission, then you’re in the right place. Feel free to check out the Recruitment page (https://www.isrotterdam.com/recruitment/) for more information regarding each position. Yes, being an active member of an association is putting in some work, but it’s not only about that! I can personally say time as Content Manager has been not only intriguing, but also loads of fun and games!
Check out what other members of the association had to say about their most fun ISR experience:
Name: Heloisa Position: Social Events Officer Most fun experience: That would definitely be the Family Weekends, when people can relax, not think about work, just be themselves, and enjoy time with each other.
Name: Inessa Position: Human Resources Manager Most fun experience: We have a couple of running jokes in ISR, which were mostly formed in the first couple of months. Now it’s always funny when someone brings it up again and again!
Name: Tamara Position: Academic Events Manager Most fun experience: The time the Social Events Committee gave out name tags where we could have 3 things about us written on it for the Valentine’s Edition Social Drink!
Name: Clemens Position: President Most fun experience: That must have been the moment when our beloved Viki simultaneously had her first beer ever and discovered drinking games after a board meeting; both of which changed her life forever and got us all pretty drunk!
Name: Allan Position: Social Events Manager Most fun experience: Waking up to Manish sleeping next to me.
Name: Laura Position: Human Resources Manager Most fun experience: The most fun thing for me is that even though I’m Dutch, everyone still very much welcomed me into ISR.
Name: Anita Position: Social Events Manager Most fun experience: Definitely something that happened on the Family Weekend![/vc_column_text][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/2″][vc_column_text]Name: Raquel Position: Human Resources Officer Most fun experience: Team building games, such as the interactive bingo, we designed for the Family Weekend. Manish, what is a pug?!
Name: Weronika Position: Academic Events Officer Most fun experience: The Pub Crawl!
Name: Manish Position: Acquisition Manager Most fun experience: This is a difficult question, because I enjoy all ISR events! One nice memory would be the Halloween storytelling during the General Family Meeting.
Name: Damian Position: Acquisition Officer & Treasurer Most fun experience: Manish and David being drunk!
Name: Jessica Position: Brand Manager Most fun experience: The transformation people go through being drunk at the Social Drinks, haha!
Name: Yulia Position: Marketing Officer Most fun experience: Playing drinking games in De Smitse after board meetings.
Name: Yashita Position: Content Manager Most fun experience: Definitely the Family Times, because everyone’s personality comes out and you always get to learn a thing or two more about everyone!
Name: Andreea Position: Social Events Manager Most fun experience: The Family Weekend we had in Tilburg!
Clearly, there’s a lot of fun packed into the ISR Family, a lot of which may have to do with drinking, but who’s counting right?
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Yashita here! Spring is finally here, and if that’s not something to be happy about, then I don’t know what is!
What were your first impressions in Rotterdam? Before I moved here, I heard several different opinions about this city, including “super modernâ€, “artsy in a weird wayâ€, “very busyâ€, and “ugly with all those buildingsâ€. We all perceive things differently, and seeing what others have to say about something might be surprising to others. Moving to a new city or country, for instance, comes with different experiences – good and bad. The beauty of it all is that we experience new (and sometimes even weird) things every day of our lives. You know what’s even better? Sharing your stories with others, that’s what!
Here’s what a few full-time students in Rotterdam had to say about their experiences* so far and my little two cents in italics:
Anonymous
Best experience: Sitting on a rooftop with friends, sipping a beer, watching fireworks, and listening to some music in the summer.
Strangest/ weirdest experience: One time I went out and, let’s just say, the night got out of hand. I woke up the next morning without keys and without my wallet. In desperation, I went back to the place I was at the night before and found my keys, wallet, and all contents of my wallet in the park across from the bar. I have never been so happy in my life. [Sounds like a great night to me, to be honest.]
Henry
Best experience: The Eurekaweek probably and a few chill nights in with the fellas.
Strangest/ weirdest experience: Once I was cleaning the house high out of my mind with my roommate whilst dancing to Grease.
Ron
Best experience: IBA Freshman Weekend.
Strangest/ weirdest experience: That would probably be when one of my friends from abroad saw a goose, freaked out, and took pictures of it like it was some sort of miracle.
Anonymous
Best experience: Stroopwaffels. [YES.]
Koen
Best experience: The Eurekaweek. [Introduction weeks seem to be a recurring best experience, hmm..]
Strangest/ weirdest experience: I believe that would be seeing 15 police officers on motorbikes escorting a car through the city by blocking off all intersections and roads along the way.
Best experience: The Christmas lights everywhere in the city in December plus the nice restaurants and cafes.
Strangest/ weirdest experience: Two boys came up to my friend and I in the evening/ at night and suddenly got angry when we didn’t want to talk to them.
Sarah
Best experience: Spending time with people from all over the world and learning from different countries and cultures while staying in my own country is probably the best. I don’t need to travel for international experiences.
Strangest/ weirdest experience: How the international deal with living in the Netherlands (e.g. trying Dutch dishes, cycling, etc.). [For the most part, I’m still not used to Dutch stairs, thank you very much.]
Anonymous
Best experience: Getting to share an apartment with my friends.
Strangest/ weirdest experience: Beer cantus, that stuff… is intense… and super Dutch. [I couldn’t agree more..]
Anonymous
Best experience: Once my friends and I went to Bartender to have a few rounds of shots. Then, we bar-hopped between 4 different bars across the Stadhuis depending on which one had better music every 30 minutes.
Strangest/ weirdest experience: The first bar I went to charged me separately for the alcohol and soda when I asked for a mixed drink. [This is why we pre-drink!]
Anonymous
Best experience: Eating Cinnabons. [Say no more. FYI, you can get some in the Alexandrium Mall. You’re welcome.]
Strangest/ weirdest experience: This one guy licked my face at a party.
Be sure to be on the lookout for the next edition of this blog series!
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Yashita here! I think I’m going to treat myself to a Cinnabon.. Cheers!
*Testimonials were edited for grammar, understandability, and clarity.
