What inspired you to travel abroad?
Throughout my college experience, I had family, friends, and colleagues who had each studied abroad at some point in their lives. Each of them gave not only a positive account of their experience but also considered it life-changing.
This, paired with wonderful experiences traveling in and outside of the United States, made the decision to study abroad easy.
Why did you choose CES Maastricht?
After making the definitive decision to study abroad, I looked at the catalogue of possible places to study. The variety of places offered to me was incredibly diverse. This only intensified my excitement, thinking about all the potential experiences I could have.
As I looked through, I was given options like Spain, Germany, France, and Norway. Although I'm sure those places would have been lovely, it was Maastricht University's program that really caught my eye. Not only did it showcase the beauty of the small medieval city of Maastricht, but it also boasted strong programs in my field of interest.
It wasn’t just a logical decision academically—my gut feeling was telling me to choose this program.
A group of people I met in Maastricht and I went on a trip to Antwerp, Belgium.
What was your favorite part about Maastricht?
When talking about the amazing parts of Maastricht, I could say many things: the charming cobblestone streets, the incredible natural beauty, and the robust public transport.
But my truly favorite part of this magical city is the people. Whether foreign or native, the friendliness of the people of Maastricht is unparalleled. As a foreigner, I was worried that I wouldn't be well-received, but this fear was quickly relieved when I arrived.
The people of Maastricht will happily switch to English if you don't know Dutch, then proceed to give you the most wonderful conversation you've ever had.
What made your experience abroad extraordinary?
What truly made my experience extraordinary was how the staff of the program strived to make sure their students had a good experience.
At first, all I expected was courses and accommodation. However, when I arrived in Maastricht, I realized that the program is so much more than that. The wonderful staff at UM organized many trips, events, and gatherings for the students.
This made socialization easier and allowed for very fun experiences that really enhanced the program.
How did the local program staff support you throughout your program?
The staff at Maastricht University were incredibly helpful and friendly. From the staff to the interns to the professors, everyone exceeded my expectations.
The interns were incredibly helpful in helping me adjust to life in the Netherlands and even became good friends of mine. The professors were incredibly interested and knowledgeable in their respective subjects, which allowed for engaging courses.
The staff was very friendly and accommodating, making it clear that they truly care about the students' experiences. I couldn't have asked for better staff members at UM.
An iconic rubber duck store in the city centre of Maastricht.
What's one thing you wish you would have done differently during your time abroad?
Something I wish I had done while at Maastricht is rent a bike. Although the city is wonderful to walk through, a significant part of Dutch culture is biking, which I didn't realize until it was too late for me to rent one.
They boast such an incredible infrastructure for cycling that you can even bike to Belgium or Germany! It is so convenient for students to bike to class or around town that renting a bike should be seriously considered for prospective students.
Describe what a typical day in your life abroad looked like.
While studying abroad, every day looked slightly different as I would be travelling or attending unique events around the city on a semi-daily basis. However, without including these unique events, this is what a general day looks like.
First, I would wake up and prepare for the day before class. This would include routine things, such as making breakfast in the communal kitchen (likely while talking to a floormate who was doing the same). I would then walk to class with friends who had class at the same time.
I would have my courses, then either go to the market to find something to make for lunch, or go out to eat after classes. The rest of the day usually consisted of hanging out with friends, exploring the city, or doing some of the required coursework.
What did you enjoy doing in your free time abroad?
Most of my free time in Maastricht was spent with the friends that I had made there. We would either be exploring the city and eating, or travelling to different parts of Europe through the robust transportation system.
In the immediate vicinity, it was very easy to visit parts of the Netherlands, Belgium, France, Germany, and Luxembourg. However, other trips weren't out of reach. For example, my friends and I travelled to Spain by a short flight for a fun weekend.
A friend I met from Paraguay and I went to Spain.
What type of accommodation did you have? What did you like best about it?
The Maastricht University study abroad program gives two major options for accommodation: The Community Building (C-Building) and The Private Building (P-Building).
The C-Building allows for rooms with or without roommates with communal bathrooms, showers, and kitchens. The P-Building allowed for rooms with or without roommates, with private kitchens and bathrooms.
I was in the C-Building, which I highly recommend to prospective students. The social atmosphere is incredible. It allowed the people on my floor to become some of my closest friends as we would see each other quite often, either in the kitchen or in passing. It was one of the easiest ways to make friends, and I would highly recommend it.
What is one thing every future participant should know about your program before their program begins?
Before my program started, I was very worried about making friends while outside of the country. I quickly found that these fears were unwarranted.
In the study abroad environment, you are surrounded by many people who are all seeking friends during their time abroad. This makes it incredibly easy to connect with people, as they share the same motivation to make friends that you do.
Although anxiety about things like this may be natural, try not to worry too much about it!
Would you recommend Maastricht University: Business & Economics in Europe to others? Why?
I would definitely recommend the program to others. Studying abroad in Maastricht was a life-changing experience. Not only did I make lifelong friendships and have memorable experiences, but I also broadened my understanding of the world.
The course load is very much geared toward international studies, which, paired with experiences traveling, gave me a different perspective of the world.
A friend I met from China in front of a beautiful rainbow in Maastricht.
What do you feel the biggest benefit of traveling abroad is?
There are many major benefits to traveling abroad. Expanding your horizons and giving yourself a different perspective of the world is a major part of it.
However, I believe the memories and experiences that life abroad gives you are the most valuable part. These experiences are not only fun in the moment, but also influence your life in ways that you would never expect.
Now that you're home, how has your time abroad impacted your life?
The lasting effects of studying abroad are paramount. In my time abroad, I made many new friends whom I still keep in touch with (both in and outside of the Netherlands).
Along with this, I believe I have improved my ability to make friends in new environments and gained a sense of empowerment. Through studying abroad, I was uncertain about what might happen. But having this experience made me realize that I can trust myself in unfamiliar situations.
What does meaningful travel mean to you?
I believe meaningful travel is any travel in which you make significant memories, or learn something about yourself or the place that you traveled to. This tends to be true for most types of travel.
Depending on where you travel, whether it's alone or with friends, you will experience very different things from what you are accustomed to. Not only do you learn about these things and the culture of the place you travel to, but you also learn about yourself and how you respond to these unfamiliar things.
This holds value and should be classified as meaningful travel.
