What inspired you to go abroad?
I had known from a young age that I wanted to study far from home, but due to the illness of one of my parents, I was afraid to make that jump. After a couple of years, CES Maastricht enabled me to live out my dream and explore Europe.
I have always enjoyed learning more about the world, and the ability to study in and travel around Europe was an eye-opening experience. I got to travel most of Western Europe, Albania in Central/Eastern Europe, and Morocco in Africa, so I was able to gain a lot of experience from a wide range of cultures!
Me along with my friends Rafa and Nathaniel in Brugge, Belgium.
Why did you choose CES Maastricht?
I was drawn to Maastricht and the Netherlands because my family's ancestry is largely in Dutch/Belgian Limburg, and I wanted to immerse myself in the culture and truly explore it.
Additionally, I have always loved Europe, and I plan to return to the continent for grad school and my future life. This program allowed me the opportunity to explore the Netherlands and Europe and discover so much about myself and the world around me.
Key areas of the CES program that connected with me were: Location (for ancestry), the built-in trips, the CES classes that included Dutch culture/Dutch language, and the ability to be near several other major European cities.
What was your favorite part about Maastricht?
Finding a sole favorite part feels impossible, but amongst my favorite things about Maastricht, the location and the community were two of my favorite things.
Maastricht is located right in the heart of Europe and gives you direct access to many countries within a short train ride. I was able to explore every neighboring country to the Netherlands from this location, and on top of that, the people of Maastricht truly make it such a perfect home base. As someone trying to learn the language as well, the locals were always willing to help me practice and get me out.
Aside from the locals, the city of Maastricht also has a large international community due to the university, so I was also able to meet so many interesting people from all over the world.
What made your experience abroad extraordinary?
A photo of the city Oudja in Morocco (Africa).
What made my experience abroad so extraordinary was, without a doubt, the various experiences I had there and the connections I made. Every trip birthed new friendships, and I made so many memories that I will cherish for the rest of my life.
I think the variety of places I visited and the diversity of people were something I really appreciated, since I was able to meet people from every continent and hear stories from so many different cultural backgrounds.
How did local staff support you throughout your program?
The CES program offered coordinators who were only a text away at all times to help us navigate our time in Europe. The staff helped us through our application process, paperwork, getting to the Netherlands, and then through our classes and other trips sponsored by the CES Program.
I regularly contacted my CES coordinators with a variety of questions about travel, package delivery, local holidays/activities, etc. They always answered to the best of their ability, and I can't recall a single time when I had a problem go unsolved.
What's one thing you wish you would have done differently during your time abroad?
One thing I wish I had done differently while abroad is to pack lighter. I feel that I over-packed and ended up with so many clothes that I never or hardly ever wore.
There are many stores nearby that have everything I could have needed, so things like soap, kitchen towels, toothbrushes, etc., were readily available and not necessary for me to pack.
I also would have ordered an NS weekend pass earlier to allow myself to explore more of the Netherlands, which, towards the end of my study abroad, became a tad too costly for me to do every weekend.
Describe what a typical day in your life abroad looked like.
A typical day in my life studying abroad consisted of 2 classes split across the day. I'd wake up at 8:00 a.m. for my morning class, then grab breakfast or lunch at a local cafe/restaurant. I filled the time between my classes with activities around the city (that's why I say breakfast or lunch), such as hiking, shopping, or hanging out with friends.
On the days I did not have class, I often took 2-3 day trips on weekends, and travelled to closer countries on weekdays when I was off. One of my favorite study spots to go to when I was off but still busy was Radium Boulders, a local bouldering gym that has a pizzeria and study space where I would go with friends. There was also a variety of museums we were given access to for free around the city that I would regularly visit, and I would challenge myself to find something new each time.
Belgium quickly became my favorite place to travel to, as I had a handful of friends from the Flanders region, so I also travelled through a variety of northern Belgian cities, such as Ghent, Bruges, Antwerp, and Brussels.
What did you enjoy doing during your free time abroad?
Visiting my childhood best friend who attends IE University in Spain. The photo was taken in Segovia.
As I mentioned briefly earlier, my friends and I often went to Radium Boulders to study and relax in our free time on those busier days. There were also numerous other events and places to visit around the city, and even by the time I was leaving, there was still so much to explore.
Some of my favorite activities around Maastricht are: the museums, the ENCI quarry, the Charles Eyckpark, Sint Pieter Fort, and a small town in Belgium called Kanne, which I often walked to for lunch.
What type of accommodation did you have? What did you like best about it?
I stayed in the UM Guesthouse (as most, if not all, CES students do), specifically in the P building with a double, meaning I had a roommate and a private kitchen. Other students staying in the C building would not have a roommate and have a shared communal kitchen with a locker and key to protect their own belongings.
On top of the kitchen, I had cooking supplies like pots, pans, plates, and more. There was also a bed with sheets, a dining table, a desk, lamps, shelves, and storage. I never felt my accommodations left me needing anything, though I bought extra blankets for myself. Showers and bathrooms were communal but cleaned often, and were very nice.
The UM Guesthouse was a decent walk to the city, but the CES staff helped students rent bikes, and there is a bus stop right outside the guesthouse that can take you anywhere you need to go. The local market, Brusselsepoort, is also just a short walk away.
What is one thing every future participant should know about your program before their program begins?
I understand that the weather in the Netherlands is known for its rain. Going in with this mindset, I was very pleasantly surprised to find that my time in Maastricht was filled with sunny, warm days. I visited in the spring, but even when it rained, it was much less intense than what I am used to back home, and I only experienced one thunderstorm in over 150 days of living there.
Another thing to note is that you should do everything you can to explore the city. Nearing the end of the program, we had a few big get-togethers with students from CES, and I heard many people say, "I never knew this place existed."
I truly believe that while studying abroad is great for traveling, Maastricht is such a beautiful city with numerous activities and places to explore.
View of Maastricht from the river.
Would you recommend CES Maastricht to others? Why?
I would definitely recommend CES to others. I believe CES is the ideal program for anyone eager to learn more about Europe. As I mentioned, I went partly to reconnect with my family's culture and roots, but I also think there were others in the CES program who wanted a broader experience of "Europe," specifically Western Europe.
I believe this program suits both types of people: CES coordinators help you fully immerse yourself in Dutch and, even more, in regional Limburgish culture and traditions, while also assisting others in traveling to different cities across Europe and discovering 'hidden gems' in other countries.
One of my favorite hidden gems was Mechelen, Belgium, a beautiful city rich in history and full of delicious food. The program also includes built-in trips, which is really great for anyone traveling on a tighter budget. The travel, the community it fosters, and the resources offered are truly unmatched.
What do you feel the biggest benefit of traveling abroad is?
The biggest benefit for me is significantly broadening my own worldview.
I am the kind of person who finds small cultural differences fascinating and could talk for hours about them, even with someone who is not far away. I enjoy doing this in the US too, where I discuss different ways of saying things (e.g., "coke," "pop," or "soft drink") and find funny sayings or expressions used in different areas. For example, I had no idea "bud/buddy" was such a big part of my vocabulary until I spoke with someone from the West Coast.
I believe studying abroad greatly enhances this and lets you learn so much about different places, not just through travel, but also through the people of Maastricht, who come from all kinds of backgrounds. Of course, there's no better way to learn about cultures than to travel, and if you choose CES, travel will be guaranteed part of your experience.
Skyline of Segovia, Spain
Now that you're home, how has your time abroad impacted your life?
I try very hard to continue doing all the things I loved so much abroad, such as walking around my city more, searching for more events to participate in back home, and continuing to learn and practice the culture of my host country.
Fortunately, I live in an area that is very proud of its European heritage, and so we have a number of festivals that feel similar to remind me of my time abroad. I also do a lot to continue talking to my friends from abroad. We talk nearly every day and try to call each other on weekends. I enjoyed my time so much that I am returning to Maastricht this summer for an internship with the university.
What does meaningful travel mean to you?
Meaningful travel, to me, is taking time to fully embrace the culture you are in and the history of the location. I don't think it requires extravagant locations or a long-term commitment, but doing everything you can to be fully present and learn as much as you can about the area is key to "meaningful travel."
What I mean by this is, don't expect to learn everything, try not to rush just to 'tick boxes' off a list, just go in and start learning, and let the world guide you. Whether you meet locals who have unique stories and facts about the area to share with you, or you meet other travelers who help you explore and learn more. I think that quality is much more important than quantity.
