What inspired you to go abroad?
To be honest, I can't quite quantify what exactly the catalyst was for my desire to go abroad. Ever since I was young, I have always been intrigued about other countries, and I long to visit them to this day. When college came, I knew I needed to study abroad. CES Maastricht checked all the boxes as far as relatively affordable, ease of travel, various courses to choose from, and supportive staff.
Why did you choose CES Maastricht?
I chose CES Maastricht simply because it was the best fit for me. The program was centrally located in Europe, making it a culturally diverse location and easily accessible to various parts of the continent. The CES program had a good mix of classes with American students, other international students, and full-time UM students. This introduced me to lifelong friendships with others of different citizenship and origin, something I greatly value. Further, I was able to take courses outside of my major and main field of study.
What was your favorite part about your host country/city?
I'm not really a favorites person. In general, I liked how organized and industrious the Netherlands is. It made transitioning into life in a foreign country much easier than it could have been. Specific examples include easy train systems, bike lanes, reliable public transportation, friendly locals, and my cards being accepted in most circumstances.
What made your experience abroad extraordinary?
There is not one particular thing that made the experience extraordinary. It is more of a culmination of various things, the most poignant being the connections and relationships I established. Further, I learned that traveling internationally is not necessarily as expensive and unattainable as American culture makes it out to be. In fact, there are plenty of ways to make it not so, as I learned during my experience.
How did local staff support you throughout your program?
The support of the staff was one of the most helpful things about the program. The staff maintained a balance of guiding us on our own paths without being overly involved or condescending, as I believe is more common in American university culture. Apart from the initial coursework meetings prior to the start of exchange, guiding us through orientation, and initially checking in/taking us on trips, the relationship with the staff was more on our terms. They made themselves available to us, and we could nurture the relationship as we saw fit and made it our own.
What's one thing you wish you would have done differently during your time abroad?
I had a lot of pre-determined ideas of both who I was supposed to be and what the experience was supposed to look like. I tend to be an idealistic person who lets their previously imaged expectations get in the way. I also wish I was more impulsive and spent less time in my room being anxious. I also wish I had forced myself to adjust to the time zone change more and woke up earlier.
Describe what a typical day in your life abroad looked like.
A typical day went one of two ways: on a school day, most of my day was devoted to coursework, biking to and from class, and classtime. I still made time to work out- usually a brisk walk or bike ride- and having dinner or grabbing a treat or meal out. Sometimes, we would go to pub trivia after classes. If it was a weekend, I was usually spending most of the day out exploring or on a side trip.
What did you enjoy doing during your free time abroad?
My free time was spent either exploring with my camera and bike solo or doing so with friends. Maastricht is a lively university town and there is always plenty to do. I frequented trying different cafes to switch things up. I also spent a lot of time relaxing back at the guesthouse with my flatmates. We cooked meals and took up crafting together. I also went to yoga class while I was abroad which was beneficial in many ways, mostly maintaining peace with my mind and body.
What type of accommodation did you have? What did you like best about it?
I lived in a shared apartment during my time abroad. I had my own bedroom and a shared bathing, kitchen, and living space. There was an option to have my own bathroom and kitchen but I am glad I chose the shared option as it helped me socialize more and make new friends. It was especially important as I met lots of international companions this way. There was also a tennis court, courtyard, picnic tables, workspaces, and a cafe all in the same building area.
What is one thing every future participant should know about your program before their program begins?
One thing to know is that this experience will fundamentally change you. Though I am still technically the same person, I would have never reached my fullest potential if I had not studied abroad. I no longer quite feel at home in the states, nor did I feel completely at home in the Netherlands. There is also an element of discomfort I feel when I interact with those who have not had this experience, as they do not know what they are missing. I feel almost envious of them at times because they do not experience this constant feeling of wanderlust. If you are not ready to experience discomfort, do not study abroad. However, I believe experiencing some level of discomfort on purpose is worth doing, as it was for me.
Would you recommend your program/provider to others? Why?
In short, yes. If you want to study outside of what you know, meet people of all different backgrounds, and evolve into a new person, then yes. If you want adequate space to grow and make your own adventure but still have help available at your discretion, this would be a good program for you. Please note that the coursework was challenging for me and is generally heavier than the courses I took in the states, though this is relative.
What do you feel the biggest benefit of traveling abroad is?
The biggest benefit is something I'm still having trouble putting into words. It's more of a feeling that doesn't have a name that stays with you. If I had to sum it up, I would say that the biggest benefit is knowing how to adapt and be uncomfortable. Many times, circumstances did not go my way, but I learned to press on and make the most of the less than ideal situation.
Now that you're home, how has your time abroad impacted your life?
As I said before, I almost feel envious of those who are not caught between two places, but at the same time I feel sad for them. I find it hard to imagine my life without the component of going abroad, as this is the number one circumstance that has shaped my life thus far. I simultaneously feel pulled between multiple places, and it is as if I become slightly different variations of myself depending on where I am.
What does meaningful travel mean to you?
Meaningful travel is really what you make it. The most meaningful travel experiences I have had are when I am alone. Though there is value in traveling with friends and family, I believe traveling alone among the best thing you can do for yourself as a woman. This will give you the freedom to make the trip your own. Talk with locals and go at your own pace. People love to talk about slow travel or packing in as much as possible. I find trips most meaningful when I do both.
