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A political science student's study abroad experience in Amsterdam
In August of 2023, I was fortunate enough to set out on the journey of a lifetime when I moved across the world to study at the University of Amsterdam in Amsterdam, Netherlands, where I would live until December of 2023.
At first, I was petrified, being thousands of kilometres away from home, I didn鈥檛 know what to expect or if I was able to adjust to my new - albeit temporary 鈥� life. Fortunately, this fear quickly turned into excitement and joy as I calibrated to Dutch-living. The Netherlands is very unique in that none of the universities there have on-campus housing, rather the school rents out spaces in different apartments around the city. I had the fantastic luck of securing an apartment in the centre of the city after entering the university鈥檚 housing lottery system, so I was never far from the bright lights of Dam Square, the Red Light District, and the fascinating Rijksmuseum. There is always something happening in this culturally and historically rich city.
The building I was living in was full of other nervous international students eager to meet new people. My neighbours in the Kattenburgerplein-Bijltjespad building where I lived became my closest friends. We would often travel around together, prompting me to get out of my comfort zone and explore new countries and cities of which I am very thankful. I went to Bruges, Ghent, Paris, Rotterdam, the Hague, Utrecht, and even Munich during the Oktoberfest festival. I had dreamed of seeing the Parisian lights in person since I was a little girl in French Immersion, making that experience a true highlight of my exchange.
None of the invaluable experiences I had would have been possible without the power of study abroad. I can confidently say that this experience was easily the highlight of my university career and a fantastic opportunity for enrichment, adventure, and knowledge.
At first, I was very intimidated by studying at a new post-secondary institution. Up until this point, my only university experience was here at SFU, so I was anxious to see what UVA (Universiteit Van Amsterdam) had in store for me. While I had picked up a few Dutch phrases on Duolingo, it was a big relief that all my classes were taught in English seeing as my Dutch was very limited.
Most locals in Amsterdam speak excellent English, so I never had to worry about not being able to communicate. While UVA was very different from SFU in many respects 鈥� For example, UVA has multiple bike garages across their campuses, the main Roeterseiland campus where I had most of my campuses was built on the canal system, and a very different architectural style, what both schools have in common is community and a dedication to seeing their students succeed.
From Belgium, to Australia, to Ecuador, to Thailand, I am happy to say I now have friends all around the world. The relationships I formed during my study abroad experience were priceless. We continue to regularly chat and keep in touch, despite living so far from each other. When we meet again, we will always have a space in our homes and hearts for one another.
Living in North America for my whole life up until this point, I was used to a car-centric existence where I must drive to access something as fundamental as a grocery store. I was blown away by how bike-friendly the city really is. Virtually anything I needed was within a 10-minute bike ride away, making it a very accessible city for foreigners like myself who did not have access to a car. I became an excellent cyclist in my five months in the city, with my bike being my primary mode of transportation. Just don鈥檛 walk in the red bike lanes, locals hate that.
Coming back to Canada, I realized how few SFU鈥檚 students are truly aware of the study abroad opportunities that our school offers. Many students I have talked with were completely unaware of the various school鈥檚 SFU has partnered with for exchanges, as well as the various field schools that also exist. None of the invaluable experiences I had would have been possible without the power of study abroad. I hope that by sharing my experience, more students will be influenced to take a risk and study in an international setting. As I approach graduation in the spring, I can confidently say that this experience was easily the highlight of my university career and a fantastic opportunity for enrichment, adventure, and knowledge.
About the Author
Anika Darts is finishing the final semester of her undergraduate degree here at 尤物视频 where she is set to graduate with her bachelor of arts in Political Science. She currently works as a policy analyst for the Canadian federal government. In her spare time, she can be found playing with her dog, Leif, practicing yoga, and crocheting.