Advice for my younger self… hope she reads it!
General life tips… And some move countries tips
It is not like I have some exceptional experience in comparison to everyone else out there, who’s decided to move to another country to study. Nor do I claim some kind of extraordinary knowledge.
Though, looking back — there are things I would like to share with my younger self. Until someone comes up with a time-machine, that would be rather impossible.
I can, however, share this with you, and hope that maybe it helps one person to feel better or make a better decision. Or if nothing else: feel free to wonder how could have I done what I did.
With no further due, here are the 10 things that I want to tell to my younger self about moving to study abroad:
1. Your baggage comes with you wherever you go
Now, I do not mean some metaphysical load (though, that would be true as well — it is not like your personal problems, if you had any at home, would magically dissolve).
What I am saying is, very literally, everything you take with you, weighs. What I did a number of times, was to lug around clothes I never actually wore; toiletries, which I would have been better off buying at my destination rather than maxing up my liquids allowance. I know it feels more comforting moving countries like a snail — with your house on your back. That is rather impractical, really.
If there is something you can buy much cheaper back home — or you are certain that some crucial for your lifestyle product won’t be available in the Netherlands: by all means, take it with you. For everything else, there are cheap options here (or at least, works out much cheaper, when you also calculate the airlines extra costs).
2. You cannot turn time back (duh…)
I spent my undergraduate degree juggling a part-time job (sometimes several), studying and as much of social life as I could salvage. My memories of that time revolve around a handful of (quiet) nights out, and a lot of work. Which did not result in my dream academic record (took me a while to get over that one!).
It is really a good idea to plan out your time. I have often wished for 48h days and until this happens, it is best not to overwhelm yourself with parties, studying or work — whichever one is your pet pieve.
Just plan it out, it makes life not more stressful but more productive and happier. And defy the tardy monster in you.
3. Do not isolate yourself from the country you are in
It is so easy — fun — to surround yourself with other exchange students! They understand you, you can all speak in English without feeling guilty (that you might not have learned Dutch), and you can all together laugh about the peculiarities (which you will later fall in love with and find totally normal!) of your newly found homeland (for the duration of your degree at least). It is all great fun, truly.
Do not ever forget, though, that you are in a country with a rich culture, full of people who are eager to chat, are smart and curious, and can let you in on the little secrets of Leiden and beyond.
I feel like it could be a mistake to bubble yourself into an international (or your home-country’s) world and forget to reach out to the local culture (and if you can choose, you are a lucky one!).
4. Start learning Dutch as soon as you can
…even if you are not planning on sticking around when you graduate.
For me, life somehow proves to always be… unpredictable. One way or anther, I always find myself surprised with what I end up doing or where I end up living. I came to the Netherlands in 2014, with the clear plan to leave after one academic year…. I am still here, and have no plans to go away any time soon.
And I know only the basics of the language. I (and many fellow bloggers) have covered this topic extensively. It is your choice (obviously), and it takes precious time and effort. But you can only be pleasantly surprised by what doors a new language can open for you.
5. Research accommodation like you did for university (tenaciously)
Where you live — the location and your flatmates — might very well determine how happy you are in a new country, and even how well you perform at school.
I have lived in places where it was impossible to focus on anything productive — and have had great fun. I cannot say it is great waking up in the morning for class (nor that I was truly awake for some). But also you might not want to be encapsulated in dead silence, with no one to talk to, for days on end.
The choice of the environment depends on your character and personality — and what you want form your new home — but do make sure you are clear with what you want well before you move. It can save you so much stress when you are moving in, and also later on in the year — as you will be happy with whatever choice you made for housing.
6. Always keep your focus
…on why you are studying what you are studying. Not to sound weird but even in your first year there are choices that you make, which will influence you when you graduate.
Back when I was a fresher, I never took part in anything that truly interested me (I don’t only mean student societies. Or trips around the country. Museum visits. Whatever it is for you) — because I had very poor time management, and not enough motivation.
7. Keep your files in check
This is something I have learned through my work and also — through futile multi-hour search for undiscoverable articles or notes which I am so sure I have somewhere…
I have moved more times than I can count, and only a small fraction of my paper files are still with me. And it is not the most relevant selection of them…
Do not get me started on the file organisation that I used to have on my personal laptop. Even the search tool would not find what I looked for.
Make a system and make it a habit. That way not only do you learn better but also you will have access to relevant articles and notes later on.
One particular piece of advice I can give you is to download all your course documents (like bibliographies and reading lists) from blackboard, and store them so that you can later find them, and not hastily have to do that a week or two before an important exam or paper. I so much wish I had started doing it years ago!
And a lesson from last night: make backups of all important files.
8. If you can, go travelling!
And especially, around the Netherlands. The beaches are beautiful even though (technically) there are no many mountains. And there are so many places to discover just a train/bike ride away. It can brighten up even a rainy weekend if you pick up your study materials and head over to a new place to study. Or head over to Groningen, and finish a paper while on the train, there are so much less distractions that way! (tip: check the NS website beforehand…. You do not want to be stuck with 10+ transfers on the way, if there are road works!)
Try to visit as many places abroad as you wish — and can. I had the chance to go around lots of places, yet I wish I had done some more exploring.
9. Surround yourself with new great friends
Make friends, who make you be a better version of yourself — this might sound like a cliché but that does not make it less true. The living abroad ride is not made easier if you do not have people to rely on in your new home. Skype is great, and you should by all means keep in contact with people who matter to you.
But do not forget to attend campus events, and just generally be out there: you can learn so much, and make a new circle of friends here.
10. And well, do not forget to appreciate what you have
At some point in time, you dedicated yourself to studying abroad — and you made it! Do not start taking it as granted, appreciate it. You never know when you will have to leave, and it is easy to just follow your daily routine. I can tell you for a fact that even if you cannot wait to leave, there will be things you will miss when you do. So make sure to take it all in!
Cardiff city hall — the city I did my undergraduate degree. And my favourite park to go to. Yet, I didn’t go there nearly as often as I should have:)
Final words
I hope that maybe some of those points resonate with you. Everyone is unique, and life is different for all of us. But there are some shared experiences too — and occasionally, it can be nice to learn from others.
