Life Experiences in Holland Changed My Perspective
“You will never be completely at home again, because, part of your heart will always be elsewhere. That is the price you have to pay for the richness of loving and knowing people in more than one place.” — Miriam Adeney
I believe the moment people decide to live abroad, either for studying or working in a completely new country, starting writing a new chapter. In 2015, I was an exchange student in Netherland. Since it was the very first time I’ve ever been to Europe. It was a challenging year that completely changed my perspective of life.
You Only Live Once
The first thing that opened my eye is that Dutch are willing to show themselves and they really living in the moment. Especially in the events, you could see they enjoyed the happiness and atmosphere of the activities they joined.
And I strongly consider this quote has had passed on from generation to generation and it is deeply in their hearts.
According to my Dutch classmates had usually told me YOLO if they noticed that I was hesitating to do something. It changed my perspective that I used to believed I was thinking thoroughly, but it turned out that sometimes I was just irresolute or over thinking. If I always afraid of losing something then how could I have courage to embrace my dream?
Carpe diem!
Individualistic Culture
As a Taiwanese, I admit that we are collectivistic culture because we are interdependence by considering the needs and feelings of others. Therefore, I consider that is one of the reason we have had 24 hours convenience stores for people who work night shift and breakfast streets beside schools and business buildings for people to reach the first meal easily. However, Dutch are individualistic culture. They are self-reliance and quite independence. And I most said that it was the biggest culture shock I had during the time there. On the other hand, I had experienced a brand new lifestyle and gained meaningful and impactful experiences. I always saw people spent all day in the park, not using cellphone but having the enjoyment with family or friends. And if they want something they handmade all the time! There was once that I was too homesick and I made scallion pie by myself. I felt that I was so Dutch at that moment.
Living abroad is not only broadened my perspective of the world but even changed my perspective of life. If you have chance to live abroad for awhile, you definitely should go for it. You only live once, and that’s ok. You can never get it wrong.
