My name is Laura Wintjen and I am currently a senior at the College of Charleston. I was recently accepted to study abroad; the program is an exchange with the University of Groningen in Groningen, Netherlands. I chose to study here mainly because they offered the classes I needed as a senior Finance major, but also because the people here speak English incredibly well. The goals I set for myself…
Studying abroad isn’t always as glamorous as you’d expect. Things don’t just fall into place. People can be rude. People can be kind. Things will be tough, and you will be confused and sometimes you find it impossible to do ordinary things. Also, being the only American in my house of 12 Dutch roommates can be tough. Everyone is always watching what I do, what I eat, and what I’m…
Academically, things are very different in the Netherlands. You have much less class and a lot more individual studying. It is not ideal for procrastinators! You have to stay on your toes and keep up with the work. Finance is interesting because it is mostly numbers, so you might think it’s the same around the world, but the currency used is different, interest rates are different, and concepts are called…
Hello my name is Catherine Payne. I am a Double Major in Sociology and Anthropology with a Minor in Women’s and Gender Studies. I am in my 3rd year at CofC. This semester I am studying at the University of Groningen in Groningen, Netherlands. I chose this program because of the courses that the university offered. They offer a wide array of courses and the campus is stunning. The Netherlands…
During my first week of study abroad in Amsterdam, I was able to complete a lot of fun activities provided for us as a part of the program with the College of Charleston and our partner program, WorldStrides. One day we were able to take a bike tour through the city and explore all of the different monuments in a fun and exciting way that was less tiring and more…
One of the things that makes me most excited about my time abroad is the opportunities I have had to travel to so many different places. Travel within the EU is much easier (and cheaper) than in the US. I have been fortunate enough to go to 8 different countries, some multiple times, during just the short five months I have spent abroad, and plan to go to at least…
Hi! My name is Sydney Skipper and I am a Public Health Major and an upcoming Senior. I am studying abroad this summer in Amsterdam in the Netherlands through the Public Health Major at the College of Charleston. I chose this program mainly because it is through the College and it is also through my major. I am going to be taking classes specified to my major and that are…
One month into my study abroad in Groningen, The Netherlands, I had already been in three biking accidents, spent more money on food than I do in twice the amount of time, and had felt lonelier than I could have imagined. What I imagined to be an easy transition was instead one that was much more difficult. I had planned ahead, but things still slipped my mind. I haven’t ridden…
The Netherlands: a country known for many things, namely its flat lands, canals, and BIKES. Groningen, located in the north of the country and the capital of Groningen province, is a bustling student city with multiple universities, a great night life, and all the charm of your typical Dutch city with plenty of international students as well. Most importantly, however, at an average 1.3 bikes per person, Groningen is one…
Moving to Europe for 6 months is no small feat. There are bags to pack, flights to catch, and living accommodations to secure. If all of that weren’t enough, a completely different country means different cultures and customs you aren’t used to. Personally, I was expecting much more of a culture shock than I experienced when moving to the Netherlands. For the most part, life in Groningen, Netherlands is fairly…
