I will live in the Netherlands one day January 12, 2023
By Philip B (Psychology, Brandeis University) - abroad from 08/20/2022 to 12/23/2022 with
Maastricht University: Center for European Studies, Semester Programmes
To put it briefly, I learned so much about myself that I would not have learned at home. This experience was certainly worthwhile and something I am ever-thankful for choosing.
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 1 month - 6 months |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
I really did not like the Problem-Based Learning (PBL) format of the classes. However, most (3/5) of my classes did not use a PBL format. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
There were mice that the Guest House did not do anything about, and they even blamed students to an extent. |
| * Food: |
Not in a dining hall, but the food options were great! |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
Did not experience any problems requiring a professional (e.g., doctor) |
| * Safety: |
It was fascinating how safe I felt in Maastricht--it's a very quiet place, and you rarely hear sirens. However, I am a white male so this advice should not apply to POC/women--I knew a few Asian women who felt uncomfortable around the locals. |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
No
Although I thoroughly loved the people I met and Maastricht, I found Maastricht University's PBL program to be frustrating and futile. |
Finances
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* Money: How easily were you able to live on a student's budget?
(1 = not very easy/$200+ on food & personal expenses/week, 2.5 = $100/week, 5 = very easily/minimal cost) |
Even though the Netherlands is more expensive than many parts of Europe, the prices for groceries/shopping are exceptionally lower than that of the US nonetheless |
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | Around 100 EUR |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Albert Heijn is more expensive, but people seemed to like it a lot. I did not go there often because they only took Maestro cards (I used Visa and MasterCard), so I had to pay in cash when I went there. |
Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | Yes |
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How much did the program encourage you to use the language?
0 = No encouragement, 5 = frequent encouragement to use the language |
So many people in Maastricht speak English that practicing Dutch is hard because they often resort to English if they know you're not Dutch-speaking. |
| How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? | None |
| How would you rate your language skills at the end of the program? | Beginner |
| What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? | Beginner |
| How many hours per day did you use the language? | 0 |
| Do you have any tips/advice on the best ways to practice the language for future study abroad participants? | To be honest, you will learn Dutch passively (e.g., walking through the grocery store and learning the words for chicken). Since English is so prevalent, you do not really need to know how to speak Dutch, other than some phrases. The Google Translate camera is really useful as well. |
Direct Enrollment/Exchange
| * Did you study abroad through an exchange program or did you directly enroll in the foreign university? | Exchange |
Other Program Information
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* Where did you live?
Select all that apply |
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* Who did you live with?
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* Who did you take classes with?
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| About how many local friends did you make that you will likely keep in touch with? | 10+ |
A Look Back
| * What did you like most about the program? |
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| * What could be improved? |
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| * What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? | This is niche but important -- DO NOT BECOME A MEMBER AT il fiore Maastricht (it's a local gym near the Guesthouse): they are continuing to bill me and even threaten legal action despite the termination of my membership. While the gym facility is excellent, their business practices are shady and dishonest. I left a review on their Google Maps location, FYI. |
Reasons For Studying Abroad
| To help future students find programs attended by like-minded individuals, please choose the profile that most closely represents you. |
The Avid AdventurerThe wardrobe you packed was better suited for a semester of camping than club hopping. Outdoorsy, you might forgo a crazy night out for an early all-day adventure. You'd rather take in the rich culture of an old town than the metropolis of a modern city, but for you getting off the grid is ideal. |
