I hoped exchange would give me memories from places I had always wanted to see, but what I was not expecting was how grocery shopping or my bike rides to class would become memories I would treasure just as much. Somewhere between the mid day Kaneelbroodje trips, cooking together while hunting for flights in our cramped kitchens, and trips to the market for cheese I had convinced myself was a necessary expense, Maastricht became home. This was my everyday life for five months, and it was the best decision I have ever made.
Maastricht felt truly magical. With my bike, it felt like everything was within a 10 minute reach: campus, shops, cafés, patios, and even Belgium, where I biked weekly. There were fresh markets twice a week, restaurants lining the squares, and what felt like a café around every corner. During holidays like Carnival and King’s Day, the squares would be filled with parades and the whole city comes together to celebrate. The Dutch culture wasn't just apparent on holidays, the kindness and patience of the Dutch people reminded me of the sense of community I love at Â鶹¹ÙÍø’s. Maastricht was small enough to feel at home, but has somewhere new to explore, whether that meant a new patio or a quiet bike ride through the historic forts. Before I knew it, I had favourite study spots, little routines, and amazing people to share them with.
changed the way I understood learning. Rather than sitting in large lectures listening for hours, we learned in groups of 5-10, with a tutor guiding our discussions and constant student collaboration which made it so easy to meet people in class. Through Problem-Based Learning and student-led facilitation, we took responsibility for asking questions, contributing ideas, and finding creative ways to help one another.
Alongside two classes each period, we took required skills courses; debate, international negotiation, and presentation skills quickly became my favorite classes. I loved meeting students with different academic interests and developing skills together that would serve us wherever we end up. That community feel extended beyond class, with students playing guitars they took off the wall or sitting along the outside wall chatting during breaks. I found myself staying on campus even when I didn’t have class.
My advice for anyone considering exchange would be to not go abroad just to see somewhere new. Allow yourself to be changed by the people you meet, the perspectives you hear, and the experiences that challenge what you thought you knew.
By the time I boarded my flight home, it was the combination of mourning the best 5 months of my life and the immense gratitude that brought me to tears. I was leaving with new best friends from across the globe, memories from 19 countries, 1000 shared photo albums and more confidence in myself than I had ever had. Exhausted, filled with love and tears streaming down my face, desperately hoping no one would weigh my overweight carry-on, I had never felt more like myself.
Zoe's Photos
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