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…
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…
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…
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…
Name: Lydia Klumb Majors: Psychology and Marine Biology Year in School: Sophomore Host Institution: University of Groningen in Groningen, Netherlands Why did you choose your program: I knew I wanted to go somewhere in Europe where I could travel easily, and wanted to push myself outside of my comfort zone by going to a country where English isn’t the official language. The Netherlands meets both of those requirements, along with…
Groningen was a place I will cherish forever, and will be returning to visit as soon as life allows. A big hardship of leaving Groningen was knowing my friends and family would not be able to visit and experience the city like I was. As my father’s mother was born there, it was especially disappointing that he could not visit, and meet his cousins who lived there that I had…
Studying abroad in Groningen, the Netherlands was an experience I’ll cherish forever. I’ve had the intention of studying abroad before I was even in college, and Groningen stood out to me as the perfect fit for where I wanted to go. Groningen is a small town in the Netherlands, about two hours by train from Amsterdam, filled with more college students and foreigners than otherwise. Getting everything sorted for school,…
My favorite food that I have tried abroad is the famous kroket. The Dutch are known for their fried food. The kroket is usually filled with mashed potatoes and meat of some sort and then fried. They have many foods like this in windows on the street, which you can put change in – like a vending machine for fried food! It draws large crowds for college kids late at…
