ERASMUS STUDIES 2012/2013
Student`s info:
Name: Kristaps
Last name:Meiers
Age: 21
Gender: Male
Home Institution: Rīgas Juridiskā augstskola (LV RIGA34)
Country of Home Institution: Latvia
Host Institution: Vrije University of Amsterdam
Subject Area: Law
Length of Study Period: One semester
Student`s story and pictures:
I had a wonderful chance to live and study abroad for one semester in the
Netherlands, Amsterdam. There are a lot of reasons why I decided to apply for this
exchange program but the core in a broader sense to my decision making was firstly
international experience and secondly the life on the “other side of the curtain”. One
thing that was most appealing about my destination was the Erasmus support group
by which I mean there was a student organization and a great program set out for
incoming international students which helped to start their journeys. During my stay
they organized a lot of events that helped in the first parts of communication and
getting to know each other. Just as an example I could mention one of the trips to
classical Dutch village that I had pleasure to join.
Trip to Volendam
In short the organizational skills of receiving university were amazing together with
locals who were very welcoming and supportive.
Having so many possibilities and so much support gives you a bigger control over
your experience. The study process was great. It was all balanced out and although
you had to study hard it never felt like too much in combination with your personal
activities outside of university. Professors were always well prepared and delivered at
their top performance. At least if felt like that.
Having this very well organized study process added even more to your control over
your experience. Managing your free time becomes even easier. What helped even
more was the location of study campus where I lived. Firstly it was a great place to
live in with around 4000 students around you and secondly it was not too far from
university and a bike ride from city center although a tram or a metro is also a good
way to travel. I want to point out that this is another interesting topic to mention
which is unique in Netherlands. Traveling by bike in your daily life is a whole new
experience. The point that I want to make here is that overall there are a lot of these
small things and details that add to your experience. When taking this trip I did not
make many expectations but the ones I had in the back of my mind were not even
close to what I experience. This is definitely a life changing experience. Some may
even call it an eye opening experience which definitely depends on the individual. All
in all it is a challenging trip. I am not afraid to say that it was a life changing
experience for me. This is not a challenge only for you, this is challenge for your
family, friends and everyone else that is together with you on this trip both at home
and next to you in your student dorms or university.
Queens Day – historical event that happened during my stay because of crowning of
the new king, next year it will be Kings Day
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