Go International with Howest - Incoming, International Student Testimonies

Go International with Howest Incoming, International Student Testimonies

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This unforgettable experience gave me the opportunity to grow professionally as well as personally.

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I always wanted to go on an exchange semester to Belgium and I never doubted it even when the Corona crisis became present in Europe. And I am grateful that I made this decision because despite some restrictions such as some online lectures, limited travel options and closed bars, my time in Belgium was unforgettable. That thanks to the special people from all over the world that became true friends. In the student dorm “The Wing” in Kortrijk we made great memories. In addition to that, I really enjoyed my courses at Howest and the practical way of teaching us knowledge. I had the opportunity to learn a lot not only professionally but also personally, to get out of my comfort zone and be more confident.

I really recommend anyone to study abroad and to live this once-in-a-lifetime experience.

- Sophie (Austria)

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I had heard about Howest DAE before, mainly from classmates as I follow them on their social media. But I never imagined that I would have that opportunity and get to have this experience as I had already chosen my study program in a different university. Until one day when I discussed it with a classmate and we thought, maybe we could go together on exchange. Then of course the first thing we check was this university and the rest was history! Our dream came true.

Another university, different studies, different country and people – I was drawn to do it. I found it very nice that Howest use a different system which would broaden my experience and at the same time it would be a bigger challenge to me. But It was one of those decisions you have the opportunity to take once in a lifetime! We were brave enough to jump together and go on an exchange, and on top of that, it was during the COVID challenge. And you can see it on our faces, It was by far one of the greatest experiences ever!

We had great local buddies that met us with a lot of other students. They took care of us during the whole exchange and they made the experience less stressful for us. The teachers are awesome, very friendly and are so passionate about their courses, up to the point they transferred their passion to us.

It was a pleasure to share such energy in a great environment. I know we could feel it mainly through the screens and I can only wonder what the full DAE experience would have been if there were not a global pandemic. This means one thing, I must come again and see it for myself. (A second bachelor does not sound that far away after all.)

- Viktoria (The Netherlands/Bulgaria)

GO INTERNATIONAL WITH HOWEST! It’s definitely a weird time (due to corona) to go abroad, but I couldn’t be more grateful and happy that I still went. I will never forget this half year that I spent in Bruges.

We all know that this could have been a lot different if it wasn’t because of this pandemic, but we also know that we still enjoyed every bit that we were here. Despite all, this has been a true, but good, rollercoaster.

I met amazing people that are now part of my family. I’m sure that when everything calms down and when it’s possible, we will visit each other. It was mainly because of these people that I had the most amazing months. These people helped me to get through this weird time, we helped each other. We all needed each other. It was the right time for us, and we didn’t even realize it. We were lucky enough to have met each other, that’s all I can say.

We tried to enjoy the little that we had. We tried to do the best that we could. Enjoy every second of everyday. Enjoy the little moments. Enjoy the present. We had each other and I couldn’t be more grateful.

This was exactly what I needed. I grew up because of this experience. I learned a lot about myself but also about everything around me.

I’m really thankful for my experience, not only in Bruges, but also in Howest. I really appreciate everything they did, so that, despite everything, we could have the best months here, and we did. Somehow, they made it through. They were always supportive. They had creative ideas and activities to keep us motivated and to still enjoy our experience.

- Laura (Portugal)

GO INTERNATIONAL WITH HOWEST! Maybe it was not the semester that we expected but I'm sure we all learned to enjoy the little things and live in the present.

During this bizarre experience, I learned to value my health, my friends, to get out of my comfort zone, to grow as a person and above all to be resilient.

I had the opportunity to meet people from other countries that are now part of my family. I am sure we will see each other again; a friend from an international program will be a friend for life.

Many thanks to all Howest staff members, especially the teachers who played an important role in rethinking how we could continue to learn despite the limitations. Also, to my buddies, who made my stay more pleasant and enjoyable.

Today I dare say that I am more prepared, not only to go out into the world but also to face the challenges that stand in the way.

I will definitely always remember this experience!

- Eduardo (Mexico)

GO INTERNATIONAL WITH HOWEST! Where are you going? What is Kortrijk? Are you crazy?

These were the questions that my friends and me asked before coming here. I didn’t even know where I was going, but I was sure that it was going to be a really good year. First of all, I thought I was going to the French-speaking part of Belgium, I was so wrong. I came here and I was listening a language that was really different and difficult for me. Well done, Javier, you have gone to a place you have no idea about. The first semester started well, but I was focused on my new Spanish friends and was not really open to international people. Then I started to realise that I was missing out on many things by doing that so I started to open up to all the internationals. At this moment, I can say that if you go abroad you should open your mind. I am going back to my home country with a lot of new friends from a lot of different nationalities.

- Javier (Spain)

GO INTERNATIONAL WITH HOWEST! My first semester in Kortrijk was one of the best experiences of my life. I had the opportunity to meet great people from all over the world. But I was also able to discover myself. I learned to be independent living alone and to integrate, to accept other people's differences as well as my own. I was also able to visit neighboring countries such as Germany and Austria but also to discover more about Belgium. And all of this at low prices.

These 5 months have allowed my friends and I to create unbreakable bonds. I hope to see them again as soon as possible and I'm sure I'll see them again because what we lived through was wonderful and unforgettable. I am now starting a second semester at Howest and I'm sure it will be just as wonderful as the first one.

- Oriane (France)

GO INTERNATIONAL WITH HOWEST! At the beginning, I wanted to do my exchange semester in Taiwan, but because of covid-19 my mother wanted me to stay in Europe. So, my second option was Belgium (Campus Bruges). I was a little bit disappointed to not be able to go Taiwan, but I found my time at Howest Bruges really interesting and better than expected. Despite being in Belgium, I had the opportunity to continue learning Mandarin and do Calligraphy with “Confuciusinstituut Howest,” a community in partnership with Howest Bruges.

All of the international team really did their best to adapt to the current situation and even if we couldn’t meet each other in person and do many things, they took a lot of time to help us by sending important information and keeping us informed by emails. They even organized online activities and many little events where they gave us free food like waffles, beer, chips/crisps, chocolate.

I am really grateful to all the team, my buddy and everybody involved for everything they did for us!

I also had the opportunity to meet new people from different countries (Austria, Italy, Morocco, Portugal, Venezuela, Germany, Finland, Lithuania) and discover cultures with international and local friends. I finally was able to see the snow in person for the first time in my life.

It was a really great experience that I will never forget!!

- Anaïs (France/Madagascar)

GO INTERNATIONAL WITH HOWEST! Even though going on an exchange semester during Corona proved to be quite complicated, I absolutely loved my time at Howest. The DAE study programme is amazing and taught me an incredible amount for the short time I was there. It was quite a lot of work at times but considering the limitations that we had due to corona I was really happy to have such a good use for my time.

Unfortunately, we could not have in-person classes, but I think the school did a really great job at providing everything in an online format. I was also very fortunate to live in a dorm throughout my stay and so I thankfully was able to meet lots of amazing people even without in-person classes.

This is the second time I spent a Semester abroad and I would recommend it to anyone that is interested! Meeting people from all over the world and discovering a different environment than you are used to is an asbolutly amazing experience.

- Johannes (Austria/Switzerland/Germany)

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I really enjoyed my studies at Howest. I like that we had a lot of discussions in class and guest speakers who are experts in their field. I also made a lot of new friends and we are still keeping in touch after the end of semester via video chat. I also enjoyed field trips to Ghent to see companies and that we were able to collaborate and develop a project in a real-life situation for real working businesses. The Orientation Week was spectacular and very fun. We visited Bruges, Ghent, and had a nice bike tour around Kortrijk. I hope to visit Belgium, Kortrijk some other time again.

- Diãna (Lithuania/Latvia)

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While it has been stressful with the classes and the Covid pandemic complicated a lot, my exchange studies will still be a time that I always remember fondly. I have learned a lot, developed as a person, met new people and made friends. Thanks to everyone that made my time in Kortrijk the wonderful experience it was.

- Franz (Sweden)

GO INTERNATIONAL WITH HOWEST! One of my priorities at the moment is to gain international experience that will allow me to invest in my professional skills, which will help me become a qualified specialist. Network infrastructure is currently a rapidly growing field of application that is useful in almost all areas. Getting an education in one of the innovative universities that offers close cooperation with the fields of industry, business and social profit is also an excellent opportunity to gain practical skills and experience. Also, the presence of various accreditations and memberships makes my choice one hundred percent. I am sure that this program will help me fully realize myself in my future field.

In addition, it was a great chance to learn about the culture of Belgium and the diversity of different cultures United by one program. Belgium interested me with its bilingual atmosphere and architecture of buildings that have been preserved for many years in Kortrijk.

And to be honest, I have found a lot of friends and mentors to whom I am very grateful.

- Temirlan (Kazakhstan)

GO INTERNATIONAL WITH HOWEST! Thank you for making me feel welcome and at home.

Being here showed me that there are no limits, and that boundaries don't exist.

I found a perfect family, one really different and weird but perfect. They showed me that distance means nothing. In them, I found the best gift ever, a piece of the world.

- Elisa (Mexico)

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I will forever remember my time at Howest. The Creative Communication Project semester I studied at their Kortrijk campus was simply wonderful. I truly enjoyed my courses, learned a lot, and had plenty of opportunities to put theory and skills into practice.

I also met a beautiful bunch of new people, many of whom I became really close friends with. From being nervous with me for biking in a city for the first time to movie and board game nights and cooking experiments to discovering what Belgium has to offer, I am truly grateful to have had the opportunity to connect with them. I am sure our friendship will endure.

Confucius once wrote: “Wherever you go, go with all your heart.” If you decide to come to Howest, I must urge you to follow his advice. If you do, it’s a guaranteed once-in-a-lifetime experience.

- Azucena (Mexico)

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I was very undecided whether to leave Italy or not in this hard and uncertain (corona) situation. Thanks to Howest's reassurances and its way of involving us all with all the initiatives for the international students, I decided to throw myself into this adventure without overthinking. After 5 months, I’m very proud about how I dealt with all the problems of this pandemic era, almost always with positivity. But I’m quite sure that I did it thanks to the people I met: the other Erasmus guys, my teachers and administrative officers, my roommates, the Belgian students. Without this big family, I think I would not have not enjoyed my time in Belgium. During my experience, I understood the importance of people, of friendship and I’m glad of that: before leaving I took this for granted.

Also, I really felt at home in Bruges: it’s a city with a magic atmosphere, an elegant beauty and a lot of hidden places to get lost in. I found some special places in which I could relax: a new comfort zone.

So I just have to thank everyone who worked to make my time special, because, despite the situation, I’ll always remember my time in Belgium as one of the hardest and at the same time most special of my life.

- Alessandra (Italy)

GO INTERNATIONAL WITH HOWEST! I would describe my semester at Howest as fun, interesting and definitely recommendable.

Due to the ongoing COVID-pandemic I wasn’t sure if it was a good decision to take part at an Erasmus-exchange before my arrival in Bruges, but I must confess that I didn’t regret it a single time!

The staff members and lecturers at Howest did their best to make sure that everybody enjoyed their semester. From online group meetings, personal talks to the buddy-programme, everybody had the opportunity to join the Howest international community. Especially interesting, I found the study content of my programme “Migration and Refugees”. I enjoyed that the lecturers were so passionate about their modules and as our group was very small, we got deep insight into the topics and had a very friendly and caring relationship with our lecturers.

In my free time, I enjoyed spending time with international and Belgian students as well as going for a walk or a bike ride at or around Bruges. Bruges is definitely a must-see in Belgium!

On my way back to Germany, I take along with me international friends from all over Europe, who I hopefully will be able visit once the pandemic will get better; the experience of a way of teaching, which is very different to the one I experienced in Germany and a broad knowledge about migrants and refugees.

- Johanna (Germany)

GO INTERNATIONAL WITH HOWEST! Hello ! My name is Hélène and I come from Wallonia. My Erasmus in Kortrijk was really important to me! I saw this experience as a real opportunity to improve my level of Dutch and also to learn how to live alone in an environment I don't know.

At the beginning, I was a little bit afraid: afraid of not understanding, not being able to express myself, not being able to manage on my own. But once I got there, this fear left and made way for a desire to discover and learn. As soon as you arrive, the whole Howest team welcomes you and puts you at ease. They give you lots of advice, introduce you to the Howest community and are always there for you if you need them.

I did my Erasmus in my own country and despite this; I could discover my country in a different way. I liked being part of Flanders and developing my level in Dutch.

Howest is very connected and I could discover modern infrastructure and new teaching methods. Moreover, the subjects learned are very focused on the chosen option. The teachers are always willing to listen to you and are always there if you have any questions. At Howest, I could make friends who helped me adapt and who were there for me. I thank them with all my heart.

This year has been a bit complicated with the corona crisis but even during this difficult time, Howest was there to encourage and support us. I would recommend to all students who want to discover new things and get a change of atmosphere, in their own country or abroad, to take part in an Erasmus programme! Thank you for everything!

- Hélène (Wallonia, Belgium)

GO INTERNATIONAL WITH HOWEST! Being able to go to this Erasmus exchange at Howest DAE was an amazing experience! I met people from all around the world and had so much fun with them!

The school is stunning, such an amazing building and teachers that I didn't want to go back home.

Unfortunately, my exchange was during the Corona crisis, so I just spent one month and a half instead of five months and it really broke my heart... But I was impressed about how the school managed to do everything online in such a short amount of time! Even though I was really sad about the situation, I learned a lot of things, the teachers supported us and my classmates kept in touch with me online even if we barely knew each other. I definitely don't regret it!

- Alisé (France)

GO INTERNATIONAL WITH HOWEST! As a master student in Sustainable Energy System Management, I have had the opportunity to choose the specialisation semester between Spain (University of Zaragoza) - Sustainable Energy Management, The Netherlands (Hanze UAS) - Sustainable Innovation Management, and Belgium (Howest UAS) - Sustainable Energy and ICT. I chose Howest for my specialisation due to the Energy ICT courses such as Big Data & Internet of Things, Artificial Intelligence & Machine Learning and Blockchain & Security.

By following these courses, among other things, I broadened my knowledge and understanding of current trends occurring in the Energy ICT sector. Likewise, students following these courses have all been introduced and encouraged to learn and use Python programming language for Data Analysis. To sum up, this specialisation was the best possible choice and I would definitely recommend to other students to follow it.

Moreover, the specialisation should not be considered as main driver for choosing Howest for your study semester. Student life is about so much more than just preparing you for lifetime of achievement. During your time in Howest, Kortrijk, you will get to experience everything the city has to offer from alluring architecture and design to unique student nightlife.

- Nicolae (Republic of Moldova)

GO INTERNATIONAL WITH HOWEST! My time on Erasmus at Howest is definitely one I will remember fondly.

From the wonderful campus staff who were very approachable and helpful to even the people in the city of Kortrijk. I’m also very grateful for meeting many wonderful people from the most varied nationalities, with whom, I believe, I created beautiful friendships.

My semester also went from getting lost in Belgium (by train), riding a bicycle on a regular basis, cooking experiments and even movie nights that turned into trip planning in the last couple of weeks.

If you decide on going to Howest, I’m sure you will have a great time, and if that’s your choice, then come with all your heart and experience for yourself many amazing things and what the country, the university and the people have to offer.

Bilbo Baggins once said "I'm going on an adventure" and going on Erasmus is just that. One experiences new things, new cultures, ways of living, and you even might end up knowing yourself a bit more.

- Ana Sofia (Portugal)

GO INTERNATIONAL WITH HOWEST! This opportunity not only gave me friends for life, but also the opportunity to discover who I really am.

This has been one of the best experiences of my life even in these difficult times and Howest was a pillar of support that knew how to adapt and still found time to make my exchange a great adventure.

I’m very thankful for choosing Belgium as my exchange (and much more for having studied in Bruges as it is a fairytale city) due to the ease of getting to know every corner of the country by train and bike. I highly recommend anyone to come to live this unique life experience.

- Karla (Mexico)

My year in Bruges was by far the best experience of my life!

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At the beginning, I was afraid go abroad for my first time living alone. But it turns out to be the best decision I ever made. I not only had the opportunity to meet new people with different cultures and habits and get important knowledge and values but also to discover myself. I was able to visit different cities at very low prices, to taste new products (local beer and food), and to enjoy myself with all of my friends.

As I stayed the whole year, I had the chance to meet a lot of exchange students through both of the semesters. Some of them became my best friends and we already decided when and where we are going to meet and the others are also really good friends, as we shared amazing experiences that had created unbroken binds between us all. I hope we will get a chance to see each other again, and we’ll keep talking in the weekly basis via social media.

So, if you want to study abroad but have insecurities, fear not and just go for it! This is going to be the most unique and wonderful experience of your student life and will help you become who you truly are - Karen (France)

I’ve found my happy place in Kortrijk, and my second family at Howest.

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Whenever someone tells me they’re insecure about going abroad or having doubts, the only thing I respond is: “Do it.” These weeks and months are going to enrich you with some of the most unique, thrilling and encouraging experiences that you’ll make as a student – probably even in your entire life.

Getting to know people from everywhere with so many different backgrounds and stories is so fascinating, and then realizing how close you have become over the time is even more beautiful. I felt like we would be united in diversity, and I really do understand the meaning of culture. Not only do I acknowledge cultural differences much better now, but I can also value my own “roots” much more. By no means would I want to miss out on this incredible semester I’m beyond grateful and lucky to have chosen this city and this university.

- Anja (Austria)

GO INTERNATIONAL WITH HOWEST! I have really enjoyed my stay in Belgium, not only because of the courses that I had looked forward to for a long time but also in terms of meeting new people - new people from all over the world. I had my classes with local students as well as with internationals from Norway and Finland. Apart from sharing ideas and helping each other with courses, they also played a role as my English teacher; I feel that my English has improved a lot with the help of the other students.

What impressed me most is that although local students had already learned about ‘Machine Learning’ the previous semester and there were only a few internationals in the class this time, the teacher still taught us with patience and full preparation.

One local student helped me a lot with my Project with her medical background.

Other teachers gave me a lot of extra assistance with my IoT Device, as they knew I lacked experience with it. There are so many helpful people who I want to thank that I can’t list all of them.

Also, big thanks to my language teachers and coaches as they are really warmhearted and generous to help me voluntarily with my English, especially in terms of boosting my confidence in speaking English. There are always unlimited resources you can explore aside from your specialized courses, depending on what you want and how you decide to take action.

It has definitely been a wonderful and interesting exchange experience in Belgium, which will also be important to my future career.

- Jinxing (China)

GO INTERNATIONAL WITH HOWEST! The past five months have passed really quickly – It feels like it was yesterday when I was waiting my flight to Brussels at the Helsinki Airport in mid-September.

I found studying in Howest and living in Kortrijk easygoing. I did have some challenges with my courses, but I understand why, because I wasn’t really prepared for what was to come. Even if my personal performance wasn’t so great, I did find the courses interesting and knowledge gained as something I can use to build my future path.

As a career-changer in your early thirties, I believe it is a bit unusual to go to Erasmus+ exchange. But as it was an option for me, I thought it wouldn’t be wise to miss it. And I’m glad I didn’t! I’ve worked in multicultural environments before, so studying abroad wasn’t that big a change for me in that sense, but it is always interesting to meet new people with different backgrounds. And living abroad is always exciting!

As the time went by so fast, I did miss few things: I didn’t go to watch any football game, I didn’t go to see any ice hockey game, and I didn’t try the combination of mussels and fries. This only means one thing: I must come back!

- Topi (Finland)

GO INTERNATIONAL WITH HOWEST! This exchange program not only helped me open my mind and learn about other cultures/countries, it also started great friendships that I believe have helped me shape a better version of myself, I can’t wait to see what my second semester at Howest will bring.

I’m so thankful for the people I met in Kortrijk and at Howest and I’m hopeful I’ll see them in the near future being as awesome and incredible as I saw them through this international experience.

- Nadia (Mexico)

GO INTERNATIONAL WITH HOWEST! I had the great opportunity of living abroad for one year and I can’t do anything but thank Belgium for such an amazing and incredible experience. When I arrived in September, I couldn’t have imagined how my life would be ten months later.

Belgium gave me the chance to meet a lot of people from different countries, which meant meeting a lot of different cultures, perspectives, ways of being and putting all of them together. By doing this, I could know, understand and love these cultures as if they were my own. But I could also share my own culture, values and customs and feel so proud of them.

My Erasmus adventure taught me the value of opening my mind to new experiences and people that, otherwise, I couldn’t have met staying in my hometown. But, it wasn’t only through others that I learned valuable lessons. I also spent time getting to know more about myself, which allowed me to grow as an individual.

Thanks to Belgium, I bring back to my home memories, moments, experiences, trips, parties, lessons… that made me richer than before. But, if I have to pick something out above all in my Erasmus, it is the people who, after one year, I can consider as my family.

- Carlos (Spain)

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Going on an Erasmus exchange has been literally life changing for me. I will forever remember my time here, as it will probably be one of my best memories. I have made so many new friends and met so many kind and humble people. Here you can see an image of me and my two best Erasmus friends that I keep closest to my heart.

- Zackarias (Sweden)

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Erasmus is an experience that I won't ever forget, it changes you as a person and your life. It helps you to know yourself better and expand your achievements. You create a new routine of your life together with new people; people that I hope to keep for life because they are very special ones that have marked my heart forever. I think that one of the best pleasures in life that not everyone values is being able to meet people from other countries and with other languages and to build bonds forever. I feel so lucky to have lived this experience. I will keep these special people with me for life.

- Lucia (Spain)

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The sustainable energy and ICT study programme at Howest indeed gave me a good combination of academic knowledge and practical tools that I needed in the current energy transition scenario. This programme provided the best pathway because of the modules taught and the projects/assignments involved with the programme.

I really appreciate the cooperative, constructive and challenging atmosphere at Howest.

I enjoyed the Howest experience so much that I decided to do my internship at Howest after the programme.

- Nirmal (India)

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Celebrating birthdays and cultures with international and local friends, in an international way, during an international semester at Howest in Bruges.

- Yerim (South Korea)

GO INTERNATIONAL WITH HOWEST! Embarking on this adventure in Howest was one of the best decisions that I have ever made in my life. I had the best times here with beautiful people from all over the world who came to have an experience like me. It is so hard to describe this experience in words, but with all my heart, I can say that I have many “homes” in many parts of the World now and all those I met have a “home” in Turkey as well. Howest and Belgium have hosted us all very well. We had an unforgettable experience that changed all of our lives and gave us many new perspectives. Here, I learned to question myself more, got out of my comfort zone and discovered new aspects of myself. I look at life from a different perspective now, and I recommend this experience to everyone. I found a new family in Kortrijk and I am so grateful for that. Thanks for everything Howest, thanks Kortrijk thanks Belgium!“ - Elif (Turkey)

GO INTERNATIONAL WITH HOWEST! When you look at this picture, you can see up to 6 different nationalities. Erasmus means much more than studying abroad. It is opening yourself to the world, to ideas you never thought about before. Cultures that you thought didn't match, now they match perfectly. Ideas you would never put together, now you learn from each other.

Thank you Erasmus & Howest.

I feel rich now.

- Jorge (Spain)

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Howest is an excellent university, and the people working there are amazing!

Indeed, by remaining human, they develop people!

- Sylvaine (France)

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Being able to study at Howest was really a great experience for me. I have met many friends from other countries, and everyone is very friendly. Intercultural communication is really interesting. I was also impressed with the country of Belgium; I traveled to many cities during my stay here. Belgian beer and chocolate are really great, I love them!!! It was really a wonderful experience for me in the Howest. Thank you!

- Ma (China)

GO INTERNATIONAL WITH HOWEST! It was in one of my very first days in Belgium that one innocent, pixelated emoticon welcomed my arrival with a wave of confusion, shock, and shame. At that very moment, I realized that I had encountered my very first test of being in a foreign country and now it was time to decide whether I should run from this crisis or tackle it head-on.

Before I can explain what happened next though, I first need to tell you how I got here.

Up until the beginning of my third-year at Furman University, I had never ventured outside the United States. In fact, I spent most of my life in the Southeastern portion of the US–– rarely away from my hometown of Charleston, South Carolina. When I discovered I would be spending almost five months in Kortrijk, Belgium, I was definitely excited for the adventure but also nervous–– worrying about if I would find genuine friends, if people would understand my accent, if people would speak my language, if I would run out of money, and if my world back home would change too much while studying abroad.

In spite of these fears, I stayed optimistic and entered Belgium excited for the life I would create for myself in Kortrijk. In the first week, I made friends! While I didn’t realize this then, these friends over the next few months would soon become my international family. We would explore the Belgian coast together, have picnics in French gardens, discover new music in the summer festivals of Kortrijk, and even travel through Greece and Italy for a couple weeks. But before all of that, we spent the first week touring Bruges and Ghent; and then, on our day in Ghent, it happened.

I was excited to share my adventures of discovering Gravensteen Castle and tasting Belgian chocolate for the first time, so I uploaded a few Instagram photos and didn’t think much of it. A few minutes later, the sharp ping of a text notification revealed the horrible mistake I had committed: I had used the German flag instead of the Belgian flag in my caption. Now, in reality, this mistake was not catastrophic by any means, but it represented a greater issue: that issue being just how limited my understanding was of international identities and foreign cultures.

I knew if I wanted to have any success in learning about intercultural communication this semester, I would have to be intentional in my conversations with friends, I’d have to be bold and take risks in how I spent my free time, I’d have to be comfortable being wrong and learning from my mistakes, and I’d have to study up!

- Matthew (USA)

GO INTERNATIONAL WITH HOWEST! Continued…

And that’s exactly what I did. Over the next few weeks I studied coursework ranging from Basic Dutch to Copywriting, from Consumer Behavior to Public Affairs, and from Crisis Communication to Sales Communication. While these classes were certainly a departure from the mathematics that I focused on in my first two years of university, these courses as a whole challenged and informed my understanding of the relationship between communication and culture, For instance, Sales Communication forced me to rethink how we discuss items we believe are worth buying, while Copywriting made me see how even a single word in a slogan––or an emoticon, for that matter–– can completely change the statement’s message.

After and between classes, I chatted with friends from India about the counterintuitive differences of our non-verbal communication; for instance, a side-to-side head wobble in India is the equivalent of the American head nod.

Meanwhile, I practiced my Spanish with friends from Mexico and Spain throughout the week and saw that other languages were just as nuanced as my own language.

When we weren’t busy studying, our little international family spent the weekends acting as tourists in our new home country of Belgium, exploring cities and towns near and far: such as Brussels, Antwerp, Ghent, Bruges, Ypres, Namur, Ostend, Dinant, De Panne, De Haan, Oudenarde, and––of course–– Kortrijk. Other nights we shared food, exchanged recipes and made dinner together; we organized game nights; we sang songs from each other’s countries; we stayed up late at night, talking about what we missed from home, what made us excited to get up each day, and what we hoped for our futures; and we enjoyed every day we had together.

If I were to go back, I’m happy to say that I would do things exactly the same. I would travel the same way, study the same way, and cherish the same friendships. I’d even make the exact same mistakes, because even the small mistakes are still managing to teach me big lessons :) - Matthew (USA)

GO INTERNATIONAL WITH HOWEST! Going on Erasmus is an experience that more and more students dare to have 🌎. When I started the semester, I couldn't help feeling fear and sometimes confusion. How was I going to survive 5 months by myself in a place I didn't know? Would I be able to adapt to the new habits and way of life of the destination? What problems will I have to face? Will I make new friends? What are the people going to be like?

These are probably common questions we all asked ourselves when we knew we were going to be exchange students. In spite of the fear and last minute doubts, all the moments I experienced during this semester will be precious memories forever.

Meeting people from other countries and with different cultures, the warm welcome of my buddies assigned by Howest, secretly loving to ride my bike (even though I had never biked before), the best parties, trips to different cities in Belgium, supporting each other during exam time, my birthday surrounded by great people, a trip to the amusement park, beer, chocolate and waffles… Those are some of the moments I experienced during my exchange, the 5 most special months of my life. Thanks to all the people who were part of this incredible experience ❤. I certainly encourage all students who want to learn, have fun or meet new people, to go abroad - and of course, I wish the new Howest exchange students good luck! 🍀 - Natalia (Spain)

GO INTERNATIONAL WITH HOWEST! The best time of my life was at Howest. It was something I always wanted to experience going international and meeting a big Erasmus family that made me learn about different cultures and exposed me to different learning methods.

- Sumedha (India)

GO INTERNATIONAL WITH HOWEST! Erasmus is an amazing, magical and fabulous experience. I can only use superlatives to describe my one-semester adventure at Howest in the Creative Communication Project.

This semester was for me a mixture of emotions. Coming from a neighboring country, I did not think a country just a few kilometers from the border with France would be so different.

In Howest, everyone does their best to make your stay as perfect as possible, including the students, the teachers and the administration! You will meet a second family there, to whom you’ll be bound forever.

If you read this testimony, and you want to come to Howest, the only thing I can tell you is: jump in, go ahead!

- Pauline (France)

GO INTERNATIONAL WITH HOWEST! Every moment was precious and valuable for me.

When I return to South Korea, I will really miss Howest and Belgium.

- Hui Jin (South Korea)

GO INTERNATIONAL WITH HOWEST! Last year, I didn't feel good in my class in France. It was the end of the second year of my bachelor and we had to make a choice: choose to stay in France to work and study or go abroad for a year via Erasmus. The choice was made quickly; Ireland for the autumn semester and Kortrijk, Belgium for the spring semester.

My first semester was coming to an end, and, I must admit, I didn't want to leave. My second family was in Ireland and I didn't want to leave them. I was afraid of not being able to find such exceptional people as met in Ireland and I was also afraid to live with Belgians, without any other Erasmus students around.

But you can probably guess that now I'm so grateful that I've been in two different countries! I couldn't have hoped for anything better than this year.

I've met so many different people from all around the world. I really felt everyone was included in the Erasmus family. We shared so many things: International Day, parties, the Indian Holi party on campus, Kortrijk festival, orientation week, etc... The buddy system, for me, was also a very good idea. Even if we didn't really see each other a lot outside courses, it was a real pleasure to have two buddies. I would like to thank them again 🙂. The Orientation Week was the perfect time to get to know each other before starting the semester. Thanks again to the people who organised it!

I just want to say thank you to everybody who has contributed to my happy and amazing semester at Howest, which I will never forget. This year is and will always be the best year of my life. Erasmus in my heart forever ❤.

- Camille (France)

GO INTERNATIONAL WITH HOWEST! This international experience at Howest was the nicest experience in my whole life. When I finished my semester here, I did everything to extend my stay. I was so happy to hear I could stay for another semester!

I will always remember the special care of the international coordinator, Sarah Markewich, who took care of everything.

She responded so quickly in case of a problem and she was always there for us.

I stayed at the White house, an old white house, which soon not be used anymore. So now we can say we were the last ones to have known that place, full of memories of all the international students who stayed there.

With all the international and local students, we were really united in diversity!

- Gizem (Turkey)

GO INTERNATIONAL WITH HOWEST! During your exchange semester at Howest, first, you start discovering people, and then you start discovering yourself again.

- Hüdai (Turkey)

GO INTERNATIONAL WITH HOWEST! DAE has given me direction for my skill development, and shown me just how fast it is possible to learn things. And while it was a bit scary to move so far away from home I have quickly found a surrogate family in the community here.

- David (Sweden)

GO INTERNATIONAL WITH HOWEST! The greatest thing about studying at Howest as an international student? Howest is located in the center of Europe! You can really go to everywhere from here!”

- Hawoon (South Korea)

GO INTERNATIONAL WITH HOWEST! While I was initially nervous about studying abroad, Howest staff, faculty, and students were very welcoming and supportive. This has truly been a life changing experience helping me to become a more well-rounded person and increase my intercultural competencies. It should be one of the first that you see.

- Kira (USA)

The best year of my life.

GO INTERNATIONAL WITH HOWEST!

It’s very difficult to express in words everything I have experienced since I arrived in the completely unknown city of Kortrijk. It is also impossible for me to remember all the friends from different countries and cultures that I have met throughout the academic year (many of them are not in the picture), including the locals from Belgium and the Spanish, since I didn’t know almost any of them before coming here. Strangers who became acquaintances; acquaintances who became friends; friends who became family. Uncountable stories and anecdotes, many of them that cannot be told. Erasmus, the best year of my life. And I think that my tears during the last party with everyone are good proof of it.

- Manuel (Spain)

GO INTERNATIONAL WITH HOWEST!

This semester was something amazing. We've met a lot of people and learned a lot of things about different cultures, not only Belgian. Friends we have met here are from all over the world (Europe, South and North America and Asia) and we are sure that someday we will meet each other again.

We can only thank Erasmus+ programme for this once in a lifetime opportunity.

Discovering Belgian cities and enjoying fries, beer and chocolate was a true Belgian experience. Cycling through Kortrijk, drinking coffee at DeDingen and having our classes all together at the Square in Kortrijk made our stay even more memorable.

The friends we made while being in Belgium will stay the best thing that happened to us on Erasmus! We are proud to know so many good people from all around the world!

- Marina & Danilo (Serbia)

GO INTERNATIONAL WITH HOWEST! Erasmus: a once in a lifetime experience.

Last semester I had the honor to go to Belgium as an Erasmus student. I had already been abroad to study, but this…this was something else. An experience that cannot be replaced by anything, and that I would re-live in the exact same way I already did.

I got to meet such wonderful and beautiful people from all over the world, we shared our points of views and cultures, we cooked for each other our typical dishes and celebrated festivities that someone wouldn’t normally celebrate in his/her own country. I was learning new things each day, not just from the courses that Howest offered us, but also from the people that I was meeting every day.

For me this Erasmus has been also an opportunity to see a girl that I met in Berlin the previous year, and indeed she ended up being the buddy that Howest assigned to me. It was so good to see her after such a long time and we became very good friends through the buddy programme. We kept in touch throughout the semester, we went to parties together, we biked together to university and grabbed coffees in the weekends. We shared memories that I will cherish forever and I hope we will manage to see each other in a not so distant future.

But in general, I have memories with each and every person that I have met in Belgium, from the other Erasmus students to the local ones. Each one of them gave and taught me something that I will remember forever, and I am sure I will get to see them again at some point in life, somewhere in the world, because once you have been an Erasmus student, your souls will be forever connected to each other.

- Claudia (Italy)

GO INTERNATIONAL WITH HOWEST! Continued…

The classes were challenging and different from the type of classes we get in Italy. The city was completely different from where I was born and raised, but it is a cozy city that has everything a student needs. Thanks to this experience I have learned new things about the world but also about myself, how I deal with certain situations and how much alcohol I can handle, since the beer is really cheap!

But jokes aside, I truly found myself in Kortrijk. My true self.

So thank you to the Erasmus+ Programme.

Thank you to the coordinators and teachers at Howest and at my home University for helping us and making all of this possible.

Thanks to all the other Erasmus students for sharing such an amazing experience with me, and for making it such a unique one at that.

Thanks to the local students and my buddy for bearing with me and for answering all of my sometimes stupid- questions about Belgium.

And, finally, thank you to my “second family”, that has been with me in the best and worst moments of this experience. I am proud to call you my Erasmus Family.

Thank you Belgium.

- Claudia (Italy)

GO INTERNATIONAL WITH HOWEST! Erasmus is the best opportunity you can use while being a student. The international environment makes you realize that in every situations, the people that surround you matter the most. You make so many unforgettable friendships and memories that you will remember for the rest of your life. Howest was a part of that too - all the teachers and the international office were always very friendly and helpful.

- Akvilé (Lithuania)

GO INTERNATIONAL WITH HOWEST! Howest provided us with a unique Erasmus experience! We had the opportunity to meet people from all over the world - people who are not friends but family to us now.

Also, their 'Buddy' programme ensures you have Belgian student to help you settle down quickly and make friends as soon as you arrive. The university is modern and classes are small so teachers are also coaches and mentors and are very helpful and professional. Howest provided us with new learning practices and methods - it was great to get more practical and hands-on experience.

Howest was the best choice for Erasmus experience and offered us much more than we expected - this is why we both chose to stay for 2 semesters!

- Hristiana & Oriane (Scotland & France)

GO INTERNATIONAL WITH HOWEST! To study abroad, is by far, the most educational and enlightening experience of my academic life.

By doing Erasmus in Belgium, I got the chance to experience in first-hand the feeling of living in a different country, with different routines, schedules, habits, language and to learn with and be part of a different health system. This was a great opportunity to compare the Belgium health system with the Portuguese one, to learn with the best parts of it, to see new ways of doing the same nursing techniques, other methods of work and to live in a richer nursing reality, with more material conditions. It allowed me to see how the economy of a country reflects itself on the health system reality and in the population’s houses and life’s circumstances.

- Filipa (Portugal)

GO INTERNATIONAL WITH HOWEST!

Going abroad always feels fascinating and fun, sometimes even scary. But what if you don’t just go abroad for a week or two? What if you are about to explore a totally new lifestyle, change your routines, meet new people?

Doesn’t it sound appealing? Of course, it does!

Remember, Erasmus is not only about visiting a new place. It’s about getting a unique experience that you cannot get anywhere else. I’m so happy to have a chance to study in Belgium, and particularly in Kortrijk.

The Belgian culture is such an unknown, unique culture, but so interesting. I was surprised to learn that you have three official languages! Both Kortrijk and Belgium have a great location. Kortrijk is next to Brussels, Gent, Antwerp and Belgium is next to France, the Netherlands, Germany, etc…

Such a great time! Things come and go but experiences stay with us.

- Elena (Finland/Russia)

GO INTERNATIONAL WITH HOWEST! Going to Erasmus was one of my university goals. Getting to do that in Belgium, at one of it’s most innovative universities (Howest), was something to be grateful for. It was an experience of a lifetime! Especially during our study time, with all the extraordinary (corona) circumstances and with all of the stories with people that were like family!

If there were one piece of advice that I could give to students, it would be to go on more journeys that make you find yourself. An Erasmus+ experience is certainly a journey that you will tell your grandchildren about !

- Amer (Turkey/Palestine)

Go International with Howest Incoming, International Student Testimonies

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