Exchange Student Do’s and Don’ts: How to Survive life at UCU

by MC Claverie

When I frst arrived in Utrecht after a frankly humbling journey—my fight got delayed and my bags got lost for four days—I felt bruised, battered, and worn down. After I was dropped of at the front gates of UCU by my Uber driver, and I trudeged across the quad to Dining Hall—yet another somewhat humiliating and humbling experience—I didn’t really know what to think. I was exhausted from several hours of traveling, stressed about adapting to life at UCU, and nervous about being alone in a new place.

to Utrecht, but also by how aggressive bikers are—yes, I did almost get hit by cyclists several times on my frst days in the Netherlands.

When I trekked downtown to fnally pick up the bike I’m renting for the semester, I was faced with a daunting task—riding it back to UCU. Honestly, I was pretty terrifed. The combination of pedestrians, cars, buses, and other bikers all whizzing around the city not only flled me with anxiety but also extreme fear. Luckily, along with some fellow exchange students, we successfully navigated back home in one piece.

Now, several weeks later after many trials and even more errors, I’ve got a hold on the UCU ropes and feel confdent in my ability to thrive here for the next few weeks. If you are a fellow exchange student, or even a frst year student still trying to fnd your way, I hope that my tips and tricks can help you embrace all the wonderful things UCU has to ofer and fully integrate into the “Dutchie” lifestyle.

It’s okay to be a bad biker

If you’ve ever been to Tennessee, where I’m originally from, or Boston, where I attend college, then you know that both places have a lot of hills. While in the U.S. I consider my-

"I know that I’ll be boarding a plane back to the United States in a couple of months, but while I am here at UCU I want to make the most of it."

At frst, I was pretty embarrassed when other bikers would pass me. However, after speaking with my orientation group parents who also admitted that they aren’t the best bikers, I felt more confdent. The more I bike the less afraid and faster I become. Biking has now become my number one form of transportation and I’ve come to really admire the Dutch cycling culture. So, don’t be afraid to start out a little slow, you can only improve from there.

While getting free food/free snacks is defnitely a plus, we’ve really enjoyed meeting other full time students and integrating into UCU through these events. So if you are ever bored and want a way to make some new friends, I recommend checking out these events, you won’t regret it.

Don’t be afraid to ask for help

To me, nothing is worse than being the person who has no idea what’s going on. Yet that’s pretty much impossible to avoid if you are an exchange student or a frst year student moving to a new country. Not only are you faced with cultural shocks and diferences, but you also have to learn how to navigate life away from your friends and family which can be difcult.

One thing that I’ve come to value while on exchange is the importance of asking for help. Whether it’s asking a bus driver or train station employee which bus to take or even stopping to ask someone on the street for directions, asking for help is always better than not. Sure it may seem embarrassing at the time but in the end it’s worth it, especially in this period of adjustment.

Enjoy the ride

Though it may sound cliché, college is a wonderful time where you have the freedom and opportunity to learn and grow in an entirely new environment. Whether you are on exchange for the semester, a frst year student, or preparing to graduate soon, each day provides a new chance to broaden your horizons so you might as well enjoy i GastronomyCo t. For me, I know that I’ll be boarding a plane back to the United States in a couple of months, but while I am here at UCU I want to make the most of it. I hope these tips and advice can help you here at UCU and make your semester a little easier.