{"id":3075,"date":"2016-10-24T12:28:43","date_gmt":"2016-10-24T01:58:43","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/international.flinders.edu.au\/?p=3075"},"modified":"2016-10-24T12:28:43","modified_gmt":"2016-10-24T01:58:43","slug":"two-topics-three-go","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.flinders.edu.au\/student-exchange-experiences\/2016\/10\/24\/two-topics-three-go\/","title":{"rendered":"two topics down, three to go!"},"content":{"rendered":"

My first couple of months in the Netherlands have flown by just as I thought they would.
\nThe first couple of weeks were a blur – lots of student events and parties and University orientations. The city goes crazy with people looking for and selling second hand bikes [if you’re buying a bike, this is the best way to do it, and I wouldn’t spend more than 60 euro … unless you really want to.]<\/p>\n

At Maastricht University<\/a>, the semester is divided in to three parts, so my topics are well spread out and I am only at Uni two days a week at the moment \u2013 meaning a four day weekend! There\u2019s plenty of time to travel but also quite a lot of readings to do before each class so it’s important to find a balance – sometimes I just print my readings out and do them on the way to my next destination.\u00a0I\u2019m just about to finish my first two topics and have my first set of exams, then finally I can plan a few more holidays! So far I\u2019ve visited some friends in Scotland and Belgium and spent some time embracing the sun in\u00a0Spain before the European Winter sets in.<\/p>\n

I live in a student building, close to my faculty but just outside of the city centre. Nothing is more than\u00a0a 15 minute bike ride away, but cycling is sometimes a challenge after a few beers!
\nTravel around the Netherlands is very easy. I went to visit a friend in Amsterdam last week and stopped by Utrecht<\/a> on the way \u2013 if you choose to do an exchange in the Netherlands, this is another option as well as Maastricht<\/a>. It\u2019s a bit bigger and closer to Amsterdam and has lots of cool cafes, bars and restaurants.<\/p>\n

There is so much to see in the Netherlands, I\u2019d advise anyone considering study at Maastricht<\/a> or Utrecht<\/a> to set some money aside for travel within the country, as well as around the rest of Europe! I\u2019m planning a few more day trips with the friends from my building. We want to go to Rotterdam, the Hague and to see the Kinderdijk windmills. There is also a beautiful little town called Giethoorn (Google it!), which they call\u00a0the Venice of the Netherlands. We\u2019re hoping to make it there, too!\u00a0But for now, it\u2019s back to studying\u2026 See you later, Adelaide!<\/p>\n

\u00a0Melissa Sims, a\u00a0Bachelor of Psychological Science<\/a>\u00a0student,\u00a0Semester 2 2016 exchange at\u00a0Maastricht University<\/a>, the Netherlands<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n