I'm doing a Bachelor exchange program at Stony Brook University in New York. Here, I am taking courses in politics, globalization, philosophy and journalism. This exchange was planned for last year, but that didn't go through because of corona... Very thankful and happy that I still got to go this year!
Meeting so many great people and becoming friends for life with some of them, is what I like most. Although there are no other students from The Netherlands, I never felt lonely as I became friends with students from all over the world. We study and travel around the US together and have a lot of fun doing it. We have already visited Las Vegas, Los Angeles and Miami and there are more travel plans soon! Also, I love the vibe of New York City!
Of course, I miss my family and friends most. Also, I really miss my car! On Long Island, where I am based, it is very hard to get everywhere without a car... My heart skips a beat every time I see a MINI Cooper :)
Different perspectives
This exchange has given me the opportunity to learn about the differences between The Netherlands and the United States of America. I have learned that Americans are generally very kind, and they want to learn about different cultures. That has given me the chance to share something about my culture and learn about American culture in return. This was precisely what I was looking for! The different perspectives of Europeans and Americans have surprised me most, I think. Naturally the focus in the courses here is more on the United States. I have gotten the opportunity to learn about indigenous nations in the US and about the politics here. There are also some practical differences like paying extra tax on everything and having to tip all the time... These things have made me realize how different life in Europe and America is.
Wolfie Tank competition
I participated in a pitch competition at my host university, called Wolfie Tank, and I won the third prize! My idea is to provide training in communication for STEM students. This competition gives members of the Stony Brook community an opportunity to highlight their ideas to a group of alumni entrepreneurs from the Long Island region. My idea is to train STEM (which stands for Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics) students to talk about their research in a way that everyone can understand. I will provide networking, connecting and presenting training, depending on what the client wants. The main goal is to make STEM students not only flourish in their own field, but also share their findings with the rest of the world and connect with the rest of society. I’m eager to come into action and support current and future (STEM) talent to make sure they don’t get lost in translation or bad communication.
My exchange might influence the timing of my Master's as it made me consider doing an internship in the USA for a while. I do, however, think I will stick to my original "Master's plan", which is Governance and Management of the Public Sector. With the things I learned during my exchange and all the new experiences, it will only be more Interesting to do my Master's and make relevant comparisons.