Off to Amsterdam
For the next 5 months, I will be studying abroad in Amsterdam, Netherlands, and will be partaking in a Visual Storytelling program that focuses on photography, film, graphic design, and advertising!
I’ve been planning to study abroad for years now and my chances were delayed several times due to Covid. Over the summer, I counted down the days to my departure and have felt a wide range of emotions. Over the course of this semester, I will be publishing weekly blogs to share my adventure and document my experiences.
Preparation
August 16, 2022
I’ve been fairly calm and accepting about this trip and the many steps I’ve had to take to get here. However, this week before my flight, the anxiety set in. There is so much left to do! There are so many people to see before I leave, so many documents to have ready, and tons of errands to run. After all of the chaos of Covid, Flagstaff has finally become a safe and comfortable place for me. But alas, I tend to run in the opposite direction of my comfort zone. I’m now about to fly across the globe to live in a new country by myself with only a vague idea of where I’ll be living and what I’ll be studying. I’m at the point where I’m asking myself: what the hell am I doing?
Packing your entire life into one suitcase and two backpacks is hard. My suitcase is a few pounds overweight, but I have to bring layers for late summer, fall, and winter months, so I feel okay with this. I have one backpack with all of my camera gear and a second everyday camera bag that I will use as a regular carry-on on the plane — in case they lose my luggage. This bag will become my regular backpack that I can carry both my camera and other items in, so I don't have to constantly carry all of my camera gear — I tried my best to plan ahead.
There are SO many technical things I have to get done as soon as I arrive in the Netherlands. I have to register with the municipality to get my Dutch social security number, open a Dutch bank account, get a new SIM card and phone plan, get an OV-chipkarrt card to use the Dutch transportation system, rent a bike, pick up a welcome bag for my exchange student introduction week, collect my student ID card, go to a biometrics appointment for my residence permit, and go shopping for anything I couldn’t pack. Lovely.
Getting there
August 19, 2022
I’ve never flown alone before, so my nerves were high. I flew from Phoenix to Atlanta and from there to Amsterdam. Overall, I flew for about 16 hours and traveled for over 24 hours. During my first flight, I think I silently had a panic attack in my middle seat. I was way too overwhelmed and couldn’t escape the sense of dread. I was very worried about my flights getting delayed, my luggage getting lost, missing my flight, and getting lost in the airports — not to mention the fear about the entire trip itself. Normally, I don’t call my parents that often, but on this trip, I called them every chance I got. During my layover in Atlanta, I found my next gate quickly and had time to eat some Chick-fil-A. Suddenly, all was well. I was feeling alright by the time I was on the next flight.
Once I arrived at Schiphol, the airport in Amsterdam, I had to go through the passport check and grab my luggage. This was a confusing process and the airport was a madhouse, but I was proud of myself for staying calm and using the few resources I had to figure out where I needed to go. I was absolutely exhausted by this point but I still had a ways to go.
The hardest challenge by far was figuring out the train system and getting to my new apartment. Everything was written in Dutch, the airport was a zoo and my luggage was HEAVY. There were a plethora of trains and platforms so I went to the train information booth and desperately asked for help. The worker pointed me towards a platform and told me which stop to look for. On the way to the platform, I ran into another lost exchange student from Spain who was also looking for the same train. Together, we struggled with our large suitcases and eventually found our stops.
From the Bijlmer ArenA, I needed to carry my luggage about a mile to the apartment address. By the time I made it there, I had sweat through my clothes and just wanted to take a shower. But guess what? The welcome package with bed sheets, cleaning supplies, and toiletries did not include towels. Therefore, I immediately had to go find a store that sold cheap towels. Luckily, my building has three RAs (for 170 students) who recommended a store in the nearby shopping center. I probably looked like a zombie in this small, Dutch department store, but I just wanted to get it out of the way.
First impressions
August 20, 2022
I have a studio apartment with a small private kitchen and bathroom. The room came with a bed, closet, desk, chair, and bookshelf. The person who lived here before me left many dishes and utensils in the kitchen as well as a few cleaning supplies and closet items. This was a huge relief! So far, the room has been quite nice and I think once I get settled, I will feel very comfortable here.
My room is so hot. It’s very humid here and it’s still summer, so one of the first purchases I made was a fan. My apartment is a bit far from the Amsterdam everyone sees online with the canals and older buildings. I’m in a more urban area next to a large sports arena, about a 20-minute metro ride from the city center.
So far, I love that everything is built with consideration for pedestrians and cyclists. The bike lanes are their own system rather than an overlooked small lane next to speeding traffic like in the U.S. Also, I knew there would be a ton of bikes, but I wasn’t expecting the tiny cars everywhere! There are regular cars and highways as well, but I’ve seen these mini vehicles on small streets and in pedestrian areas.
How I’m feeling
August 20, 2022
Since I arrived, I’ve cried at least once every day. This initial experience has been lonely. I’ve been wanting to study abroad/travel for years and I’m finally doing it, but it’s at a different time than I expected, and leaving was harder than I expected it to be. Even though I’m very independent and responsible, I’ve always struggled with loneliness. Waking up in a new apartment on a 9-hour time difference makes that separation from my loved ones much more apparent. I’m proud of myself for stepping so far out of my comfort zone and I hope I can meet some new friends soon.
I still haven’t gotten a class schedule so I’m slightly questioning why I’m even here. I think I’ll feel much better about things once I start taking photos again and I have assignments. I genuinely care about getting invested in my education and I want this trip to be a learning opportunity.
Next week, I will be partaking in an introduction week for international students. The idea of meeting new people and exploring the city is thrilling. I think by next week, I will feel much more comfortable and ready to take on the semester than I do now.
