My exchange experience at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam was nothing short of A M A Z I N G!

I chose Amsterdam for various reasons. Among which, it proved to be a good base to travel out from, people here speak English as their second language which made communication and settling administrative things so much easier and I managed to clear 5 modules!

Having being exposed to the Singapore’s education system for almost 1.5 decades of my life, Amsterdam’s education system was a breath of fresh air. It was less fast-paced and the fact that grades don’t count to your overall GPA made learning so much more enjoyable. 

Of course, what is exchange without travelling? I did not buy data on exchange and had to rely a lot on offline maps (CityMaps2Go is a really good app and is my lifesaver!).

My navigational skills have definitely improved and I dare say that I have become more street-smart, alert and independent. Exchange enabled me to experience many things for the first time and has taught me not to take many minute mundane things for granted. 

Being abroad really broadens your outlook in life. I guess this quote pretty much sums up everything. “We travel not to escape life, but for life not to escape us.” I really urge those who are contemplating overseas exchange to just GO FOR IT! Don’t coop yourself in Singapore! I promise you it will be a super enriching, humbling (because you realise it's a great big world out there and there are too many things you don't know) and worthwhile experience.

I definitely wouldn't trade my exchange experience for anything else!

Shi Tian, from Singapore Management University, previously on exchange at VU University Amsterdam (Netherlands).

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