cestories Student impressions | January 2022
IMPRESSIONS OF OUR FALL 2021 STUDENTS
cestories CONTENTS SAM REVELS Portland State University (USAC) • page 4 •
LINDSEY CAMPBELL University of California, Santa Barbara • page 6 •
AIDAN GABRIEL University of California, Los Angeles • page 8 •
MEGAN KYHL Morningside University (USAC) • page 9 •
BRETT FRIEDMAN Muhlenberg College • page 10 •
JANUARY 2022
Just before the arrival of our Spring 2022 students, we would like to look back on our Fall 2021 semester with the help of our CES alumni. Sit back, relax and read all about their experiences in this edition of 'cestories'.
Study abroad has given me lifelong friends and memories to last a lifetime!
Lucas Chau Baylor University
I did my absolute best to not let COVID restrict me. Occasionally there was an extra test I needed to take to fly, but buses and trains never had any restrictions apart from wearing a face mask. If I could offer any advice, I would recommend figuring out your priorities. Decide on places you want to go to and try to stick to it. Choose less if you don't feel comfortable
Chase Memmer University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa
traveling, otherwise full send it!
Study abroad was magical. From incredible friends to breathtaking destinations to remarkable experiences, studying at Maastricht was a journey that I'll cherish forever. Ty Rossow Baylor University
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Portland State University Sam's expectations of this experience were centred around finding out what she wanted to do with her future.
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Samantha Revels
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"I am currently a senior about to graduate from college, and I had no clear idea of what I wanted to do with my life. I had a lot of "what-ifs" and dreams, such as moving to Europe to attend perfumery school, but moving to another country on a different continent is a really really big change. Perfume is something I am so passionate about so I could not just let this dream fade. Therefore, I decided to study abroad in Maastricht, a picturesque city in an ideal location to finish my degree and decide if I wanted to officially pursue perfumery."
"Studying abroad will always have its ups and downs just like life does, but I can confidently say that this experience has been the best in my life." Samantha Revels "Realistically, studying abroad will always have its ups and downs just like life does, but I can confidently say that this experience has been the best in my life. It is a very freeing and exciting experience; all of a sudden, a new world you never knew has opened up to you. Add in some of the coolest people you'll ever meet, and you just got yourself a great adventure. Maastricht has served as a good homebase; small enough to remain familiar, but still big enough to discover new things daily. The only thing I wish I performed better on was school; it is so hard to self-study when you have so many amazing countries around you!"
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"Maastrich
t, a picture sque city in an idea l location"
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"This experience has made me more self-reliant and confident. While there is a lot of support from the program and other students, at moments it will feel like it's you against the world. I learned that instead of cowering away from those moments and taking the easy way out, I should embrace them. I am strong enough, and I will succeed no matter the roadblocks. This trip has also changed me by making me more driven. I now know exactly what I want to do with my future, and I am fully determined to achieve it. "
"I now know exactly what I want to do with my future, and I am fully determined to achieve it." Samantha Revels
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Lindsey chose to study abroad in Maastricht because "it is a very student-centered city, which makes it much less overwhelming than larger European cities.
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University of California, Santa Barbara
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Lindsey Campbell
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The slower pace of life helped me unwind between busy travel weekends, and it wasn’t long before I felt at home there."
"It is a very student-centered city, which makes it much less overwhelming than larger European cities." Lindsey Campbell
"It wasn't long before I felt
at home."
"The main difference between studying at Maastricht University (UM) and at my home university is Problem-Based Learning (PBL). Small tutorial group sizes and student-led discussions make for a more active learning experience compared to traditional lectures. As a biology major, I now feel confident applying to graduate programs that also use PBL."
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"Compared to my home university, it was also easier for me to maintain work-life balance at UM. My classes were interesting and challenging, but never so overwhelming that I couldn’t enjoy weekday evenings in Maastricht and weekend travel. My professors at UM tailored their curriculum to student interests, and the academic atmosphere was more collaborative than competitive."
"Small tutorial group sizes and student-led discussions make for a more active learning experience compared to traditional lectures." Lindsey Campbell "Traveling during the COVID-19 pandemic has its benefits, such as smaller crowds at tourist attractions and cheaper accommodation. When cases began rising later in the fall, my friends and I opted for more local day trips in Belgium, Germany, and the Netherlands to minimize risk."
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University of California, Los Angeles Aidan didn't have any expectations before coming to Maastricht: "I mainly thought it would get canceled
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Aidan Gabriel
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due to COVID and convinced myself it wasn’t real until I stepped out of the airplane in the Netherlands."
"I traveled places I never expected to travel and made friends from around the world." Aidan Gabriel "Studying abroad in Maastricht was amazing. I traveled places I never expected to travel and made friends from around the world. Before I knew it I was in love with the small city and had created a life for myself I previously hadn’t thought possible after only a couple months into the program."
"I’ve definitely become more comfortable with myself, solo traveling and enjoying my own company. I also learned to go into experiences with a present and open-minded outlook, accepting whatever comes my way instead of setting specific expectations."
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Morningside University Megan chose to study in Maastricht for multiple reasons: "The biggest influence was the lower cost
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Megan Kyhl
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for the program and all of the activities included compared to other study abroad programs. My decision was also influenced by how international Maastricht University is and that it would be an easier adjustment to living there and making friends."
"You're studying in the center of the city amidst everything going on and that’s a very unique experience." Megan Kyhl "In Maastricht I study alongside students from all of over the world, and the conversations that flow during class open your eyes to other perspectives you wouldn’t necessarily think about before. I also really liked that the campus was so urban. You're studying in the center of the city amidst everything going on and that’s a very unique experience. For my classes compared to my home university, the students are the ones who are teaching whereas as the tutor is taking more of a mediator role. I really enjoyed this style of learning and the interaction and discussion it created." "COVID influenced my study abroad experience in a few ways. There were things like getting tested and having to figure out vaccine documentation issues, and of course some things were limited capacity or closed. However, I think that my experience was incredible even with some of the changes the pandemic brought. I wouldn’t have changed iends in d her fr n a n a M eg , Spain Madrid
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my decision to study in the Netherlands, I loved every minute there."
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Muhlenberg College Brett had heard many great things from friends who had studied abroad before so he knew it would be a
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Brett Friedman
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great experience: "I had never been to Europe before and I didn’t know anyone from my program so naturally I was a bit nervous in the beginning. However, right from the start everyone was so welcoming and friendly, and the transition was incredibly smooth."
"I will never forget that initial feeling of when I had first fully immersed myself with international students, as it was amazing to hear their stories (...)." Brett Friedman "At my home university, the big social decision was if I wanted to go to a football game or the local bar, whereas this past fall in Europe, a typical decision I had to make was either to see the beaches in Croatia or the mountains in Switzerland. Outside of the convenient traveling aspect that living in Maastricht provides, by attending UM and living in the guesthouse, I had the opportunity to make friends from at least 15 different countries. I will never forget that initial feeling of when I had first fully immersed myself with international students, as it was amazing to hear their stories and compare our lives to one another. Now that this experience is in the past, I not only have a lifetime of great memories, but also an incredible sense of accomplishment. With this feeling, I believe that this will push me to try new experiences with an open mind - I wouldn’t trade my study abroad experience for the world!"
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"The city of Maastricht is a safe place, easy to get around, in a great central location, and full of international students!" Brett Friedman "This semester, I have gained knowledge in the classroom and also through my experiences in the Netherlands and beyond, as I traveled to a different city almost every weekend. This kind of learning is irreplaceable; I have noticed an improvement in not just my academic knowledge, but also in my fundamental development and maturity as a person. Throughout my weekend trips, I have had countless hands-on learning experiences pertaining to navigation, transportation, finding out what to do and where to go, meeting new people, and most importantly, properly advocating for myself when I needed help. Being in these situations definitely contributed to my leadership skills and self-confidence."
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cestories For this edition:
Text & photography
Ideas & input Design & layout
Lucas Chau, Chase Memmer, Ty Rossow, Samantha Revels, Lindsey Campbell, Aidan Gabriel, Megan Kyhl and Brett Friedman
Naomi Nijssen Naomi Nijssen
CENTER FOR EUROPEAN STUDIES Bonnefantenstraat 2, 6211 KL Maastricht +31 43 388 5282 | ces.info@maastrichtuniversity.nl
www.maastrichtuniversity.nl/ces
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