When studying abroad, a lot of things will come up to you in various ways. If you are in Groningen right now, or planning to, and feeling overwhelmed, let me help you! 

1. Moving away from home Moving away from home is very fun and exciting. At the same time, you may feel nervous and stressed. You have to plan everything starting from getting your passport ready, applying for the visa, finding accommodation, booking the flight and so on. All the steps can be a bit overwhelming especially during and after the pandemic because there you have to check up-to-date travel regulations every once in a while.  

Take one step at a time! What I did was I listed out all the tasks that I needed to take on my to-do list, prioritize the tasks, and put each task in my planner. I also did the same thing when I pack my luggage. Listing down always helps me to clear out the clouds in my head!

2. Cultural differences, language barrier and misinterpretations

At first, you may be surprised by the Dutch culture such as Dutch people’s directness, saying congratulations to all the family members at a birthday party, scheduling for everything including a casual hangout with friends and family. But once you get to know Dutch culture and Dutch people, you will understand why the Dutch people are so efficient! Groningen is a multicultural hub with students from all over the world. Although we speak English as a common language, the way we interpret may be a bit different. Intercultural communication is something we struggle with a bit in the beginning but you will eventually adjust and even master it by the end of the years. 

Learn more about Dutch and other cultures by googling and asking a friend who is familiar with the culture. If you are not sure about whether something you do or say is appropriate, just ask politely! Asking politely is always better than assuming and I am sure that everyone is happy to share with you about their culture. 

3. Weather

Centuries ago, painters loved the Netherlands for its diverse weather changes and enjoyed painting it on endless canvases. The modern-day citizen would disagree as it is very hard to dress for the day. You can experience every season just in one day during the spring.

Enjoy the sun as much as you can! Go out for a walk or plan an outdoor activity with your friend while the sun shines. You would be surprised how many Dutch people come out for a ray of brief sunshine at Noorderplantsoen. And a tip to adapt to the temperature is to make sure you layer your outfits. So that when you feel warm, you can take off one layer and when it gets cold again, you can put on your jacket/sweater again! 

4. Homesickness

Sometimes you feel like you’re missing out on social events with your friends and family at home. It is normal to feel so. 

Catch up with your friends and family regularly. Celebrate your national holidays with your friends and family from home via video call and with your friends from Groningen. It’s a perfect opportunity to introduce your food, culture, and customs to your friends and to compare and contrast your food and customs with your friends who share similar customs! I made braised pork with bamboo shoot dish, which is my family’s traditional recipe and celebrated Lunar New Year with my Vietnamese friends; and I celebrated Southeast Asian New Year (Thingyan/Songkran) at a Thai Buddhist temple near Groningen which made me realise that we share very similar customs although we were from different lands. At the same time, don’t forget to explore Groningen and meet new classmates and friends! These will quickly make you move past the homesickness. 

5. Bad news from home and mental health concerns

One of the most difficult things about studying abroad is dealing with bad news from home. Bad news can either be a misfortune of a loved one or a tragedy hitting our home country. When the military seized control in Myanmar in February 2022, I was very worried about the safety of my friends and family and at the same time, I was in despair because the internet in my home country was cut off and I was not able to keep in touch with my family and I was uncertain about when I will be able to meet them again. I was not able to focus on my studies for a couple of months. 

Be there for your friends and family from a distance. Keep in touch with them. It’s necessary to catch up with the news and what is happening with your loved ones and your country but please don’t forget to also spread some positivity! Convert bad energy into good one by volunteering or doing good deeds. An act of kindness boosts not only others’ well-being, but so does it for you too! Raise awareness about the tragic situation by sharing on social media (but do not forget to limit your screen time! Self-care is very important.) Support the people in need by donating, fundraising and demonstrating. Do reach out to others if you need mental support. The Student Services Center of the University of Groningen and some faculties provide the students with counseling sessions for mental support. I received counseling sessions from my Faculty of Medical Sciences and it was very helpful for me to cope with the tragic news and regain focus on my studies. Ask your study advisor if you are also interested in this.

6. Transition between different education systems

I grew up with spoon-feeding education. I was not used to questioning things or disagreeing with my lecturers or my supervisors. Moreover, I grew up using physical textbooks and written notes and I never had to use a computer except for preparing presentation slides during my bachelor's studies. Needing to do all of this made it a pretty rough start at the beginning of my first academic year. 

A behaviourist called Albert Bandura claimed that we can learn a targeted behaviour or goal by observing someone else’s activity. So this was what I did! I observed my classmates to adapt to the education system here in the Netherlands. Later, I asked questions when I finally felt comfortable. If you find me being quiet, it’s because I’m observing and learning! The Dutch are famous for the flat hierarchy. This applies not only in the workplace but also in the university. This fosters communication between the students and the lecturers and also motivates the students to develop themselves. So, don’t be afraid to ask questions or talk to your professor!

7. Financial stressors and part-time job hunting

The cost of living in the Netherlands is expensive. Students have to account for housing, groceries, transportation and other day-to-day expenses. Students will have to learn how to budget. To reduce the cost of transportation, I bought a bicycle, plus, Groningen is a very bicycle-friendly city and everywhere is within 30 minutes by bike. For groceries, I love going to the market at Vismarkt which opens every Tuesday, Friday, and Saturday from as early as 6 in the morning till 5 in the afternoon. Many varieties of products are available at the Vismarkt at a cheaper price and they sell the products by weight so you can buy only as much (or little) as you want if you’re living alone and don’t want to waste food. 

To keep track of my budget, I personally keep a spreadsheet and I turn on the notification of the mobile banking app to alert me when I overspend. You can also apply for part-time jobs and English would be sufficient for most of the part-time jobs (of course, it’s a bonus if you speak Dutch!)

8. Falling in love with Groningen

After overcoming all the struggles, you will find yourself so truly in love with Groningen that you might not want to leave. <3

Veel succes! 

Feel free to contact me through my personal page for more information.