Adventures in Northern Europe

By Annabelle Henderson, ESADE Business School, Barcelona, Spain

As I am on a year exchange, I complete two exchange semesters. This means that students who came to Barcelona for just the fall semester have left now we are in the Spring. I was lucky to be invited by some friends from last semester to visit them in their home countries. So, as I had a week off university, I decided to do some travelling and go visit them.

Firstly, I went to the Netherlands. One of my friends I met last semester studies in Rotterdam at the Erasmus University so I went to stay there for a few days. Whilst I was there, we rode bikes along the river and saw architecture such as the beautiful Central Station as well as the famous Rotterdam Market Hall.

Whilst in the Netherlands, I also visited Amsterdam which I hadn’t been to before. There, we walked around Vondel Park, visited the Jordaan Area and went on a canal boat tour through the city. I also ate stroopwafels and tried worstenbroodjes – both traditional dutch delicacies. It was so fun touring the city and my friend tried helping me learn Dutch too!

From the Netherlands, I travelled to Cologne in Germany to meet another exchange friend from last semester. She invited me because it was Karnival there; this huge 5-day celebration which involves parades and partying. I also toured the city a little, visiting the Dom which is a beautiful cathedral in the heart of the city.

It’s so exciting being on exchange and getting the opportunity to meet people from all over the world. It really is an experience like no other. I am already planning on visiting other friends in different countries and perhaps having them come to visit me when I am back in Manchester!