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From Amsterdam to Dunkirk with a bike and a backpack
Written by Will Fisher, Universiteit van Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands My exchange in Amsterdam ended at the start of August, and if there’s one thing I’ve spent my year doing, it’s cycling. Wondering just how good I’d gotten on a bike by now, I carved out a few days and planned a 4-day route from Amsterdam to Dunkirk entirely by bike. My student loans had mysteriously ushered themselves from my bank account by this point, so I eschewed hostels and instead planned to stay at free campsites along the way. It all seemed easy enough: 5-6 hours of cycling a day, three nights camping, and take the ferry over the Channel.…
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Last days in Amsterdam
By Will Fisher, Universiteit van Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands After a year, it’s hard to say goodbye to this city. It was hard to make the choice to spend a full two semesters abroad, and nerve-wracking coming here and settling in to a whole new country. But now, ten months later, I can’t have asked for a better way to spend my year. I decided that for my last few weeks properly living in Amsterdam, before I embarked on a cross-Europe (+ Morocco) summer trip, I wanted to pack in a little of everything that made these months so special to me. Fortunately, the University of Amsterdam’s academic block system meant…
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Amsterdam: Beyond University
By Will Fisher, Universiteit van Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands It’s nice to earnestly say that my exchange year in Amsterdam has been one of the most fulfilling and formative experiences of my life. I approached the year with both excitement and scepticism, not sure if it would be as life-altering and meaningful as I hoped it would. Seven months in, I wouldn’t have wanted to do anything else with my time. The university itself has, of course, had an impact. UvA’s courses are varied and detailed, and my particular exchange programme has allowed me to go in-depth on topics such as alienation, free speech, and Machiavellianism, ideas that may be covered…
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Three short moments from Amsterdam
By Will Fisher, Universiteit van Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands The moon hung full and low and serene over Gaasperplas, the mile-long lake lying a short stroll from my Biljmer apartment. I was walking with a friend whose eyes seemed hand shaped to reflect moonlight back into mine. Our night had taken us halfway around the lake, stopping occasionally to watch small waves lap against the handful of shores and beaches scattered along the waterfront.
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A Trip to Berlin
By Will Fisher, Universiteit van Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands The travel options during a year abroad in Europe are practically unlimited. The density and variety of cultures just outside your door practically beg to be explored, and no exchange would be compete without at least a little extra travelling. Over January, me and some of the friends I’ve made in Amsterdam were lucky enough to get a chance to visit Berlin.
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Settling In
By Will Fisher, Universiteit van Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands Believe it or not, moving to a different country can be tricky. Aside from the immigration concerns, housing issues, university work, and the rest of the practical concerns (all of which warrant their own blog post), just finding yourself can take time in a completely new environment. My experience with this is still ongoing, but after a term of living in Amsterdam, I’ve settled into more of a groove, and feel able to properly assess my time so far.
A study abroad journal by students, for students.
