Making friends and socializing in the Netherlands | Study in Holland podcast #1

Putting down your roots as an international student can be challenging, but also very exciting. In the Study in Holland podcasts of NHL Stenden, we're talking about what it’s like to live in the Netherlands as an international student. Using statements to trigger the discussion, four students share their surprise and disbelief, their thoughts and experiences – and come up with some great tips.  
  
The Study in Holland podcasts are hosted by Dutch NHL Stenden student Lotje with this week's guests are Vincent from Berlin, Jade from Zimbabwe and Dale from Zimbabwe.   

We launch into the podcast with a culture shock experience and for Dale this was the surprise of a kind stranger agreeing to pay for his bus ticket and then...? Well, listen to find out what happened next. 

This week's topic is social life and we talk about all kinds of aspects from socialising being a distraction for homesickness to creating friends for life, or simply a network that spreads across the globe. But just how do you meet people when you're new in town and how easy is it to mix with different nationalities. Our students have some great insights and share their ideas. Of course, new friends and activities are all part of building up your own life as a student, and no matter how strong those friendships area, we all agree homesickness can still sneak in – but why is that so often on a Sunday? 

00:00 - Introduction 
01:20  - Culture shock in the past week 
02:42 - Statement: Having a social life cures homesickness 
05:01 - Statement: The friends I've made here are for life 
08:00 - Statement: There are a lot of ways to make social contact in the Netherlands 
10:39 - Statement: Making friends in the Netherlands is easy 
14:04 - Statement: Making friends with people of different nationalities is a challenge 
16:20 - Summary of discussion  
17:19 - Tips  

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At NHL Stenden University of Applied Sciences, we encourage our students to expand their boundaries. Students take charge of their own study path in one of our many bachelor or master programmes, from hospitality to marketing to teaching. Our international network has partners all over the world, including Bali, the Netherlands, South Africa and Thailand. Check out the website for all our degrees and more information: https://bit.ly/3HQNP33.