Study Abroad Handbook

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Expectations

Living abroad in the Netherlands will be different, and it’s crucial for you to start expecting that the Netherlands will be different. Simply anticipating some of the differences ahead of time can help better prepare you for life abroad in the Netherlands. The single most import thing to remember is to be flexible. You will no doubt have to adapt to new things you encounter in the Netherlands.

You should learn to expect the unexpected. Accept the fact that everything in the Netherlands will not be same as it here in the United States. The following are some very general and basic things to which you are probably accustomed in the United States, but that may be very different in the Netherlands. Dutch people, as a population, are generally open, welcoming and relaxed with an appreciation for a good sense of humor. You can expect Dutch services and cities to be clean, orderly and prosperous. Furthermore, you can expect to find the same or better quality of living as you have in the United States.

• Routines and Schedules: Not only might you be dealing with a time difference upon arrival, but you may also have to adapt your schedule to fit the local norm. You may eat lunch and dinner later than you are accustomed to doing, or simply at different times. You may also find rural life in the Netherlands to be slower paced than the lifestyle to which you are accustomed. You will have to adapt your routine to bus and metro schedules and to your roommates’ schedules. There are countless ways in which your routine in the Netherlands can be different from your routine in the United States.
• Facilities: Facilities in the Netherlands will likely be modern, clean and pleasant. However, other countries you visit may not have the same quality services – basically, take what you get. You have to be your own judge of when facilities like hospitals, restaurants, beaches, public transportation, apartments, or even phone booths are in safe, working condition. This should not be a problem in the Netherlands, but you should be prepared for everything. Facilities do not have to be new to be useful or safe.
• Modern Conveniences: In Dutch supermarkets, you probably will not be able to find certain favorite food items you always eat in the United States. Just because you can’t find something you’re looking for in the Netherlands, doesn’t mean the Netherlands lacks anything. If you like Dutch food in the United States, it doesn’t mean it will taste the same in the Netherlands. You should not expect to find the same foods in restaurants or supermarkets, the same fast food chains or name brand items, the same style or sizes of clothing and shoes, etc. In short, if you can’t have or find everything you want, you will have to compromise.
• Bathrooms and Toilets: You may very likely find things are different even in Dutch bathrooms. The idea of a western toilet with a porcelain bowl and a seat is not universal. Bathroom facilities abroad can literally be holes in the floor, outhouses, or non-existent. Bidets are common, especially in Europe. Toilet paper is often not available, or not commonly used. You may always want to carry a pocket pack of tissues with you just in case. Sinks and running water for you to wash your face and hands or brush your teeth may or may not be an option. If sink water is an option, be sure to ask if you can drink it or brush your teeth with it. Showers may also be different in the Netherlands, as some cultures prefer to bathe in a tub or other water source instead. Hand-held water sprayers may replace U.S. style fixed showerheads.
• Co-ed Living: If you are not comfortable with living with the opposite sex, make sure to make your wishes known before you are assigned housing, or before you place an ad for a roommate. Otherwise, you may be assigned to live in a co-ed dorm, or find that your roommates are of the opposite sex.

GlobalScholar.us: Go to Course 1, Module 1, Task 3 – “ Sort Out Your Expectations” to learn how to recognize your own feelings about going abroad how your experiences may be different from your expectations.