By: Emma Kerr, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Social Sciences
Luckily for me, I had something as an emotional outlet and passtime, that didn’t require a language: running. Long distance running has been a hobby of mine for the past couple of years, and as I learned while on exchange, it is not only a great way to spend time and get some exercise, but it can also be a great way to visit new places. Throughout my exchange, I travelled to several countries around the continent, as well as exploring many parts of the Netherlands, and I made sure to go for a little running tour in every place I visited. I also ran a half marathon race, which permitted me to take home a finisher’s medal as a souvenir, one my most unique and special souvenirs.
Though running was a helpful emotional crutch and hobby that I carried with me throughout my time in Amsterdam, I learned that an open mind is truly the most important tool you can have in times of change. Being willing to try new things led to me being able to experience other people’s hobbies, cultures and personalities. Some of my friends and I developed a habit of visiting museums. Over my term abroad, I visited over 12 different museums across the Netherlands and Western Europe. The hobby of visiting museums helped me to learn and appreciate the city I was living in and the places that I was fortunate enough to visit. Plus, I learned that I actually love museums and find them fascinating. I guess visiting all those national museums on field trips growing up in Ottawa paid off!
I also tried many different cafes and restaurants around Amsterdam with my friends, making the most of trying the local cuisine. From my opinion, stamppot is delicious, but a bit of an acquired taste, bitterballen and stroopwafels can’t be beat! I also tried restaurants with international foods. Thanks to this hobby I developed with others, I was able to sample foods I’ve never tried before, and go to places that I may have been otherwise too nervous to go to alone.
Being alone in a new place can be scary, and it can be easy to retreat into what is familiar as a way to self-soothe. While this may be comforting, it can also be very limiting. I think that we as people are at our fullest potential when we are outside of our comfort zone. Being on exchange forced me to reckon with this fact, and learn to balance my tried and true interests with new ones. This has led me to return home with not only stories of fun running adventures amongst new scenery and new friends, but also a ton of incredible memories and anecdotes as a museum explorer and a global eater! Making time for the old and the new was absolutely critical not only for enhancing my exchange experience and my appreciation for Amsterdam and the Netherlands, but for my growth as a person, and I am so incredibly grateful to have had the opportunity to do it all.