Time for ending this first part of the Erasmus blog is coming!

Looking back on my first exchange semester in Groningen, I would say that it has been for me a very nice experience. Although things are not always easy, especially with all the changes that are happening on my personal life, I know that I don’t and won’t never regret my choice of going to Groningen, as well as of going abroad. I am very lucky to meet that many new and interesting people, to try all that different things and to have a rich emotional life.

Groningen is a very nice city. Accept from the weather that is very “moody”, you can hardly complain about anything here: you have lovely, beautiful, clean, safe city, with all the nice bars, shops, markets, etc. In Groningen, student life is full of activities, parties, travels: you always can find friends who want to join you and have a plenty of student associations who organize activities every week for you. I’m sure that you even can not join all the activities organized by the ESN only, as they are too many, and they are very well organized by the way.

School is also very nice. Most of French students must be jealous with the modern commodity that we have in the Hanze. The working style is also very different: you have many teamworks, many practical projects with real clients and results. You work with your team and discuss with your “coaches”: they are also “teachers” and “professors” but they always expect you to read books, do research in advance and take initiatives, be reactive and control your project/work. In addition, when we talk of “international project”, that means it involves students, teachers and clients from a dozen of different nationalities and not less.

Furthermore, people are undeniably nice: not only the Dutch (my friends, teachers and even the Dutch that I’ve met in the street) are noticeably nice, kind and open-minded, but also the international friends that I’ve met here. It’s true that sometimes, I feel irritated because the Dutch are so relaxed while I worry a lot, but most of the time, it’s a great pleasure to have such nice people around you in your daily life.

Last but not least, this experience in the Netherlands has given the chance to take a step back, and to have a different view on the French society and people. If France made me question about Vietnam, the Netherlands make me question about France. Today, I appreciate even more the French who love discussing and giving opinion on everything, who feel involved to things that are happening around them and outside the borders.

Now, Groningen has been added to the list of my beloved cities, besides Hanoi and Paris; and the Netherlands next to Vietnam and France. I get richer every time that this list gets longer, and I am very happy about that.

*”Groningen, I love you!”