Improved version of this How to..!

I am making this blog thinking of international students, but how do you ever become an international student??

There are 2 types of international students;
'The degree-seeking student' and 'The exchange student'.

It is relatively easy to become a degree-seeking student. Basically you look for a university and program anywhere in the world you want to study, you subscribe, you go there.. done. (strongly simplified version).

The how to.. of today however is about exchange students.

Step 1
Go to the international offiice of your home university. This implies that you should be subscribed at a university somewhere already. Preferably you are subscribed to a program where you get credits for going on exchange. However, this is not absolutely necessary.

This is the link to the international office of my university, generally you just type in 'International Office' in the 'search'-field. My uni has a cool overview with destinations I can choose from.

Step 2

Find out about the opening times of your international office, which will probably be too early, too late and on days you do not have to be in the uni.

Step 3
Talk to the lady and ask for scholarships and deadlines. In the Netherlands we have complete guideboks for scholarships. This could be scholarships for exchange within Europe (called Erasmus), but also scholarships for 'girls of german/indonesian desent who are not taller than 1.69'. Why do these scholarships exist? Because people said in their will their money should be used for the purpose of helping specific kinds of young people to go on exchange. And we speak of the dead no evil.


Usefull links for scholarships:

Fullbright scholarships for Dutch who want to study in the States or for Americans who want to study in The Netherlands
Erasmus scholarships can be requested at your own international office. The Erasmus scholarship is 250€ per month for Dutch students, but differs per nationality.
Huygens Scholarship for talented students and researchers

Step 4
Take 4 weeks to fill out all the forms. In general it is better to stay at the housing provided for you by the university because you will stay with all the other exchange students which is a wonderful experience. On the other hand it may be cheaper to get a room yourself. We'll leave that up to you.

Step 5
Hand in the fo

rms, book the ticket, take the travel insurance.

Usefull links:
Cheaptickets.com
AON insurances
Lippmann insurances

Normally you would have enough insurance with your own travel insurance, though some uni's require you to take a special ensurance sucgh as the ones mentioned here.

Step 6
Take a break and organise a goodbye party for you will never be the same again.

Step 7
GO! Enjoy! Keep me updated!

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more nonsense. If you watch the movie below, you'll see the Dutch Postcode Lottery was founded in 1989 to help create a fairer greener world.

Yeah, right.. I mean, have you ever heard of Lotteries being founded to make money?



I am happy to point out more nonsense in this movie. See the guy saying 'but are we smart enough to do it now?'. He's sitting in front of his own brand name! Now it is a nice brand, called Qurrent, saying we should all invest in local renewable energy sources. Apart from an inevitable allergic reaction to the Q in the brand name, it seems to be a nice company. After a small search it seems that they are in a test-phase (Since 2007), but it's no problem to order their Qbox already! The first year subscription is free! But the next years? .. no idea.. The owner of this company is probably at the right time at the right place.. with the right subsidies..
(I"m just guessing, I don't know more than what is on the website)

Just a random Quote from the website:
'As mentioned before, the Qbox measures your energy at a very detailed level. The data is then transferred to the central Qurrent Qserver which holds all records. Then, when you logon to the Qmunity website...'

The person speaking about 'changing the world by dancing' is probably from Club Watt, in Rotterdam, the Netherlands. This club is cool, because it's sustainable, but it's also loud. Right after it was built it exceeded the Dutch law on noise pollution. Why, when you are trying to be sustainable, you end up 'polluting' something else..

Then there is Mr. Cohen, the mayor of Amsterdam, on a unicycle. (W

Image via Wikipedia

hy? I just ask why..)

At the end of the movie Bill Clinton tells us we can 'turn the tide on global warming', yeah right. Reduce CO2 -emissions, that's what we could do.. we could be more sustainable. But 'turn the tide?' Where does all the melted ice (aka water) go?

The good news; you could win 500.000 E! By submitting your idea to 'save the planet'. I say, we give those 500.000 back to the poor grandma's who play in the Podtcode Lottery for all their lives now. Go go Robin Hood!

Image via Wikipedia

This is a great new way of discussing new governmental policies. Obama calls for Americans to upload videos with their opinion on the reform of the Health Care System in the States. This wednesday, july 1st, he will then answer the most frequently asked questions online. I wish that this could be the new way of discussing policy everywhere..

Image via Wikipedia

The European cucumber no longer has to be straight. This 'rule of the straight cucumber' has been made around 10 years ago, with the purpose of stimulating the free market. The rule has grown to be a (crooked) example of European bureaucracy. An intelligent commissioner of the EU, by the name of Mariann Fischer Boel, has now rewritten this rule; 'because in these days it is a shame to throw crooked cucumbers away'. Now we think so too! Thanks Mariann!

thanks to NRCnext who've posted this news on their blog.

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While the States have a 'war on drugs', the EU has launched their 'action on drugs', at the 26th of June. The 26th apparantly stands for 'International Drugs Day'. This is a clear example of unclear policy.. Please tell me if you understand the following movie made by the EU, because I don't..

I see Kennedy, 'ich bin ein Berliner', I see fields, a doctor, and after that a man sent on his way with flyers of the 'European Action on Drugs'. Main connclusion? Life is a commitment.. join the European Action on Drugs..

?????? Why why why, is our European tax money spent on such a..

Just in:
Sale at lonely planet, 30% off. Sorry to be advertising, but it's a very usefull add.

If you are an exchange student you run the risk of limiting your conversations to; 'So, what did you do today?' and answers like; 'Well.. I woke up, had a shower.. watched a movie.. had a coffee with the neighbour.. and now I'm here at this party with you.'

There are many reasons why conversations can get boring; you don't know each other too well, you don't do to much in a day, mainly partying and sleeping, etc. Now I'm not saying everyone does that, but here are some interesting things to talk about:

TED talks classic: Barry Schwartz on the paradox of choice
This talk is also very much about exchange, travelling and most of all about choosing.

The travellers notebook has a nice article on: How to travel the world for free (seriously)
Certainly somthing we would like to know.. This travellers notebook offers many more interesting articles like: 10 Words and Phrases We Never Want to See in Travel Writing Again (for me) and: 10 Tattoo Clichés To Avoid At All Cost (funny and recognisable!)

From 10 Tattoo Clichés To Avoid At All Cost
Garden Variety Butterfly Tramp Stamp Beware the secret garden below. The butterfly belies a much more sinister truth, and though the garden is sure to be properly pruned, the implication that insect life may seek exodus from the deep cleavage below may not be so far off the mark.

'Tramp Stamp' :D:D:D (can't stop giggling)

And here's a really cool instructable for this weekend:

The Beverage Barge MK 2 - More DIY How To Projects

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Competition for young internationals:

The EU has a great photo-competition which is related to the European year of creativity and innovation. Now I am well aware that the 'give-it-a-theme-disease' of the EU is a waste of

Image by TPCOM via Flickr

money, time and creativity. But if we can win up to € 5.000 in camera materials AND a trip to Stockholm, I don't mind! I will certainly join this one! The deadline is only August 31, and the pictures should be about ´Imagine a new world´.

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The EU has its own channel at Youtube, called EUtube (such hEUmor). These screenshots say it all.

Because there are no former Erasmus Students:
You'll be an Erasmus Student untill the end of your days.

See the whole movie here:

Movie about Facebook
Glastonbury starts today
European universities awarded for excellence in supporting mobile students

Movie about Facebook

Aaron Sorking and David Fincher will be making a movie about Facebook. This social networking website, which is used by almost all international students and international student societies, will make for a great film so they believe. David Fincher, who previously directed huge movies such as 'Fight Club', 'Se7en' and 'Benjamin Button', is supposedly basing the movie on a book that is written by Ben Mezrich, called 'The Accidental Billionaires'.

Aaron Sorkin, writer of 'A few good man' and 'Charlie Wilsons War'. Published the following statement on facebook:
I've just agreed to write a movie for Sony and producer Scott Rudin about how Facebook was invented. I figured a good first step in my preparation would be finding out what Facebook is, so I've started this page. (Actually it was started by my researcher, Ian Reichbach, because my grandmother has more Internet savvy than I do and she's been dead for 33 years.)
source: Facebook page Aaron Sorkin

image The Accidental Millionaires: Credit Double Day

Glastonbury starts today

The Glastonbury festival starts today. This great UK festival is sold out, but I believe it is a 'must' for music-lovin' internationals to go there at least once. This year the line-up is really great again with N*E*R*D, Blur, Lady GaGa and The Prodigy as my personal favori

Image by Russ Garrett via Flickr

tes. I do however belong to the lucky few who've obtained tickets for the Lowlands festival in the Netherlands, where The Prodigy will also perform. I will keep you updated on that one, because I'll have to send blogs from the festival!

European universities awarded for excellence in supporting mobile students

A press release from the EU:

Warning! Official EU language!

65 higher education institutions from 16 countries are today awarded with special European quality labels in recognition of their efforts to make it easier for students to study abroad. These labels are given to universities which have shown excellence in applying the European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System (ECTS) and the Diploma Supplement (DS), two European instruments that make teaching and learning more transparent and facilitate the recognition of studies and qualifications.
source

These labels, ECTS and DS, should make it easier for us to study abroad AND get our credits and diplomas recognised. Good, we are all for transparancy. Though I do not understand why in The Netherlands only Eindhoven, Groningen and Wageningen are awarded such a label. I suspect this is because the other uni's did not apply! As I see it the calls for application at the EU are posted left and right and it's hard for uni's to keep up. Bureaucracy seems to be the major obstacle in reaching transparancy...

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Image via Wikipedia

Such a cute article by National Geographic;

Once upon a time, a young woman traveled to Europe for a summer. It was her first time traveling overseas - first time to have jet lag, first time to explore London on foot, first time to communicate using entry-level French and exaggerated charades...first time to experience the liberation of traveling for two weeks with one bag, a good friend, and no set itinerary.

It was also the first time she got mugged in France (oddly enough, 45 seconds later, it was also the first time she was invited to play UNO in France), the first time she was robbed in a hostel in Switzerland (they even took the chocolate!), and the first time she had to curse her stateside bank for freezing her account ("Someone was making charges in Amsterdam, Germany, and France. You told us you were studying abroad in London!").

She loved it.

Taken from National Geographic page

For more spots you should not visit, visit Don't go there!

The news of today.. brought to you by.. exchange student central:

Happy Manila day everyone. If you are in the Phillipines today it is 438 years ago since Manila was founded. In Canada it is St. Johns day, because St. John is the patron Saint of Québec. Seems he is also the patron saint of Newfoundland and Turin. Pretty cool guy, St. John. He is also celebrated in Peru, Estonia and Lithuania. In Latvia, they do celebrate a day called 'John' (Jani), but it has no reference to Christianity, so it doesn't count as St. Johns day. Now did you know that? To me, it is news.

St. Johns day is mostly celebrated trough the night of the 23rd to the 24th of June or the following night. The festivities count somewhat as a midsummernight party. Don't they know that midsummmer is at the 21st? ;) No worries for St. John, as also the English and Iris

Image by Lawrence OP via Flickr

h seem to have celebrated midsummer last night. I wonder, what doesn Scotland do in this case? In between festivities, while having celebrated their midsummers at the appropriate date?

This is all not true. You can celebrate the midsummers from the 19th (Finland) to the 29th (Portugal) according to this Wikipedia article.. Also, you can call it either St. Johns, midsummer or just 'Jani'. Wouldn't it be nice to do a trip? isiting midsummer festivals?

And that's why I like diversity.

The Foreign Exchange via last.fm

It is obvious that the first band that is discussed on this blog is by 'The Foreign Exchange'. Why did this cool duo choose such a nice nickname?

First of all, the producer, Nicolay, is from the Netherlands, the country where the best electronic music is made ;) , while Phonte, the vocalist, is from the States. Their first album was made trought the internet, trough okayplayer.com. They didn't even meet each other. Reasons enough to call yourself; 'The Foreign Exchange'.

Detail: Okayplayer.com was at time a website for sharing music, but is now a record label owned by Questlove and Decon.

According to me, their hit-song 'All or Nothing' is the best song of their new album 'Leave it all behind'. But what can I say.. personally I like their name more than their music and their first album better than their second. 'Leave it all behind' is smooth, jazzy and well, fit for a private party more than an exchange student party. What is really cool about their new CD is the Album Cover. It is made by Tobias Rose, for Kompleks Creative Inc. The pics are displayed here at imeem.

Hurray for cool connections.

Everyone is talking about it..
For example this guy who won the 20Erasmus competition:

This ERASMUS thing is not about an education programme that´ll help you improve your language skills and enhance your CV, it's really not about that. If there is 1 thing the ERASMUS is about, that thing is doubtless the process of self-discovery and self-development that all is participants experience. It is education in a greater sense,education to create better and more prepared human beings. This new "race" of people will eventually lead to a more tolerant and open society. The "sons of the Erasmus society". Just wait and see...

Image trough: 20Erasmus

ESN Launches a campaign against Racism and Xenophobia
New global ranking system for higher education
EU introduces 'Blue Card'
Rinnooy Kan says more Dutch Students should go Abroad!

ESN, the Erasmus Student Network, which is THE network for exchange students at home and abroad launches a campaign to fight racism and xenophobia.

You can help them by writing a short story (only 50 words or less) about how your experience abroad opened your eyes to understand, accept and respect people from different backgrounds. By sending a postcard to the ESN office in Brussels! Send a postcard -Send a Chance!


The Europian Commission set out a call to develop a new global ranking system for higher education. The tender is won by the Consortium for Higher Education and Research Performance Assessment (CHERPA) Which is good news for us picky international students. Developing and testing this new higher education ranking will take two years and cost €1.1 million.


After the example of the American Green Card, Europe is now developing a 'Blue Card' for higly-skilled foreign workers. 24 Member states are joining in on this project, Ireland, the UK and Denmark are NOT joining the project. Isn't it typical? Which rules are nowadays accepted by all memberstates? Anyway, the Blue Card is good news in general. Foreign-workers would not need to apply for a visa in each member state again if they move. They are also allowed to bring their families and make use of the social services of their host country. The rules are stict however, you need to have a contract and you will need to earn more than 1,5 times the average wage of the chosen memberstate! Difficult, but less difficult.


Some news for the Dutchies (since I am Dutch). Alexander Rinnooy Kan, the president of the Dutch Social and Econimic Council (SER), says in the 'Financieel Dagblad' of today that he is surprised that less than 50% of Dutch students go abroad. He says the Dutch should do better and that there are enough regulations provided by the EU. We know mr. Rinnooy Kan! Shame on the Dutch! Let's work on it instead of being surprised.

This is the first of hopefully many "how to's". There are many important party-skills an exchange student should posses. But one of the most important ones has proven to be: organising a Eurodinner or Potluck dinner.

Why organise a Potluck Dinner?
- It's cheap
- You host the party, but you almost do not have to do anything
- You don't have to buy drinks
- You will have lots of fun
- You will taste foods and drinks which you've never tasted before

How to organise a Potluck Dinner?

Step 1.
Set a date and time. In general it is nice to host the party at your own apartment. Though you will be the one who ends up with all the mess, you will also have the honour of having organised the best party untill now. Start at dinner time, this depends on your nationality.

Step 2.
Invite your friends. Hou

Image via Wikipedia

nestly, the more the better. I've seen succesfull eurodinners with over 400 participants. Tell them to bring food and drinks at least enough for one person. That way everyone will have enough to eat.

Step 3.
Buy beers and soda. You don't need too much. This is just to give your guests something else to drink next to the strong liquer your friends will bring as 'typical from their home country'. In general there are not that much beers and sodas typical for ones country, unless you are from Germany or the Czech Republic.

Step 4.
Remove expensive furniture and apply protection for the floor, like garbage bags. This is because some food might get spilled. Set up tables for food. Do the dishes so some food can be displayed on your kitchen sink.

Step 5.
Charge camera batteries and empty memory stick. This way you can take pictures of the best party of the year (that you will organise in just a few hours), and use them to remember some of the evening. Thanks to Madara for this usefull tip.

Step 6.
Arrange some friends (at the beginning of the party) to help you clean up. Let them promise this at the beginning of the party, so that you cab remind them at the end of the evening.

Step 7.
Have fun. Taste everything.

Step 8.
Cleaning up is part of the party. And this also means finishing the bottles. Really, after some days, it will start to smell badly..

Did I miss something? Send me a comment..

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Ryan Johns is a brave American young man who wants to run Europe from Athens to Amsterdam. He is now at day 31 of his trip and staying at Mormant in France, which is already North from Paris! Go Ryan!

You can help Ryan by showing him around at your city or town or by hosting him at your house. Another cool way to discover Europe.

bout going on exchange! And think of all the things that would have been so much easier if you had known them BEFORE going on exchange!

For example when I went to Sweden, it would have been nice to know that you are only allowed to access Clubs at 21.. Being 19 at the time of my exchange period, I had to do a big effort making up tricks to get in.

It is also good to know that you have to see 'L'auberge Espagnole' ('The Spanish Apartment') before going on exchange. Because it is just like reality.



It's good to know the rules of the game UNO, to know that the European Union provides you with a scholarship if you go on exchange in Europe, called Erasmus, to know what you can do while being on exchange, how to get a job, etc. etc. etc.

That is exactely what I will tell you on this website. I'll tell you all I know and more! More because YOU can contribute. Please send us your tips, tricks, news and advise for the newbies going on exchange and the ones coming back! Because once you've been an exchange student, you'll never be the same again.