Exchange Report-International Office´s students-2019

BASIC INFORMATION

General information

Surname Kropp Lindh

First name Frida

Exchange Kropp Lindh, Frida - 2019/20

Exchange country

Exchange city

Duration of the stay

Academic year 2019/20

Start semester/term Autumn Semester 2019/20

Duration in semesters/terms 1

Your exchange in brief

Level of studies at the exchange university Undergraduate / Bachelor

Subject area Media and Communication Studies

Other 0210 - Arts, not further defined

Your studies at Uppsala

What are you studying at ? Bachelor's Programme in Media, Communication and Journalism Studies

How many years of study had you completed before going 2 years on exchange?

STUDIES

Studies/Semester description The text field will expand to allow you to write as much as The past months in the Netherlands and in the student town Groningen have you like truly been inspiring. The town offers a variety of different surroundings and the city center is always flourishing with people, markets and events. The residents of Groningen are astonishingly friendly. They are always willing to help an international student in need for guidance through the city of bikes. Yeah… there are a LOT of bikes around town! The University of Groningen has much in common with Uppsala University. Both Universities are surrounded with a wide range of history and modernity. They both offer fascinating facilities with everything you might need to succeed with your studies. In terms of teaching methods it does not feel like unexplored territory as they use similar technology in forms of PowerPoint presentations. Students are allowed to interrupt and ask question without hesitation. The encourage us to be active and to take part of the lectures. They also have seminars where you go more in depth and where the students are encouraged even further to participate and ask questions. I had courses that stayed in line with my field within communication studies, (Digital communication & Intercultural communication) but still I explored other areas. For example I studied, Minority Representation in arts culture and media, and I found this course very inspiring and I learn so much that it was almost overwhelming (in a good way). It was interesting because I got to be critical about things I never thought about –it was a challenge because it was a new area but still worth it! I really recommend the Minority representations course – if you would like to learn more about how arts, culture and media is related to society, including structures of power, dominance, and minority groups.

ORIENTATION AND RECEPTION

Orientation and reception

Tell us about how it was to arrive and settle in. I came to Groningen 17th of August 2019 and started to get familiar with the town on own terms. 26th of August to 28th of August University of Groningen had introduction days at the faculty of arts. This was a very good way to get to know the university as a whole and also a great way to make your first friends. The Erasmus Student Network (ESN) in Groningen also offered an introduction week were you also got the chance to get familiar with the town and get to know more people. I had a really smooth start in Groningen (except that I almost had to change all my courses) but they were really helpful and you were able to book meetings with the exchange coordinators if you had any questions or worries. Thanks to all the introduction events and helpful personal my first weeks here was very welcoming and exciting.

ACCOMMODATION Your accommodation: One thing I think is worth mentioning is that finding an accommodation here in Groningen is really hard! So be aware of this before your exchange – my tip is to be fast to join Facebook groups and write to as many people as possible and me quick once a new post is out! My strategy was to go to Groningen before the exchange (if you have the opportunity of course) with my father. I’m originally from south of , Malmö, so my dad and me drove to Groningen by car. We were there two months before my exchange. We tried several things… We downloaded an app called Kamernet for a cost. There we could contact potential room renters. However this was not a success as there was no one who answered. Maybe 4/100 people replied but in the end they had already promised their room to someone else. We went thereafter to “The student hotel” in Groningen but they were already fully booked during the period of time I was supposed to be there. If you are considering this place, be aware of that that the prices are relatively high but the location is good, and their facilities are modern and fresh. Our last stop was at a private Property management company in Groningen called Bulten Vastgoed. We were almost out of hope at this point but luckily Bulten Vastgoed had a studio available for half a year during my exchange period. Directly in the city center, close to everything, your own kitchen, your own bathroom, and washing machine shared with two others. Of course this sort of accommodation comes with a higher price, you also need to pay two rents beforehand when signing the contract so I was really lucky my father could help. I lived in this studio during my whole exchange period and I have no complaints what so ever. I was extremely lucky to find this place that was furnished and with private kitchen and bathroom.

YOUR FINANCES

Your finances: The cost of living here in form of food is quite cheap if you compare to Uppsala but accommodations can be really expensive and if you are unlucky you pay about 450-650 euros for a small room, with shared bathroom and kitchen with several people. In Uppsala I pay 310 euros for my own room, small kitchen and bathroom at Göteborgs nation. Here I had to pay more than the double, 850 euro, but for a whole studio in the city center. With CSN and the Erasmus grant you had good possibilities to live well, but because of the high deposit and high rent I got some support from my family as well.

FREE TIME

Your free time: There were activities set up especially for exchange students but the town is always buzzing with events and happenings. It is not a quiet town and I was very happy that everything is adapted for students. I loved the nightlife with vibrant pubs and clubs; I loved the daylife with boat tours on the canal, fieldtrips to other towns in the Netherlands. And if you wanted to eat out, there were a lot of nice restaurants. A personal favorite of mine was “Yanagi Ramen en Sushi House”, with friendly staff and beautiful food! There is always something going on and I assure you that Groningen won’t disappoint.

YOUR EXCHANGE ON THE WHOLE Your exchange: My exchange experience in Groningen has been extremely valuable and challenging. When you are away from home you’re totally out of your comfort zone and you need to find new friends, new places, new routines, and new supermarkets EVERYTHING you meet and see is basically new. In this way you get to know your self in a completely different way. Groningen is a super multicultural city and the exchange program here is huge. I met people from all around the world, which was so existing and interesting. In this sense I did not only encounter the Dutch culture but cultures from all around the globe. I really enjoyed the education provided at the university, I would say that it’s top of the line, with great and lectures. It is a very open climate in the lectures where you feel motivated and encouraged to learn more. Lastly, if you are looking for a vibrant student city, with a lot going on, both daytime and nighttime this is the place for you!

Finally, why do you think a future student should go on I think you should go on an exchange because it gives you new perspectives. I exchange? believe that you can become too comfortable with studying at your home university. An exchange will mean that you can break this comfort zone and your mind will start noticing things it did not do before. No matter where go in the world it will be adventure that you’ll be caring with you for the rest of your life. It’s valuable journey and ones you get the opportunity to do it, DO IT! Don’t be afraid for the unknown and don’t be too comfortable. I’m so grateful for this opportunity and the people that I got to meet. I feel my confidence have grown and now I just eager to see new places!

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Please tell us a little bit about this picture Me on a field trip to Den Haag

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Please tell us a little bit about this picture Groningen city streets

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