Study Report ERASMUS+

faculty of arts

University of Groningen, NL Groning01 Erasmus+ KA1 Mobility

2019-2020

ERASMUS+

Study Report

This form needs to be completed by every student who has completed an

Erasmus+ mobility.

Last name

Duijff

First name

Willem

RUG student number

S 3482138

Please enclose a 2-page report on your experiences abroad, using the

following headings:

1.

Your study programme or your internship programme

2.

Language

3.

Finance and other conditions

4.

Preparation and contacts with the faculty before, during and after

your stay

5.

Housing

6. Culture

7.

Free time

8. Travelling

9.

Other

I hereby give permission to the International Office to publish my report on the Faculty of Arts

Repository to inform future students

Yes No Future students may contact me for additional

information Yes No

Signature Participant

1

Studying in Cologne

In early October 2019 I prepared for my minor programme in Cologne, Germany. I’d been given this opportunity to further widen my knowledge of German, as I studied German as my major language within the programme European Languages and Cultures in Groningen. The process of enrollment already started in the end of the second year’s last semester, when I had to apply for my top-three favourite cities. Since there were around twelve students of German within ELC who planned on going abroad that year and about fifteen cities in both Germany and Austria were available for the minor abroad, the odds that one was accepted for the city they chose were pretty high. Eventually, I was indeed picked to study in Cologne, starting from October 1st_.

After I got accepted for the study period in Cologne, I was enrolled in the university’s

programs and websites, so that I was able to choose the seminars I wanted to attend. Because I went to Germany to improve on my German, obviously I had to pick only those seminars that were given in German. As a result, none of my seminars involved other than German speaking and writing, although some papers we had to read for class preparation were in English.

I must admit, as soon as the entire enrollment process was completed, I could’ve immediately started looking for housing. I didn’t, however, and started a little late. While others thought that might give problems, this wasn’t the case. It wasn’t all that difficult to find a good place within walking distance to the university (a fifteen-minute walk tops). On top of that, my place was situated along a rather busy street where there was a tram stop two minutes away from my doorstep, so that I was able to travel to the city’s center within fifteen minutes as well.

My room was for one person only and wasn’t located in a WG (‘Wohngemeinschaft’), like they call it in Germany. I actually specifically looked for a place like that because I wanted some time for just myself. I’m really glad I did, too, because I was able to keep both kitchen and bathroom entirely for myself. I was lucky enough that I didn’t have to pay for the stay, because my parents insisted they would, but I still profited from the Erasmus grant I was given. After all, I still had to do some grocery shopping and things like that.

Sadly, I wasn’t able to attend the first meeting at the university, but two friends of mine, who also studied ELC, were picked to study in Cologne as well, so they kept me informed during the time they were already there and I couldn’t be there. As soon as the seminars started to take place, I of course attended.

At first, especially the lectures seemed a lot different than I was used to in the Netherlands. We were sat in a huge lecture room which could (and nearly would, too) accommodate 600

2 students, while I never experienced something like that in Groningen. The seminars on the other hand were much more compacted and felt like any other seminar in Groningen, which gave me a nice feeling of comfort.

The first weeks of college required some getting used to - as did a new city and a new culture. Although the latter didn’t differ much from cultural outings in the Netherlands, it was my first time living on my own. I still needed to find my routine, but to be honest, Cologne made me feel at home quite quickly. It must’ve helped that my two aforementioned friends were there, so we were able to get used to the city with the three of us together.

I had expected, however, to be able to get in touch with German students, but they almost all were much more into themselves and their own habits than laying new contacts. At least, that is how it felt for me. I probably could’ve signed up for the Erasmus society in Cologne, but I didn’t really feel much for that, although I visited one dinner party with them. That actually was an evening to remember, as I found an Erasmus student from Sweden, with whom I was able to catch up on my Swedish.

I had a lot more free time in Cologne than in Groningen. The lectures and seminars weren’t as intensive as those at the RUG, which meant I could explore the city a bit more. I’m really into cars and photography, so I found a fellow petrolhead from Cologne to guide me around the city to see some nice cars. Also, outside the city, there was a place where special cars were presented and events were held, so I would go there almost every other Sunday.

My two friends and I would also simply have dinner together or sit at each other’s places and hang out. Friends of ours from the Netherlands also visited us, so we could really keep ourselves busy. Other weekends I went home by train to do things I had planned there. Furthermore, I visited cities like Düsseldorf and Bonn. Because train travelling wasn’t that expensive with my student card from Cologne, I thought I’d make good use of that, so I’ve explored a lot from the entire area by train.

The university itself was really helpful when I experienced any trouble. Although the enrollment process and internal university system were unnecessarily complicated,

everything worked really well once you got the hang of it. The canteen served great food and offered a nice place to sit and talk with each other after a seminar. The professors and other students, like I already mentioned, behaved more aloof than I’d expected, but since I wasn’t alone in the city, it didn’t really bother me.

There have been times when I wondered why I’d decided to study abroad, away from all the things I was used to and, all things considered, satisfied about, but in the end I’m really glad I did follow the programme. During the half year I studied abroad, I learned a lot of new and useful things, not just about other cultures, universities and cities, but also about myself.

3 Anyone who has the opportunity to apply for a minor abroad, should: it’s an experience you’ll never forget and won’t regret for the rest of your life.