Type of housing: A room exchange

Arranged by: Independently - My choice

If returning, I would choose: On campus

Why? I still had a contract with Duwo which is the housing agency in the Netherlands. Currently, I rent my room to my friend. Therefore, after going back to Holland, I still have an available room for myself and ofcourse I can stay there.

Personal comments:
Since I was an international student, I must look for the room by myself in Holland and Germany ( I came to Holland to study abroad since 2002). I used to live in a apartment, or live with family in Holland. After that, I chose to live in the student building because it gives me many advantages. Currently, I stay in a single room in a student building of FH Pforzheim. It is extremely cheap comparing to the room in Holland. The quality, I may say that cheap price goes with cheap quality. The facilities are quite old since this building was built in 1975. However, I myself surprise because the room is not so bad and the cleanliness is not a matter. Furthermore, the location is very advantageous to me. As I used to go to the library to study, I usually chose the location near the university. Therefore, on Saturday and Sunday, I can walk to the library and study there. It is also near the centre ( 10 minute from the centre and the train station). For a student, price is the first criterion and it can followed by the quality. Furthermore, I need to save money for 4 years studying in foreign country, therefore, I must say, I am quite satifactory with my choice.

Describe host city: Student life dominates the city

Activities: Takes place mostly within the university/student environment

Nightlife, Travel: Takes place both within and outside of the university/student environment

Personal comments:
The FH Pforzheim's student organisation did much better job than the one in Haagse Hogeschool. I used to participate once in International Business Management Study party, but I did not enjoy it much. Each student only pay 5 euro ( a good price for student)and the location is nice also (they rent a bar located in the centre to organise the party). Everything seems nice. Nevertheless, the space of the bar is too narrow for 100 students, and we really needed an air conditioner, although the snow was falling down outside at that time. Comparing to IBMS student organisation, USTA organisation of FH Pforzheim is much better. They negotiate with the restaurants, bars, cafe in Pforzheim to reduce the price for the student. One of my favorite bar here is Irish Pub. They organised a special night on every Wednesday. On every Wednesday, they do not arrange the table like they did as usual. All of the tables will be gone and the bar becomes bigger. Furthermore, everybody can choose a song to sing. Perhaps, I like this bar because they have Karaoke! But the air there is really friendly and that is the only place where I can meet many international student and foreigners. If you know the Horoscope of Vietnamese, I was born in PIG year. A pig stands for eating and sleeping. I therefore prefer to eat and look for a new food. Mostly, I came to Asian restaurant and Hong Kong is my favorite restaurant. It is also very popular to most of the German in Pforzheim because it serves a comparable price and dilicious meal. Cafe in Pforzheim is somehow the same with other places in Europe ( ofcourse not compare to Austria-Wien). My favorite cafe in Pforzheim is Italino cafe located in the new shopping mall. They really serves a real Italian taste of coffee and ice cream. Especially, the ice cream are so delicious and not so expensive ( 5 euro per ice cream glass). I like doing sport besides eating and sleeping also! The sport card for the student here really makes me surprise because of favorable price. I must pay 50 euro/ semester in Haagse Hogeschool, but only 7 euro/semester in FH Pforzheim. I can go to swim on every Tuesday and join in Hiphop dancing class on every Thursday with my sport card. Unbelievable! I also like bowling and go to disco. Unfortunately, both of them are not attractive because of the bad quality and old facilities. I should introduce Baden Wuerttemberg region in which Pforzheim belongs to because I really like this region. Perhaps, I have spent my whole life in flat city such as Ho Chi Minh or The Hague, therefore, when I have chance to live in mountain region like in Baden Wuerttemberg, I feel very intersting. I had travelled most of the places in this region such as Heidelberg ( Castle is the most attracting thing), Mannheim and Stuttgart ( place for shopping), Bad Wilbad (...

Course recommendations:
If you are a traveller, I think you will not be regretful about choosing FH Pforzheim as an exchange university. Nevertheless, if you really like studying and want to focus on studying during you exchange time here, FH pforzheim somehow is not a good choice. Ofcourse, I will compare the educational program and quality between Haagse Hogeschool and FH Pforzheim. Perhaps, the program that we study in FH Pforzhem is an exchange program. Hence, the program is quite easy for us- as exchange students- comparing to the program for regular students. Everybody knows that exchange is not for studying, but enjoying and experiencing the life in a foreign country more. However, I am quite surprised when I study together with a Master student in

Personal comments:
In my first year, I was really upset about my grade. I have expected much about myself. However, I did not get what I wanted. Comparing to my friend, my grade is not as high as theirs. The reason that I found out is most of them have already studied in Vietnam for 1 or 2 years. This is really an advance for international student. Especially, for Asian student. The problem is the educational program in high school and university are totally differrent. In the university, you must study by yourself and must have a plan for the whole semester. Nevertheless, the student in high school are very dependent on the teachers. Initiative and well-organise in advance are the two suggestions for a new student!

Language of instruction: English

Main source of funding:
Family

Other sources of funding:
An ERASMUS grant

Work opportunities:
I worked during my study abroad experience

Personal spending habits:
The food in Germany is cheaper than in Holland. However, I had so many chances to have dinner together with my firends and we usually go out together, hence, I have spent more on food. I had a mobile contract in Holland and I still continue it until June because of my contract period. I could not stop it since February. Then, the Tmobile company charge international fee when I was in Germany in February. Meanshile, I must buy a prepaid sim to call within Germany. In one time, I must pay as twice as I must pay in Holland. Fortunately, I searched for a very good room through the internet. Actually, I contacted with FH Pforzheim international office and they gave me some address that I can contact and find a room. By that way, I found my cheap room now. Besides, I did quite lots of trips in Germany, and reduce the night party, I totally spend more because of travelling then.

Food, Travel, Overall, Telephone: was more expensive than at home.

Nightlife, Housing: was less expensive than at home.

I wish I had known...
As I am already an international student, I had many experiences in loking for a room, adapting to a new life, communicating with new people and so on. Therfore, there is not so many difficutlties for me at all.

In my opinion:
Everybody loved it, you will too!