Hogeschool van Arnhem en Nijmegen (HAN)

For me a choose the Ntherlands because i liked the country and the people. It was the only partner institution of my university where i could do a double degree. So my choice to some degree was taken away from me. I either wanted to go abroad, or i didn't. But i really wanted to go to the Netherlands. As for communication, Dutch is not the hardest language to pick up words from being English. However, the International business course was in English and the students i was socialising, very fee were dutch. This meant the opportunity to learn dutch was limited. Using it is difficult to, a Dutch person will know you are not native and use the opportunity to practice their english...i liked this not because it made my life easier, although it did. But, it makes you relaxed in a foreign country. People in Holland are not too bothered that you are a foreigner in 'their' country. Our neighbours in the apartment building were of all races and not students, but all were very friendly and that was nice too. It is nice to have that experience when you go abraod.

In Arnhem the bus service is good. So use it. Buy a Strippen card, this will give you more journeys for less than paying everytime you use the bus. Buy these from newsagents, and try using your ISIC to get the student price. This is a further reduction. However, you are not really allowed this as you will not hold a Dutch Student travel card. Depending on the driver (most don't ask) you will get away with it because you can claime you are an ignorant foreigner who didn't know. Buy a train card too. for 100 guilders/£30 (not sure what it is now in Euros) you will get reductions on you ticket fares. This lasts for a year and allows the card holder and up to 4 others to travel. All benefit from reduced fares. Its very easy to visit places in Germany and beyond from Arnhem. The mainline train from Amsterdam to Frankfurt stops at Arnhem. Koln is near by to and is wortha visit.

Go there with an open mind and you won't be disappointed. Those who spent too long moaning about what was wrong and what was better about where they were from didn't get as much from the experience as those who choose to enjoy what the place they were in had to offer. The best experience of all is meeting people, lots of very interesting people from all over Europe and beyond. That's what it is all about because when we are at home we are not encouraged, through not being a necessity more than anything, to interact with people with different beliefs and ideals. Now i have a number of very close friends that i would not have had if i had chosen not to go. More to the point i hope i learned something from all of them.

The accomodation was to a good standard. The university has an agreement with a independent housing agency (Vivare) they arrange your accomodation and all contracts are with them. So beyond the assurance you will have a place to stay the university has little influence over your accomodation. The agent is competant, but this was the Netherlands, lots of red tape so things did take long to organise if there was any problems (i.e. maintanence)

The korenmarkt is the place to go in Arnhem. Esspecially on a hot summers afternoon. The cafes are all very similar in this part of the town, but it is very nice to sit out on the terrace with a few mates and enjoy a nice cold beer. If it coffee you are after, Grand Cafe is you best bet!