Sports Development and Coaching Sciences student, Christian Fizia, undertook an exchange to Hanze University, Groningen in the Netherlands. He reflects on his time there below.
My exchange to Groningen in the Netherlands allowed me to interact with a variety of cultures and meet hundreds of new people from around the world. Staying in an exciting and lively building with over 300 students meant there was never a dull moment and it made it really easy to settle in and make new friends. Moving to a new country without knowing anyone there can be daunting to some but the majority of students in my building were in the same position and it meant everyone was extremely friendly and just wanted to make new friends.
Living in another country provides the opportunity to immerse yourself in the local culture and I was able to learn a lot about the Dutch culture during my stay. One of the best parts for me was the bicycles. The city of Groningen is full of bikes and this became an essential tool for getting around the city to university, to the shops and even on nights out. I was able to experience the culture first hand through a number of different excursions thanks to the Erasmus Student Network. This student board are fantastic at organising events and trips. Trips included a meal on a pancake boat, an attempt at speed skating, hitch hiking across Europe and a sailing trip.
From an academic point of view studying International Sports Development gave me an insight into how sport is taught differently throughout Europe. This was down to the fact that students on my course were from Italy, Spain, Germany and Netherlands. The course gave me a lot of freedom and I was able to focus on the subject areas that interest me the most. The teaching staff were very approachable and had a very laid back manner making for a relaxed atmosphere. They encourage high student interaction through meetings which are often held over coffee.
For further information about study abroad opportunities visit https://www1.bournemouth.ac.uk/students/careers/study-abroad