News and Differences

In the last report I mentioned all the important information about my stay here, so I decided to write more about the experiences and curiosities I went through during past months. Every important experience has its own little chapter, so you can see and easily compare to your own life experience. Being in the Netherlands for abroad studies is the best opportunity that I could ever get so far.

University
•The Hague University of Applied Science sis one of the biggest universities in Holland. It contains various majors within many schools all around the Netherlands. Mainly in Delft or Rotterdam.
•THUAS as a huge university doesn’t have a school bell in between classes. Teachers controls the time themselves. The advantage is that you can have class only for twenty minutes and when done with topic, you can go out and enjoy the sun.
•Duration of classes differs depending on type of class. There are three categories. Lectures last usually an hour and half. During the longer workshops (2,5 hours) the class is divided into an lecture and presenting the group work.
•In the foyer of the university you can find big range of food supply in our very healthy school canteen. You can be satisfied every day regarding your choice between meals, warm or cold food. Fruits and vegetables are on daily basis and your income of food can be fulfilled throughout all day.

Transportation
•Den Haag is a city big enough, but you wouldn’t find a subway here. However, you find bus or tram station on every corner. What was very surprising, public transport has usually around ten minute’s intervals even in a peak time of a day.
•Almost every habitant of Holland has own bike. Whenever you need to go anywhere, bicycle is one of the most used public transportation.
•When using public transport you have to charge your contact card called OV-Chipkart. “Remember to check out with your OV-chipkart” – is a sentence you hear at every upcoming station.
•Each of the travels is paid separately. It is necessary to remember check in and check out every time. By not checking in you can be charge up to forty Euros.
•The price for public transportation is little more expensive then in Czech. One way in tram direction school (around 10 minutes) is about 1.50 euro. That’s why it is much more comfortable to use a bike and be anywhere in few minutes very easily. Moreover, when the sun is up and spring weather is coming, I always use bicycle or walk.

Dorms vs. Apartment
•I live in an apartment not so far away from school. Bathroom and kitchen is shared with another flat mate. The most important is that I have my own peace and privacy.
•The dormitories offered by university for all exchange students, are not that calm and neither private. Moreover, the price is very high and I couldn’t be able to afford it.
•The price of student dormitories was very interesting for me, because I pay much less than most of my exchange friends.
•My apartment is located at pretty busy street, where I have two tram lines right in front of my house and every few meters is a shop, restaurant or kebab fast-food.
•Very close, there is also the Hague market which is the biggest market in The Hague. The range is almost unlimited. Four times a week you will find all kinds of fresh vegetable, fruit, meat, fish or sea food. As well as cheap clothes and different assets.  

Weather
•The weather in Holland is one of the most discussable topics. I haven’t visited many other countries, but Holland is very mysterious about the weather. It is so unpredictable and uncontrollable. Once the sun is up and you dress up very light, it can be a wind storm in an hour and you are about to freeze to death in a short dress.
•However, the winter was very good and easy going. We were still waiting for a snow in March, but hopefully it won’t happen anymore. Now we can look forward to sunny spring and summer :).

Activities and sports
•I observed Dutch people little bit and surprisingly found out very active life of theirs. Except biking almost anywhere possible, they also go to the gym very often and try to care about themselves in terms of body and sport.
•Those who are little bit less active are using small, very loud and smelling scooters.
•Personally, I go to the gym almost every second day and I attend also some group sport lessons like zumba, bodybalance, pilates or different styles of dancing (hip hop, salsa etc.)
•Few days ago I finally found a job, which wasn’t easy to reach. So, most of the nights I will spend in Spanish Tapas restaurant.
•Few days ago I was able to attend the TEDx talks conference. Because it was located at our university so, it was very easy to come. The main theme was security and different, intelligent people were talking about the topic itself from different points of view.
•Another very perspective event I attend was 2.InternationalCommunication Conference. This event was mainly profitable in a way of networking with well known people.

Beach
•Beach is one of the places I love the most so far here. It is the best spot for relax, time with friends, resting or the sport itself like running or surfing.
•As soon as the weather appears to be nicer, the beach gets very busy and crowded. But fortunately I found a calm spot as well, where I am not distracted by lots of people. It is big enough.

Travelling
•Few weeks ago, I had a visit from one of my friends from Czech, so I had finally chance  to travel around and through other cities in Holland. I have visited the most important cities, but much more interesting places still left.

•    Amsterdam
To be honest, I have already been to Amsterdam twice. In the end it is still the capitol city of the Netherlands, so it is quite necessary to visit. But until now I didn’t have opportunity to go through all the monuments, museums or take photos. The interesting fact is that as Amsterdam is one of the most metropolitan cities in Europe, you will not find people talking Dutch. Most of the cases, people speak English or any other international language.

•    Rotterdam
This city is very powerful and full of bridges, skyscrapers and boat harbors. This industrial city won’t ever stop you be amazed by the highest building in the whole country.

•    Utrecht
In my opinion, Utrecht is one of the most beautiful cities as I have visited so far here in Holland. The environment of canals, historic buildings are the most tempting items to see. This city is small, hidden and unimpressive on the map. However it has many features to be proud of in live sightseeing.

•    Delft
Delft is one train station from The Hague. Speaking though my own experience, Delft is very well know for unique pancakes, hand drawing pottery and the canal system. Delft is very small, but lovely city full of surprises on every corner.

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