How an NUS student found a second home at University College Utrecht

Name: Long Wen Xi 
Faculty: Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences and NUS College 
Host Country/University: The Netherlands, University College Utrecht 

What was your first week like in the Netherlands?

It was both scary and exciting. I remember the journey from the airport to school feeling incredibly long. My friend and I were struggling with all our luggage on the trains and buses, and we even took the wrong bus. After such a long flight, we were completely exhausted by the time we reached our dorm.

The next few days were mostly settling in, meeting my unit and orientation mates, exploring the campus and city and buying everyday essentials I couldn’t bring from home. I also wandered around Utrecht’s quaint streets, shops, library and canals.

Everything felt quite surreal. I couldn’t believe I was so far from home and would be there for five months. I was definitely nervous, but I kept reminding myself to live in the present. As the week went by, the uncertainty slowly faded, and Utrecht started to feel a little more like home.

Why did you choose University College Utrecht for your exchange?

I was drawn to University College Utrecht (UCU) because it reminded me of NUS College. It has an interdisciplinary curriculum, small seminar-style classes and a close-knit student community living together on campus.

I also liked the variety of modules offered. One of the classes I took was on activism, which was something I had never explored before. The small class sizes were also great because I could interact more closely with my classmates and professors. As an exchange student, taking classes alone can feel intimidating, so having that intimate setting made things much more comfortable.

But one of the biggest reasons I chose UCU was the residential experience. I really wanted the chance to live with people from completely different cultures and backgrounds. It was scary, but I knew I might never get an opportunity like this again, so I decided to take the leap.

What are some of your key learning experiences during exchange?

I learnt to be more independent and adaptable. Living in a foreign country makes you realise how many things you take for granted at home.

Food was one example. In Singapore, getting a meal is so convenient, but eating out in the Netherlands was much more expensive. I ended up cooking almost every day and learnt to make the most of my groceries.

I also learnt how to cycle. I actually didn’t know how to before the exchange and cycling alongside so many people and vehicles was terrifying at first. I almost gave up, but I really wanted to embrace Dutch culture. Eventually, I got the hang of it, and cycling became such a big part of my daily life.

Exchange also taught me that conflicting emotions can exist at the same time. I could be excited but anxious, happy but homesick, and ready to go home yet not want to leave. I learnt that life can be full of contradictions, and that we can grow through them.

What are some of your fondest memories?

I have many and some of my favourite memories were the simplest ones.

One was a night bike ride with my unit mates early in the semester. I was still quite nervous about cycling, but it turned into such a beautiful night. The sky was clear, we could see the stars, and we cycled past fields and buildings with the wind in our faces, chatting and laughing along the way. My unit mates even made sure someone always cycled behind me to keep me safe.

Another was our final dinner together. We cooked a huge meal and had a Secret Santa exchange. One of my friends gave me an album by a singer we had bonded over and wrote me a letter in Chinese — even though he’s Italian-Thai! He had spent ages translating what he wanted to say and copying out the characters, which really touched me. It was bittersweet knowing it was our last night together, but I tried to stay present and appreciate how many memories we had created in just a few months.

What did you learn from interacting with students from different cultures?

I learnt that cultural differences aren’t something to be intimidated by. Even if we grew up in completely different environments, there are still so many ways to connect.

My unit mates were really open and curious about one another’s cultures. We loved exchanging stories about life back home. They were shocked when I told them Singapore is hot all year round, while I was equally shocked that some of them used to travel up to two hours by car just to get to school.

Those little conversations helped me understand what their lives were like back home and get to know them beyond just being my unit mates. My biggest takeaway was to approach people with openness, kindness and genuine curiosity. Our differences can give us more to talk about.

Any tips for NUS students interested in going on exchange?

My biggest tip is to live in the present and experience exchange on your own terms. There’s no single “ideal” exchange. Some people want to travel every weekend, while others care more about their classes, friendships, or simply experiencing everyday life in their host country. You don’t have to follow what everyone else is doing.

Think about what would make exchange meaningful to you. It’s such a unique experience, so make it your own and try to be fully present while you’re there.