Going on exchange had been a dream of mine for a long time, and I’m so grateful that I got the chance to make it a reality. This experience has helped me grow and learn so much, both academically and personally.
In my free time, I’ve been exploring the city, spending time with friends, and traveling. During my exchange, I visited three other countries and explored around seven different cities within the Netherlands. Traveling has been such a joy—it’s one of my favorite parts of this whole experience. There’s always something happening in Amsterdam, whether it’s a cultural event, a concert, a party, or even just a cozy study session in a cute café.
I studied at the Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences, where I took a minor in Global Branding and Marketing Across Cultures. We had classes only two days a week, and our teacher was this relaxed but engaging man in his 40s from the UK. He was clearly passionate about branding and professional, which made the course both enjoyable and inspiring. The workload was well-balanced, and the topics were truly interesting. We did a lot of group work, including an international project where we collaborated with a university in the United States. It was a great opportunity to experience different learning styles and team dynamics.
Back home at TAMK, we also do group work, but not nearly as much as I experienced at AUAS. One thing that really stood out to me was how outspoken Dutch students are. They’re not afraid to challenge the teacher or express strong opinions, which felt quite different compared to Finnish classroom culture. I also noticed how motivated many of the students were—they genuinely cared about doing well and aiming for top grades. In Finland, it sometimes feels like students are more focused on just getting through the course, regardless of the grade.
I wholeheartedly recommend Amsterdam and AUAS to anyone considering an exchange. I had an incredible time and am truly grateful for the experience.
With love,
Roosa
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