I spent my exchange semester in Rotterdam at the University of Applied Sciences, where I studied investment banking. Most of the course was project-based, and I worked in a group of five students. Three were from Poland, one was Dutch, and then there was me. We didn’t always agree, and sometimes it was difficult to organize the work, but in the end we managed well and got the projects done. Working with people from different backgrounds taught me a lot about teamwork.
Life in Rotterdam was quite good, even if I would call it pretty average overall. I spent time with friends, traveled a little, and enjoyed cycling around the city. It wasn’t always exciting, but I appreciated the simple, everyday rhythm of life there.
Studying in the Netherlands felt close to Finland. There were no exams, and grades came from projects and assignments. The biggest difference was how much teamwork there was, and also the Dutch way of being very direct when communicating. At first that felt strange, but later I saw how it made working together easier.
-Miko Nurmi
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