Students from all corners of the globe

Henry, Mika, Zoe, Faricka, Nguyen and Nick come from completely different backgrounds. Their home countries range from Saint Martin to Kyrgyzstan. But they all have one thing in common: Tilburg University.

Henry Engel (20)

Honolulu, Hawaii – Exchange student Entrepreneurship and Sociology

“Hawaii is a wonderful place to grow up. It’s incredibly beautiful, and the people are very laid-back. It’s a melting pot of lots of different cultures. My mom is Chinese, and my dad is Jewish with Hungarian, Romanian, Spanish, Turkish and Portuguese roots. That makes me a Jewish Chinese from Hawaii, which I guess is pretty unique!

I went to the same high school as Barack Obama. Whenever he visited the school, there were snipers keeping watch. I’ve seen him quite a few times, and he actually just bought a property a few houses down from my family home.

In our free time, my friends I would go kayaking, swimming, hiking, and checking out waterfalls. It sounds cliché, but that’s really what life is like in Hawaii. After high school, I went to Los Angeles to study. LA is completely different from Hawaii. Everyone is always in a rush, traffic is crazy, drivers are honking at each other. In Hawaii, people are much more easy-going.

So far, I really like Tilburg. The energy is amazing, and the Dutch are so cool. I feel like I don’t have to worry here. Also, it’s nice to stay in one place for a little bit. Before I came to Tilburg, I travelled through Singapore and Thailand and I worked in Vietnam for a start-up incubator.

I love travelling and exploring other cultures. I don’t really see myself as a global citizen, but rather as a global learner. I’m studying and getting to know different parts of the world at the same time. I think that’s pretty fantastic. After I’m done with my studies, I’d like to work in South East Asia. But eventually I want to return to Hawaii. That’s where I would like to raise a family, just because it’s such a unique place.”

Mika Tashtanova (21)

Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan – Exchange student Political Science

“I study Journalism in Kazakhstan, and I came to Tilburg as an exchange student last spring. After I had arrived, I found out that all Journalism classes were given in Dutch. That was a bit of a shock. Luckily, I was able to switch to a minor in Political Science.

I was born and raised in Bishkek, the capital of Kyrgyzstan. In my experience, many Dutch people don’t know Kyrgyzstan. It’s a very beautiful country with lots of mountains. Historically, the Kyrgyz people were nomads. That changed during the Soviet period, but some people still live a nomadic lifestyle. They move from place to place in the mountains with their livestock, and live in traditional round tents called “yurts”. Especially in the cities, the Soviet influence is still very noticeable. I actually speak better Russian than my native language, even though Kyrgyzstan regained its independence before I was born.

Studying at Tilburg University has been one of the most amazing experiences of my life. I’ve learned so much and I’ve made friends from all over the world. I think the Netherlands is very utopic: everything is well-organized, the roads are all really good, and even small villages are very developed. I also really like the Dutch education system. It’s not just grade-oriented, the focus is really on gaining knowledge. And you always get a second chance if you fail. Back home, there are no resit exams. If you fail, you fail.

After I graduate from my university in Kazakhstan, I’m planning to apply for a Master’s program in the UK. Eventually, I want to work as a journalist for the BBC. That’s my dream. But I’ll always cherish my memories of Tilburg University and my time in the Netherlands, and I’m sure I’ll come back to visit it someday.”

Zoe Higgins (20)

Waikanea, New Zealand – Exchange student Business

“Waikanae is a small town on the Kapiti Coast. My family lives in a house on the beach, so we do a lot of watersports and other “natury” things. My friends and I would often go on a winery tour in our free time, or we’d go hiking in the mountains. Now that I’m away, I realize how easily you take your surroundings for granted.

Going on exchange offered the perfect opportunity to go to Europe, which I’ve always wanted to do. Since I came to Tilburg, I haven’t just been studying. Especially during the summer months, I’ve travelled a lot. I’ve already visited 21 different European countries.

I think the Dutch are really cool. They’re nice, but they’re also very direct. If they have something to say, they’ll say it. That was kind of a shock to the system, but I think it’s a good thing. It also took me some time to get used to the Dutch biking culture. Back home, riding a bicycle is kind of a kid-thing, so it seemed silly that Dutch people bike everywhere. At first I hated it, but now I actually really love my bike!

I’ve become very close with a group of other international students. Because you’re all in a completely new environment and you struggle with the same things, you really become a family. Those friendships make it easier to be so far away from home, but it’s still difficult sometimes. There’s a ten hour time difference, so I can’t just call my parents whenever I feel the need to talk to them. And if something would happen at home, it would take me at least two days to get there. That’s a scary thought. It’s nice to have friends who can relate to those feelings.”

Faricka Merrick (18)

Phillipsburg, Saint Martin – Degree-seeking student IBA

“Saint Martin is a half-Dutch, half-French island in the Caribbean Sea. I’m from the Dutch side, so I was already very familiar with the Dutch culture. I had a lot of Dutch teachers and Dutch friends, and I speak Dutch fluently. So I can’t say I’m culture-shocked, even though I moved halfway across the world.

I can’t think of another way to describe Saint Martin than as a paradise. It’s the Caribbean, after all! It’s fun and beautiful. Because Saint Martin is a small island, a lot of high school students want to go abroad to study. Most people apply for college in the United States or university in the Netherlands. Not everyone actually gets to go, though. You have to be in the top 30 percent during your entire graduation year.

I’m glad the weather here isn’t as terrible as I expected it to be. I was counting on rain and cold, but the weather has actually been super nice. Since I arrived, I’ve met lots of people and I’ve been going to a lot of parties and social events. But now I’m getting serious for the start of the semester.”

Nguyen Hai (26)

Hanoi, Vietnam – Degree-seeking student Supply Chain Management

“Growing up in Vietnam, I always heard positive stories about the Netherlands. Since childhood, I pictured it as a very peaceful country. Later, when I studied at the Foreign Trade University in Hanoi, I learned that Holland has good business relationships with other countries and a strong international infrastructure because of its seaports and airports. As a student Supply Chain Management, that made the Netherlands all the more interesting for me.

The main difference between studying here and back home, is the level of independence that is expected from students. In Hanoi, everything is fixed. Here, you must be very independent. For example, you’re expected to choose your own track instead of following a set curriculum.

I haven’t been in Tilburg very long yet, but so far I’m getting accustomed to the Dutch way of life pretty quickly. I’ve already met some Dutch people, and I think they’re very nice. I’m also learning Dutch. The only thing I don’t like, is the fact that shops close so early. In Hanoi, most shops don’t close until midnight. Because I didn’t know shops close around six here, I didn’t have any food on my first night in Tilburg. I learned the hard way!”

Nick Rurangwa Nshimiyen (18)

Kigali, Rwanda – Degree-seeking student Global Law

“When most people think of Rwanda, they only think of the genocide. I think that’s understandable, because it’s a defining event in Rwandan history, but the country has changed a lot since then. It really has a lot to offer. Its nature is really beautiful, and the culture is very warm and welcoming. I think it’s a great travel destination. There are lots of mountains and extinct volcanoes where you can hike and spot gorillas.

My parents left Rwanda a long time ago, so I spent my youth in Leuven. Still, I feel more Rwandan than Belgian. Rwanda is my home. I was brought up with Rwandan values, and I still have a lot of family there. Maybe one day, when I’m older, I’d like to return to Rwanda. But first I want to travel more. And I also want to learn Kinyarwanda, the national language, which I only speak a little. At home, my parents and I speak French, which is also an official language in Rwanda.

After I’m done studying Global Law, I’d like to use my knowledge to help people without a voice. My goal in life is to be part of changing the world in a positive way.”This article was published in Univers #02.