Student In The Netherlands

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Back In The Netherlands

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Back In The Netherlands

On 1 august 1997 I was back in The Netherlands now as a student. I flew with KLM and was put 3 days in Van Der Valk Schiphol to get information and open a bank account. ABNAMRO was there with a desk. Afterwards I went to the city were I was going to study, Utrecht. My mom came a few days later and helped me with arranging furniture, all paid from my sidejob at the vet. (UPDATE: Sept 2024: student debt €0 euro).

What Else

I had to get an id, register at the municipal (gemeente, Utrecht) and my driver license had to be changed within 6 months. I had to pick up my 'OV-studentenkaart' in Zoetermeer. This way I got used to using public transport before having my OV-studentenkaart. I went to the libary to get an emailadres, I already had. I could have solved my 8 percent AOW deficit I will have when going with pension by paying it almost immediately, but I was a student. Each year not living in The Netherlands cost 2 percent AOW. By putting my pension before solving my student debt when I was in wage labor I solved the 8 percent lack. (UPDATE: Sept 2024: student debt €0 euro).

My Study

I started my study 'diergeneeskunde' at the University of Utrecht and had to do an internship at a pig farm almost immediately. Studying is different from being a 'scholier'. On weekends I went to my friends from Curaçao, because other students went back home to the region in The Netherlands where they came from. After 2,5 years I quit this study after lambing sheeps for a month at night in England. In the summer between quiting and starting my second study I worked as a promotiemedewerker and on data-entry in Zeist where I lived back then.

Second try

My second study was 'Bedrijfseconomie', this one I finished in 4 years and did 2 internships:

police
Staal & Select.

Both internship have there own blog.

I had more free time and started playing tennis again, 'blauwe maandag' sports and working more. I worked as a student-assistent at the Helpdesk of the HES Amsterdam and as a promotiemedewerker at Bananas. All these 4 years I lived in Lunetten, Utrecht and after that also for a while. In the summers I had more side jobs. They are on the Career page. With study friends and some friends from high school I got to know The Netherlands. (UPDATE: Sept 2024: student debt €0 euro).

My Master

After finishing Business Economics I did the master Urban Geography a study I loved by heart! Especially the assignments going through the 'wijken' and learning about how it could be better. Also I had a trip to New York to learn even more about how they were making the city save and the residents happier. My final paper was Cultuur Voor Jou & Mij. During this study I worked as a student-assistent at the department of Urban Geography and E-Quality. And after finishing my study I went to work for STOGO Onderzoek + Advies. I was still living in Lunetten, Utrecht. (UPDATE: Sept 2024: student debt €0 euro).