How to Get the Most Out of Your Exchange

Are you about to go on an exchange and are looking for some advice on how to make the most out of your time there? Well, you’ve come to the right blog! I’ve recently come back from a semester abroad at Waseda University in Tokyo and had an amazing time. After reflecting on my experience, I’ve come up with some tips on how I think you can have an exchange to remember.

Are you not about to go on an exchange? Fear not! I think these tips are just as useful for international students. Time has a habit of flying by, and you’ll want to make the moments you spend at VU Amsterdam count.

Tip #1 - Get involved

This tip can mean many things to many different people. I suppose this is kind of the point. After all, I’m giving advice on how to get the best out of your exchange, not mine. What this tip boils down to is meeting people where they are, in the spaces they inhabit. For a friend of mine who went on exchange to Australia (which is an awesome place, and I’m not biased), this meant volunteering, but it could also mean things like joining social groups, especially if your exchange university offers them.

Waseda University had plenty of social circles, but the language barrier limited my options somewhat. What getting involved looked like for me was putting some effort into learning Japanese and going to events hosted by the university. I ended up going to quite a few sports matches and by the end I felt like I could sing the school anthem off by heart (whether I actually could is an entirely different matter).

A baseball match between long-time rivals Waseda University and Keio University

Tip #2 - Get out there

Beyond getting involved in the local city and culture, make an effort to explore other parts of the country, especially if these different parts have different things to offer, as they do in Japan. Being on exchange is, for all intents and purposes, an extended holiday. Make use of this gift to the fullest! It might feel overwhelming because there never seems to be enough time to do and see all the things you want, but rest assured, the only wrong way to explore is by not exploring at all.

Me at the top of Mt. Kita-dake, the second highest peak in Japan

On a personal note, I would caution against exclusively doing touristy things. Touristy things are touristy for a reason of course and can be a great way to explore once you first arrive, but take the opportunity to reflect on what you want to get out of your exchange, which might not be the same as what a “Top 10 Things to Do in …” list says. I love to hike, for example, and going on and off the beaten path with like-minded friends.

My friend Felix halfway through our 100km hike in the Kizo Valley

Tip #3 - Get a hobby

Tips 1 and 2 may seem like common sense (which is common for a reason!), so for this last tip, I’m going to throw a bit of a curveball. I think an exchange semester is a great time to pick up a hobby. Much like the other tips, this one is quite open-ended. A hobby can be anything. Start running? It can be a nice way to explore the city and meet new people. Pick up an instrument? Everyone needs a creative outlet. Get into birdwatching? Hey, whatever floats your boat.

The Ryōgoku Sumo Hall in Tokyo

This may be a hot take, but if you are the kind of person who struggles to stick with their hobbies, pick one up with the intention to drop it at the end of your exchange. The finite duration might make picking it up in the first place less of a daunting prospect. For those of you staying in Amsterdam who are reading this and are unsure as to how to incorporate this tip into your life (picking up a hobby for three years might as well be forever, I hear you say), you can try this in the upcoming summer months. Tell yourself that you are going to pick up a hobby only for the summer. It can be a great way to make use of the longer days, and who knows, maybe it’ll stick.

Trains at a crossing in Tokyo

The hobby that I picked up during my time in Tokyo was photography. It started as a mindful way to explore a new city and rapidly became a way of expressing myself. I’m happy to say that I’ve kept it up since arriving back in Amsterdam in February.

The hustle and bustle of Shinjuku after dark

Ultimately

However you choose to experience your exchange, chances are you’ll have a great time. It’s a truly awesome part of studying at VU Amsterdam. If you keep a few of these tips in mind, who knows, maybe you’ll have an even greater time. You’ll have to try them to find out.

Well, what are you waiting for? Make like Tip #2 and get out there!