Richard for real

This is quick summary of presentation I did today at my uni’s study abroad fair. These are basically seven principles for maximing the use and pleasure of a limited period spent in a new location. All based on my personal experience as an Erasmus exchange student in Amsterdam last semester, but it should be applicable for other places and situations as well.

1. Learn the language

Even if English is widely spoken, knowing a few words and phrases of the local tongue will get you long way. It’s also a great of showing respect for and increasing your understanding of the locals you meet.

2. Conscious socializing

The uneasy feeling of not knowing anyone in a new place can easily make you bond with whoever comes in your way. This can lead to great things of course, but there is also a risk that it will keep you occupied from opportunities later on. Try to assess people as you would with anyone back home, especially during the first two three weeks.

3. Spare time occupations

A great way to get involved in a new community is to take up a familiar hobby or sport in the new context. This is a great way to connect with people with whom you have common ground, and a good entrance point to local networks.

4. Be a foreigner

Don’t limit yourself to being just an exchange student or just a guest worker. Frame yourself as a foreigner and you will see a lot more posssibilities. The expatriot community is a rich source of information, services and connections.

5. Bring what you want to be

When you are packing, don’t go for the things you use the most. Go for what you would like to use the most. This goes for clothes (bring more shirts to force yourself into a business look for example), accessories, gadget, books and everything.

6. Makes the most of mobile

I found a smartphone with internet access to be many times more useful in a new place than where I am more familiar. Just time you will by not getting lost is worth the investment in a mobile internet bundle.

7. CouchSurfing

This hospitality exchange community is an invaluable resource of information, events and people. It will definitely help you to get on the fast track to integration.

[Imagine a stylish picture of illuminated bridges, reflecting in canals.]

These are some of the places I enjoyed most during my five months in Amsterdam. First food, then some shopping and finally nightlife and other fun stuff.

Talia - Unique Italian deli shop and take-away, everything home-made and extremely friendly service. Free internet and a place to leave your bags if you’re visiting for a day. My second home in the city.

Addis Ababa – Funky Ethiopian place near Vondelpark. Very chill and a great place to go with friends to eat with your hands from a huge plate and try the exotic Mongozo beer.

Vligende schotel – The flying saucer is a genuine vegetarian/vegan restaurant. Small, but warm and cozy.

Volkskeukens – Most of the squats serve meals one or more evenings every week. Check the Radar to see what’s on. Fresh home-cooked vegan food in an environment typical for Amsterdam. The price depends on your willingness to donate.

Bakkerij Oost on Molukkenstraat (between Insulindeweg and Tidorestraat) has no website, but invest in keeping their prices low. Nowhere else city can you get a Turkish pizza roll for just one euro, on freshly baked bread. Yum!

Dappermarkt - Huge street market that sells everything, at a reasonable price. Don’t forget to look behind the stalls for the shops that line the street. The side street have some cool stores too, like the Afro-Food shop. Sushi n Sake on Dapperstraat also has really good food, and Ben&Jerry’s.

Bierkoning - For all your needs in beer (and cider). 1000+ different types of beer in a store the size of a regular apartment.

United Nude – The flagship store in Amsterdam has some of the coolest shoes I have ever seen. Architecture + fashion + engineering.

Nukuhiva and VEGA-LIFE – Great shopping alternatives for fair fashion. Not to far from each other either.

Amsterdam public library – Computers, books, architecture, music, killer view, designer furniture, cafés, piano (free to play for visitors) and a funky Vapiano restaurant. Top score!

UvA Science Park study center – The best university location to get stuff done. Motivated tech students working away around you and a super smooth interior, plus long opening hours.

Trouw - Hard hitting club in a former industrial building. It’s basically just one big room, but that’s no match for the sound system. They say the best sound experience is actually on the dancefloor podiums.

AIR - Takes the trophy for most confusing wardrobe system: automated lockers that can only be paid for with a special AIRcard loaded with credit. Instead of chaos when everyone’s leaving, it’s chaos all the time. If you don’t care too much, just throw your stuff on top of the lockers.

Busbar – The squatters at De Hallen set up the coolest party in town on Friday nights. If an old tram depot with pools of muddy water in it was not post-apocalyptic enough, why not build a make-shift lounge inside and park an old bus with a bar and sound system in it next to it? Words cannot do this place justice.

Sauna Fenomeen – After a long day in the city, or before dinner at MKZ, this squat sauna is the perfect place to relax. Turkish steam sauna and a dry Finnish one, attached to a vegan café.

After just over a month in this city, it’s nice to look back and consider what golden nuggets were in all that junk I dragged here. These are some of the things I’ve used the most since coming to Amsterdam:

Oktoberfest jug – I drink tea from it almost every day

Huge five liter pot – couldn’t do my weekly cooking without it

Time capsule and airport express – both routers proved necessary to make our wifi reach the second floor of the apartment

Quiksilver backpack – I’ve been travelling with this gift from my brother for years and it never let me down

Leopard print robe – So cozy…

HTC Hero – not the best, but a very good tool for exploring a new city; extra love for google map search

1 euro soccer shoes – a second hand find that makes a huge difference on wet frisbee fields

And then there’s stuff that’s just lying around in the back of my closet:

VISA card – this country does not take visa

Bike helmet – shame on me, but I only used it once

Shirts – constantly looking for more business casual occasions, but they are rare in the exchange student universe

The music is performed live by a guy in a jumpsuit wearing a tea kettle cover on his head and his friend, a hybrid between a dapper and a human didgeridoo.

People just smiled approvingly when you scribble stuff on walls.

There are actually some Dutch people in the crowd.

No entrance fee and one euro beers all night long.

Instead of complaining about your dirty sneakers, than at door gives you a piece of colored paper for the participatory work of art that’s evolving in one of the hallways.

Less drunk/stupid people than at normal clubs.