Utrecht... my new home away from home

After living in Utrecht for about 3 months now, I finally feel that this city is my home away from home. I love absolutely everything about it. It's people, the town, the sights and sounds and even the bike riding. I have to admitt that at first riding a bike was intimidating, however with time it became easier to just go with the flow of bike traffic even. I have learned a lot in the three months here. Not only academically, but also I am confident that I have grown as an individual. I have met people from different countries and cultures than my own and I have made good friends on which I know that I can count on. I have had intense and long conversations about life, love, and changing the world. These social interactions have enriched me outside of the classroom and I am very grateful to have been able to share these moments with great people. Apart from other international students who I have met, I have also had the chance to meet incredible Dutch people. They have shown me how friendly and welcoming the Netherlands, Utrecht and the Dutch are to foreigners, they have shared their culture with me through their food and by showing me their homes and their city and they have even tried to teach me a little bit of Dutch. Although, I still cannot speak it, I can now understand it a bit and I see that I can pick up on some words which is very helpful. Throughout these months I have also realized how lucky I am to be here, to get a chance to study about Conflicts and Human Rights and to have had the opportunity to meet incredible people who are like me in many ways, people who want to make a different in the world, a objective which I strongly have within me. I am ever so greatful for this experience which has taught me so much already and which will only get better in the days, weeks and months to come.