University of Wisconsin–Madison

Netherlands: Erik Irzenski

Program: UW Markets, Mindsets & Money in the Netherlands, Summer

Major: Consumer Behavior and Marketplace Studies

How were your program academics similar or different from taking classes at UW-Madison?

It was different because we had about 3 hours of lecture every day at the same time, with some small breaks but it felt a lot more similar to the structure of high school classes. We had a lot of time to get assignments and projects done, and we also had a lot of tours and site visits, which made learning much more fun and memorable. Coupling lectures with real-world site visits was something that I was a big fan of. It was intense; we covered a lot of material, but I learned a lot of information and am very satisfied with it.

Eleven students posed on a bridge over a canal flanked by rows of buildings, with an ornate domed building visible behind them.
Here’s my friends and I (back row, furthest right) on the Korte Niezel bridge in Amsterdam’s central city. This was one of the first days of the program, however it didn’t take long for us to get to know each other. The connections I made in my time here are ones I’ll never forget!

What is your most memorable experience from your program?

The most memorable experience I had was discussing taxation and investing with a guest speaker who is an expat from the United States. I found it to be very valuable as I can see myself immigrating to a European Union country, and I learned a lot of very valuable information on the financial aspect of a move like this.

Three students posing outside at night near a canal, with lit row buildings prominently visible behind them.
This is my friends and I (middle) just outside of the world’s first stock exchange. It was awesome to be able to see where modern financial markets originated. It’s not every day you get to see a piece of history like this!
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Coupling lecture with real-world site visits was something that I was a big fan of. It was intense, we covered a lot of material, but I learned a lot of information and am very satisfied with it.

How did your identities impact your experience? What advice would you give to students with similar identities who are considering a similar experience?

Given that I have lived in the EU before, and have parents who are immigrants, I feel as though I maybe didn’t stand out as much as other students on this program. I haven’t been to the Netherlands for any significant amount of time, however there are similarities between it and many of the other EU countries that I have spent a lot of time in, so there were many things that others found surprising while I was already somewhat prepared for it. This is not to say that it is the same as other countries, but if one has spent significant amounts of time in the EU then this program won’t result in as much of a culture shock.

What challenges or barriers did you face as you prepared to go abroad and/or during your time abroad? How did you work through them?

The biggest challenge was finances, as Amsterdam is very expensive and we essentially had to eat out for two to three meals a day. There was no kitchen, microwave, or fridge available to us, so any food we bought had to be non-perishable or eaten right away. I worked around this by mostly buying small amounts of food, or splitting food with other students to eat right away.

Five students posing in the doorway of a busy gelato shop.
My friends and I (second from the right) in line to get gelato. It turned out to be the best we’ve ever had! With the record-breaking temperatures we had in Amsterdam, gelato after lecture was a must!

How will your experience benefit you in the future? How might it affect your future career or studies?

It will benefit my future because I made a lot of connections, know a lot more about the things I need to do when moving abroad, and am overall more prepared for life.