MEET ISHAN.
Ishan studied abroad in Delft, Netherlands during the Spring semester of 2017.
IF NOTHING ELSE, DON’T FORGET TO PACK: A rain jacket. You’re going to deal with a lot of intermittent rain so be prepared. Also bring a camera.
ON SECOND THOUGHT, YOU CAN LEAVE AT HOME: Pack smart. I don’t know what you won’t need. Pack light, too.
WHERE TO LIVE: Stay with Duwo. They provide great accommodation. Professor Schermerhornstraat was a great location and had nice facilities.
BEST PLACES TO EAT: Delft is pretty expensive, but there are cheap places: Daily Wok or many of the Doner places.
FAVORITE CULTURAL ACTIVITY: Bike around, go see the old churches, go to nearby towns like Rotterdam. Enjoy the tulips. Embrace Dutch culture. See the Delft Blue pottery factory.
BEST PERSONAL HIDEOUT: Anywhere in the city center is lovely to hangout. Go in all the random little stores.
FAVORITE PLACE TO STUDY: The library, but the library gets pretty packed. There is a café in the Delft city center that is nice – Coffee Company.
MUST-TRY LOCAL DISH: Dutch food is pretty mediocre, but certainly have some seafood. They have many coastlines so the fish is fresh and good.
BEST PHOTO OP: There are so many canals – it is awesome to be able to take pictures anywhere and everywhere.
BIGGEST FAIL: Be careful when you are biking. I had two biking accidents while I was in Delft.
BEST PURCHASE: I bought my parents some Delft Blue pottery and they absolutely loved it. It is expensive, but it is so beautiful.
MOST INTERESTING CLASS: I am in aerospace engineering, so all the courses I took were related to this. I found Instrumentation & Signals fascinating.
BEST PART OF THE PROGRAM: The people. I made so many friends from all over the world during my time abroad. I am still in contact with a handful of them.
MOST MEMORABLE TRIP: Italy. Italy is the best country ever. Great food, great people, beautiful country.
BEST LOCAL EVENT/HOLIDAY: Kingsday is so much fun. Wear orange, get together with friends, and have a good time.
FAVORITE LOCAL WORD/SLANG: Learn how to say thank you – “daank-ye-vel.” That’s not how it is really spelled, just a phonetic spelling.
IF I COULD DO IT OVER AGAIN… I would do everything I did over again. Buy flight tickets as early as the summer, because things get expensive. Make your bookings early. Figure out logistics later.