Student Stories
IS Student Jung Ryu Looks Back at Exchange in Amsterdam
With the help of the International Studies Travel Award offered by the School for International Studies, undergraduate student Jung Ryu received monetary support for one academic term at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam. Read her reflection below.
Written by Jung Ryu
Although it has been nearly two years since I returned to Vancouver from a six-month long stint in Amsterdam, I still think about my time abroad quite often. I vividly remember the moment I stepped inside that completely empty room for the first time 鈥� the room where I would be living for the next six months鈥攁nd my first thought was 鈥淲hat have I done? Did I make a mistake in coming here?鈥� as the realization of being alone in a new country set in. However, this anxiety only lasted about 24 hours, as I quickly met people who I would be living with and would become friends with. The initial adjustment period 鈥� navigating unfamiliar systems, encountering new cultural norms, and immersing myself in a European academic environment 鈥� became a core memory for me, one I return to when I need a reminder that I am capable of new challenges.
Academically, the exchange strengthened the foundations of my international studies degree by situating theoretical concepts within a European institutional and historical context. Courses such as Human Rights and the Border introduced me to how European legal and political systems interpret, implement, and debate human rights obligations. In particular, this highlighted the differences between European and North American approaches to governance, emphasizing the role of supranational institutions, collective responsibility, and regional cooperation. Experiencing these perspectives firsthand broadened my analytical framework and allowed me to compare how different societies construct, negotiate, and enforce international norms.
My time in Amsterdam also played a significant role in clarifying my long-term career goals. Exposure to European governance structures, regulatory approaches, and multicultural urban environments strengthened my interest in internationally oriented policy and regulatory work. My exchange helped me to understand what competencies are essential in these fields鈥攕kills like critical thinking, adaptability, and cross-cultural communication. By engaging with people from various cultural and political backgrounds, I gained insight into how international cooperation works in practice and how local contexts shape the effectiveness of global initiatives. Seeing how policies and institutions function differently across borders also highlighted the importance of understanding regional histories, social norms, and governance structures when analyzing global issues. This challenged my prior assumptions as I had previously viewed Europe 鈥� especially the European Union 鈥� as relatively uniform in its political outlook and social systems. However, experiencing these differences firsthand revealed how diverse each country鈥檚 priorities and cultural contexts truly are, even within an integrated regional framework. This experience reinforced my desire to pursue a career grounded in international collaboration and informed policy analysis.
Beyond academics and career goals, the exchange fostered engaged global citizenship by challenging me to adapt, observe, and participate meaningfully within a new cultural and social environment. Navigating daily life in Amsterdam, from public institutions to social norms to transportation systems, required openness, flexibility, and respect for local ways of living. Traveling to other European cities further strengthened my understanding of regional diversity and demonstrated how historical experiences and societal values influence contemporary approaches to governance and social policy. These experiences encouraged me to reflect critically on my own assumptions and to engage with global issues not as abstract concepts, but as lived realities affecting communities across borders.