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Degree: Chemistry with a specialisation in biochemistry, UCLL University of Applied Sciences, Gasthuisberg campus in Leuven
International location: Hakodate, Japan (National Institute of Technology (NIT) Hakodate College)
‘Before I left for Japan, my biggest fear was being somewhere alone. I was so stressed I almost didn’t want to go, but I had chosen Japan precisely because it’s known as one of the safest countries in the world. I also love watching anime, and my favourite food is sushi.’
‘My placement was absolutely brilliant — an experience no one can ever take away from me. The hours were relaxed and there were loads of public holidays. I went to karaoke at least ten times. I also started understanding more and more Japanese and could sometimes reply in Japanese. My self-confidence has grown enormously. During a Japanese calligraphy workshop, I wrote the word “kansha” for that very reason. It means gratitude.’
‘The first week in Japan was tough and very overwhelming. I was extremely stressed, my room was uncomfortable, and the rules were strict. Every evening, for instance, we had to scan our faces to confirm we were back inside by 10 p.m. Fortunately, the rules turned out to be more manageable than expected, and most of my worries had disappeared after a week or two.’
‘With two other Belgians, I went to a food festival. Even though the locals barely spoke any English, they still asked where we were from and why we were visiting their city. We were also offered loads of free samples to try. Mega cute!’
‘My tip is to bring an extra empty suitcase. Once you arrive at your destination, you end up buying all sorts of things. I’d also recommend always carrying a power bank for your phone, because you’ll need Google Translate every single day.’
Degree: Chemistry at Karel de Grote University of Applied Sciences in Antwerp, now pursuing a master’s in industrial engineering in chemistry at the University of Antwerp
International location: Lisbon, Portugal
‘I was keen to do a placement abroad for the adventures, the different culture, and to improve my English. People I knew said Lisbon was a great city.’
‘Once there, I found myself in a pleasant working environment with colleagues from Italy, France, and Portugal — plenty of diversity in the lab. People did take safety somewhat less seriously than in Belgium, though. Some of my colleagues, for instance, worked with silver without wearing gloves. It stayed on their hands for two whole weeks!’
‘The placement itself was enjoyable, but there were problems with my student accommodation. Some of my housemates had bedbugs. The bathroom was also renovated without any notice, leaving us without one for a month.’
‘A highlight was the football matches. When I told my colleagues I’d been to a Benfica match, they were visibly disappointed. They convinced me to also cheer for Lisbon’s other football club, Sporting. As a leaving gift, I received a Sporting football kit and a mug.’
‘I’d encourage others to open themselves up to new friendships. Through doing so, I went on some wonderful trips with my Italian friend and colleague Lorenzo. We drove through Portugal in a hire car and visited, among other places, the town of Nazaré — home to the biggest waves in the world.’
Degree: Master’s in Industrial Engineering Sciences with a specialisation in chemistry, Technology Campus in Ghent (KU Leuven)
International location: Valencia, Spain (Chemical Engineering at the Universitat Politècnica de València)
‘Spain stood out to me as a placement destination because of the climate and the laid-back atmosphere. Valencia was a wonderful choice. One moment I was in a vibrant student city, and the next I was standing on the beach watching the sunset during a game of beach volleyball.’
‘In Spain, I learnt that it’s perfectly fine to just see what comes your way. Spontaneous plans often turned out to be the best ones. In April, for example, we had no electricity for an entire day. We all headed to the beach together — no stress, no rush, just relaxing and enjoying the sunshine. It brought people closer together.’
‘Sometimes the language was a stumbling block. I found it harder to connect with Spanish young people as a result than with international students. Fortunately, some lovely friendships did develop. There were also loads of trips organised. Nearly every week I visited a city, village, or hidden gem outside Valencia.’
‘My tip? Start planning early. Bureaucratic processes in Spain can sometimes be slow or chaotic. I’d also advise keeping an open mind. Let go of the idea that things have to be the same as back home. Try to embrace local customs, even if that means not sitting down to dinner until 10 p.m. Suddenly you understand why a siesta actually makes perfect sense!’
Degree: Industrial engineer in chemistry (UHasselt)
International location: Sydney, Australia, University of New South Wales
‘I was looking for a new challenge, both personally and academically, and Australia was on my bucket list. A placement seemed like the ideal opportunity to discover that part of the world. Once there, I visited Fiji and New Zealand, amongst other places, though I was based in Sydney. There are a lot of international students there, which meant I was able to build up an international network. I wanted to improve my English, and that went brilliantly.’
‘The best part of the placement? The many holidays in between! I visited Brisbane with a group I barely knew, but on that trip I made friends for life. We went kayaking amongst whales and visited Surfers Paradise. Surfing has become a new hobby. Once, we got up at 5 a.m. and took the bus to the beach. As we lay in the water, we watched the sun rise. It was magical. That fairy-tale feeling was still lingering in the air later in class.’
‘Going to Australia was an enormously big step for me and I was quite anxious about it, but I had the time of my life. I had underestimated the time difference, though. It often meant I couldn’t reach anyone back home and had to sort things out on my own. I sometimes found that difficult, but I look back on it positively because it made me far more independent. I also wasn’t prepared for the cold in August. It was sometimes as low as 7 °C, and my room had no insulation. I had to buy extra things to get through that period.’
‘During the placement, I learnt that immersing yourself in a different culture makes you a more well-rounded person. People deal with the same problems in different ways. A fresh perspective like that can help you cope better with setbacks.’
‘I’d recommend talking to other students who have embarked on a similar adventure. That’s where I learnt the most.’
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